In house bear defense. 30-06 or 20 Ga slug - Page 2

Erich · May 21, 2002, 09:36 AM

An old lady got et while she was sleeping last year - I posted a link to the story at the time.

I'd go for the 20 ga. pump. You're not liable to be suffering from underpenetration problems at that range and the 20 ga. slug will be less likely to overpenetrate (even if overpenetration can't hurt a person in your situation, it wouldn't be good for your house, fridge, etc.). Besides, I bet you can work that pump faster than that .30-06's bolt, and I'll bet you'll want several shots off quick if there's a bear a few feet away.

I use a 12 ga. pump as a bedside gun when the bears are down in our subdivision in the summer.

buckskinner · May 21, 2002, 09:51 AM

If that bear is hungry, and that's why he's there, is he going for food or you? If you've put in stores for an extended period of time, and you'd be hurtin' without 'em, shoot that sucker and eat him! Bear ribs are about the tastiest thing around! Not to mention all that fine b'ar grease! Add some crushed wild mint and ya got yerself a fine body lotion for the woman you love!

Who else is in the house? Children? Can they shoot? I'd take the '06 (get an M1 Garand!), with my wife having the 20 ga. as back up. My kids might kick me out if I didn't shoot the bear! I'm drooling right now, thinking of that tasty roast!

OTOH, I've seen alot of bears in the wild, griz's too, and am always impressed by their grace, power and fluidity. They make dogs look like robots! Every bear has elected to run from me, and with my adrenaline pumping fast its a good thing for both of us they did. Nothing like being face-to-face with a scruffy black bear armed with one quivering, barely knocked arrow...

JonH · May 21, 2002, 04:39 PM

I can second new mexico as being active with bears. Last fall a black bear broke into my office at work and ate my cinnimon rolls! He was gone by the time the cleaning ladies arrived in the morning but it freaked everyone out. But then last year was a crazy year for bears. they were everywhere!

- Jon H

Erich · May 21, 2002, 05:17 PM

Jon,

It's so dry this year, I bet it's gonna be worse.
cheers, erich

Sixgun · May 21, 2002, 07:11 PM

Go with #6 birdshot in that 20ga shotgun for home defense.

Use the .30-06 for outdoor perimeter defense when SHTF.

Erich · May 21, 2002, 10:33 PM

#6 Birdshot? For bears ? Perimeter defense? What kinda bears do you have by you, Sixgun?

Jamie Young · May 22, 2002, 02:22 AM

Place C4 on all the doors and windows as a precautionary measurement, and blow them if you have to.

I know a guy that killed a bear with a 22LR rifle. Shoot 'em in the bean with whatever you got.

May 21, 2002, 09:36 AM	#26
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	It happens here in NM a couple of times a year. An old lady got et while she was sleeping last year - I posted a link to the story at the time. I'd go for the 20 ga. pump. You're not liable to be suffering from underpenetration problems at that range and the 20 ga. slug will be less likely to overpenetrate (even if overpenetration can't hurt a person in your situation, it wouldn't be good for your house, fridge, etc.). Besides, I bet you can work that pump faster than that .30-06's bolt, and I'll bet you'll want several shots off quick if there's a bear a few feet away. I use a 12 ga. pump as a bedside gun when the bears are down in our subdivision in the summer.

May 21, 2002, 09:51 AM	#27
buckskinner Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Posts: 131	"Bailing out" depends on availability of food in your area... If that bear is hungry, and that's why he's there, is he going for food or you? If you've put in stores for an extended period of time, and you'd be hurtin' without 'em, shoot that sucker and eat him! Bear ribs are about the tastiest thing around! Not to mention all that fine b'ar grease! Add some crushed wild mint and ya got yerself a fine body lotion for the woman you love! Who else is in the house? Children? Can they shoot? I'd take the '06 (get an M1 Garand!), with my wife having the 20 ga. as back up. My kids might kick me out if I didn't shoot the bear! I'm drooling right now, thinking of that tasty roast! OTOH, I've seen alot of bears in the wild, griz's too, and am always impressed by their grace, power and fluidity. They make dogs look like robots! Every bear has elected to run from me, and with my adrenaline pumping fast its a good thing for both of us they did. Nothing like being face-to-face with a scruffy black bear armed with one quivering, barely knocked arrow... __________________ "Freedom is not empowerment. Empowerment is what the Serbs have in Bosnia. Anybody can grab a gun and be empowered. It's not entitlement. An entitlement is what people on welfare get, and how free are they? It's not an endlessly expanding list of rights—the 'right' to education, the 'right' to health care, the 'right' to food and housing. That's not freedom, that's dependency. Those aren't rights, those are the rations of slavery—hay and a barn for human cattle. There's only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

May 22, 2002, 02:22 AM	#32
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Place C4 on all the doors and windows as a precautionary measurement, and blow them if you have to. I know a guy that killed a bear with a 22LR rifle. Shoot 'em in the bean with whatever you got. __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

May 21, 2002, 04:39 PM	#28
JonH Junior Member Join Date: February 8, 2002 Posts: 14	I can second new mexico as being active with bears. Last fall a black bear broke into my office at work and ate my cinnimon rolls! He was gone by the time the cleaning ladies arrived in the morning but it freaked everyone out. But then last year was a crazy year for bears. they were everywhere! - Jon H

May 21, 2002, 05:17 PM	#29
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	Jon, It's so dry this year, I bet it's gonna be worse. cheers, erich

May 21, 2002, 07:11 PM	#30
Sixgun Junior member Join Date: May 17, 2002 Posts: 50	Go with #6 birdshot in that 20ga shotgun for home defense. Use the .30-06 for outdoor perimeter defense when SHTF.

May 21, 2002, 10:33 PM	#31
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	#6 Birdshot? For bears ? Perimeter defense? What kinda bears do you have by you, Sixgun?