Yes, a 12 gauge stuffed full of slugs has to be one of the best bear stoppers around.

I read a story and I don't know if it is true but here goes. I want to make clear I am not claiming this is factual and I am not endorsing the validness of this story, I'm simply telling you what I read.

A fellow was hunting fowl in africa with his PH and they stumbled upon a rhino. The PH was shooting fowl with his client and neither had a "stopping" rifle. Long story short, the rhino charged, the PH told the client not to shoot until the the rhino was on top of them. When the rhino got within a few yards, both the client and PH discharged both barrels of their shot guns on the rhino, and the story goes that the rhino's momentum caused it to still hit the hunter and PH but the rhino was killed and the PH and Hunter were unscaved. I guess the four shells unleashed against the rhino at such close proximity was enough to kill the beast, even with bird shot.

Again, I don't know if this is true or not,(personally I find it a little far fetched but who knows) I'm merely paraphrasing an article I read. THere was pictures in the article and I'll try to find it again and post a link to it.

In summary, i guess I wouldn't doubt a 12ga with slugs could take down a bear.

The National Park Service arms rangers in Alaska with 12 gauge slugs. Curiously, the Forest Service uses .375 H&H. I think that the shotgun would be better for unknowledgeable users. It doesn't take much wherewithall to pump, eject, and load a shell. But I have seen a lot of folks get flustered with a bolt action when trying to reload and shoot just a deer. I can't imagine how they'd do if a half ton bruin was bearing down on them at 60 mph!

I have even heard of people loading a single bird shot first with the intention of shooting the eyes of a charging bear, blinding him/her then finishing it off with the remaining slugs. Don't know if it works of that I trust it, but I have heard of it.

I have to believe if I were on foot in grizzly country, I'd most definitely be packing heat. If I were hunting, I'd have my bolt rifle. If I were doing anything else, I'd have my 870 magnum plump full of 3" slugs. And a cargo pocket full of spares.

yes slugs can do a lot of damage

It has finally dawned on outsidders that the wolves in the northern Rockies are eating the winter killed animals prior to the bears emerging from hibernation. This leave the bruins in a position to search even more for food and, no doubt, will create even more human vs grizzly encounters. Man will get blamed for killing the bear who attacks him but which critter is the real villian? No not the wolf as he is only being a wolf. The criminal in this scenario is the wolf huggers who misplaced the canines with reintroduction.