I spend a lot of time backcountry camping with my family in black bear country. In years past I have carried my 375hh for camp defense. Most guys carry a lever action 4570 for this same purpose. I almost went down the lever action road as the 375hh is heavy and full length. I started thinking about a 12ga semiautomatic for this same purpose. Camp defense and general utility shooting. Fast follow up shots with a reliable beretta 1301 should be decisive. The same logic in the handgun world. A semiautomatic 357 magnum (10mm ballistics) with quick follow up shots seems all the rage over heavy recoiling but superior terminal ballistics of traditional bear stopping cartridges. So yes, in the long gun world of backcountry, the 1301 does parallel the same logic of applying a Glock 20 for holster carry.

I am convincing myself to buy a shotgun.