12ga Barrel Length for Predator Defense

[GraniteChief]

I’ve been doing a lot of very remote camping with my dog and have been bringing my Remington 870 with me that’s set up for home defense with an 18.5” barrel and light on it. It’s mostly been for peace of mind, but I’ve actually come pretty close to needing it. I do camp where there’s bears, and I have had to scare several off, but coyotes and mountain lions have been more of a problem imo, I’m guessing because they smell my dog. I made eye contact with a cougar at camp maybe 30 yards away, and my friend’s dog was attacked by coyotes late at night once. I have yet to see a grizzly in camp but I do *sometimes* camp where they live. I camp mostly in high deserts but also in pine/aspen forests in the Rockies.

It occurred to me that a shotgun meant for maneuvering in tight hallways might not be the best choice, and my other barrels are 30” and 28”. Is there a better length for this, maybe 24”? I don’t mind adding another barrel to the closet, especially if it’s multipurpose. The added bonus of dropping a few decibels doesn’t hurt either.

 

[GraniteChief]

What ammo are you using? what choke is in it now? Have you patterned it at 30yrds

I use 00 buck most of the time, but carry brennekes when bears are a concern. Currently I have an improved cylinder choke in it. Open cylinder patterns way too wide. Currently it still patterns pretty wide at 30 yards tbh.

 

[tcpip95]

I have an Ithaca Model 37 Defense 20" barrel with 7+1. I am using The Gatekeeper slugs. I have a light and a Red Dot on it.

I swapped emails just last night with Wes Barrus (manufacturer) just last night about using these slugs on grizzlies. Here's what he wrote back to me:

Thank you for buying our 12 ga gatekeeper. I have every confidence that the 12ga gatekeeper will do very well for taking a grizzly bear. We have harvested very large (1060lb) hog and 1200lb steer with them., We have had customers report taking elk with them. All were single shot kills. In our testing we even shot into the cylinders of a v8 engine block with them. If you do end up taking a large animal with them we would love to hear about your experience with them and see pictures of the resulting wound. Have a great Hunt!


Wes Barrus COO

American Reserve Munitions
3601 W Chinden
Garden City, Idaho 83714
208-571-6973

 

[deltadukman]

Get a 24" barrel with some heavy TSS loads. A slug is one projectile. TSS lets you have more shot per shell bit hits way harder than lead. It also likes a more open constriction. Half asleep in the dark I'm not shooting a slug. Apex makes some 2,4 & BB shells. They aren't cheap but blow a lead shotgun shell out of the water.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

The 18.5 should be fine.

It can be tough to sell "self defense" to the authorities (assuming you want to be legal and not SSS) when shooting an animal 30+ yards away. When running slugs, you want tough and not ones designed for hunting deer.

Shorter barrels are easier to handle and maneuver with where longer barrels do not offer those benefits.

 

[GraniteChief]

The 18.5 should be fine.

It can be tough to sell "self defense" to the authorities (assuming you want to be legal and not SSS) when shooting an animal 30+ yards away. When running slugs, you want tough and not ones designed for hunting deer.

Shorter barrels are easier to handle and maneuver with where longer barrels do not offer those benefits.

I hadn’t thought of the legal aspect tbh. My thinking was how the coyotes hunted my friend’s dog. They’d set a perimeter, run in from behind, bite him, then take off and keep a safe distance while another moved in. 20 yards was probably the max though. I expect the range would be closer with a cougar or a bear, but if a bear is charging me I’m not waiting for it to get closer. I’ll have to think I about it. I’m terrible at judging distances tbh.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I hadn’t thought of the legal aspect tbh. My thinking was how the coyotes hunted my friend’s dog. They’d set a perimeter, run in from behind, bite him, then take off and keep a safe distance while another moved in. 20 yards was probably the max though. I expect the range would be closer with a cougar or a bear, but if a bear is charging me I’m not waiting for it to get closer. I’ll have to think I about it. I’m terrible at judging distances tbh.

If you have an issue with distance, you may want to consider using a rifle as shotguns don't give you a lot of range.

 

[FLATHEAD]

I use 00 buck most of the time, but carry brennekes when bears are a concern. Currently I have an improved cylinder choke in it. Open cylinder patterns way too wide. Currently it still patterns pretty wide at 30 yards tbh.

I'd say you're good with that 18.5".
Maybe try a Modified choke if you want a tighter pattern?

 

[Macintosh]

Barrel length isnt going to change anything enough to notice. Choke will, at least with buckshot. Me in your shoes, Im carrying the short barrel for ease of handling, and not firing outside 30 yards anyway—I think youd have an awfully hard time pleading self defense if you shoot past 30 yards.