Going hunting and fishing up in Alaska next year. Need a sidearm for protection. Any suggestions? All info welcome as I have plenty of time to research and compare, just want to get started early. Thanks and have a great weekend!

454 Casull,I have no problem shooting my raging bull one handed.

Minimum .44 Mag, but go bigger if you can handle it.

Thanks guys. I thought I would be able to get by with a .45. The most important thing is not taking any chances.

i think i would take something more than the .45. i just bought a 1911 in the .45 cal. and it feels like a pea-shooter compaired to my .44 mag.

Busch, if it's the .45 LC that you want, you could go with the .454 Casull!
Most of the time you could use the .45's and when you're out in bear country load it up with the .454's.

IMO that is the best idea , if not a 44mag with heavey cast bullets .
The 45ACP is a poor choice

The proud shooter of a Ruger SRH 454

Wait a couple more months. Ruger will be releasing their SRH "Alaskan". It was designed to be a back up sidearm.It will be chambered in two Calibers. The 454 Casull(can shoot 45 Colt)and the powerful 480 Ruger.These will have a 2 1/2"bbl.They are due to be released in May last I heard.Get you order in early.

Ruger Redhawk

I love my .44 mag RSR with 4x extended eye relief scope but for backup dont really need the scope.

I shot a Ruger SRH 454 choped to 3 1/2 " with full power loads and hot 45 colt loads , all I can say is the 454 loads HURT my hand ( I shoot lots of full power loads from my 7 1/2" SRH ), the 45 colt loads were more than some would want to shoot.