Shotgun Ammo and self defense?

Question

Hey I am curious if anyone could tell me how well a 3 1/2" 00 Buck would do stopping an animal? I was told it would tear a cougar or bear in half by the sales guy but I am going into a hostile area and I am wanting to make sure. I also carry 2 3/4" slugs that have a ballistic tip which I was told would puncture a bears skull with ease. Should I favor one of these rounds over the other? I prefer to have the 00 in the chamber but should I follow that with the slug or stick with 00's all the way? I know there are bears around in the area but possibly other things that would like to eat me so I want to make sure I come back! Thanks in advance for any advice.
Oh and I'm carrying one of Benelli's tactical guns.

lol I do like my guns but trust me, I don't scare easily. My friends livestock has been threatened and several of their dogs nearly eaten. We know there are two cougars as we were stocked by them (and saw them) last week. I don't care to end up as a meal.

Thanks so much for answers. I live here in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and my friends place is north of here in the middle of nowhere. I have become concerned with all of the bear attacks in Yellowstone and such. I'm sure they are the fault of the people however I don't want the nickname "lunch" as one poster said!

Answer 1

I can tell you from my personal experience that when I have hunted in Canada and the Western U.S. the majority of Outfitters that carry shotguns used a "Mixed bag" in their magazines. They usually carry 12 gauge 2 3/4 Hardened Sabot Slugs, followed by a round of #00 Buckshot, another Hardened Sabot Slug, followed by another #00 Buckshot, son on and so on. They ALWAYS chamber a Sabot FIRST! The initial shot on a charging angry Bear determines exactly whats going to happen next. #00 Buckshot is great, but the Bear would have to be extremely close for #00 Buckshot to be an effective initial round. Personal experience tells me to do the same thing and make every other round a #00 Buck round with Sabots as the first and every other round...That way you have the best of both worlds and your butt is covered. It is a big mistake to rely on #00 Buck as your only defensive round unless you want the new nickname "Lunch"........Carrying a Benelli Tactical, with these rounds mixed up you could go into combat......lol

Answer 2

Hum... you seem to have gotten a lot of "authorative" answers. Here is the real scoop ... from someone who knows.

1) it is highly not probable that unless you are venturing out of the continental US into Alaska, Mexico, Canada, or Africa you will ever encounter a hostile wild animal. Crazy people - yes, wild dogs - yes, tame dogs with bad owners - yes; wild animals intent on eating you - probably not. You may need to shoot any of the above.

2) I would agree if you can legally carry a firearm and know how to use it - that is a great idea. Firearms are much more difficult to use effectively than one might think. Forget bear spray.

3) If you fear wild animals and have to ask questions like which is better 00 buck or slugs .... maybe you don't need to be carrying a gun - or be going into harms way. It is a mixed bag ... if you are 100% certain you can make good hits under pressure (I sure am not) a slug is best - don't get caught up in all the fancy marketing about slugs. 500 grains running at 900 fps is 500 grains at 900 fps. It's just mass. A BIG mass. A 12 ga slug of any variety will stop anything on the North American continent in at least, oh, 30 seconds. You'll be dead by then, but, hey - you stopped it. Stopping a charging bear requires you hit it in a sholder (and break it down mechanically) - you need a big bullet to do that.

So .. you just want to trundle you self off into bear/cougar country and have some fun. Tree huggers aside - I'm going to take the damn gun as well. So here is what you need to do - and ignore the dumbasses.

Buy a good pump or automatic 12ga (or 10 ga) shotgun with an open choke. Cheap is fine - Remington 500. Get a couple boxes of slugs and a couple boxes of 00 buckshot. Go somewhere and practice till you can hit a milk jug with the slugs ... and mostly the same with 00. I'd go for the pump - gives you half a second to think before shots - and lets you carry it without a round in the chamber. With no round the chamber, an automatic is cumbersome to get into action (read that you are dead) - a pump is not. As for social situations - nothing gets attention faster than a pump action shotgun having a fresh round chambered.

For adventures in the wild:

Load it up with the first two rounds 00, then a slug. You can put anything else after that you want .. doesn't matter.
The idea is ... if you do get lucky and get a chance of getting shot off at a charging bear/cougar, the 00 gives you a much higher probability of a hit. If you need the third round .... you likley won't have to worry about missing. 00 is just as effective as a slug that close anyway.

4) Cougars attack from the rear and like to make head bites - guns are useless if they are "really" stalking you. Often cougars will follow you just because they are curious. Read the literature on this ... virtually all human kills by cougars woud not have been prevented by the person having a gun.

Your greatest danger is humans - go for the buckshot. By the way, if you want to use your shotgun for home defense - get birdshot. It's very effective in close ranges - and does not penetrate walls to kill you family or friends. I know this sounds Machivellian .... but birdshot is much easier to defend in court than buckshot.......

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

I can tell you first hand that I always carry a 12 gauge shotgun with a 20" barrel when I am in bear country. I even carry one when I am setting up my bear baits for the spring hunt. I carry it with 4 rounds of slug up first because I want to anchor the bear in place, and, it gives me accuracy and stopping power out to 75 yards or so on a bear. After that I alternate oo buckshot and slugs to fill the magazine. I have taken bears with a shotgun at 50-75 yards as well as point blank. I still want that slug up first no matter what the distance. I have never taken a bear with buckshot, I consider that to be a last stance option at face to face range. But I have seen the results of a bear taken close in with buckshot. The bear still turned away and run for over 100 yards before expiring. If it had decided to continue the attack rather than run away, the guy would have been dead.

Answer 5

A slug at close range < 50 yards will put a hurting on any north america game animal.

For close in I'd keep the 0, 00, or 000 in the magazine.

Slug in the chamber 00 buck in the magazine.
Truthfully cat see a gun and they run the other way even the little ditch tigers we have around here.

Make sure you shoot to kill, not maim, a wounded cat is a lot more dangerous then a healthy one or a dead one.

Answer 6

I concur with the contributors.
1st shot should be a slug. Followed by 00. And another slug-another 00.

I do a lot of hiking and camping in very remote areas. Mostly Wyoming and Montana. Also Utah and Idaho

And carry a 12 gauge tactical with a folding stock. Uses 3 inch magnums. Gives one a great deal of security comfort. As I have used it hunting mountain lions in our western states. It is a very deadly close range gun.

That said-or written. I also carry a .357 magnum as a back up. I have used the 12 gauge to stop a frontal charge by a black bear. Shot purposely over it with 1st shot. Was enough to
deter it. The incident was ALL my fault. Not that of the bear. I surprised it on a trail.

No idea where your going. But do know this. You always need to be very, very cognizant of your surroundings. Complacency in bear and lion country is not a good idea.

Answer 7

Stagger your loads. if you are worried about getting jumped lload the 00 in the chamber followed by a second 00 and then your slugs. you get get 2 quick shots of the 00 off and then when the animal is thinking about charging again if you have not cleanly finished it then you have time for a well placed shot with a slug..or 2...so cram a couple slugs in 2.75 in first then the 3.5 00's i have seen a 2.75 slug pierce both sides of a 73 chevy impala and exit the other side cleanly the car rocked when it was hit. It will do a bear

Answer 8

The guy above me it nuts. I wouldn't go in a area inhabited by both bear and cougars without being armed.


Yes bears can and will attack and while it is rare for a cougar to attack or even be seen it can happen.

I know from experience that black bears dont always run away if you yell at them. About 1 in 10 will charge if you happen along two close. Even had one following my scent trail and stalking me

Dont buy into the ranger B.S about making noise and making yourself appear large... it dont always work

If you are confident with your skills and aim then go with the slug, otherwise go with the 00.

Answer 9

in my area, the dangerous predators walk on 2 legs and can speak. i load my 12 gauge with 00bk and slugs alternating so the first one fired is a slug and the second is 00bk. the slug is so i can make a hole in my front door to fire through. you may want to use 00bk all the way or even no 1 buck if youre out in the woods.

Answer 10

Get the bears size can of mace. That is what the rangers carry, it will run the bear off rather than make it madder.

I think either the 00 or the slugs will do the job on any animal in North America, but you have to hit it and that is not always easy when you are frightened, and shooting fast.