Rifled Shotgun Slug vs Bear???

[off road]

Looking for input from anyone who has actually shot larger game with a rifled slug (bear, moose, elk). How did the slug perform, and what did the recovered slug look like?

In the link below, look at the picture of the fired slug. It has flattened out like a coin. Isn't that going to be terribly detrimental to penetration? I have tested slugs on a variety of materials, and they do indeed flatten out. Anyone with practical experience on living tissue?

Federal Premium - Slug Details

I noticed that for "use", Federal recommends the round for "medium" game. In the past, they had recommended it for large game (had a picture of a moose), but no longer. Puzzling.

The reason I picked this load, is that the slug is 547 gr, 1600 fps and 3100 ft lbs of energy.....up there with the .45-70, at least on paper.

 

[J-FRAME]

I don,t know where you live ? but here in Alaska the preferred bear slug is Brenneke. Some folks use 3 inch for more power but I myself and others like the 2 3/4 better less recoil means faster follow up better hits with a small reduction in power. they simply are the BEST and are bad medicine when the chips are down in my 870 Express they are Black Magic

 

[off road]

I have some Brennekes but they are so old I don't trust them anymore. I have tested them, and they do not flatten as badly as the Foster type slugs. Haven't found them locally lately, but I can try mail order. Black Magic is the only one they seem to recommend for bear. Thanks.

http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/blackmagic.html

Use to live in SE Alaska. Back then I carried a 4" M29 and a .444 Marlin rifle (wish I had kept that sweet rifle!). Maybe a Marlin 1895SBL is the easy answer?

 

[senecaap]

Brenneke is the way to go, the best slugs bar none, and for that matter they are the best designed rifle bullets too. I used to be acquainted with a guy who had a Suhl drilling for hogs and black bear, 1 9.3x74 underneath two rifled 12ga barrels, the rifle for long range the 12ga for close up. From all I have ever seen, either are deadly with the Brenneke's holding up better than the Foster type.

 

[J-FRAME]

I myself would rather have pump shotgun faster

 

[off road]

I myself would rather have pump shotgun faster

I will agree that a shotgun is handier than even a very handy lever action. If you are in a group, best to have a mix of both rifles and shotguns I would imagine.

 

[J-FRAME]

I think knowledge of bears -making noise- no food in tent - being aware of whats going on around you etc is better than any firearm. Guns are for the last resort and it will be fast ,ugly and in very close. All that being said two of my friends(man and wife) sleeping in their tent VERY woods wise big rifle in the middle a teenage bear jumps on the tent while they were sleeping and killed them both so you take your chances sometimes. I have had them come up to my tent several times in the night but they just walked off. Who really knows when its your turn I guess and its the chance you take but I would feel stupid not to have some big gun around in case you need it

 

[1911-BILL]

I know they make a mess in deer ...I'm sure it would do the same in a bear. They shatter bone very well. I have only recovered one slug from a deer and it wasnt as deformed as I thought it would be, and it shattered its pelvis in several spots. Hope this helps.

 

[Sebago Son]

1oz. Foster Slugs..

In the deer I've killed with Foster Slugs the slug isn't usually recovered. Penetration on broadside shot in 200 lbs Whitetails is typically complete.

You didn't say which species of bear you were conerned with, but the one Black Bear killing I was in on with a slug had already been wounded but was finished of handily by my old man with his Remington Model 11.

Brown Bears would be a different story I bet...

 

[Matt C.]

Witnessed two (300+lb)boar killed with one shot using Brenneke original.

 

[off road]

My local mountains are full of black bears, and they aren't particularly fearful of humans! I carry a .44 Ruger Alaskan or 329NG, and don't particularly feel the need to drag around a long gun when hiking, but I do keep a shotgun in camp.

I think a Foster slug or even 000 buckshot would do the job on a black bear, but I am thinking more about the future when we might be back in griz/brown bear country once again.

 

[Hovnnes]

Pilots are required to have a firearm and ammo as part of a survival kit in Alaska. We could carry anything we were comfortable with and big revolvers were generally preferred (you could break an arm in a forced landing, so shoulder weapons might be problematic) One guy I knew of carried a 20 gauge with slugs for "bear medicine" (though if a broken arm is a likelyhood, I hate to think of what would happen to a thin walled shotgun!) Pilots flying in from the lower 48 couldn't bring our handguns across Canada, so I flew with a 30-30 with 170 gr. soft points aboard.

 

[yaktamer]

Witnessed two (300+lb)boar killed with one shot using Brenneke original.

One shot each? Or was it a "Quigley?"

 

[Uraldriver]

If you are goung to use slugs use the brenneke! They are are made from Harder lead and Super Accurate. I had a Benelli slug gun that would print cloverleaf groups at 50yds. I only used the 2 3/4" standard loads, I think They make 2 3/4 in magnum. I think I saw something somewher about taking African big game using the Brennekes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Pilots flying in from the lower 48 couldn't bring our handguns across Canada, so I flew with a 30-30 with 170 gr. soft points aboard.

Oh come on, please don't tell me you can't fly over Canada with a handgun!!! That is totally ridiculous! In the air even... Oh Please!

 

[REM 3200]

Oh come on, please don't tell me you can't fly over Canada with a handgun!!! That is totally ridiculous! In the air even... Oh Please!

Did'ya ever think they might have to land in Canada for fuel?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Did'ya ever think they might have to land in Canada for fuel?

Wow, just Wow!

 

[Hovnnes]

We did have to land and clear with Canadian Customs. BTW, the customs officer informed me that hollowpoint ammunition wasn't allowed either (fortunately I packed soft points!)

 

[Matt C.]

One shot each? Or was it a "Quigley?"[/QUOTE

Two with one shot. Unintended though.

 

[off road]

I finally settled on Brenneke Black Magic. I will load 2 3/4" in black bear country, and 3" for anything bigger.

Black Magic