I would only use a shotgun even with slugs with smallish bears. But then who knows what you are going to run into unless you have a situation like Klik where the bear keeps coming back. The fact that it did, tells you the bear is a problem bear that needs to be killed. I typically only see two kinds of folks who use shotguns for bears, government/police and novices (who have a "theory") who use slugs between buckshot and they are going to "blind the bear". That's like shooting to wound someone who is trying to kill you. Even Klik who has a ton of experience in the bush, went back and got a rifle with a heavy, penetrating bullet. I have no idea why someone who has access to a rifle would take a shotgun to perform the only duty. I will give an additional alternative, and Alaska has the highest percentage of these rifles that are produced than anywhere in the country. Marlin 1895/Guide gun 45/70 with heavy hard casts. You will see a lot of those in the bush and around Alaska and that is the rifle that people frequently have in the bush during the summer. Add an XO sight and it's a very quick rifle to come on target. Good luck with what ever you choose.
