Slugs for Bear

[HankBuck]

I always read all SLUG Threads with great interest.
But what amazes me, is that in gun-liberal America there are huge hunting areas and even states where hunting with rifles is not allowed.Only shotguns with slugs and buckshot.
I can only speculate about the reasons.
But would you have an official explanation for a German hunter where this is totally unusual?
Greetings and thanks
Foxi

@Foxi - In New Jersey it was Shotguns Only with Buckshot for Deer for the past 100 years, population density was one of the reasons given but that really makes no sense because the Northern part of the State was rural farm land & rolling hills of woods, South Jersey was pine land woods and marshes….”tradition” that just kept getting repeated over the years. The State of Iowa was also Slug guns only for Deer as was the State of Illinois and I have NO IDEA why….maybe You can let us know why we have some backward State Laws??

 

[HankBuck]

The us Forest service use shotguns with slugs for years on Bear protection. The problem with universal slugs that are intended for use in any choke is the have to be soft so they can get through a tight choke without damaging the barrel but as a results they will flatten causing poor penetration but properly placed it carries a big whack. The rifled slug barrels utilize sabot slugs which fro the most part are held inside of a sabot. These can utilize much hard projectiles resulting in deeper penetration, you choice

View attachment 466208

@raamw - that’s an odd photo? A wolf-attacking a Grizz AND a person close to “both” with a shotgun ready to shoot?

 

[Foxi]

no, that's not a wolf.
in russia, it is common practice to raise bears from the winter camp and then execute them when they come out disturbed.

 

[Raven]

in russia, it is common practice to raise bears from the winter camp and then execute them when they come out disturbed.

This is a traditional Russian hunting in a den. Now it is actually banned. Rather, it is possible to hunt this way, but with a number of restrictions. For example, you can't shoot females. But how do you know right away that a female has jumped out of the ground and snow? There are also seasonal restrictions – you can not kill a bear in winter. However, it is possible, if the autumn is cold, he will lie down in the den until the forbidden time.

In general, everything has become very difficult with this type of hunting. But it still exists. It has always been considered a special style to kill a bear in a den not with a gun, but with a special spear called a "rogatina". But you need to understand that only very experienced and desperate hunters dared to do this. There are almost no such people now.

 

[Alaska338]

I live in Alaska I have a great Marlin 45/70 Trapper setup for short range Moose and Bear.

But I will always pick my 12 Ga Rem 870 Slug Gun Wingmaster with Breneke Original Mag Slugs for Bear protection over my beloved 45/70.

Never Ever Buckshot for Bear !

 

[1dirthawker]

My preference on a “Charge” would always be Buckshot but that’s just my Opinion based on NOTHING because I’ve Never faced a charge. I do handle a shotgun well on flying targets and feel I could Hit a charging Bear more consistently with a load of Buckshot vs a Slug….but a charging Bear is NOT an incoming duck or clay target so all theory is just that “theory”. Ballistics mean Nothing if you can’t hit your target.

the only problem with buckshot on bears (or leopards so i hear) is that at the close distances they are used, the shot pattern is not that large and the penetration on a frontal shot with buckshot is much more limited. a broadside white tail and a frontal brown bear are vastly different things.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I live in Alaska I have a great Marlin 45/70 Trapper setup for short range Moose and Bear.

But I will always pick my 12 Ga Rem 870 Slug Gun Wingmaster with Breneke Original Mag Slugs for Bear protection over my beloved 45/70.

Never Ever Buckshot for Bear !

Ditto. In the tent in moose camp it's a short barreled 12 with Brenneke's. (I live in Alaska too - Dillingham)

 

[HankBuck]

the only problem with buckshot on bears (or leopards so i hear) is that at the close distances they are used, the shot pattern is not that large and the penetration on a frontal shot with buckshot is much more limited. a broadside white tail and a frontal brown bear are vastly different things.

@1dirthawker - I Agree with you on both your points: 1). Very small pattern with Buckshot at Close distances — but still “bigger then a rifle or slug ‘pattern’..
2). Penetration of buckshot on a Frontal shot (Bear Skull) will be less then ‘Broadside whitetail’ - but you don’t need as deep penetration on a skull/brain, just enough to break skull and reach Brain ie: 1” to 2” into skill by ONE pellet.
Since I’ve Never killed a ‘Charging Bear’ (or anything else ‘charging) that’s just what I would use because I think I’d have the Best chance of Hitting a charging animal with a Shotgun over any Rifle….and “Hitting” is the most important part !

 

[HankBuck]

no, that's not a wolf.
in russia, it is common practice to raise bears from the winter camp and then execute them when they come out disturbed.

@Foxi — Not a Hound either, doesn’t appear to even be a pure Husky or other type of sled dog (tail not curled) could you elaborate?
I’m gonna guess the dog (ugly dog) smells scent under the snow - finds a denned up bear, rousts the bear from den, - Hunter shoots Bear??
Don’t they use Hounds? I know some sled dogs will alert “bark” when a bear is scented, Polar Bears are sometimes detected this way…..not familiar with the type/method of Bear hunting you describe - but it’s interesting.