12GA. SLUGS FOR BEAR

BEARBUSTER66 · 03-23-2006, 04:55 PM

I'm building a slug gun for my son, it's an 835 pump with a rifled barrel and a 2-7 scope. I normally use a 54cal muzzel loader, has anyone taken a bear with a slug gun, how did it perform?

game4lunch · 03-23-2006, 05:27 PM

I'm no expert on this one, and would gladly bow to our Alaskan contributers on this subject, but I do recall hearing or reading somewhere that they are particularly popular with Alaska guides while in Griz/Brown bear country.
Will you be loading yourself?

James B · 03-23-2006, 06:42 PM

My Bear hunting guide carries a 12 Ga slug gun as a back up for all Bears. He says he would carry nothing else for that purpose. Many of the slugs we have now would be about the most Lethal weapon you could use at short range. The Dixie Terminator Slug comes to mind. 740 grain heat treated slug @ 1350 fps. Nothing is going to stand up to that. www.dixieslugs.com.

DARKSIDE55 · 03-23-2006, 06:51 PM

When I'm baiting and in the bush, 12 ga. with slugs are the best weapon you can have at 50 yds. or under.

buck knife · 03-24-2006, 09:08 AM

My uncle has taken 2 bears with a 12 ga. they both dropped right where they were hit. I would imagine it would be as good if not better than the 54 cal.

NJSLAYER337 · 03-24-2006, 03:42 PM

I took my first bear last year in Maine with my 20ga H&R Ultra Slug gun. With a 2 3/4 Remington buckhammer the bear dropped in his tracks.

txhunter58 · 03-24-2006, 04:52 PM

I used to think that if I were being charged by a bear, I would most like to carry my 338 win mag. However, I think now I would choose my 12 gauge pump loaded with the max number of shells the gun would allow.

Check out this site: http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/July02.htmIt helps you figure the "knock down" power of big slow moving bullets much better than using the ft/lbs method. For these purposes, the diameter of a 12 gauge is roughly 0.75 inches.