My Beretta 1200 semi (rebranded Benelli M1 Super 90, Beretta owns Benelli IIRC) is a recoil operated 2.9kg (6.4lb) featherweight. With 3" magnum loads it recoils as if it has a couple RATO booster rockets strapped to it. Really SHARP recoil impulse. After about 20rds i'm done shooting that sleek black SOB for the day...
But if you lean into the recoil it shoots FAST and patterns really nicely. My favorite Rem 2 3/4" Magnum 12 pellet 00 Buck loads shoot
exactly to point of aim at 15yds or less. It has a healthy 7rd capacity as well. I want to eventually get a nice recoil pad on it and get the barrel ported, so the big magnum loads aren't so damn painful to shoot. I'm going to mount the Burris Fastfire II speed dot HUD i had originally bought for my P7 on it too, once i get some funds free'd up.
I know that sabot slugs are optimized for use in rifled barrels, but i shot some out of my 20" smoothbore barrel the other day and they were grouping a little over 2" at 25 yds. That's way more than enough for any kind of "last ditch" or "charging" defensive shooting scenario.
Frankly if a bear is even that far away, i'd have no real business shooting at it regardless. In all honesty i'd go out of my way to not have to shoot one, if i could manage it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbrouder
Curious if a .458 SOCOM AR would stop a bear.
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That's about the equiv to a .45-70 ballistically. With solids it should work extremely well. Bullet type/selection is, to me, far more important than caliber, regardless of what it is you're trying to shoot at.