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.