Help: 44 Mag or 454 Handgun and Recommended Ammo for Extended Stay in Alaska

I'm a governor fan for any woods carry. Remember, a bears neurologic pain is felt immediately in the head/nose area.....but is a non starter in the torso. I feel more comfortable turning any bear inside 10' with #6 shot than thinking you will stop being mauled or killed with a 44 or 454 to the breadbasket. The chances of hitting the head/nose/eyes with a single shot bullet inside 10' are slim to none and you are toast.

Good luck on the fishing. Should be fun.
 
Shotgun slugs, even the vaunted Brennekes have a pitiful sectional density. Compare them to common handgun bullets and you'll find them wanting.


I feel more comfortable turning any bear inside 10' with #6 shot...
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That will get you killed. I've seen a brown bear soak up 5 .416's and you think you're gonna change his mind with a .410???
 
I'll take my chances with #6 to the face inside 10' any day. I'm looking to turn the great bear rather than kill it. You like your chances with big guns on a charge then have at it. There are expert shooters out there that I would feel comfortable standing behind with a large caliber handgun or rifle to make an accurate shot, but I'm not one of them...........perhaps you are and good for you.
 
And it may work. If it does you are knowingly injuring a bear. He then becomes somebody else's problem. To some degree you are responsible for what the now angry bruin does to the next human it encounters.
 
I'm looking to turn the great bear rather than kill it.
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And then what, wishful thinking??? You'd be better off with bear spray.

Put the bullet in the right place and it will work, as well as any rifle. The question with properly loaded big bore sixguns is not whether or not they work, we know they work, the issue is whether or not the shooter can put the bullet in the right place. Spray the bear's face with birdshot and now he is injured and even angrier than before. If 400gr bullets from a .416 tear through his lungs and shatters the bear's paw and he doesn't even react, what do you think a faceful of birdshot is going to do?
 
Yes, I am knowingly injuring a bear. When it's my life, that's the choice I make. I would certainly do all I could to finish the bear with the 45 ammo I have left but I'm not chasing him into the bush if that's my only option. A report would be made to local officials. There are many bears injured each year by hunters or other bears.

Yes, put any bullet in the right place and it will work. And like I said, if you are confident enough in your ability to put a bullet right where you want it while being charged by an adrenal fueled monster......then have at it. As I said earlier, a bears pain is felt instantaneously in the face but it just doesn't register in the torso when they are in a full charge.

I'll stick with my governor in the woods for ease of carry while hiking or pulling when I need it in an instant. There is no fool proof protection in bear country, but I'll take the hard and heavy sting to the face over anything else available.
 
but I'm not chasing him into the bush if that's my only option
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"Remember that other hunters or outdoor enthusiasts may use your hunting area or campsite after you do. It is the ethical responsibility of any hunter who wounds a bear (e.g., in a DLP situation) to make a strong effort to find and kill the bear, and if the hunter has made a good faith effort but the wounded bear escapes, to notify other hunters in the area as well as ADF&G and Department of Public Safety/Alaska Wildlife Trooper personnel."
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.bearsafety
I'll stick with my governor in the woods for ease of carry while hiking or pulling when I need it in an instant
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I have only seen "governors" under gun counter glass, not even once outdoors in Alaska; then again, it is a big state and I can't be everywhere at once.
There is no fool proof protection in bear country, but I'll take the hard and heavy sting to the face over anything else available.
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How about 100% effective in Alaska? No fatalities? No serious injuries?
http://www.adn.com/2008/04/20/381252/spray-proves-its-worth-in-bear.html
 
We are hijacking this thread to preach to deaf ears.
My apologies to the OP, I've said all I can say as far as the original question goes so I'll step aside.
 
I would love to see Ruger chamber their .480 in something longer than an Alaskan but shorter than their standard 7½" model. A 4-5" would be a wonderful thing. Something like Bowen's conversion of a Super Redhawk with a standard Redhawk barrel.

Super%20Redhawk%2001.jpg



We are hijacking this thread to preach to deaf ears.
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Agreed.
 
Get a Freedom Arms 454 as your SMALL GUN. Handguns are weak and tiny for big bears in a DEFENSIVE SCENARIO, hunting you can use smaller guns. But if a bear has your address, and he will in defense cases, a 500 S&W is the real tool. Let no one tell you different if you are wise.

Like a cop, they want to carry off-duty a 12 oz. .38, BUT, and there always is a but in life, if a bad guy shows up with a gun or knife they wish they had a 500 S&W ... Trust me!!!

The chances of you being attacked by a grizz is very low, very ... a black bear would be more likely there, as they are predatory unlike your Michigan blackies. BUT, if you need a HANDGUN in a close & personal meeting with your life on the line, use the largest handgun you can and WILL CARRY .... PERIOD. If you are wimpy on the recoil start dropping down in caliber to get where you can hit reliably, cause no hits is useless!!!

Nothing under .44 mag, but start with the .454, 475 Linbaugh, and up! Freedom Arms is the ROLLSROYCE of handguns and has a high resale value, and is fun to shoot period. A double-action has a big advantage though if you get into a weird position, hurt on one arm, or pinned down, etc ... you just point and shoot, and can do it one-handed if needed...

I loved carrying my Freedom Arms .454 everywhere, even Africa as Lion protection when hunting with a bow. I seriously doubt that I could hit a charging lion with a handgun, and I damn good, damn good. Lions are so fast, and not seen on TV when speed is not real just like Nascar on TV. If you have ever seen a charging lion in person, or a bear at full speed, you will see that it takes the best of the best to hit one in such a situation, IF, YOU CAN GET YOUR GUN OUT TO BEAR ON THE BEAR IN THE FIRST PLACE! MOST DON'T!!! This is why you need the most impact on the first shot, IF YOU EVEN GET ONE!

HAVE FUN IN ALASKA, BUT DO NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE BEARS; YOU SHOULD FEEL BLESSED EVEN IF YOU SEE ONE!
 
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Handguns are weak and tiny for big bears...
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Handguns are more difficult to hit with. A proper hardcast LBT or Keith style SWC with a sectional density of .270 at 1200-1300fps will break bones and fully penetrate virtually any brown bear from virtually any angle. Ross Seyfried proved their effectiveness against Cape buffalo, with 360gr .45's penetrating four feet of hide, heavy bone and muscle. A much larger critter than any brown bear. You can't ask for more than that, unless you worship energy. In which case, only a .470NE will do.
 
If you feel overburdened by recoil from the 454...you can still use some high pressure hard cast 45 Colt loads {in the same revolver}, that should be suitable for a one-on-one confrontation with a bear.
 
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I'll comment on the X frame S&W (460 & 500). Yup, they are the most powerful of the commonly available handguns but I sold my 500 after only a few months (not sure exactly how long... Less than a year for sure) of ownership. Would I complain about the hurkiness if I ever had to face a mean critter? No, I wouldn't. But it really was awful to carry, may as well been hauling a rifle. In the end I decided to sell it and go with a Ruger Alaskan in 454. I always had that with me unless I was packing a rifle, and even then I still had it with me sometimes (like when calling for predators only armed with a .243 or .223).

Keep in mind, your defensive gun is only worth having if it isn't a burden to pack.

Also, an earlier poster said that your odds of being charged by a brown bear are slim. He is absolutely correct. I lived, fished, hunted the Kenai Peninsula for ten years and only saw 3 brown bears and was never charged. I did see gobs of black bears, especially while in the high country. If you are going to the Mat-Su valley your experience should be similar, still. Be prepared.

Other parts of AK you will see lots more brownies, Kodiak, AK peninsula, ABC islands etc.
 
My neighbors sons both work for Princess Rail Tours between Anchorage and Denali. The last time they were home visiting, we chatted about this exact subject. Both of them carry 44 Mag Ruger Blackhawks 300gr hard cast's and bear spray when fishing. When camping they will occasionally tote a 12ga shotgun loaded with Brenneke hardened slugs.
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I don't see why that won't work just fine. With full 300 gr loads the .44 is a beast on both ends and while I like the .454 the .44 is not a BB gun.

And bear spray I'd take along just in case it's a bluff charge (a full charging bear runs as fast or faster than a horse so you won't have much time at all!)

And the 12 gauge shootie is best off all (and a lot cheaper than most pistols.)

Deaf
 
Azak I always carry a can of bear spray. My hiking is confined to BC, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Many windy days make it difficult to deploy with effectiveness........but I will use it if possible.....especially with a Sow/cubs if there is time.
 
Good point about the wind and pepper spray.

Admittedly I'm no guru as I've never faced a charge. My gut and other threat response training tell me it's best to practice one (lethal) response and consider having a backup like pepper spray if the situation allows time to think about non-lethal response. As others mentioned. If a real charge happens there will not be time to consider options.

This must be the 20th charging bear thread I've participated in. Glad we talk about it more than it happens.
 
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