Have fished Alaska for 24 years straight and have been rock throwing distance from browns feeding on salmon. I started out carrying a 44 mag until I went down in a river and would have drowned if not for a good cast from a freind with 15 pound test. The 44 was good to shoot myself with before the bear could eat me. Most of the guides carry a 12 guage with pistol grip and either buckshot with a slug backup or just shot. I would carry a 3.5 inch binelli auto with the big shot in federal. Good luck and carry a camera so someone can recover the photos for the forum when they find what's left of you. Leave the candy bars out of your pack.