Hi guys-
Our gun club recently had a great buy on some 12 gauge pump action shotguns and I picked one up.

The reason I bought it was that I am planning on taking a few vacations up to Canada and will be in some pretty remote locations and I wanted to have some protection against aggressive wildlife.

The laws of bringing any weapon into Canada is pretty strict but pump action shotguns are allowed provided the proper paperwork is filed.

Anyway, what would you reccomend for ammo? I have heard of potentially using birdshot for the first shot then going with slugs but I really don't know anything about shotgun ammo.

Any shots would be within 30 yards and be to stop an aggressive animal.
Thanks.

A rifled barrel and sabot slugs? With dangerous game why chance it.

If the chamber will allow, 3" 00 buckshot, with slugs in between.

I sure wouldn't piss off a bear with a load of birdshot. I think rifled slugs would be my choice.

The barrel is smooth bore with no choke and can accept 3" shells.
Here is the gun:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/ca...+12GA+18.5+BLK+4%2B1

What brand of ammo would you suggest?
Thanks.

Brenneke black magic

The Brenneke slugs do have a very good reputation.

Slugs and only slugs.

Bird shot makes no sense. Lets say an aggressive bear is coming at you. Why hit that thing with anything other than the biggest thing you have, especially when it may be the only one you get? I would want slug to be the first thing that hits that animal for the very real possibility I don't get 2.

The 3" slug...that is something to see if you can actually handle. They have a violent recoil, more so than most guns a man can shoulder and fire for less than $4 a shot. You may be able to get the second shot off if you are using 2 3/4" shells instead.

slugs, slugs and slugs. brand and style to match your barrel.

I don't intend offense, but are you going into grizzly/brown bear territory with a $150 plastic shotgun? Or is this Eastern Canada and black bears?

Thanks everyone for your comments.
I think I'll get a couple of boxes of the 2 3/4 and 3" Black Magic riffled slugs (if I can find them) and see how the guns like them. I'll leave the birdshot home.

Slugs are the only logical ammo but I'd be concerned that even 4+1 1oz slugs wouldn't suffice. I'd suggest packing bear spray as well.

Breneke makes good stuff, If not that, Id use a copper slug if I could find one.

I dot bother about the rifled barrels/slugs because if it goes down, its going to be really close range.

When fishing and camping, We either take my wingmaster or an older 870 marine magnum.

quote:

Originally posted by kilyung:
Slugs are the only logical ammo but I'd be concerned that even 4+1 1oz slugs wouldn't suffice. I'd suggest packing bear spray as well.

If a brown bear gets 4 slugs in him and keeps on coming (and now is really pissed) I'm not sure what some bear spray will do although my wife is in favor of carrying it so we'll have both.

quote:

Originally posted by newmexican:.....

When fishing and camping, We either take my wingmaster or an older 870 marine magnum.

That's exactly what I hope to do..
I'm afraid that if we have a couple of salmon on the shore my wife would not be willing to give them up to a bear (j/k).

When entering the arena, NFL checks for shotguns too.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

quote:

Originally posted by kilyung:
Slugs are the only logical ammo but I'd be concerned that even 4+1 1oz slugs wouldn't suffice. I'd suggest packing bear spray as well.

If a brown bear gets 4 slugs in him and keeps on coming (and now is really pissed) I'm not sure what some bear spray will do although my wife is in favor of carrying it so we'll have both.

My concern would be how many slugs actually hit the bear - they move insanely fast. I'd use the spray first as a deterrent and then the shotgun as a last resort. While I've never shot at a bear, I have used bear spray and it did a credible job of convincing a curious black bear that I wasn't worth the time.

Duplicate post

Duplicate post

quote:

Originally posted by kilyung:

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

quote:

Originally posted by kilyung:
Slugs are the only logical ammo but I'd be concerned that even 4+1 1oz slugs wouldn't suffice. I'd suggest packing bear spray as well.

If a brown bear gets 4 slugs in him and keeps on coming (and now is really pissed) I'm not sure what some bear spray will do although my wife is in favor of carrying it so we'll have both.

My concern would be how many slugs actually hit the bear - they move insanely fast. I'd use the spray first as a deterrent and then the shotgun as a last resort. While I've never shot at a bear, I have used bear spray and it did a credible job of convincing a curious black bear that I wasn't worth the time.

That was the comment from another friend about using 00buckshot in addition to slugs...you're chance of hitting the bear is greater, albeit not as powerful