looking for a good gun for proctection in the wild.

I'd go with the bear spray. It's about 100x lighter than a shotgun/rifle, works effectively and quickly, and is non-lethal to either yourself or the animal, nor anyone in your party.

A 500mL can of bear spray is a lot easier to carry and deploy over longer treks than a 3-5kg weapon + ammo.

 

12 gauge pump, slug barrel, 3" mag slugs. Your now safe.

 

The wind wont blow this back in your face

 

If your in Canada dont you have Brown Bears and Grizzly, not black bear? If you got brown bears in your area I would want something with more penetration than a slug.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895m.asp

 

in New Brunswick we do have black bears.

 

In BC , it's Black bear , Grizzly and Keremode or Spirit bear

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYkWWnZm6-w

 

How much is the tag for that spirit bear???? Jim

 

Pretty sure they aren't available

 

Question: what are your main purposes/reasons for being in the wilderness? That would help people determine what kind of protection they should advise you toward.

Are you there for work? For vacation? For geological survey? For fishing/nature guiding? (I'm intentionally leaving off hunting, for obvious reasons) How long do you stay out at a time? Do you work from a base-camp or are you constantly moving locations? Use stock animals? Carry lots of equipment? Lead/follow groups of people?

 

wtf? no handguns so ur just gunna be walkin around with a shoty or a rifle for protection? thats real convenient. r u hunting or hiking of roading?

 

I don't think any weapon other then bear spray is necessary. I worked in Alaska this year and on numerous occasions got within 25-50ft of wild browns. You should be easily able to yell a bear away and in a worst case scenario use bear spray or a road flare.

 

This is usually true

 

People like you get curious bears shot for no reasons dozens of times a year. You're trigger happy and if a bear is walking towards you you shoot because you're scared. Bears are curious, not dangerous. If you haven't been in bear country don't offer your input.

 

Take you gun hating liberal agenda and gtfo...
I use any excuse to carry a gun, rabid house cats, squirels hording acorns for winter.. I aint gonna trust any animal that can beat me to death with my own arms.

 

You aren't the OP

 

I hear ya....I have .357 but id rather get something with a little more heft to it. Im thinking for later use once I graduate college to go after a .454 casull..I have a Moss 500 but dont feel like lugging around a 8ish pound gun with a pack etc etc

 

Gun hating liberal? I hunt for all kinds of animals. But I don't need an "excuse to bring my gun". I had a .44 while in Alaska but chose not to bring it with me. You shouldn't need anything more then a flare.

 

Tough crowd here... If you feel you need a gun for safety, know how to properly carry then you should.

I am sure the people whose asses have been eaten by bears tried yelling... oblivously it doesnt always work.

 

OP if you're main concern is blacks and coyotes then just bring spray. A weapon would just be extra equipment and weight that isn't necessary.