Rabbits and bears

[Bam Bam]

Keith, Peter Capstick, African big game hunter had the same question as you. How to defend against the charge of a big animal at close range? He got some 00 buck and 000 buck and patterned them. His thinking also included the number of pellets and the surface area of the pellets. He concluded the 000 buck was preferable because more pellets delivered more punch against a greater surface area on the charging animal. I have forgotten the name of the book which has the collected articles.

Death in a Lonely Land, Death in a Dark Continent, Lost Worlds seem most likely. Perhaps someone here at TFL has a collection and can look it up?

 

[Zorro]

Just load it with slugs and use it as a poor mans Double rifle.

For the rabbits try #4 shot, you really want the pellets to go all the way through.

 

[Danny45]

I agree with 6's for rabbits! But I think I'd want a buddy with a .460 Weatherby beside me for them bears!!! LOL

 

[labgrade]

Any shot from #6 (& less) on up will do rabbits quite well (within range - bre'r 'bit is a wimp), but why would anyone want to pick out all that "fine" shot when they could do very well with just a few (#4 buck) or so?

& #4 buck, I'd think, would do a bear at (very) close range.

Although I only shoot bre'r rabbit with a .22LR & headshots any more, still, & if presented with a "maybe a bear" scenario, I'd go for at least some form of "buck."

Less to pick from the rabbit & a plus for a larger critter.

If "too close," it won't matter to either bear or rabbit as it'll be so much a solid mass not to matter & if further, you'll get the dispersion that a buckshot load will not "dust" a rabbit.