Please help me locate the best price and quickest shipping (Missouri)for a S and W 44 mag mtn gun with 4" bbl. and some type of cushioned grips.

Where would you go to buy one?

I have upcoming black bear hunt in Alaska and want a backup gun that I would be likely to carry.

gunbroker.com would be my first stop. At least you could get a good idea of pricing if you did not want to go that route. I would also consider the newer Ruger Redhawk with the 4" barrel and soft rubber grips. Both would cost about the same but the Ruger will handle a heavier loading. Good luck on both the revolver and the bear.

Woody

i'd go to my local gunshop where i know i'm taken good care of

Not everyone has even a decent gunshop in their area, much less a good one that takes good care of their customers. The FFL regulations did a good job of paring down the good ones in most areas, and the rest have suffered by the big stores ability to get manufacturers "best customer" discounting. If thats the case, then I would rather get it from gunbroker because a lot(99%) of these sellers ARE the small shops that resorted to the internet to survive AND provide you with good service.

I'd suggest you keep an eye on the classifieds here.
S&W forum

Thanks DEC,
I bought one off that forum this morning. Worked like a charm
Allen