[U S Army EOD]

Which is why you want to break their spines with a deep penetrating large caliber bullet. At least some type of 34 cal mag or higher. 00 buckshot would propably actually bounce off of a bear at over 40 yards.

[ZULU]

I think if you waited until the bear got close enough and then opened up with the automatic and shot at his head, you might do him in.

Don't they recommend a shoulder shot when the critter is standing sideways? Don't know what to aim for at a head on shot.

Amazing they were able to do them in with .54 caliber hawkin rifles. I read they used double charges and two balls. I have a .54 caliber Hawkin I built and it shoots dead on. Proofed the barrel with about 140 grains of FF (its a flintlock). The breech is 1 1/8 " acroos the flats and tapers to 1" at the muzzle. Wanted to put as much steel around the breech as possible for heavy charges.