Shotgun load for bear calling

[WSU]

I'm planning to do some predator calling for bears.  My primary weapon will be my bow, but i thought it might be good to bring a second weapon.  We will be calling in an area with very limited visibility.  Anyone have experience with a buckshot load at close range?  Other thoughts?

[sirmissalot]

I'd go with 3 inch 000 buck if you can find them.

[Huntbear]

Buckshot then slugs  NO SCOPE..

[CAMPMEAT]

Shotgun is too big. Use a handgun. It's a helluva lot faster to acquire your bear than trying to swing around a shotgun. I called one in last year to within 12-15 feet and he was there without me even hearing him.

[Special T]

I second a large hand cannon for a 2nd weapon. 

[mfswallace]

I second a large hand cannon for a 2nd weapon. 

3rd that and the only way to go!!!   

[D-Rock425]

Knife

[Biggerhammer]

I would run a 12ga for a secondary, short a barrel as possible with a extended tube. Screw buckshot, gas that 12ga up with slugs. You have a hell of a lot more energy and range than you do using a handgun as your secondary and then of course carry whatever handgun you usually do. I've backed several friends up with a 12ga while they were trying to take a bear with a bow, back when baiting was legal.

[madmack76]

all i can think of is that john candy movie with the bald bear

[Biggerhammer]

all i can think of is that john candy movie with the bald bear

Hahaha! The bald bear of Blair County. Hahaha! He really worked him over with that door.

[D-Rock425]

If i didn't use mu knife i would use slugs.

[CAMPMEAT]

I would run a 12ga for a secondary, short a barrel as possible with a extended tube. Screw buckshot, gas that 12ga up with slugs. You have a hell of a lot more energy and range than you do using a handgun as your secondary and then of course carry whatever handgun you usually do. I've backed several friends up with a 12ga while they were trying to take a bear with a bow, back when baiting was legal.

Carrying a bow and a shotgun = bad medicine if you're alone. You have too much crap to move out of the way to get to your shotgun.

[D-Rock425]

The ideal situation would be to hace someone with you with a rifle for backup or that way when bear doesn't commit to bow range one of you could still pop him.

[mfswallace]

Limited visibility is the key statement of his question.  The bears could get on him without him or his partner knowing it.

Pistol= 15-17 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger and at close range would be very effective!!

[D-Rock425]

Oops missed that part

[mfswallace]

Oops missed that part

Back to your Knife 

[D-Rock425]

How about a tomahawk 

[mfswallace]

Tomahawk would be effective and give you a little more range than a k-nife

that would be one heck of a rush!!

[Biggerhammer]

I would run a 12ga for a secondary, short a barrel as possible with a extended tube. Screw buckshot, gas that 12ga up with slugs. You have a hell of a lot more energy and range than you do using a handgun as your secondary and then of course carry whatever handgun you usually do. I've backed several friends up with a 12ga while they were trying to take a bear with a bow, back when baiting was legal.

Carrying a bow and a shotgun = bad medicine if you're alone. You have too much crap to move out of the way to get to your shotgun.

Hahaha! I carried a M4 Carbine, shotgun and a handgun along with 65 pounds of other assorted crap. Didn't get in my way, I was pretty Frikn quick on the secondary but then again I wasn't alone, I had four to twelve other guys with me most of the time that were just as focused as I was. I'm beginning  to like the knife idea more and more. K.I.S.S  You know? The " Keep it simple, stupid" method.

[hillbilli]

I would use the 12 ga, brenneke slugs.. for a small bear plain fosters would be fine, but brenneke's penetrate a whole lot better. always have a backup handgun for bears.. although I wouldnt feel handicapped with my m1a in that situation.. 18" barrel, 180gr with good bullets, 10 or more in the mag..

[Bob33]

(1) Bear spray, and (2) 12 gauge slugs.  At -10 feet the odds of stopping an angry bear with any firearm projectile(s) before he/she rips you a shiny one are rather small.

[Biggerhammer]

I would use the 12 ga, brenneke slugs.. for a small bear plain fosters would be fine, but brenneke's penetrate a whole lot better. always have a backup handgun for bears.. although I wouldnt feel handicapped with my m1a in that situation.. 18" barrel, 180gr with good bullets, 10 or more in the mag..

Do the Brenneke slugs have the rifling on the slug for use in smooth bore shotgun barrels?

[billythekidrock]

(1) Bear spray, and (2) 12 gauge slugs.  At -10 feet the odds of stopping an angry bear with any firearm projectile(s) before he/she rips you a shiny one are rather small.

[fair-chase]

I would use the 12 ga, brenneke slugs.. for a small bear plain fosters would be fine, but brenneke's penetrate a whole lot better. always have a backup handgun for bears.. although I wouldnt feel handicapped with my m1a in that situation.. 18" barrel, 180gr with good bullets, 10 or more in the mag..

Hillbilli, do you have a supplier for Brenneke's? I've been trying to get my hands on them for for a while now but no one in this area carries them, and I'm always too slow on the draw for online ordering. Seems like they sell out quick.

[Biggerhammer]

I would use the 12 ga, brenneke slugs.. for a small bear plain fosters would be fine, but brenneke's penetrate a whole lot better. always have a backup handgun for bears.. although I wouldnt feel handicapped with my m1a in that situation.. 18" barrel, 180gr with good bullets, 10 or more in the mag..

Hillbilli, do you have a supplier for Brenneke's? I've been trying to get my hands on them for them for a while now but no one in this area carries them, and I'm always too slow on the draw for online ordering. Seems like they sell out quick.

I would like to get some also if they are the self stabilizing type for use in non rifled shotgun barrels.

[longrangekiller]

i would load bird shot for your first round to shoot him in the face and blind him then a couple slugs hahaha

[hillbilli]

the brennekes work fine in a smooth bore, and arent meant to expand much.. but they are already 12 ga diameter.. I have the 1 3/8 black mags.. thats 600gr. I live on Whidbey Island and the local hardware store carries them, but you can order them from able ammo, cheaper than dirt, Cabelas, etc.. The cops in alaska carry brennekes, not foster slugs for a reason as a critter stopper. The only thing better in a shotgun is Dixie slugs, if you can still get them. I've read a fair amount from folks that have tried buckshot on dangerous game like leopard, an the writings included a few dramatic failures on rather scratchy critters.. remember at bad breath distance the multiple projectile loads wont have time to scatter anyway.. (although Dixie slugs probably still makes their .60cal hard cast tri-ball load- has 3 .60 cal round balls)