Alaska bear gun

[KFhunter]

Wheel gun for reliability.  454 casull or 460 smith would be my pick.  I like both because you can shoot lighter loads for every other aspect of life and the big ones for alaska brown bear. 

454 casull can also shoot 45 long colt
460 can shoot 454 casull, 45 long colt (verify with the actual pistol manufacturer but should be able to).


My 454 is very manageable with 325 grain bear loads.  I have shot it one handed without a problem.  It is very accurate as well.  Love it.

I do like that .460 SW
I got some trigger time on one shooting varied loads. .

OP said "cheap"

[Wetwoodshunter]

I'd be looking at a Glock 40 (or 20) 15 + 1 in 10mm and a Kenai chest rig.

This is a good recommendation. @brushcrawler I think carried a 40 with buffalo bore ammo when we did a caribou hunt. Killed ptarmigans dead… lol

[carpsniperg2]

If you are newer to hand guns a little smaller with a better solid bullet is probably a good choice. A 41/44 in a wheel gun or a 10mm would be a good choice. I’ve owned most the big bore stuff of shot it. The recoil doesn’t matter in heat of the moment but it does when it comes to range time and getting familiar with your gun. You get into bad habits that won’t help in a bad situation.

My two go to guns are a xdm 10mm and a 629 44mag in bear country.

[Igor]

My preference would be a revolver for reliability reasons.   I carry a 4" S&W Mountain Gun in .45 Colt.  I also have a 4" .44 mag, but I just prefer the .45 Colt. 

[TeacherMan]

Lived in AK for many years and packed a pistol I’m guessing over 1000 days in the field up there. My first recommendation would be carry a shotgun 😂 second a 45/70 lol… BUT if you have to use a pistol size matters I don’t care what she says. I’ve seen 100s of bears in the field, I only ever had to use my pistol one time. My 500 S&W with a 4” barrel felt small. I had a 9’ brownie meet up with me, my assistant guide and 3 clients coming out on a trail. We dropped our packs in the ditch with the fish fillets in them and poles off the other side of the trail and started backing up. The bear walked right past the fish and our gear. I very clearly remember unclipping my 500 and yelling at the bear. I had my assistant guide back up quicker down the trail with our clients (3 ladies). The bear stood up several times swaying back and forth popping it’s jaws then dropping back down and coming closer. At about 5 yards it was standing up popping its jaws at me and woofing. As it dropped back down with its body pressing towards me I fired a 500gr hard cast bullet into his chest. It rolled him away from me into the ditch but only slowed him down. He luckily bolted up the hill. At this point I pursed after him. I got to the top of the hill he went over, 30 yards probably, he was standing just on the other side in thick alders. I put another one in him. He then charged towards me. I ducked back behind a large spruce, as he past by I put a third shot behind his shoulder at less than 3 yards and he dropped. POINT being, they don’t like to die… No pistol carries enough energy in my opinion for a bear that’s angry and on adrenaline. Magnum rifles, large lever rifles and shotguns do.

We ended up gathering our stuff up, getting the clients the 1.5 miles back to the truck and then went back in to skin him and pack him out. It made for a long night.

[Buckhunter24]

Thanks everyone for the replies. TeacherMan thats a heck of a story I bet those ladies have told it a time or two!

[Ingwe]

I have a friend who works a gold mine in Alaska. He Carries a Ruger super red hawk .44 mag with HSM 305 grain bear loads in a chest holster. I have carried the same gun in Alaska

[Born2late]

My niece’s husband guided for a guy that swears by a 5.7. He’s killed one bear with it.
I know, nobody recommends that. I’ve done testing with mine and at 25 yards I could shoot through a cow’s forehead. I’ve talked to guys on Kodiak that carry the bigger wheel guns that had to empty the gun into the bear to kill them. Another guy there had to shoot one multiple times in his kitchen with his shotgun.
I think accuracy is the biggest variable that varies. Meaning some guys shoot well under pressure and a lot of guys talk about shooting well under pressure. I think repetitive training on using the same guy accurately is important so when it comes down to it your not thinking your reacting without hesitation.
Also in each of these situations the position of the bear when they fired has a lot to do with it. You take what you can get for a shot if it’s coming at you.

On a side note I’ve had a road kill deer and elk that had to be put down by sheriffs. The deer he shot in the back of the head at less than 10 yds. The bullet never penetrated the skull, hit it right at the base of the neck.
The elk, the sheriff shot from 10 yds 3 times. One shot grazed its neck on top one missed and the last he shot her in the head. I would assume they have more range time than most, we had to coach the guy on which angle to shoot the deer.

I’ve heard some guys say on a full charge bear to drop to one knee because if your aiming at the head by the time you pull the trigger you will hit them in the butt.

[30.06]

S&W 460V in a chest rig.

Great big + 1
 
Practice is required.

I had an FN 5.7 and they are great for many uses, but would worry about a deflection or bullet blowing up if the angle was not just right. I didn't think mine with blue box ammo would be enough for a WA bear that was mad enough to kill me, and then when ammo dried up for a while I parted with it. Sure can get 'em squeezed off quick with one of those but would trust a revolver to never hiccup in the rain. Seems like many fatalities result after several extremely rare happenstances occur bing, bang boom. Luck can run out at any time, slowly or all at once. I believe the largest bear was killed by a Native with a .22 short rifle that had seen some serious abuse. But she knew exactly where the thin part of the skull was. One shot at a few inches range. Outcome could all depend who's luck is running stronger at that instant in time.

A well-oiled rifle with deep penetrating type bullets would be the best option if seriously expecting trouble. It could be a rusty beater as long as it's reliable and you shoot it well.
Hard to hit anything moving quick with a handgun unless a person has had years of practice time.

Excellent points have been made about accuracy, placement and familiarity with the firearm. I always heard aim for the base of the tongue. Probably would be a questionable shoot unless at pissing distance anyways. Of course, most charges are meant to scare off something in their territory. But they do kill and even eat people. Some interior bears can soak up a heckuva lot of lead before expiring. They are the alpha predator of that part of the world.

For the OP, it's really about what you can handle proficiently or could get a good deal on. Double action revolver in case you do get chewed on. Have a fun trip up North!

[WapitiTalk1]

Find one of these, load it with some Montana HSM 305 grain bear loads and call it a day.  This pistol/round is hard to beat in many ways. I’m still in awe with the power of this pistol and round combo. 

https://www.guns.com/firearms/handguns/revolver/taurus-444-ultra-lite-titanium-44-magnum-revolver-6-rounds-4-barrel-1-8-lbs-blue-used?p=99699&soldout=1

[TeacherMan]

Find one of these, load it with some Montana HSM 305 grain bear loads and call it a day.  This pistol/round is hard to beat in many ways. I’m still in awe with the power of this pistol and round combo. 

https://www.guns.com/firearms/handguns/revolver/taurus-444-ultra-lite-titanium-44-magnum-revolver-6-rounds-4-barrel-1-8-lbs-blue-used?p=99699&soldout=1

That thing kicks like a mule being stung in the a…. by a swarm of bees 🤣

[WapitiTalk1]

Find one of these, load it with some Montana HSM 305 grain bear loads and call it a day.  This pistol/round is hard to beat in many ways. I’m still in awe with the power of this pistol and round combo. 

https://www.guns.com/firearms/handguns/revolver/taurus-444-ultra-lite-titanium-44-magnum-revolver-6-rounds-4-barrel-1-8-lbs-blue-used?p=99699&soldout=1

That thing kicks like a mule being stung in the a…. by a swarm of bees 🤣

You ain’t kidding. This pistol/round combo is not for plinking 

[spin05]

i looked into this pretty good for a caribou hunt several years ago.  In my research guys where saying a Buffalo Bore .44 mag will end for end a Grizzly.  I already owned a .357 mag.  So i figured a .357 with Buffalo Bore 180g bullet should atleast get to vitals.  So i went with it and got a chest holster.  Thankfully didnt neeed it

[Skyvalhunter]

When the OP stated thick bear country. Where are we talking? What kind of bear? Is he just fearful of black bears? If it's in grizzly country you would want a gun you are comfortable shooting. Also one that you can easily deploy to fire if it is indeed that thick of brush. Maybe a semi auto to put more lead out if you missed with the first shot. What I am saying it depends on the circumstances also you are most likely to be in.

[Buckhunter24]

When the OP stated thick bear country. Where are we talking? What kind of bear? Is he just fearful of black bears? If it's in grizzly country you would want a gun you are comfortable shooting. Also one that you can easily deploy to fire if it is indeed that thick of brush. Maybe a semi auto to put more lead out if you missed with the first shot. What I am saying it depends on the circumstances also you are most likely to be in.

Its a contract requirement for a job located on the Yukon River never carried a gun while working before and want to buy something that makes sense. No worried about black bears not particularly worried about brown but better safe than sorry