Nanook of the North

[Scorpion8]

Howdy from South East Alaska. Long time gunner, but not with shotguns. In fact, until recently the only shotgun I owned was an old Eastern Arms 16-ga single shot that I got at a yard sale as a refurbishment project. However always been a lifelong Remington fan, and when a mint 1974 870 Wingmaster 12-ga dropped into my lap for pennies, I could not resist. It is a 2-3/4 chamber, but my intent is only to use it with slugs for bear defense while camping. I have (as any good Alaskan does) a large selection of suitable firearms, but the 870 will be handy as the easily-used-by-anybody resource.

Mine came with a gawd-awful barrel with a heavy muzzle brake and a set of gnarly chokes, so I ordered a new deer rifled slug barrel off Remington's website (lots of sales right now). I'll also pick up a smooth-bore slug barrel to use with buckshot too. I always saw the large selection of 870 barrels available, but never realized how easy and quick it was to swap barrels. This could get addictive....

Glad to be here, and ready to jump right in and learn. Thanks for having me. Jim

[John A.]

The rifled barrel will do better with sabot slugs.

But overall, the smoothbore will do better with birdshot, buckshot, and even most other foster slugs or slugs seated in a wad.

[Goodgun]

Hornady American Whitetail rifled slugs would be perfect for your environment? Bears, Sasquatch, etc.. Lol! For real though and Welcome to the forum..

[Scorpion8]

I have a bunch of Brenneke slugs and Winchester rifled slugs from the LGS, and some Wolf and Winchester 00-buckshot loads. The Winchester fodder is for practice, the Brenneke slugs are for critter cease-and-desist orders, regardless if it's two- or four-legged.

[Synchronizor]

Welcome to the forum. I grew up in southeast Alaska, and I remember having to be careful about bears. Had one come out of the woods right across the street from where I was playing, once.

The Brenneke & Foster slugs are meant for smoothbore barrels, they can self-stabilize without being spun. Those solid-bodied Brenneke slugs are supposed to be real good bear medicine.

[Scorpion8]

Yup, routinely have them in our yard or up/down the street. Fact of life here. Part of the charm.

[Goodgun]

Yeah Buddy!! Those Brenneke slugs ain't no joke! I fired off some of those 3 in. Black Magic something, something!?! You could take out Godzilla with those? When I used to hunt (I don't kill animals anymore ) up North in bear country? I would run buck, slug, buck, slug..just in case I came across one?!?

[Scorpion8]

Sounds smart re: buck/slug/buck.... which was my thought also. Glad to hear a couple members have gotten to experience Alaska.

[Synchronizor]

Personally, I would stick to all slugs or all buckshot, depending on what I think I might need (for big Alaskan bears, probably slugs).

[Scorpion8]

That's a thought, but wolf populations here have been on the rise quickly because of several mild winters, and they are getting bolder and bolder. It pays to be prepared. A lady had her dog snatched back one of the valleys recently, and wolves have been seen down in places they're not usually present. The slug gives one hit, but the target is much bearly bigger. <Snort!> I think buckshot on a wolf would be helpful to change it's motivations.