Perfect trail gun

[VAgrunt]

Well folks I am thinking that this is going to stir up a hornets nest but I am in need of some guidance. I will be in Kodiak Alaska soon and I am curious as to what would make a perfect trail gun. Note that it must be light and manageable, strong enough to hurt a Kodiak bear, and durable enough to survive in Alaska. I am no rookie when it comes to firearms and I am well aware of the need to be very accurate in the case of a pissed of bear... just curious where I should invest my money. I currently own a win 30/30 and a .45acp and niether are known for bringing down a bear. I have had my eye on a ruger super blackhawk .44 mag and a rossi ranch hand .44 mag. I hear a lot of pros and cons on both and I might even be looking in the wrong direction. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Wildthang]

Well if I was going into Kodiak country and wanted to pack a pistol, I would get a stainless steel Smith and Wesson 500 mag. 10" barell, When that gun speaks bears listen. It is a huge pistol but it needs to be! My next choice would be a .454 Casull, stainless steel, 10" barell.

But that's just my opinion!

[Rick]

If I was going into Kodiak I'd ask SD or Winter or SJJ or one of the ladies.

[crashdive123]

Yep - the Alaska folks will probably give the best advice. Klkak always carries a 44 mag on his vest.

[kyratshooter]

Yep, I will reserve opinion on this one too.

Every time I try to outguess the Alaskans they surprise me in some unusual way, carrying 9mms and .22s and being more concerned with misquitos than bears.

[Rick]

Shoot, SD didn't have a door on the outhouse for years. One of the local bears would come down while he was in there and just plop down outside until SD read him a story. That's was kinda hard, too, cause most of the "books" SD had only had pictures.

[Wildthang]

Well I think it was Sourdough or Hunter that said the best bear deterrant is a shotgun. You just fill his face with pellets and run! All that lead in his face will usually stop him long enough to get away, and it is easier to hit him on the run.
There is a lot of merit to that!

[VAgrunt]

I actually sent a pm to SD and I am eagerly awaiting his response. I am a good survivor here and there but Alaska is a new venue for me and I am eager to learn all I can about it!

[Winter]

I'm not in brown bear country. I carry a .357 around here and often a rifle. If I was in Brownie country, a marlin guide gun in 45-70 stainless would be my choice.

A 30-30 has alot more power then a 44 mag.

[SARKY]

When you say "trail gun" I think of something light and powerful so I would have to go with my 4 inch barreled total titanium Tracker

[Odin'sRaven]

Personally I prefer a 10" SxS with a pistol grip. 12 or 10 gauge with double O buck will do the trick just fine and you don't have to worry about accuracy. Carry a few blanks on you or even a few rubber rounds to give the bear a warning shot from afar. If it comes down to close proximity you'll be happy you had a shot gun instead of a pistol. Just my 2-cents.

[Rick]

Is bear spray not an option? All this buckshot is going to put a ticked off bear in the woods is it not?

[VAgrunt]

I am thinking that the spray if shot into the wind would hurt me more than a bear, and i am not going to carry a shotgun when i can save weight and carry i high power rifle with more ammo. The question isnt about hunting a bear its about what would be best to have when hiking an coming across a pissed off bear? I know to stand my ground and make a lot of noise, and under no circumstance run away from the bear. I just wanted to know if there was a more preffered sidearm out there that is known for doing the job or if i should just carry my 30-30 or 300 win mag everywhere i go?

[hunter63]

Can't say about Alaska, but Western Colorado while elk hunting, in bear country........Local preference was .44 mag carried at all times...including trips to the "hooter"....away from camp a ways.
That advice was from the land owner and our host/guide...and I followed it with a Ruger Super Black Hawk.

Never saw one, even though one of the guys found a elevated baited bear blind, and sat in it for a while.(Why would an elk come anywhere a baited bear blind)

So do you get a bear license before you go?, or hope your self defence claim holds up?........What distance would you be shooting Mr Bear? ( I have named brother bear my totem, and won't mess with him unless he chooses to mess with me.)

[Old Professor]

In general, I think a long gun is better than a handgun for defense from a bear attack IF you are in a local where BIG bears are a likely encounter, simply because a handgun is harder to shoot accuratly in a crisis situation and generally long guns are more powerful. I live in the UP of Michigan and bait bears and my gun of choice is a 357 with Grizzly Ammo 180 gr hard cast lead flatnose loads. Around here we only have black bears and very few recorded bear attacks. If I was in some place like Alaska, I think I would carry a 12 ga shotgun loaded with slugs. Buckshot has a poor record on big bears - too much hair and fat over the vitals. I would want maximum penetration. I really disagree with shooting a bear in the face with bird shot. That leaves a blinded, angry bear for some unsuspecting person to encounter.

[Old GI]

If'n I was to go into bear country, I would go with SD (and carry whatever he does).

SD: I accept cash, check or money order,

[Rick]

....and hope I can outrun him.

[lucznik]

I don't live in Alaska but I do live, hike, camp, and hunt in bear country (Grizzlies and Blackies both). Obviously when hunting I have a rifle (most commonly a 7-08 Rem) and I have no doubts it would do the job. I do carry a sidearm when hunting but, it's usually a small .22LR for putting a pine grouse or two into the pot for dinner.

When not hunting, my sidearm of choice is usually a S&W 686+ Mountain Gun (.357 Mag). It is loaded with 180 gr. Hornady XTPs or Nosler Partitions over a stiff charge of 2400 giving me just under 1300 fps from a 4" barrel. I'm very comfortable with this gun and am able to shoot it accurately, even at extended distances - which trumps raw power every time.

Someday I may get a .44 Mag (perhaps the 696 Mountain Gun) just to say that I have one and to be able to laugh at people's reactions when I fool them into touching off a full horse round but, I certainly don't feel I NEED one to be safe in the backcountry.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Back in the late '70s I struck a deal with Grizzlies and Alaskan Browns. They agreed not to break into my house, eat up all the snacks and wreck the tv. I agreed to stay out of their woods. So far, all parties have lived up to the terms of the agreement...

Were it to become necessary to break this agreement, I would seriously consider the Marlin 1895G in .45-70. I've done a lot of cowboy action shooting, so working a lever-action is second nature to me.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...bore/1895G.asp

[VAgrunt]

lots of great advice out there. thanx to all that gave me some. I will mostlikely tote a .44 mag until i feel more comfortable. I will take other firearms also such as my 300 win mag and my 30-30 amongst others. if i never post again you know the bears got me