The Only 3 Bear Defense Shotguns Worth Carrying in Alaska

Most people shopping for an Alaska bear shotgun focus on the gun. The bigger mistake may be what’s loaded in it. This video compares three proven pump shotguns—the Remington 870 Marine Magnum, Mossberg 590A1, and Mossberg 500 Mariner—against one brutal standard: can you get a full-power slug on target within about four seconds? The answer depends on more than price or military specifications. Corrosion resistance, controls, weight, practice, and where the gun is actually carried all matter. The biggest ammunition lesson is even simpler: hard slugs, not buckshot or birdshot. And the surprising winner is the least expensive shotgun on the list, because the money saved can go toward something the evidence says matters more than brand prestige—practice.