RE: BT's and brush?
 

Even if you do deflect a bullet or slug, I believe the damage caused by a 1oz slug tumbling would be much more satisfatory than a 270win 130gr. The 130gr may be made to expand or mushroom and can't do it with it tumbling. A slug will cause a monster hole anyway.

I highly suggest everyone do thier own tests with real brush. Don't worry about reading about it or with dowls.

RE: BT's and brush?
 

A friend of mine used to carry a shotgun loaded with slugs for following up on wounded black bears.I have always used 00 buckshot.After seeing just how easily even slugs can be deflected and how their effectiveness is reduced in heavy brush,he also uses 00 buckshot now.A few pellets may not get through,but enough do to put down any black bear at close range.

RE: BT's and brush?
 

Takes all kinds I guess.

RE: BT's and brush?
 

If you had ever faced the job of tracking a wounded bear through thick undergrowth at close range you would realize that buckshot has it's advantages.You have a larger margin of error especially on moving bears and a better chance of some pellets making it through the brush than with a slug.We use rifles to actually hunt the bears but if someone wounds a bear we trade the rifles for our short barreled shotguns.

RE: BT's and brush?
 

Actually I have had that job in Newfoundland on bigggg black bears. It wasn't my shot, but one of the guys in camp, and I wanted to go along for the track. I understand where you are coming from but I opt for slugs and my guides prefer them too. They do it for a living on 100's of bears, so I will have to trust them. But if you ever saw what I have from 00 and lack of penetration in whitetail, I think you would change your mind quickly. The underbrush in newfie is unreal. How much penetration are you getting on a blackbear at close range? Going all the way thru them.

RE: BT's and brush?
 

We use copper plated and buffered shot and penetration is adequate at the very close ranges that we are talking about which are usually within 20 yards or so.