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Pistol for Alaska trip...
- Thread starter DeadEyeDan
- Start date
![[laugh]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/012.gif "Laugh [laugh]")
peterk123
NES Member
I have one. It is an awesome gun. The 405 grain bullet is a lot of lead.
Best defense against grizzly is a safe retreat.
I think, honestly, a chance to kill it with any pistol, well, may be a 10%?
And , I did not mean rifle. A shotgun, 2 barrels, slugs, and 2 more guys with same guns on your sides. That can give a considerable warranty.
DeadEyeDan
NES Member
Again not buying anything... but using one of my current collection of handguns that are considered dangerous game capable.
Rocky Mosasaurus
NES Member
Physics says a pistol with rubber bullets, so you have an elastic collision with greater KE to stun the bear and create more displacement of the object versus plugging it with lead creating a perfectly inelastic collision with lower KE, which will only make it more pissed off.
Allegedly, many Alaskans carry the G20 in bear country on a chest holster so they can draw in front of them and discharge rounds quickly enough at a short distance to put the bear down before it mauls them like Leo from The Revenant.
Personally, I would study tracks in the environment and make sure not to cross paths with a bear in the wild in the first place. When its man vs. nature...unpredictable things can happen. That being said ‘when in Rome...’ I’d carry the G20.
Allegedly, many Alaskans carry the G20 in bear country on a chest holster so they can draw in front of them and discharge rounds quickly enough at a short distance to put the bear down before it mauls them like Leo from The Revenant.
Personally, I would study tracks in the environment and make sure not to cross paths with a bear in the wild in the first place. When its man vs. nature...unpredictable things can happen. That being said ‘when in Rome...’ I’d carry the G20.
Chris
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If a Ruger is on your list...
Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .480
Less "snappy" than the .454 which makes follow up easier. Much more power than a .44. Not as brutal to the hands and in a smaller frame than the .500 which makes it far easier to carry..
The .475 Linebaugh is more powerful using the same bullet, but you are talking custom guns. The .480 is a production gun and ammo is not hard to find normally. Should be able to find a used version to save some $$$. They were dirt cheap when the S&W .500 first came out as people "upgraded". Do yourself a favor and try the Hogue grips. I find they fit and stick better in my hand than the Ruger grip and it's cheap $$. I believe Ruger even sells the gun with them now.
They were made in both 5 shot and 6 shot. Some of the 6 shot versions had issues and Ruger offered replacements with 5-shot under warranty. Frankly, my 6-shot has never had any issues. You can't get a 6-shot new.
This isn't something you are going to be putting hundreds of rounds through. But when you need it, having that extra 20% more firepower could be a difference.
Model 5302. Catalog# KSRH-2480 with an MSRP of $1189.
Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan
Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .480
Less "snappy" than the .454 which makes follow up easier. Much more power than a .44. Not as brutal to the hands and in a smaller frame than the .500 which makes it far easier to carry..
The .475 Linebaugh is more powerful using the same bullet, but you are talking custom guns. The .480 is a production gun and ammo is not hard to find normally. Should be able to find a used version to save some $$$. They were dirt cheap when the S&W .500 first came out as people "upgraded". Do yourself a favor and try the Hogue grips. I find they fit and stick better in my hand than the Ruger grip and it's cheap $$. I believe Ruger even sells the gun with them now.
They were made in both 5 shot and 6 shot. Some of the 6 shot versions had issues and Ruger offered replacements with 5-shot under warranty. Frankly, my 6-shot has never had any issues. You can't get a 6-shot new.
This isn't something you are going to be putting hundreds of rounds through. But when you need it, having that extra 20% more firepower could be a difference.
Model 5302. Catalog# KSRH-2480 with an MSRP of $1189.
Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan
1. Not hunting. Meaning likely not out in the woods 24/7. Although in your defense, OP really hasn't given us an itinerary.
2. Long gun often equals shotgun as well. Regardless rifle or shotgun not on you is no good. Weapon on you is better.
3. Going on vacation with his kids. Read as likely no hangers on by his sides to finger f*** long guns or shotguns since you want to specify.
4. Read below:
Spent a fair amount of time in the woods in Alaska, never thought to carry a handgun. When your out having fun make a lot of noise and use your head. When your hunting I carried a 300 win mag and would think bigger is better
DeadEyeDan
NES Member
Not looking to buy anything... I listed what I thought were the five most bear worthy handguns in my collection in my original post.
Chris
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Then I'd do the short .44. You want it to be comfortable to carry as the liklihood of needing it is not that great. You want something that you can keep with you. The .44 can give you as much as double the energy of the 10mm depending on the ammo choice. Even at the closest, you are looking at at least 50% more energy. I'd rather do more damage with good hits than have to hit something moving multiple times. Don't get me wrong, the 10mm is likely "enough" for the job. But since when do we want the fight to be close?
There is also something to be said about the durability and simplicity of a wheelgun vs the semi.
Your other options are just much larger. When you sit, that extra length will be noticed.
Mtn_Guy
NES Member
Itinerary and awareness is more important than what you carry, as others have stated.
Never crossed paths with a bear when I visited Alaska, but came within closer-than-comfort distance with one while hiking in Glacier N.P., Montana.
I’d vote for your S&W 629 3” Backpacker .44 Mag. Very low probability you’ll need it
Never crossed paths with a bear when I visited Alaska, but came within closer-than-comfort distance with one while hiking in Glacier N.P., Montana.
I’d vote for your S&W 629 3” Backpacker .44 Mag. Very low probability you’ll need it
M60
NES Member
Only a fool would choose a 10mm, or any other handgun, over a shotgun with slugs, against a Alaskan bear.
DeadEyeDan
NES Member
Out of your choices I'd take the 3" .44 mag or the Glock 20. Personally, I would take my Glock 29 with my kkm barrel with some underwood or buff bore hardcast loads, that's my usual carry for hiking and fishing as it can still be concealed when I get back to the trail head or stop for lunch. Make sure if you bring the G20 with heavy hard cast loads to test them first, the stock barrel has a hard time with stabilizing some of them. I def recommend a kkm barrel. For people/animal duty in 10mm I carry either underwood or Winchester Silvertips as they are one of the few factory loads still loaded to full 10mm specs. I also carry some bear spray.
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Tangent incoming.... wheel guns are a more complex firearm than glocks. A glock has like 38 parts you can put together in like 20 minutes no timing needed.
Wheel guns are a little more intricate.
Also I've never bound a glock up so bad i couldn't get it apart...I know of multiple people who's sent their wheel guns to smith's.
Not that it matters if you don't drop a charging bear with the first round chances are it's eating the shit out of you.
Just a pet peeve of mine
Out of all the guns you listed...
Take whatever you can accurately shoot the fastest and reload the fastest that also makes carrying extra ammo easier.
In this case, the gun with a mag makes sense given your criteria.
Revolvers are nice and if a round doesn't go off you just pull the trigger again, but you are limited on rounds, reloads are slower and carrying a bunch of speed loaders or moonclips is not comfortable.
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M60
NES Member
Yeah, probably should have said rifles and shotguns weren't a option in your post. So if you run into a pissed off bear, the second reasonable option, would be to bend over, put your head between your leggs and kiss your butt goodbye, because a .44 or anything like is only going to anger a 1200 pound bear. I've hit deer with 2, .44, heart shots and had them run for a while.. That's enough time for your bear to do a job on you for sure. The buck in question only weighed 155 lbs.
When you’re back country camping 20 miles from pavement and the last thing you see before climbing into your tent is a 900 pound brown bear working the slope above you a credit card doesn’t help you sleep at night. From the window of a cruise ship or RV it’s a different story.
All you need is a bolas. Much easier to carry. When a bear attacks, tell the kids to run and employ the bolas.
You’ve sacrificed for them for 13 years. It’s time for them to return the favor if needed. It’s not like you’re losing everything, you’ll still have one child left.
You’ve sacrificed for them for 13 years. It’s time for them to return the favor if needed. It’s not like you’re losing everything, you’ll still have one child left.
Does the window help with giving you a steady aim?
Don’t know no windows in my tent.Does the window help with giving you a steady aim?
It must be some instinctual fear of bears way back in our DNA that is the reason for these questions. The chances are incredibly infinitesimal that you will be attacked by a bear. You have more chances of getting hit by a tour bus while you're there than getting mauled.
GaryO
NES Member
That could be it. I have seen 1 black bear while walking my dog in Bartlett NH, it freaked me out a little bit because it was foraging around some old apple trees and it just stared blankly as I walked by. My dog barely gave it a glance.
