[Hyper J]

Heading up to Alaska next year and was looking for the best big bear stopper for protection only. You know the charging bear dropper kind? After about a week of research this is what comes out on top loaded with slugs. Seems to be more effective than 45/70?
What is you all’s thoughts?

 

[Dave514]

Yes. If you're used to using a pump rapidly.

 

[Syclone0538]

Should be fine if you have it/it's close enough, if you happen to need it.

There's a specific kind of slug you will want, I forget the name of them.


Edit
Brenneke is the name I was trying to think of. Mentioned later in the thread.

 

[skyfall]

If you are going to hike the nature trails and walk through the woods plus up and down hills, I give you one day carrying that shotgun.

 

[DirectDrive]

If you are going to hike the nature trails and walk through the woods plus up and down hills, I give you one day carrying that shotgun.

I used to hunt deer with an Ithaca Model 37
Not bad to carry around all day.

An ounce of lead at 1500 FPS is pretty good, but...
I'd be tempted to go with a .338 or bigger if guiding and backing up a client or if on overwatch while quartering an animal in grizzly country.

For casual hiking, I'd go with a handgun.
I have a S&W 629 6" 44 magnum and a Glock G20 10mm
Both are very accurate and easy to shoot.

For hiking in griz country, I'd take my chances with the G20 in a chest rig loaded with either Underwood or Buffalo Bore bear loads.

 

[warbow150]

Hi, Hyper J.
What do you plan on doing in Alaska? I ask because I live there, and a 12 Gauge is not needed for 90%+ of what there is to do.

 

[gunsmoke92]

There are worse choices.

 

[Supersquatch]

I have a Marlin.45/.70 and a Remington 870 12 gague.
I would pick the Marlin but that's just me.

 

[Hyper J]

Hi, Hyper J.
What do you plan on doing in Alaska? I ask because I live there, and a 12 Gauge is not needed for 90%+ of what there is to do.

Camping in a trailer, some daily hiking, sightseeing July to August.

 

[Bradley T]

Make a lot of noise. Don't walk up on a she bear with cubs. Let them know you are coming.

 

[pugman]

Make a lot of noise. Don't walk up on a she bear with cubs. Let them know you are coming.

This. They make bear bells for a reason.

A good friend and his dad took a three week trip from Wisconsin, up the coast of Canada into Alaska. They did a lot of hiking. My buddy said he and his dad sounded like Santa’s sleigh.

I see a lot of places recommend a 10 mm Glock for bear protection. Lighter than your two choices, reloads (if you get a chance) are quicker. I even Read one “expert’s” opinion operating the handgun is possible one handed. Try operating a pump if you are up a tree was part of his nonsense.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Go to any Pawn shop that has a Maverick 88 inch 23 gauge. Maybe $200. Add a Tac-Star 4 shot side saddle. Maybe a bigger bead front sight. And that is that.

If you can find them, Brenneke 'Black Magic' slugs (Alaska Fish & Game dept. swears by them.)

All you need for a shotgun for big critters at very close range.

 

[JoeOU1]

Single action 6 shot .22 Mag. Hands down.
Aim for the eye and you’ll scramble his brains.
Or aim for the nose and the boolit will ricochet in the lungs and scramble them like eggs.
Those are the two most recommended shots on giant man eating Grizzly/Kodak Brown bear according to the world’s leading bear killers.

 

[Hyper J]

Yes. If you're used to using a pump rapidly.

To me pumps are the fastest non auto compared to lever actions… Auto’s can jam more often and a misfire is slower to recover from.

 

[Hyper J]

I have a Marlin.45/.70 and a Remington 870 12 gague.
I would pick the Marlin but that's just me.

I love the Marlin but it’s not the choice weapon of Game enforcement officers?

 

['Ol Grandad]

View attachment 1004277

Heading up to Alaska next year and was looking for the best big bear stopper for protection only. You know the charging bear dropper kind? After about a week of research this is what comes out on top loaded with slugs. Seems to be more effective than 45/70?
What is you all’s thoughts?

As others have stated, if you're doing anything else other than sitting in a chair by the fire drinking whisky, that's a pretty bad choice.
Way too heavy and cumbersome. You'll probably end up with it slung across your back and that's not very accessible in any situation, let alone being charged by a Grizzly. Assuming that's what you're preparing for.
There are ways of avoiding dangerous situations. I'd employ those and carry something that makes more sense.

 

[Hyper J]

This. They make bear bells for a reason.

A good friend and his dad took a three week trip from Wisconsin, up the coast of Canada into Alaska. They did a lot of hiking. My buddy said he and his dad sounded like Santa’s sleigh.

I see a lot of places recommend a 10 mm Glock for bear protection.

I don’t trust the Glock 10 mm too many videos of problems. Otherwise it is a great gun.

 

[Bren]

View attachment 1004277

Heading up to Alaska next year and was looking for the best big bear stopper for protection only. You know the charging bear dropper kind? After about a week of research this is what comes out on top loaded with slugs. Seems to be more effective than 45/70?
What is you all’s thoughts?

A lot of gun to carry hiking. I'd probably downgrade to a .44 mag revolver or at least a Shockwave (I'd really downgrade to a Remington Tac-14, so the bear doesn't eat me while I'm, trying to make that stiff, clunk Mossberg action work).

Also, I'd let the &^%$ing bear eat me before I'd pay $711 for a Mossberg shotgun. If I was determined to carry around a full-sized pump shotgun, I'd go buy a used Remington for $400 . Even if I was going to pay a lot for a new pump shotgun, it would be a Remington, not a Mossberg.

Remington 870 Police Magnum 12 Gauge Police Trade-In Shotguns w/ 18 in. Barrel and Rifled Sights

Remington: 870 Police Magnum 12 Gauge Police Trade-In Shotguns w/ 18 in. Barrel and Rifled Sights for sale at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.

www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com

This. They make bear bells for a reason.

So bears will know when it's dinner time?

Yes. If you're used to using a pump rapidly.

This thread causes me to think he is not. However, I like bears more than I like new internet.shooters so....

 

['Ol Grandad]

I've had a fondness for this for a while. Big enough caliber and gun but not too big.

 

[Bren]

I don’t trust the Glock 10 mm too many videos of problems. Otherwise it is a great gun.

Learning about guns from the internet is a bad idea. You start believing complete nonsense that real shooters don't believe.