[Little Ray]

With the right ammo, a 12 gauge is plenty gun for a bear. A 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs is standard issue “bear medicine” on the arctic ice cap.

[LibWhacker]

Thanks, that's exactly what I was thinking, too.

I do have a question about shot placement though... Would you take a "midsection" shot? I've never hunted bear and so I don't know myself, but I think I would've taken a head shot if he was that close to me.

[AnAmericanMother]

I thought the proverbial "Bear Medicine" was a .348 Winchester Model 71 lever action with the big 250 gr Silvertips.

At least that was what my mom had. My dad was going to buy the .375 H&H, but mom turned up pregnant with me instead.

[allmendream]

Yes, and a bear in my back yard took a 12 gage slug in the shoulder that broke its shoulder bone, made mincemeat of its heart and lungs; and it still ran about a hundred yards crashing through thick brush before it fell.

[sec.density]

Thanks for correcting AAM. The ranger gut shot the bear, I bet.