What I had in mind when I ordered it is someday I may realize a pipe dream of hiking in bear country with a packable shotgun...but I doubt I'll ever do that.
I have a cabin in the northwest interior of Alaska. Quintessential griz country. Crossing paths with a bear is not not a matter of if, but when. I haven't had to shoot one yet, and hopefully never do. Most of the game wardens and state troopers up there carry 14" barreled pumps, loaded with heavy magnum Brenneke hardened lead 1.5oz slugs for their bear encounters. They tell me it does a good job of penetrating wet bear fur better than other brands. Black Magic (if you can find it) or Green Lightning are what most guys up there prefer for DLP.
The 14" barrel does a wonderful job of lightening the gun. 5+1 capacity is plenty for a bear encounter. You'll be lucky to get off more than 2 rounds before he eats you, or you kill him, or you both run away.
Having reflected upon all that, and not wanting to go thru all of the NFA hogwash for a 14" shotgun, I decided to get a Mossberg Shockwave and retire my full-size M500 for cabin, camp, hiking, fishing duty. The M500 is now home defense while I'm home in the lower 48.
The Shockwave fit my needs perfectly. I can go fishing with it in a scabbard over my back, and relax a bit, knowing I have something more powerful than a pistol, yet waaaaay lighter and less cumbersome than my 20" shotgun with buttstock slung on my shoulder.
I shot some heavy magnum slugs thru it last weekend. They're not fun to shoot, but they're not fun on a shoulder stock, either. The raptor grip makes it manageable instead of painful. The thing still kicks like a pissed off mule, but it doesn't hurt any part of your hand or arms.
Something to consider.
Otherwise I'd recommend you start looking at magnum revolvers, starting with .44mag and going up from there if you're serious about wanting to survive a bear attack.
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