Originally Posted by
Game Stalker
The mere fact that this question continues in your home state is clear proof the issue will not be settled here.
The simple answer is that a person should take as much firepower as they can reasonably handle and direct. Lets look a little closer and consider some things: each time a guide takes clients out they face a hypothetical situation: Will there be an encounter, what is the likely situation and how could it unfold?
Looking deeper, it has been expressed that the gun and load worked, this time. What about next time? The article states the guide is capable of using an .357 and .44 Mag-likely proficiently.
Since he is familiar and capable w/such loads, isn't that the practical choice when one considers potential outcomes.?
Since you use a 10mm, you have voted lesser faith in the 9mm's ability. Would you trust a guide w/your life and that of a loved one in a similar situation? Why tempt fate? The article doesn't state the size of the bear but doesn't give any indication it was a mature boar. Next time could be much different with a larger animal and the extra power from a larger load would pay dividends. Life is important enough for one to use that giving them the best advantage for survival.
I know the size of the bear. It was around 9ft. I carry a 10 because its slightly larger than the 9, carries the same capacity and is just a manageable. It has been proven to work over and over. Everyone has there preference and I don't think any one answer is right. Use what your most proficient with in a decent size caliber. I think 9mm would be the absolute smallest I would carry obviously. But for the majority of Alaskans the 10mm is taking off rapidly and it is a much more manageable gun to pack than those bulky heavy wheel guns. If a 9mm dropped a bear and that is what my guide was carrying I wouldn't mind at all.
As far as considering an encounter I spend probably as many days afield as some of these master guides. I hunt fish and hike 3 days a week starting in April and stopping generally in November. I have run into 1 bear that didn't go running for the hills when I came across him. He didn't posture or pose a threat so we parted ways and both lived. Im pretty confident that my chance of a dangerous encounter are less than 1% on a daily basis. Im still gonna prepare and be ready and alert but I also realize its more than likely not going to happen. This guy even admits this is the first one in what, 1 or 2 decades that they had to dispatch? Thats pretty low odds.