The more I kept thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that a GP100 (even with Buffalow Bore ammo)isn't enuff punch to carry on my side while hunting Alaskan Black Bear. I'm leaning towards a Ruger 6" or 7".454 Casull any suggestions?

I carried a 4" S&W 500 when I went to Alaska and when we got in the thick stuff with a bear close it felt more like my 640 Centenial than the mighty X frame....

The 454 is a great choice also.

I just picked up a very nice used S&W 329 PD @ 26OZ unloaded this will be my new carry side arm.

The recoil is a bit harsh but is sure is nice to carry. It is like holding air.

I plan to shoot 240 Gold Dot HP's out of it

I know a guy who used to tree bears with dogs. He always used a .357 until the .44 came out. After he shot a few with the .44 he went back to the .357 because it killed them faster. He wasn't using it as a bear stopper though. What is the primary gun you will be using?

I'm ganna just take my 357 security six with 200 gn lfn gc. Should work on black bear this spring.

Lars

for a back up gun bigger is better, there is a difference if your hunting bears, especially over bait or with dogs or you are trying to stop a charge. The 44 will kill a black bear but as a bear "stopper" it's marginal. I've read countless accounts of big bears, both black and grizzly's that were riddled with everything from 38's to 44's and kept coming. There is no magic cartridge but like I said the bigger the caliber and heavier the bullet the better. The 454 is where I would start for serious bear protection and I'd prefer something in the 475 to 500 class. The 480 ruger loaded with 400+gr hardcast or something like the heavy jacketed Hawk or even the 400gr XTP Mag would be good bear medicine in close cover. The short barreled X frames are another option but more bulky. Depending on your budget the FA 475 Linebaugh or 500WE or a custom Ruger in the former or the 500 linebaugh would be even better.

My primary gun is a Super 14 45-70 using 325 grain Hornady LEVERevolution. Drawing a bead on a 7+ footer is not out of the question. No bait, no dogs, strickly spot, evaluate and stalk. My personal max. range will be 50 yards. I have a budget of $700. and would like to be able to hunt deer and hogs with the new gun and buy off the shelf ammo.

Does it have to be new? Also, are you in a hurry to buy? I think we will start seeing more and more "toys" showing up for sale should the economy continue its path of instability. You may be able to get what you are looking for and come in under budget. 99% of the revolvers I see in this size are used VERY little, if at all.

I hunt with a .450 Marlin. For bear, I carry a .44 for backup. I am looking for a good used S&W .500 shorty to replace the .44. I agree that, for a bear backup, one should carry as large a caliber that one can "competently" handle. The Ruger Alaskan would be good also. No use carrying a caliber that causes a "flinch" or "pull". In my opinion, regardless of my situation - "shot placement" is still my most important consideration. An alternative - always hunt with someone you can outrun!

Hunt safe and have fun!

Ruger Alaskan is packable. Heavy for caliber hardcast bullet at moderate velocity will actually make it shootable! The key to proficiency with any firearm is practice, practice, practice -- oh, and then practice. Then, when you think you are comfortable, practice some more! his is the only way to becoem proficient with the big boomers. JMHO.

I agree with you Dan, regarding a used gun. I'm not in a very big rush, but the sooner i get it, the more I can practice practice practice. I'm going to haul a 55 gal. drum out and shoot at that at various ranges.

My bear guns are FA .475 Linebaughs, and I use 400 XTP's or 420 hard cast WFN's. The combination is fantastic on large bears (or buffalo, bison, elk, etc.) If you are held to a $700 budget, I would probably recommend a 7 1/2" .480 Ruger SRH, and load it with 400 gr. XTP's. For the record, I do own and use .454's and .500's, but the .475 is my preference for bears.

500 shorty if you can find a good deal on 1, our gander mountain has the 500 survival kit in the 500 sw for 699.00 used it does have the orange grips but that really wouldnt matter when a blacky is charging you, i dont think he will care, the 500 should be a show stopper although the 454 is a beast as well Ron

there is a ruger alaskan 454 on gunbroker now for 625.00 for a used gun that is below budget

There's a great load for the .480 from Buffalo Bore that features a 410 grain WFN at 1,200 fps -- it's a penetrating fool!

Well, That didn't take long. I just got a 7 1/2" Ruger SR .480 with 2 boxes of ammo for $555.00 Did I do good?

As far as I am concerned you did! Nice job!

An important aspect to consider in a gun used for protection from bears is your ability to make follow up shots quickly and accurately. For many people this is not possible with rounds over the power level of .44 mag or heavy .45 Colt. Test yourself under realistic conditions with an elevated heart rate and if possible a moving/advancing target. Keep in mind that a bear can come at you with the speed of a race horse. Fire multiple rounds, even empty the gun and see how well you do. It won't come close to touching how you will feel in a life or death situation, but it will provide a realistic assessment of how you will perform with the gun you choose.

For years I carried SA handguns for a backup gun but now usually carry my 4" Redhawk 44 mag loaded with 320 gr hardcast bullets. If you wind up having to fire shots with an animal on you, not having to thumb the hammer before firing could allow more shots to be fired. Thumbing the hammer when firing one handed will weaken your grip on the gun, increasing the odds of losing it if you are being mauled. Blood on your hand or the gun would also make it difficult to maintain your grip. In a stressful situation, your fine motor skills go out the window. By only having to pull a trigger, you cut the number of steps involved in firing a gun in half. I prefer the look and feel of SA handguns and don't plan on parting with any of mine. When choosing a gun for protection from bears or other critters, IMO, a DA has a lot more going for it.

Thinking about chopping off 1.5" , waiting for input from you guys......

Thats a nice looking rig! It should work well as a primary hunting and protection gun. I would break it in and see how it shoots before cutting the barrel down.

Thanks TCMan.

Hey Pab1, we think alot alike, but there is no way a bear could ever catch me.
He'll get bogged down in the flood of crap that I'll be spewing as I make my not so clean get-a-way to the boat.

Pasco -- good score! That's a good price for that piece. A colleague of mine just picked one up for $525.00 but there was no ammo thrown in, and he got a good deal on it IMHO.

You are getting good advice here. Try it out and see how it shoots and how you like it. The .480 has a bit of kick, but it is not on par with the .454 (in most factory loads -- and I am talking about the SRH), and is considerably more pleasant to shoot -- plus, it makes a bigger hole!

You should be happy! Post up as soon as you get the chance to shoot it! Congratulations!

When I hunted Alaskan black bear my main gun was my scoped FA`s
454 and secondary was my 44 Redhawk loaded with Garretts 330gr
cast ammo.This ammo happens to be accurate in my Ruger, with
3 MOA groups and ,for me, the grip is one of the nicest of all my DA revolvers giving me quick recovery. This is not to say that I could drop a enraged charging bear but at least I would die knowing I was armed with some of my favorite handguns.

Thats funny! Just remember, you don't have to be able to run faster than a bear. You just have to be faster than the people that are with you.

Thanks all.
Hey James, Did you keep the factory grips? I'm a big fan of Pachmayr, but I don't likr tp fix things that aint broken.

Pasco, I tried the Pachmayr grips but they were much to large for my hands and went back to the original wood. I once tried to set a silver running boar into the side of the left grip and screwed them up. Lucked out and found a good pair at a long gone gun store for $5.They have been on ever since...

$555.00 is a good price, as of late it seems like guns are demanding a premium.

Trimming down the barrel might be a little more expensive than a standard revolver as the finish would need to be touched up and the gray would have to be matched.

Pasco, I would recomend Hogue Tamer grips. Here are a couple of pictures comparing the Hogue wraparounds and the newer Tamers (Tamers on left). The Tamers fill out the hand more and have padding in the web where it is most needed on a DA revolver. Best $20.00 I have spent.......





And lastly, a photo of all three grips I have tried on my SRHs.

Thank you for the input and the pics.
I put a Hogue grip on a AR-15 and was impressed with the quality. If the factory grips beat me up, I'll swap them for the Hogues.

The new SRH in .454 come with a 'Tamer' style grip. Makes recoil far less punishing, but the main benefit is that it prevents the knuckle being battered by the trigger guard. I just wish they didn't have the finger grooves which never fit my hand.

Aesthetically I preferred the older style grips, especially when fitted with a stag antler insert as previously featured on this site.

There are definitely better looking options out there -- no doubt! But when you start pushing 400+ grain bullet out the front end, those padded grips feel fine! LOL!

That's why I still use the "Tamer" style grips

Aesthetics are one thing, functionality another. But its an individual choice.

Well said!

If I was shooting a 480 I would think about switching, but with the 44, even with the 300gr XTP, all I need are these.

If I'm carrying a SS then I carry my 5.5 inch Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. I usually have it stoked with some 300 gr cast bullets.Other wise I carry my FA 454.

I see the BFR is being chambered in the 475 Linebaugh/480 Ruger. I think that would be the ultimate bear gun. If I were looking for something new I believe I would go with that.