Shotguns, Bears and handguns oh my.

[flightsimmer]

Hi guys and girls,
I've been reading some posts about what handguns to carry for bears when your on a walk about in the woods/forest or where ever and I got to wondering why it should be limited to handguns?

I mean I understand the want for a lightweight weapon that won't drag you down but many hikers/hunters carry a rifle that can be awkward at times, so what about a shotgun? Yeah, it could be just as awkward, but what about a shotgun like a Shockwave? I mean with a 18-1/2" barrel, no but stock with a sling, slung over your back in 12 or 20 gauge with slugs or 00 buck shot?
I would think that would be a good bear defense weapon and wouldn't require a licence to carry.

Now I have never shot a shotgun with a pistol grip 12, 20, or even .410 but I can imagine it would be a handful, well, maybe not the .410, but you see what I'm getting at.

So would a shotgun like or similar to the Shockwave be a choice worth consideration? It seems it would, could double as a home defence weapon.

So, what do you guys and girls think?

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

I'm no expert, but I do watch TV. Alaska State Troopers/Wildlife Troopers carry Remington 870s loaded with slugs. A shotgun with a pistol grip is gonna hurt.

 

[Ark]

I can put 15 rounds of 9mm/40/45/10mm/whatever on a target a lot faster than I can put 5 shotgun shells on a target using a Shockwave. While an actual hit is likely to be as effective as one from any shotgun, do not underestimate the operating difficulty of a pistol grip shotgun. I would take drawing my M9 from the hip and putting 3 rounds into a target over unslinging a Shockwave, racking it, and putting one round into a target. That's just personally.

On the subject of also carrying a hunting rifle or something, I don't really see a shotgun being easier to access than a holstered pistol when you already have a rifle sling. Not without a leg holster of some kind. If both are slung at the same time, it would take a lot of care and planning in your sling arrangement to prevent your Shockwave from fouling on the other sling, pack straps, or whatever else.

As a sole carried firearm, I would feel very good about having a regular stocked 12 gauge pump with me in the woods. Something like a featherweight Ithaca 37 with an 18" barrel and 5 round tube would be perfect.

 

[flightsimmer]

I'm no expert, but I do watch TV. Alaska State Troopers/Wildlife Troopers carry Remington 870s loaded with slugs. A shotgun with a pistol grip is gonna hurt.

That's kind of what I thought at least in 12 gauge, that might include the 20 gauge also, I don't know.

 

[BigRed]

I'm no expert, but I do watch TV. Alaska State Troopers/Wildlife Troopers carry Remington 870s loaded with slugs. A shotgun with a pistol grip is gonna hurt.

It's not too bad......would not want to do it all day, but a few defensive shots is tolerable.

 

[snapping turtle]

When camping fishing walking ect.
357 or higher handgun longer barrel still carries nice. Big enough

357 rifle or higher has to be slung and may be left say on the backpack 16 inch barrel shorter than 18. Not good if not around

shotgun gives one main advantage of small birds ect. Still can be on the backpack when yogi comes around. Bigger than rifle.

car truck then anything you want. i like guide guns. Heck a AK would work well.

 

[The Bubba Effect]

When camping fishing walking ect.
357 or higher handgun longer barrel still carries nice. Big enough

357 rifle or higher has to be slung and may be left say on the backpack 16 inch barrel shorter than 18. Not good if not around

shotgun gives one main advantage of small birds ect. Still can be on the backpack when yogi comes around. Bigger than rifle.

car truck then anything you want. i like guide guns. Heck a AK

Living in blackbear and moose country, I really like the idea of an ak with red dot and light as a truck/camp gun.

I figure 7.62×39 would be good for people and black bear at distances you would be required to shoot them.
I think it would be lite for an angry moose, but most things are and although it is a major animal and an intermediate round, I like my odds.

I keep an 870 at the house for moose loaded with brenneke 3 inch black magic slugs, but I don't want to drag it everywhere.

 

[Cameramonkey]

It's not too bad......would not want to do it all day, but a few defensive shots is tolerable.

Just dont shoot one standing on a car hood. LOL When I was a kid, my dad was head of security for a salvage yard out in the country.

We'd sometimes go out and target practice in the far end of the yard after hours. He bought a Mossberg 500 with a pistol grip and we wanted to try it out. So of course he hands it to me. (He wasnt a fool... and smarter than me at the time) I happened to be standing on a dew covered car hood that was laying on the ground. I fired that shot and my legs about came out from under me. I didnt go down but I was damn close to it.

I'm with BR. Its not awful, but not something I'd want to do regularly. I learned that day that a mare's leg is FAR more comfy/versatile/manageable than a pistol grip on a shotgun.

As Bubba mentioned, An AK pistol might be handy to have around. One like this might fit neatly in/on the side of a backpack:

(context https://www.foxnews.com/us/woman-leans-car-ak47-san-francisco)

 

[MindfulMan]

If there can only be one, put this is a chest rig, and you'll be able to shoot anything in the world that might need shootin' !

 

[Cameramonkey]

Though it bears asking. (no pun intended) Will you be alone, or always with a partner?

If its the latter, just carry a .22 pocket pistol. That way you can shoot your partner in the leg and run away.

Two hikers confront a bear, that starts chasing them. One says to the other. "you realize we cant out run this bear, right?" The other says "outrun the bear? No, I only have to outrun YOU!"

 

[DadSmith]

How about a Henry lever action 44mag 16.5" barrel. It has a 7rd capacity, you can also put a red dot on top for faster targeting at around 6.5lb. Use 300gr WFNGC hard cast bullets.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I would take drawing my M9 from the hip and putting 3 rounds into a target over unslinging a Shockwave, racking it, and putting one round into a target. That's just personally.

I heard that just the sound of racking the shotgun will send a bear packing in a hurry though!

 

[Mongo59]

There are a lot of tree huggers out there that go with the bear repellent and bells on their clothes.

I guess it would also depend what type of bear you encounter. It is always wise to be aware of your surroundings and it is possible you will come across the bears scat before/without coming across the bear. So scat identification is important.

1) Black bear scat tends to be small, dense and full of nuts and berries.

2) Grizzly scat is larger, looser and full of bells and has a strong peppery odor...

 

[flightsimmer]

I personally only have two shotguns, a 12 gauge Mossberg 835 pump with a smooth bore vent rib barrel with 5 choke tubes and a 24" rifled barrel for slugs. It will shoot anything 12 gauge from mini shells to 3-1/2" magnums and I suppose flares if there is such a thing. It may not be the best choice for any one use but can be used for all.

The other is a 20 gauge Steoger Coach gun, a short, light, easy to carry double barrel that I have been using to shoot skeet.
I actually bought the coach gun to go with my CAS, (cowboy) set, but I liked it so well I started using it for other things.

The only shortcoming that I see with the Steoger is capacity so I'm searching for a bandolier or a belt to carry extra shells.
Oh, and of course it is somewhat slower to reload.
It does break down into a handy package for transportation, I have a really nice, nylon case for it.

I've been trying to make the case for buying another shotgun but I just don't see the need. I have been looking at the Mossberg 590-a1 or the Mossberg Retrograde but just cannot pull the trigger so to speak. I would probably never use it anyway.

Ahh, so many choices and so little time.

 

[Itchytriggerfinger]

Go shoot one under duress on uneven ground. I own multiple birdshead/raptor grip shotguns and would only use them if I had nothing else in reach.

There are better tools for the job so instead of reinventing the wheel, I'll stick with what's proven to work.

 

[Leadeye]

As shotguns go, or anything else, I think I would want something quick handling. Animals, even large ones, are often encountered by surprise. It's bad enough if you just surprise them, but if they surprise you, it's usually because they wanted to surprise you.

 

[Ark]

I personally only have two shotguns, a 12 gauge Mossberg 835 pump with a smooth bore vent rib barrel with 5 choke tubes and a 24" rifled barrel for slugs. It will shoot anything 12 gauge from mini shells to 3-1/2" magnums and I suppose flares if there is such a thing. It may not be the best choice for any one use but can be used for all.

The other is a 20 gauge Steoger Coach gun, a short, light, easy to carry double barrel that I have been using to shoot skeet.
I actually bought the coach gun to go with my CAS, (cowboy) set, but I liked it so well I started using it for other things.

The only shortcoming that I see with the Steoger is capacity so I'm searching for a bandolier or a belt to carry extra shells.
Oh, and of course it is somewhat slower to reload.
It does break down into a handy package for transportation, I have a really nice, nylon case for it.

I've been trying to make the case for buying another shotgun but I just don't see the need. I have been looking at the Mossberg 590-a1 or the Mossberg Retrograde but just cannot pull the trigger so to speak. I would probably never use it anyway.

Ahh, so many choices and so little time.

I switched to a SxS for squirrel hunting last year. Really liked carrying it. Yes, capacity is low, but it's very easy to change ammunition types and carry 00 on the way to and from the hunting area.

 

[Hookeye]

If I was gonna carry a gun while hiking.....esp in bear country.......it'd be a S&W 329 PD.

Have shot one and liked it (w factory wood grips and hot 255gr stuff).

 

[Hookeye]

If there can only be one, put this is a chest rig, and you'll be able to shoot anything in the world that might need shootin' !

Have thought about an X frame in .460......def chest rig for it.
My back is messed up and hip carry is only for lighter rigs.

 

[Liberty Sanders]

We talking black bears? Or the other varieties that come in Chevy Suburban sizes? Seems it would make a difference in weaponry choice.

Venue would as well. The times that I've been afoot in bear country have been in our national parks. Anything you have slung is going to draw considerable unwelcome attention.

I have had one close call. The Better Half and I were traveling by car, and I had chosen a route taking us through Shenandoah National Park, which she had never seen.

I came around a curve and found three motorcycles stopped in the center of the road. Three couples had dismounted and were walking toward the side of the road...toward a smallish blackie sow with three cubs! "Oh, look at the cute little bears," gushed one of the bimbos, evidently raised on a diet of Disney nature featurettes. I couldn't believe it. They were almost within touching distance. I was speechless. I expected the mom to attack any second. What to do?

I quickly considered the situation. I was packing a 4" Model 29 that would drop the little mom like a bad habit. Were she to attack and I shot her:

1) Uncle Sam would be very displeased. I could justify my actions and would be cleared, but it would be a damnably unpleasant experience that would take a big chunk out of my travel itinerary;

2) The cubs would either flee into the forest and die without mom's attention, or remain with mom, be taken by the park people and quite possibly euthanized.

Either way, I'd be killing four bears with a single shot whose only crime was that they were acting like bears.

"F*ck it," I growled to my wife. "She can eat all she wants." To my amazement the little bear, who had more sense than the six humans combined, hustled her charges over the hill and into the forest away from the idiots, leaving them unharmed.

To shoot that innocent bear would have greatly troubled me. Nothing that happened to those morons was of any consequence. I will never understand how some people survive childhood.