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Hunting.

Before modern rifles, hunters usually carried double barreled shotguns, with one or both barrels loaded with birdshot.

If the hunter thought deer might be in the area, one barrel might hold buck shot (9 pellets each roughly the size of a .22 cal bullet). The gun might have a toggle switch at the back for left or right barrel, or two triggers. If you thought bears may be in the area you might load a slug round (a single pellet roughly equivalent to a .45 cal round) into one barrel.

The phrase "loaded for bear" means you've got both barrels with slugs in them. You're expecting big trouble and you're ready for it. Or, you're paranoid.

Also related phrase "gave him both barrels" is from similar origin involving double barrel shotguns.

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