Info on short barrel revolver for bear protection 500S&W 454 Casull?

Totch94

Totch94

New member
I'm thinking of a bear hunt for brown bear in Alaska in the near future and wonder what experience anyone has with a short barrel big bore revolver for backup and protection. I don't want to over do it, but if you are about to get eaten, is that really possible??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I would kind of like to have one just because also and wonder what some of you have experienced with them. I know that they are very expensive in say 454 casull or 500 S&W. Thanks for the input
 
You know, I have been reading about so called "bear guns" for many years. For most of these years, it is been a heavy loaded .44 magnum. Either a S&W or Ruger. Then came the 454 Casull and others. I have a 460 S&W magnum and it is not even something I want to carry around. Personally if it was my bacon I as trying to protect, I would rather have a 18 or 20" Remington 870 loaded with buckshot AND slugs slung over my back. This could be brought into action pretty quickly, and would be better than any handgun for changing a bruin's mind about running you through his digestive system. A good stout handgun would certainly be better than nothing, but if a "aws#it!" situation ever occurs, I want the chips stacked in my direction as far as they will go.
 
Rustydust,

I'm with you on having the chips stacked in my direction with hungry predators who have dining on their mind with me as the guest of honor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Who knows, I might just carry a pocket of hand grenades for backup! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

BTW, I too wish Hillary had married OJ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
I have a 454 and have hunted brown bears in Alaska. I wouldn't waste my time and energy packing a big revolver when a good 375 H&H will do a better job at any range. I've never seen a guide with a pistol and have never seen one without a big rifle. Most of the fishing guides carry a shotgun.
 
I was deer hunting years ago in Colorado, hell I was still a teenager in High school. One of the locals stopped by camp one afternoon and as the chat continued he asked me why I was carrying a sidearm. I told him it was a 44 magnum and I was carrying it in case I encountered a bear that wanted to dine on my skinny azz. He chuckeled and his response was something along the lines of "Well if a bear does dine on yer skinny azz and you are wearing that 44, we'll find a real nice pistol packed in that bear's poop once he's done with ya" He said bears don't take kindly to being poked at with a 44. He told me to get a shotgun and carry slugs, he said bears have a tougher time swallowing shotguns /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I've shot a 4" .500S&W Mag. As far as recoil goes, it was manageable. But the muzzle blast was deafening, even with heavy duty ear protection. I could feel the sinuses in my face compress with each shot. I couldn't imagine shooting that without ear protection. It would definately ring your bell though; not what I'd want to happen when ole grizz is chargin'.
 
My cousin lives and works in Alaska as a Guide. He carried a 3" 12ga loaded with Remigton "copper solids"... That is until he has to use it to "stop" a big brown from eating his client and him... 5 slugs and the bear turned and walked off to die elsewhere... He now carries a cutom reworked Marlin in .450 Marlin... And, says if he could get something bigger and better he would... He wonder how to carry an RPG without getting into trouble... That bear was hit five times and could have just as easily charged as walking away... It was mortally wounded but it wasn't dead...

No handgun is going to ever do the job... Could it, sure, into the roof of its mouth at the right angle... But I haven't studied bear dentistry and don't intend to...
 
Years ago the handgun editor of Shooting Times magazine was a very knowledgeable guy named Skeeter Skelton. He had a monthly column where he answered write in questions. One month a question came in about what 44 mag loads he would recommend for Brown Bears...

Skeeter provided several heavy 44 mag loads to the inquirer and then finished his answer with the statement that if the person really wanted to tackle a Brown Bear with a handgun that the best advice he (Skeeter) could provide anyone so inclined was to shoot the bear five times and yourself once (in the head preferably)....

-BCB
 
if you get a 454, you can practice with the less expensive 45 colt. (something to consider) but when your life is on the line the 50 will hit harder.

that said, large bears are going to be difficult to stop with most anything. shotgun with slugs or a really large bore rifle (nothing smaller than a 375 holland & holland) might be your best bet assuming a tank isn't available.
 
Hell with the shotgun.. 45/70 levergun is the way to go. Reliable and more real-world knockdown power than most high power rifles at the range you'd be talking about.
 
The guides up there tell ya to bring whatever sidearm you want. Just be sure to file down the front site, that way it wont hurt so bad when the bear sticks it up your ***

All kidding aside, what was that new varmint round you found the other day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Totch
You already carry a pretty short barrel. Don't know if you need another. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif And from what these guys are saying, I'm not so sure I'd mess with the weight of a big hand cannon. Maybe just a big can of bear pepper spray. If it doesn't work, at least the bear's meal will be seasoned.
 
While bowhunting for grizzly in Alaska, my guide and I each packed .44 magnums. He very pointedly reminded me of rule #1, if you needed to use the handgun: make sure you hit the bear! He had, BTW, stopped one previously, with his .44, but admitted it was pretty lucky. And I think rule #2 dealt with filing down that front sight, followed by the rule about never shooting one more than 5 times...so you have one left for yourself.
 
I have a friend that is a Bear guide in AK. He just kinda grunts when you ask him about handguns for protection or hunting Brown Bears. He has a couple of custom Lever Rifles, one is a 450 Marlin and the other is a 458Win. if i remember right. I'm pretty sure he doesn't even own a handgun.
A little off topic, but he told me that alot of people want to Archery hunt. He tells them to bring their Bow and a Rifle in case they change their mind. He then takes them out and just shows them a bear and lets them decide. He says that in ten seasons he has only had one hunter actually hunt with the Bow.
If it were me, I'd get a Marlin guide gun if you feel the need for some extra protection. Then for about the same price as the big revolvers you'll have something that you could shoot and/or hunt with later. Not a whole lot of people enjoy plinking with a 500S+W....IMO....YMMV....Etc...Etc..
Good luck on the Bear hunt,whatever you choose.
 
FWIW,I doubt you'd ever see a PH in Africa go in after a wounded lion with a shotgun.Just won't happen.And a lion is considerably smaller framed than a brownie.So,think I'd stick with a big rifle.

As a side note,I've been in contact with some guys who bowhunt in AK.Many of these guys don't really like to carry a firearm while afield,however they do realize bears can present a problem.Pepper spray has proven iffy,especially with a really irate bear.In a quest to find good bear scare they have been thinking outside the box and have reported some very interesting results with flare guns.I'm going to follow this and see what it is finally determined.
 
Sidearms, weather concealed carry or bear protection (wolf I would be more concerned with), are carried more than used. Most of the big guns with short barrels weigh a ton. Odds are you may not be carrying it when needed. The gun I like for carry a lot, shoot little, is the S and W Scadnium 44 mag. I do not own one, but it looks like a great carry piece, for piece of mind. I think the model is 529SC but don't quote me on that. Recoil from full power ammo is supposed to be horrific but in the right circumstance it would suffice. I have never fired a 454 that didn't hurt either (of course a test group of one). Also I think a hardcast bullet would be called for, vs standard 44 mag 240 grain hollowpoint. Think Buffalo Bore or Garrett. Like others have said, I would prefer my Guide gun but that may be leaning against a tree when you need it. Pistols can also be point blank weapons should you be able to draw and fire while being eaten. Beats just being eaten...
 
Pepper spray and small bells will be some protection except for Grizzly They like the taste of pepper and from what I hear the way to ID grizzly poop is by the smell of pepper and the little bells in it.

BTW +10 on the shotty and slugs, no handgun of any chambering compares in stopping power.
 
Here are 3 different guns that I carry for bear protection when working in remote wilderness areas of BC, Canada.

All scopes are quick detachable and I install XS Sights Backup Ghost Ring sights on the shotgun and 1895 when the scopes are off...

Dec_25_to_28_2007_086.jpg


The top one is a Rem 870 12 gauge with a Dlask Arms Corp. 14" barrel that I load up with Brenneke 3" 1 3/8oz slugs that give me about 1350fps. (437gr = 1 oz)

The middle rifle is my Marlin 1895GS 45-70 that I load from 300gr Barnes X bullets @ 2300fps on up to 550gr Jae-Bok Young WLNGC's @ 1600fps.

The bottom gun is my Crimson Trace laser gripped 4.25" Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull that I load with 300gr XTP-Mag's @ 1450fps to 405gr Beartooth WLNGC's @ 1300fps. (360gr Cast Performance WLNGC's give me 1400fps)

When I am in big bear country the revolver is always attached to me with either my Bob Mernickle shoulder holster or cross draw holster on a Mernickle double layer belt.

Nov_2007_017.jpg


321884_25_inch_SRH_Crimson_Trace_Grips_006.jpg


Say what you want about carrying a revolver but take it from me having that gun when I have a big bear near gives me a sense of security... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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I back my assistant manager up when he bow hunts for interior grizzlies. I carry a short barrelled 12 gauge with 2 rounds of 00 buck and 4 slugs. The buckshot is first to hit them in the face and the four slugs come after to hit em hard. He carries a .44 mag also. When in doubt hunt with someone who is also carrying a firearm. Its been 3 years and I have yet to even see a griz where we are, but we are hunting a specific bear. Another thing about pepper spray, people forget that the majority of the time they are going to be hunting with the wind in their faces. Try spraying pepper spray at a bear that is charging in that situation and see what happens to your own eyes.....I would much rather throw lead than pepper, at least the lead isnt going to come back at me!
 
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