Shotgun with slugs and 00 or 45/70

[cleson]

So you're walking down a trail, using your air horn every so often to warn bears of your presence. There are dense willows around the trail and your packsack reaks of fish. Suddenly a ****ed off Grizz or big black bear comes at you at high speed from 50 ft. He's grunting and running fast toward you! What would you rather have for bear protection? A shotty with 00/slug/slug or a 1895 45/70 marlin? I've heard the argument that you are so scared that maybe the 00 in the shotgunis better, but shot placement is still a big deal. From 50/40/30 feet, I don't think those pellets will spread too much. I'm thinking the 45/70 is the better option.

What are your thoughts?

[Young Eldon]

Don’t be blowing that GD air horn all day – it will annoy the world, make you deaf, run dry and be useless when you need it!!!!!! Otherwise, they can be good to scare bears off while they are still a fair ways from you.

Get a can of bear spray, keep it current and learn to tell the difference between bear “defensive” and “predatory” behaviours. Do your homework!

If you must back iron, just in case you ever need to use it on a bear – take a reliable pump action shotgun that you can hit fast moving targets with consistently (ghost ring sights). A 12 gauge can handle a much wider variety of ammunition (shell crackers, screamers, rubber bullets, pellets and slugs) than any rifle. Save the pellets for birds!

Have many great trips in bear country, even if you don’t see many bears!

[bigoldan43]

Both guns have the energy to do the terminal damage required.

I would suggest picking the weapon you are most practiced with.
In the hands of a duck hunter that shoots a brazillion clays a year, a pump shotgun would be devastating to the bear.
In the hands of a big game/gopher hunter who never shoots a shotgun, but shoots a brazillion gophers a year with a lever 22, then I'd suggest the Marlin.
That's the catagory I fall in. I've used a Marlin for 20+ years for a bear gun. Fortunatly, I've never needed it in fear, but that's what I'm comfortable with.
To go one step further I would add this. If you never use pumps or levers but are very comfortable with a bolt, I'd suggest a short big bore bolt gun. Something like the Remington Guide gun in 350 Rem, or the new 338 Federal.

The bottom line is pick the action you can instinctively use with a certain amount of point and shoot accuracy. Of course, practice, practice, practice. Then pick a projectile that is really heavy, large diameter and sturdy that will penetrate deeply and make a really big hole.

[timsesink]

A pump with slugs or a lever action Marlin in 45-70 or almost identical under a 100yards. Either or, whatever you've got handy. But as was said carry bear spray and your usually better off.

[Tracker34]

Originally Posted by bigoldan43

Both guns have the energy to do the terminal damage required.

I would suggest picking the weapon you are most practiced with.
In the hands of a duck hunter that shoots a brazillion clays a year, a pump shotgun would be devastating to the bear.
In the hands of a big game/gopher hunter who never shoots a shotgun, but shoots a brazillion gophers a year with a lever 22, then I'd suggest the Marlin.
That's the catagory I fall in. I've used a Marlin for 20+ years for a bear gun. Fortunatly, I've never needed it in fear, but that's what I'm comfortable with.
To go one step further I would add this. If you never use pumps or levers but are very comfortable with a bolt, I'd suggest a short big bore bolt gun. Something like the Remington Guide gun in 350 Rem, or the new 338 Federal.

The bottom line is pick the action you can instinctively use with a certain amount of point and shoot accuracy. Of course, practice, practice, practice. Then pick a projectile that is really heavy, large diameter and sturdy that will penetrate deeply and make a really big hole.

X2

My preferance is my 12 ga coachgun with 3" magnum, 1 1/4 oz slugs. It's what I good and comfortable with.

[cleson]

In my first post, that would probably be a defensive charge. Still scarey though.

I carry bear spray. I should probably buy 2 cans, because the one I have is getting old. I need to go out and practice with it. I actually read an article that showed the percentages for detterring bears. The spray was 95% effective in scaring a charging or stalking bear. The sound of the gun was only 65% effective. There were, however, 3 times more cases where the gun blast was used. I still like using the horn periodically while I'm on the trail.

As far as education. I have watched some videos and read a few books. Identifying behaviour is important. I lived in Prince George most my life, and Kitimat for 7 years. I have been around a lot of bears and have never been charged. I felt like I was being stalked by a black once. That was super scarey. He just kept coming toward me slowly. His head was swaying back and forth. My truck was 10 feet away, so I just got in and left. I would just like a gun for back up. I'm kind of leaning toward a shotgun, because that is what I can get for free. It's an old winchester with rifle sights and a short barrel. It would be piece of mind when camping.

[timsesink]

That sounds perfect for a camp gun, load er up with slugs (not buckshot!!!!!!) and your good to go. For more info on the slugs vs. buckshot debate there was a great thread a while back, but I'm to lazy to link it. End result, slugs won by about the circumference of the earth in all regards.