20 gauge slugs on grizzly bears

[ImARugerFan]

Sounds like a good excuse to buy a 45-70 guide gun :-D

 

[Rockerga]

.....an AK with at least a 40 rd mag full of JHP's. Nothing on this planet will last up to that...especially as the first ten just make him mad as he is charging but the balance of your rounds should eventually slow him down so you can exit the area as the worst case scenario. Stopping power also equals NUMBER OF ROUNDS DOWNRANGE.

After that fun diatribe...ask the local pro's. What does a guy from Georgia know about Griz's!

 

[Glamdring]

Well a 20 gauge slug about equals a 454 handgun, but is lots easier to shoot specially if your using a 1100/11-87. Factory Sabot loads for the 20 gauge often use bullets designed for the 454 because of this.

I would use hard Brenneke either 3/4 or 7/8 oz, though there are some brands of slugs in 1 oz loadings for the 20 gauge I don't know of any that hard for deep penetration.

3/4 oz slug= 328 grains [this about ideal 454 bullet wt IMHO]
7/8 oz= 383 grains
1 oz= 437 grains

 

[NOLAEMT]

This is simple...

All you need is a .22 pistol (even a single shot will work). and a friend.

If you see a bear, shoot your friend in the leg and run; the bear can't chase you if he's busy eating your friend.

 

[Cosmoline]

Bit by a zombie bear!

 

[336A]

I can't find it but IIRC there is a poster over at leverguns whose son dispatched a grizzly at night with a 20ga. I personally would scratch the Brennekes as they are still made of soft swaged lead so as to squeeze through a shot guns choke. However they are solid in forn rather than hollow like a foster slug, which gives them the advantage over foster slugs.

If your going into an area populated with a good amount of grizzlies then you owe it to your family and yourself to get the best there ammo you can for your shot gun. Do you and your family a huge favor and contact Mr. James Gates who owns and runs www.dixieslugs.com I know he has something that will work for your 20GA. Read here about his newest 12GA offering.
http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=56607

 

[Pete D.]

20 ga

I wonder what the OP did with the gun and the trip? Whether there was any occasion to use it or to consider using it.
Certainly he has had ample time to go and return - the original post was made five years ago.
Pete

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Just use a .22 short and aim for the eye. If you're that worried about it, bump up to .22lr. If you're a bad shot under pressure, the .22mag should do the trick.

 

[rouge-red5]

20g

Shoot your friend thats a good one.

I would get, like others have said, the best slugs you can for your 20g. A 20g is better than hand to hand combat with a bear. You said you didnt want to invest money in other gun or pepper spray, i understand that, however most bear pepper spray can be bought for the price of high quality slugs. I think i would take both. When i'm in bear country and out for a hike i always make noise sing whistle beat on stuff with a stick, that way i dont spooke a bear. Might be worthless but it keeps my happy making noise. guess its the kid in me.

 

[rdb]

He didn't return to tell the tale. That proves a 20 GA wasn't enough. He should've taken the AK-47.

 

[hogshead]

Pete D 5 years no response . He must have got ate. I knew that a 20 g wouldnt work on them Alaska brownies.

 

[Art Eatman]

'Nuf necrothreadia...