Alaska shotgun?

S

scrow

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What kind of shotgun would be best for carrying in Alaska as bear protection, I would think a SS 18 inch barrel with a sling, what loads slugs or 00 buckshot, I have relatives with a cabin on a cove that they spend a few weeks a year at and have had some close encounters with bears, so they are looking into getting a shotgun.
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Originally Posted By: scrowWhat kind of shotgun would be best for carrying in Alaska as bear protection, I would think a SS 18 inch barrel with a sling, what loads slugs or 00 buckshot, I have relatives with a cabin on a cove that they spend a few weeks a year at and have had some close encounters with bears, so they are looking into getting a shotgun.
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12 ga pump or reliable semi - with extended magazine, and slugs.

If it can eat you, gore you, or stomp you... you need more than 2 shots.

Buckshot will only make them madder at you.

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Yeah and just keep in mind that those cold temps can cause a semi to freeze up. Seen it in the duck blind a time or two. Not something you want to worry about with a large beer charging at you.
 
Whatever protection you pick ,I would paint it fluorescent orange. When I was working in the bush there sometimes it was hard to which tree we leaned our gun against.
 
The short pump gun is your best bet, They sell gun lube Paste up there for the guns when it's cold. It's a white paste stuff that you use in the cold vs. the oil we use in teh rest of the country. You can use the regular oil in the summer.

They also have a bear round they make custom up there, i forgot the name of it, but it's a shotgun shell that has 00buck and a special pair that has wire between them. When you fire, the 00 comes out, and the wire comes out and will shear off saplings. Aim for the throat, it wraps around the spine and does the job, not to mention cuts the wind pipe.
 
Originally Posted By: scrowWhat kind of shotgun would be best for carrying in Alaska as bear protection, I would think a SS 18 inch barrel with a sling, what loads slugs or 00 buckshot, I have relatives with a cabin on a cove that they spend a few weeks a year at and have had some close encounters with bears, so they are looking into getting a shotgun.
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Mossberg 590A1 or Remmie 870 pumped at least 1000 times to smooth up. Use slugs, and practice shooting 4-5 slugs at 20 yards as quickly as you can.

Learn to take it apart and clean very carefully, keep lubed properly.

I used my 590A1 and FN-FAL paratrooper from 2006-2010 doing wildlife survey's on the lower Kuskokwim River. Never had problems, but did have bear visit out sites when we weren't there. Once while we were doing observations, it got quiet all of a sudden. We quickly packed up and left. Spooky.
 
My 'old reliable' is a Winchester 1300 pump with a modified choke..It's capable of either 2 3/4" or 3" rounds and the 18" barrel/tube is NP3'd against corrosion, has a green fiber optic front sight...Holds 8 rounds +1 which makes it a little front heavy if fully loaded, but when it comes down to rapid fire,,you don't notice it...

Winchester1300RightSide.jpg
 
Over the past three decades, may partners and I have had to deal with a half dozen bears at our fish camp. While most were black bears, two were grizzlies.

As stated previously, buckshot has little, if any, value. We used Foster Slugs in most cases but much prefer the Brenneke. None of the bears required a second shot.

The slugs need not be 3" as the recoil becomes quite severe.

A quality 12 ga pump with full buttstock [no pistol grip];the 870, especially, is our preference.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZThe short pump gun is your best bet, They sell gun lube Paste up there for the guns when it's cold. It's a white paste stuff that you use in the cold vs. the oil we use in teh rest of the country. You can use the regular oil in the summer.

They also have a bear round they make custom up there, i forgot the name of it, but it's a shotgun shell that has 00buck and a special pair that has wire between them. When you fire, the 00 comes out, and the wire comes out and will shear off saplings. Aim for the throat, it wraps around the spine and does the job, not to mention cuts the wind pipe.

Shears off saplings... wraps around the spine... cuts the windpipe!
rolleyes.gif
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: dw32005 Not something you want to worry about with a large beer charging at you.

I hate being charged by large BEERS.
 
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Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: Tbone-AZThe short pump gun is your best bet, They sell gun lube Paste up there for the guns when it's cold. It's a white paste stuff that you use in the cold vs. the oil we use in teh rest of the country. You can use the regular oil in the summer.

They also have a bear round they make custom up there, i forgot the name of it, but it's a shotgun shell that has 00buck and a special pair that has wire between them. When you fire, the 00 comes out, and the wire comes out and will shear off saplings. Aim for the throat, it wraps around the spine and does the job, not to mention cuts the wind pipe.

Shears off saplings... wraps around the spine... cuts the windpipe!
rolleyes.gif
lol.gif


I was thinking the same thing......I have heard of the "Bolo Round" but not for bears.....
 
Originally Posted By: afhunter1Originally Posted By: dw32005 Not something you want to worry about with a large beer charging at you.

I hate being charged by large BEERS.

This required chugs not slugs!

Squeeze

P.S. Spend some time in AK. Folding stock 870, extended
mag tube, and what ever slug shoots well. Get a stainless
version, if near the coast.
 
Like mentioned before I would go with a pump 12 gauge with some low recoil 00 buckshot with flight control. If u can find one with the wires connecting them I would go with that. That stuff looks pretty deadly.
 
Originally Posted By: wvyotehunter68 If u can find one with the wires connecting them I would go with that. That stuff looks pretty deadly.

It's a gimmick and I can't think of one thing it would REALLY be good for.
 
I should have known lol. I wondered why law enforcement didn't use them. Most use. 12 gauge 00 buck low recoil with flight control. This stuff is pretty accurate . And deadly
 
bolo_zpsff113ccb.jpg


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Two.58 caliber lead balls connected by a 4"braided steel cable.
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Also known as BOLO round and BRUSHCUTTER round
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Very effective home invasion product.
 
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Originally Posted By: afhunter1Originally Posted By: dw32005 Not something you want to worry about with a large beer charging at you.

I hate being charged by large BEERS.

Dang, you beat me to it.
 
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