Serbu
Thanks.
Smith & Wesson’s 329PD .44 Magnum Lightweight Revolver is popular in Alaska because it's light enough that you'll actually carry it all the time, and strong enough to handle heavy, hardcast "bear bullets" without breaking. It's not exactly fun to shoot full power loads at the range, but that's not the purpose of the design.
For close up bears, (unexpected encounters) a pistol grip 12 gauge pump using five 3” shells loaded with triple ought buck. With the right shell, each shot lets loose a hail of twelve .36 caliber(.357)lead balls at over 1200 fps. Each pellet weighs 70 grains for a total of 840 grains.
I lived in Alaska 7 years and have shot a couple moose with .44 magnum handgun and was not impressed with stopping power. For bear protection when fishing, I carried a slung sawed off two row 12 loaded as above.
Even the Wife’s five shot Taurus Judge the 3” .410 shells pack five triple ought buck. At 850 fps that is 350 grains of whoop ass with each bang.
Bear Spray. it works.
He needs a big .454 or .50 cal pistol and a flare gun. I’d start with the flare and follow with the lead. He might learn a bunch of short prayers too.
Simply put, the heaviest load the shooter can accurately place on target in a panic situation is the one he should use.
Mark
He doesn’t need a gun, just a good pair of running shoes and an overweight, out of shape hiking companion......
I happen to live in Alaska, I used to carry a Redhawk, too friggin big. Now I carry a 10mm Glock with my own loads.
Otherwise forget a pistol, use a shotgun with max slugs.
I have an old but fully restored Winchester Model 11 12 ga that uses 2 3/4” shells, but its an auto loader, and its fast.
I think its quantity as most shots will miss, a sawed off pistol grip double barrel shotgun with slugs is best for the last stand. Especially if you can get breacher rounds.
Most people just cannot handle some macho big mans hand cannon and ego boosting such a gun is a bad idea. A black bear can be brought down easily with even a .223, the brownies need maximum firepower, if I was to want to hunt one then I drag out my Winchester Model 70 375 H&H.
With Barnes reloads.
Having lived in Alaska for 12 years, I agree with those here denouncing the pistol. If a grizzly is charging, you are going to have to be VERY lucky to stop it with a pistol.......no matter what the caliber. I recommend a 12 guage with alternating buckshot and slugs. Some people are using flare guns.
one thing i’m not seeing is suggested training. big guns have big recoil. he’ll want to shoot it alot and get *really* comfortable with it.
also practicing draw and fire drills would be advised. a gun’s worthless if you can’t get it out, aquire your target, and hit it quick enough.
Plan A: All you need is a BB gun. Put the bear's eye out. Two shots with no recoil, and you're safe. I'm sure most of us can stay calm enough for that in a close encounter (or not).
Plan B: Panic! If you're close enough that you have to shoot, you're too close to get out of there safely. There are no good options in that case, and you have to hope your are physically and equipment-wise prepared for the least terrible option.
Forget about a gun. Kick him in the groin and then run like crazy. If it’s a sow, good luck.
Many years ago (42 to be exact) I was on an elk hunting trip near slide lake in Wyoming. One of the party I was with brought a couple of guns with him that a relative had in Alaska. The relative had died in a canoeing accident in Alaska and the guns made it back to Wyoming. There was a rifle in .458 Winchester (I believe it was a Model 70) and a single action .44 mag. We all took turns with the .458 to experience it and once was enough for me. As far as the .44 was concerned, we shot a porcupine with it but hardly fazed it. All we had were some cast bullets and figured they were not soft enough to expand. Poor old beast was finally dispatched with a .22 rifle.