North America's Do-It-All Workhorse - An Ode To The 12 Gauge!

[Miranda Candice]

Whether it's duck or deer season, the 12 gauge will do it all and then some!

My very first firearm was a 1992 Remington 870 Special Purpose; you know, the cool ones in the original mossy oak bottomland camo with the 28 inch barrel. I used that old thing to kill my first moose and it goes with me while I guide my American and European clients on their respective moose hunts. It was also my firearm of choice during a DLP kill on a predatory polar bear that caused my small Newfoundland fishing town some grief one April night after killing livestock and attempting to break into an occupied home.

Shotguns don't get a lot of love from the African safari club, especially when compared to high-powered rifles. But here in North America, they punch well above their weight in the hands of locals who live among the animals they hunt.

In the hands of a competent shooter with the proper ammunition selection, 12 gauge shotguns and are capable of taking any game animal found on the continent, including the great bears and bison.

Below is a collection of photos showing just what the old 12 gauge is capable of against North America`s largest game animals!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

No argument there. The old 12 gauge is the Swiss Army knife of firearms.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I agree with you on the 12 gauge. But need more details on the polar bear story.

 

[Miranda Candice]

I agree with you on the 12 gauge. But need more details on the polar bear story.

Polar bears from the Canadian Arctic migrate south every spring following the harp seal herds.
These bears are typically starving by the time they get down here and if they don`t manage to find their natural prey, they can sometimes be tempted to go after other food sources, including livestock and people that live in fishing communities dotted along the Island`s coastline.

This particular bear was a sub-adult male that had made himself known in our community. He broke into a local farmer`s barn and killed several sheep and goats. Strange thing was he never consumed any of the meat as polar bears always do. He simply killed them and moved on. That was very abnormal behavior from any non-human animal.

Our provincial wildlife officers were busy with other nuisance bears and couldn't be dispatched to my town.
So, our community basically went into polar bear patrol mode and those of us who owned firearms kept them handy.

Doors on vehicles were kept unlocked.
Outside lights were always kept on during the night.
Pets were kept inside and children had an armed escort while waiting at the bus stop.

I got a call from a local elderly woman who lived alone around midnight two nights after the initial livestock killings and the lady said that the bear was outside and tore here hot tub to pieces and was now using his paws to push against her large glass patio door.

I had friends over at the house when it happened who were all hunters and gun owners so we loaded up and took off in a single pickup.

The bear ran off when it heard the sound of the truck pull in the driveway so we followed it down into the beach and along the shoreline until we finally caught up with it.

Wildlife had already given us the OK to kill the bear after the strange behavior it had exhibited earlier and with this latest scary encounter, we were taking no chances.

I jumped from the truck bed and put a 2 3/4" Federal foster slug into his shoulder. He dropped on the spot and one of the other guys followed up with two 170gr .30-30 pills from his Marlin 336.

That was the end of Mr. Polar Bear!

Here's a detailed map (2015-2020) showing aggressive polar bears that were photographed by residents before being killed by locals or relocated by wildlife officials.

 

[Red Leg]

Welcome to our community! You'll find quite a few smooth bore shooters here as well. Though I am fairly confident you are the first to have taken a polar bear with one!

 

[Miranda Candice]

Welcome to our community! You'll find quite a few smooth bore shooters here as well. Though I am fairly confident you are the first to have taken a polar bear with one!

Thanks Red Leg!

I'd love to have that title.
Alas, I'm sure there is some RCMP officer or Alaska State Trooper stationed up North somewhere or a guide in Churchill Manitoba that has claimed that title haha.

 

[318AE]

Welcome. I appreciate you sharing your stories and insights. A few here have scoffed at the idea of using a 12 gauge paradox gun with foster slugs or capped bullets on cape buffalo. While certainly not an ideal choice, the points you make here reinforce its adequate in the right hands and situation. Agreed - a 12 gauge is a do it all, versatile workhorse. We often debate things akin to which premium 300gr soft point bullet for a 375 is best - this “get on with it” (with a 30-30 for back up) demeanor is refreshing!

 

[schmijar]

A few here have scoffed at the idea of using a 12 gauge paradox gun with foster slugs or capped bullets on cape buffalo.

Didn't Capstick talk about killing a buffalo with a 12ga in one of his books? This is from my dusty memory so it could have been someone else.

If there's been a previous discussion on AH about it and anyone recalls the name if the thread I'd be curious to read it. (Not because I have any desire to do it!)

 

[Mekaniks]

Welcome to AH

Great first thread. Thanks for sharing and posting it

 

[Miranda Candice]

Welcome. I appreciate you sharing your stories and insights. A few here have scoffed at the idea of using a 12 gauge paradox gun with foster slugs or capped bullets on cape buffalo. While certainly not an ideal choice, the points you make here reinforce its adequate in the right hands and situation. Agreed - a 12 gauge is a do it all, versatile workhorse. We often debate things akin to which premium 300gr soft point bullet for a 375 is best - this “get on with it” (with a 30-30 for back up) demeanor is refreshing!

You're kindly welcome 318AE!

I'm not intimately familiar with African game, but I would put Cape Buffalo in the same class as a rhino, hippo and elephant.
That might just be a reason for me to buy that .404 Jeffrey that I've always wanted lol.

The fact that lions and leopards are considered part of the Big Five is silly.

A lion maxes out at 400lbs and a leopard and hyena are even smaller. The average interior Alaskan grizzly is much larger than a lion and our North American black bears are twice the size of leopards and hyenas.

According to the literature I've read from the early 1900s, British soldiers and rail rode workers had nothing but praise for the fast-handling Lee Enfield .303 rifles when it came to dealing with lions and leopards around their campsites.
The .303 174gr Mk VII Ball ammo would literally cause lions to do back flips if they were hit at full charge.
Naturally, larger rifles chambered in things like the .375 H&H, 9.3x62 and the massive Nitro Express doubles were kept for the larger stuff like Cape Buffalo, Rhino, etc.

I'd have no qualms about toting any 12 gauge with slugs or a light rifle in .308, .30-30, .30-06, 7x57, .270 Winchester, etc. around the African bush if I planned on dealing with cats or a spotted wannabe grey wolf at danger close ranges.

Miranda

 

[Miranda Candice]

Welcome to AH

Great first thread. Thanks for sharing and posting it

Thanks! Mekaniks!
You're kindly welcome.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Polar bears from the Canadian Arctic migrate south every spring following the harp seal herds.
These bears are typically starving by the time they get down here and if they don`t manage to find their natural prey, they can sometimes be tempted to go after other food sources, including livestock and people that live in fishing communities dotted along the Island`s coastline.

This particular bear was a sub-adult male that had made himself known in our community. He broke into a local farmer`s barn and killed several sheep and goats. Strange thing was he never consumed any of the meat as polar bears always do. He simply killed them and moved on. That was very abnormal behavior from any non-human animal.

Our provincial wildlife officers were busy with other nuisance bears and couldn't be dispatched to my town.
So, our community basically went into polar bear patrol mode and those of us who owned firearms kept them handy.

Doors on vehicles were kept unlocked.
Outside lights were always kept on during the night.
Pets were kept inside and children had an armed escort while waiting at the bus stop.

I got a call from a local elderly woman who lived alone around midnight two nights after the initial livestock killings and the lady said that the bear was outside and tore here hot tub to pieces and was now using his paws to push against her large glass patio door.

I had friends over at the house when it happened who were all hunters and gun owners so we loaded up and took off in a single pickup.

The bear ran off when it heard the sound of the truck pull in the driveway so we followed it down into the beach and along the shoreline until we finally caught up with it.

Wildlife had already given us the OK to kill the bear after the strange behavior it had exhibited earlier and with this latest scary encounter, we were taking no chances.

I jumped from the truck bed and put a 2 3/4" Federal foster slug into his shoulder. He dropped on the spot and one of the other guys followed up with two 170gr .30-30 pills from his Marlin 336.

That was the end of Mr. Polar Bear!

Here's a detailed map (2015-2020) showing aggressive polar bears that were photographed by residents before being killed by locals or relocated by wildlife officials. View attachment 544430

Thank you for sharing! That is a crazy story!

 

[Jim Golden]

That's really cool! I got a lucky break and bought a 1909 Parker 12ga double. It's one of my favorite pieces. Took it turkey hunting but only got rained on. Have a Winchester Model 1897, made in 1899, in 12ga. I shot it a few times but it loosened up. Need to adjust it. Also have a Winchester Model 12 from 1947 in 12ga that looks new. I'd heard of folks hunting leopard with them. Never considered it for bear or tigers. But, I've read that guides in Alaska will fill them full of slugs and use them for backup. That is a big hunk of lead! Cool post!

 

[Miranda Candice]

That's really cool! I got a lucky break and bought a 1909 Parker 12ga double. It's one of my favorite pieces. Took it turkey hunting but only got rained on. Have a Winchester Model 1897, made in 1899, in 12ga. I shot it a few times but it loosened up. Need to adjust it. Also have a Winchester Model 12 from 1947 in 12ga that looks new. I'd heard of folks hunting leopard with them. Never considered it for bear or tigers. But, I've read that guides in Alaska will fill them full of slugs and use them for backup. That is a big hunk of lead! Cool post!

My Uncle has two Winchester Model 12s that he dearly loves!
One is a handy takedown model.
He's used them on a few moose and black bear.
But they've probably killed more squirrels, wolves and coyotes than anything else haha.

 

[Aaron N]

Odd that someone who thinks all African countries suck joins a forum on African hunting….

Where in Newfoundland or Labrador are you from?

 

[Mekaniks]

Odd that someone who thinks all African countries suck joins a forum on African hunting….

Where in Newfoundland or Labrador are you from?

When did someone say that “all African countries suck” ??? Did I miss something?

 

[Aaron N]

When did someone say that “all African countries suck” ??? Did I miss something?

Read their profile

 

[Mekaniks]

Read their profile

Yup Gotcha
@Miranda Candice you don’t like African Countries? Tell us more about how you formed that opinion….

 

[jpr9954]

My one and only trip to Newfoundland was in 1975. I found the local folks aka Newfies to be some of the most generous and friendly people I had ever met.

It is a beautiful place for sure.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ve killed most of my deer with 12 gauge and brenneke slugs.