Originally Posted by kellory
Curiosity, from those who have faced bears, why is a pump shotgun with solid slugs or 00buck, not the preferred close in bear weapon? Fast handling, close in devastation, and a bead sight for fast sighting. Why choose a long range rifle for a close in job?


In my two posts here, I mentioned a shotgun that belonged to the guide that was in a scabbard on one side of his saddle while hunting caribou. It was indeed a short barreled Rem 870 12 Gauge shotgun - 20" iirc - and he had it loaded with slugs especially for close range bear encounters. He also had a 30-06 rifle in a scabbard on the other side of his saddle and I had a 7MM Rem Mag rifle for caribou. He never suggested the use of a rifle for either of us as the bear visibly approached the caribou kill from a distance.

It's official. I missed the selfie deadline so I'm Maser's sock puppet because rene and the Polish half of the fubar twins have decided that I am.

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