Well in NJ a shotgun is all I'm going to have, so it's going to be my Benelli semi auto 12 gauge with 1 oz. Remington slugs. I put 4 of them in 2 inches at 100 yards a few weeks ago at the range, and that was with an open site.
I think I can handle a black bear with it. In fact I'm feeling so confident with it, I'm thinking of using mint oil as a cover scent.