The Best Long Guns for Bear Hunting and Defense
There are few game animals that present as much challenge, excitement,
fun, and danger as the bear. They’re certainly among the most dangerous
game on the North American continent. Of course, it’s exactly that
challenge, excitement, and element of danger that attracts so many
hunters to go for that bear tag.
As is the case in any other hunting, no one wants any game animal wounded regardless of the personal risk. It’s always safest and the best practice to ensure a clean kill. As that’s the case, and considering the higher stakes accompanying bear hunting, its extremely important to choose the right long gun that is going to guarantee you the best chance of a quick, clean kill. After all, not only does no one want to deal with a wounded, angry, aggressive bear that’s decided to deal with the thing that has just upset it, but it’s also proper to do what’s right and make the choices necessary for a clean kill.
.338 Winchester Magnum
The .338 Winchester Magnum is a nail-driver of a cartridge developed, appropriately, by Winchester in 1958. It has been one of the front line cartridges for grizzly since then. In fact, it shot so straight and flat and hit so hard, its use was transitioned from browns in North America to big game in Africa. A classic, dependable option for grizzly.
.300 AAC Blackout
While the .300 AAC Blackout doesn’t have quite as much punch as the .338 Winchester, it does feature one distinct advantage: you have a lot more of them in the magazine. And, as tough as grizzlies are, there’s nothing that can stand against 30 rounds of .300 AAC Blackout. It’s a particularly good choice for hunting that involves shorter distances, for those who prefer the AR-15, and for those who hunt suppressed. If that’s you, get a .300 AAC Blackout upper and head north.
12 Gauge Slug
A lot of Alaskan and Canadian guides—both those actually leading grizzly hunts and those guiding clients through terrain inhabited by big browns—forego rifles altogether in favor of a shotgun. For actually hunting grizzly with a shotgun, the best option is choosing to go with some 12 gauge ammo slug work. You’d be hard-pressed to find any rifle cartridge with the stopping and dropping power of a slug—and when hunting grizzly, that’s a priority. For stability and distance with slugs, the best option is a saboted or rifled slug for longer range accuracy.
12 Gauge Buckshot
Any of the above long guns will work for bear defense, since they will quickly and effectively incapacitate a grizzly. However, when it comes to backwoods defense against bears, there’s not much that beats buckshot. That’s particularly the case with grizzly defense as generally when a firearm is being used defensively against a brown bear, that bear is charging. As 12 gauge ammo goes, buckshot has nearly unrivaled punch, but the shot provides a wider spread for better coverage. And when a charging grizzly bear is a possibility, you want every advantage you can get.
About Ammunition Depot
Ammunition Depot is widely regarded as the best online source for ammunition, guns, gear, and any shooting accessory you’d need. Whether you’re looking for a gun or the best ammo to feed it, Ammunition Depot has your back. They offer everything from a box of 6.5 Creedmoor to 1,000 rounds of the best .22 LR ammo, as well as .300 AAC Blackout for sale, bulk .223 5.56 ammo, and just about everything else you’re looking for. The folks at Ammunition Depot are proud to support the Constitution and shooting rights. They also donate to charities for law enforcement and the troops, and promote vet-forward job opportunities in their home state of Florida.
Lock and load with the best arms and ammunition shipped to you super-quick by Ammunition Depot, at Ammunitiondepot.com
As is the case in any other hunting, no one wants any game animal wounded regardless of the personal risk. It’s always safest and the best practice to ensure a clean kill. As that’s the case, and considering the higher stakes accompanying bear hunting, its extremely important to choose the right long gun that is going to guarantee you the best chance of a quick, clean kill. After all, not only does no one want to deal with a wounded, angry, aggressive bear that’s decided to deal with the thing that has just upset it, but it’s also proper to do what’s right and make the choices necessary for a clean kill.
.338 Winchester Magnum
The .338 Winchester Magnum is a nail-driver of a cartridge developed, appropriately, by Winchester in 1958. It has been one of the front line cartridges for grizzly since then. In fact, it shot so straight and flat and hit so hard, its use was transitioned from browns in North America to big game in Africa. A classic, dependable option for grizzly.
.300 AAC Blackout
While the .300 AAC Blackout doesn’t have quite as much punch as the .338 Winchester, it does feature one distinct advantage: you have a lot more of them in the magazine. And, as tough as grizzlies are, there’s nothing that can stand against 30 rounds of .300 AAC Blackout. It’s a particularly good choice for hunting that involves shorter distances, for those who prefer the AR-15, and for those who hunt suppressed. If that’s you, get a .300 AAC Blackout upper and head north.
12 Gauge Slug
A lot of Alaskan and Canadian guides—both those actually leading grizzly hunts and those guiding clients through terrain inhabited by big browns—forego rifles altogether in favor of a shotgun. For actually hunting grizzly with a shotgun, the best option is choosing to go with some 12 gauge ammo slug work. You’d be hard-pressed to find any rifle cartridge with the stopping and dropping power of a slug—and when hunting grizzly, that’s a priority. For stability and distance with slugs, the best option is a saboted or rifled slug for longer range accuracy.
12 Gauge Buckshot
Any of the above long guns will work for bear defense, since they will quickly and effectively incapacitate a grizzly. However, when it comes to backwoods defense against bears, there’s not much that beats buckshot. That’s particularly the case with grizzly defense as generally when a firearm is being used defensively against a brown bear, that bear is charging. As 12 gauge ammo goes, buckshot has nearly unrivaled punch, but the shot provides a wider spread for better coverage. And when a charging grizzly bear is a possibility, you want every advantage you can get.
About Ammunition Depot
Ammunition Depot is widely regarded as the best online source for ammunition, guns, gear, and any shooting accessory you’d need. Whether you’re looking for a gun or the best ammo to feed it, Ammunition Depot has your back. They offer everything from a box of 6.5 Creedmoor to 1,000 rounds of the best .22 LR ammo, as well as .300 AAC Blackout for sale, bulk .223 5.56 ammo, and just about everything else you’re looking for. The folks at Ammunition Depot are proud to support the Constitution and shooting rights. They also donate to charities for law enforcement and the troops, and promote vet-forward job opportunities in their home state of Florida.
Lock and load with the best arms and ammunition shipped to you super-quick by Ammunition Depot, at Ammunitiondepot.com
Comments
Post a Comment