Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

I'm looking at getting a revolver to carry with me when I'm backpacking/archery hunting in grizzly country, but I'd also like to be able to shoot targets and maybe a doe or two at close range. Right now I'm looking at the Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with the 5 1/2" barrel. My question is this: is a 49oz gun too heavy to comfortably carry all day? And is a pistol that has an OAL of 11" going to be too long to draw quickly and carry without it getting in the way?

Are there any other pistols in the $500-$600 range that I should be looking at?

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

I have a S&W model 657 with a 7 1/2' barrell.Don't know the actual weight but it gets pretty danged heavy being on the hip all day.BTW If you are not going in alone you don't need the side arm ,just be able to run faster than your partner.:D:D

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

About the 7 to 750.00 range you should be able to pick up the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, it comes with a 2 1/2" bbl and also a 2 1/4" 5 shot.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

I sent you a PM Wyotimberghost [email protected]

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

It is way too big and heavy for my tastes. I don't think you could find a bigger, clumsierone, unless you got a Redhawk with a LONGER BARREL! But that size & weight does help tame recoil. You MIGHT look at a Ruger flattop Blackhawk or even a Ruger Vaquero in .44 Mag. These are much lighter and easier to handle. Then you might find a used S&W Model 29 with a 6" barrel. Also much easier to use.

I also think you should take a look at a Taurus Raging Bull. For your purposes, get a 5.5" barreled one in .454 Casull. You can practice with it using light .45 Colt ammo, and even use hot-loaded .45 Colt ammo for deer. Then when you go into bear country, load it up with heavy handloaded .454 rounds with 300 or 325-grain hard-cast flatnose (LBT type) bullets.

There's absolutely no reason for you to overlook a good used pistol.....

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

I carry a Blackhawk 44 with the 5.5" barrel, when I am anywhere near bears. as stated above, you can plink with 44 special, hunt with something hotter. I also occasionally carry my Model 28 S&W, but I feel better with the bigger gun. Phil Shoemaker is an Alaskan bear guide that writes for the Wolfe Publications, did a column on the subject a while back. He said he carried a .357 for years and never felt under gunned. I also think a double action might be a better choice, but I am pretty comfortable with the Blackhawk.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

The ruger redhawk is just what you need in the new 4" barreled version. I reccomend a shoulder holster as any gun powerful enough to protect you will be heavy. S7W and taurus makes ultralight versions of .44mag da revolvers but the recoil with these are horrible!!! This is coming from a guy that the .454 casull is my "go to" gun and I shoot them a LOT just for fun.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

IF I planned to shoot deer with it as well as carry it for contact-distance bear protection, I would NOT get anything with a 2.5" barrel! As a matter of fact, such snubbies defeat the use of magnum ammuniton, as the barrels are too short to give you any velocity advantage accruing from those heavy powder charges. Big muzzle flashes will NOT set the bear on fire, unless you load up with black powder!! 4" MINIMUM for barrel length. I definitely agree with the shoulder holster idea, too!

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

A S&W 629 would weigh a bit less than a Redhawk. A 4" barrel would make a nice easy to holster handgun.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

Though I havent personaly shot one "dont even have the incling of gettin one" they had a pretty good preview in Shooting Times Feb 07. Muzzle velocities started at 1069fps with a 300gr bullit up to 1266fps with a 240gr, they dont have the energy levels listed though, but I would imagine they would still be pretty high. 25 yard accuracy started at 2.68" and ranged to 3.38", I beleive this pistol would do the job! with an overall length of 8.25" and weighs 41.25oz, this would be a pretty good pistol to carry all day.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull. In fact, I've been eyeing one at a local gun dealer, RLY Ent. here in Cheyenne. Attractive price too at $699.00! Retail is around $1,000.00
Go to http://www.rlyguns.com/id22.htm

Unfluted cylinder, Hogue Monogrip, adjustable sights.
More than enough firepower in a concealable lightweight package!

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

I'm a fishing guide in Alaska and for the past two years I've been carrying a wheelgun for personal protection. These are coastal browns and the biggest in the world. In the later part of the season we often can't go down the bluff to the boats because there's a big old sow with two cubs who likes to chew on our fish boxes and dive under the docks for carcasses. You will see a bear on every single bank in every turn of the river guarenteed when sockeye are in full swing.

that said, I carry a 5" Taurus Raging Bull in .454Casull and wouldn't settle for a .44mag. It sounds like a lot to say the .44mag is "weak", but take a look at some ballistics for the two. Odds are if one of those big Alaskan browns decided he was sick of looking at me I'd only get one, maybe two shots off once the revolver comes out from under the waders and out of the verticle shoulder holster. Wouldn't you rather those shots be a 360gr .454 Penetrator at 1500fps instead of a 260gr .44 flatnose at 1250? I know my life is worth the extra 100gr and 250fps and I won't let anyone else convince me otherwise. :D
On top of my Alaskan experience, I have the pleasure of volunteering at the Washington State University Grizzly research facility - the only facility in the world actively studying over 10 brown bears. I love playing with and handling everywhere from full grown bears to year old cubs, and when you get that close to such an animal you can appreciate their strength and natural armor. Take a look at the penetration of factory .454 rounds. I know browns have tremendous plate-like skulls, and i imagine a healthy mix of penetration weight retention and velocity would be needed to crack into those big foreheads.

Take a look at THIS link:
http://www.levergun.com/articles/454_factoryammo.htm

If you're anything like me, you love big bores and i have to say shooting the .454Casull is a blast and not at all intolerable if you use proper big-bore wheelgun mechanics. I'm convinced those people that complain about the beast of a gun hurting them every time they shoot could use a few pointers in technique, so don't be afraid of the caliber. Practice practice practice and you have a better chance of reacting with some degree of composure.


P.S. I know a lot of people poo-poo taurus products, but this is one of the sturdiest, most comfortable wheelguns I've shot and I'll trust my life to it's durability any day. Maybe the big bore illicits a more pressing quality control from taurus than the lower caliber guns people have had negative reviews with? Whatever firearm you chose, be confident with your choice and be safe! have fun with your revolver!

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

Posted by Deadeye 777
"P.S. I know a lot of people poo-poo taurus products, but this is one of the sturdiest, most comfortable wheelguns I've shot and I'll trust my life to it's durability any day. Maybe the big bore illicits a more pressing quality control from taurus than the lower caliber guns people have had negative reviews with? Whatever firearm you chose, be confident with your choice and be safe! have fun with your revolver!"


I have to say that I have carried and shot a Taurus 9mm semiand a 357mag revolver in the lower 48for the last 5-6 years. So far I haven't had one problem or a single jam or misfire. Like Deadeye777 said, they have been extremely sturdy and dependable.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

Get one in chocolate flavor if you can because chances are pretty good the bear will make you eat it. Pistols CAN and have in a few instances killed bears but if I was worried about a serious encounter I'd just get a short rifle. I think people who pack a big pistol to ward off the bears are whistling in the dark and the handgun is more for moral support.

But if you think you just gotta have one, I looked at a pretty neat contestant today. Check out the Taurus "Tracker." You can get it in 4," nice rubber grips and recoil ported barrel. MSRP is $536 but you can likely find it for under $500.

34ozs weight.

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

Get a heavy one, that way when you empty it into a bear you can beat in the head with the gun while it is chewing on you;). Or maybe save a bullet for yourself.

Bears are pretty fast if they want to be, not much is going to stop one if it is fairly close and wants to get to you. You might be better off with bear spray? Maybe you could spray it on yourself so you wouldn't taste as good?

Honestly just messing with you, I have never seen a live bear other than in a zoo. I know I wouldn't trust a pistol to save my life with one though, not from the things I have read and heard.

Paul

RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
 

Man Deadeye777, I don't think you got enough gun with bears that close:Djust kidding. I have shot a .454 before out of a Ruger SBH and like you said it wasn't that bad. But I would like to have a Hamilton Bowen Custom in say a 475 or 500 Linebaugh, of course you are talking close to $2000. Also something that I think needs to be considered also is the holster. I like Simply Rugged holster from Rob Leahry who lives up there in Alaska also. They hold the gun in close and tight with no snaps to hold them in the holster. In the heat of the moment I would not want a snap or strap hanging up on me.