If weight was one of your primary concerns, what caliber/model would you suggest. Would the Glock 10 have any place in this equation? It's in at under 3.5lbs. with a full clip of 200s.

I would not use an auto in extreme weather conditions.Smith & Wesson and Tauris make Titanium 44 Mags.

.........I think the Glock 10mm is ok but a short barrel 454 ,480, 460 , or 500 would probably be better .......But you need to hit your target so if the Glock is the best for you to hit with it is best ......... I,ll pack more weight ,use a longer barrel to help with hitting my target .....

If you have the Glock and can shoot it then I recommend you carry it.
Sure there are situations that folks can imagine where it might be inadequate - but I can tell you of situations where anything short of a 458 would be inadequate.
In all actuality a well handled Glock should handle most situations and I would not feel unarmed carrying one.

If you have to use a pistol on a bear the shit has already hit the fan. That being said I carry a S&W mod 25 ,45 Colt full of hard cast 300gr at 1000fps. I've not had to use it on bears but it's taken 6 dogs and 2 domestic goats .

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5303&return=Y

That would be perfect in 44 mag.

Hello Waterrat,
Lake Iliamna was very scarcely populated when I lived in Alaska during the late 70's mid 80's and now I see from time to time folks such as yourself posting from that location. Official with Native Corp. had cabin down there and we used to visit and fish and hunt from time to time and thought that was about as remote and as wild a place that existed in Alaska. Damn big record size bears were absolutely everywhere then, is it still that way??
I had opportunity to travel pretty much the whole state due to work related duties, but curious if the area around Iliamna is actually gaining in population??

I have both a 454 Freedom Arms and a lighter 44 SW Mountain Smith -- both stoked with the hottest loads I can build or find. The 454 has taken several crittes including three moose, two caribou and multiple elk, deer and antelope. But!--- anthing light with enought horse power to sort out a face on bear dustup is not going to be fun to shoot -- so you will have to live with that.
G

Thanks all. My intended use is for protection while fishing. In those hunting situations I would have a rifle in hand. Going to check on what that Glock 10 will shoot in the way of grains and speed. I see that several companies are selling an alloy 44 mag that weighs in at less that 27 oz. I lookes at the Smith but MSR was over a grand.

Kind of tough finding alot of or as much power as possible in a lightweight package. The semi-auto is fine as long as the slide don't sieze-up or freeze. Semi-auto's also have a much greater weight advantage with a magazine and not a cylinder. But having both I still carry the bulky revolver in the back country or where a big bruin could lower me on the food chain a bit. To help me with gaining a few links back on the food chain I've decided to go with a 4" barrel 500 S&W for myself and a 357 mag for the wife in the 686 frame. I like to backpack alot so a hip holster is out of the question. I've experimented with wearing coats or shirts with very large shirt pockets to act as a chest style holster, which does not interfere with backpack and the weight is not as noticeable so I'm currently looking for a chest type holster to better secure the big short barrelled smith which is about the only compromise I can find to keep the areas under my arms clear for backpacking straps and my sides clear from bumping into a holster all the time. If I could reccommend anything it would be largest revolver that you can carry comfortably- and I'm still working on that. R.

......I was in Wall Mart in Juneau today and they have the Smith& Wesson model 329 in 44 rem mag. for $877.00......But I talked to a guy at the range who gad a load for his Glock 10 mm of a 230 gr hard cast LFN design that chronographs @ 1150 and he said it feeds flawlessly ... He had Robar do work on it and I think he had a different barrel put on it ......

dsiteman The Iliamna region has gone through a few changes but as I live remote it's quite so traumatic. When the Mulchatna Caribou exploded every guide,outfitter, and transporter descended on the country with a vengeance and the moose were targeted as well. It took about 15yrs to decimate the herd and our moose #s are a mere shadow ow when you were here. The villages have grown with a huge population of young males in their 20s still living at home more or less lost in space.

The Pebble Mine has compleitly bought & bribed everyone in Iliamna and is branching out.

This being said my nearest neighbor is 20 miles and we trap from the house and my wife killed a dandy moose 1/2 mile from here.

Rodney, I had El Paso Saddlery make a holster for my S&W 3" 629 similar to the tank drivers holsters in WW2. A single strap with a holster that carries the gun in front, left side just below the chest. It also has a short strap for a belt connection that I rarely use. Great way to carry comfortably...I highly recommend.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...rn=15706&isFirearm=Y

Light weight. Reliable. Ample power for the task.

While I would opt for a large bore revolver myself, you could certainly do worse than a 10mm auto. If you do decide to go that route, you might want to check out www.doubletapammo.com. They offer a 200gr. WFNGC@1300fps and a 230gr WFNGC@1120fps.

No brown or grizz bears here in PA, but our black bears grow to over 800 pounds. I arm myself with a Totally Titanium Taurus 5 shooter in 45 Colt. I believe the model number is 450T. Not catalogued anymore. Ammo is 225 gr Cor-Bon DPX or a hardcast 250gr flat point bullet.

The ammo actually weighs more than the handgun! Thank goodness for the ribber grip. However, if confronted by an angry bear, I doubt I'd ever feel the recoil.

It would do well in a salt water environment.

A 10 mm with these double tap 230gr WFNGC@1120fps would make a good fishing companion. In my opinion.

I again hefted my 629-1 4" and the G20 4.6" and both loaded seem to be about the same.

Now I would begin to figure the bullets, .401 dia. 200grn. WFNGC vs. .430 dia. 300grn. WFN and it goes to the .44 magnum. Powder charge of 10 grn. 800X vs. 21 grn. H110 -goes to the .44 mag. once again.

16 rounds vs. 6 rounds--don't matter as I am expecting the 1st round to take the "bear" down(just a scenario)- hard cast will penetrate.

I like the two said handguns but in real world scenarios then I must lean toward the G20-more chances of risky human "misbehavior" than a serious bear charge. Thats down river of where I live though, now up river would not hesitate to pack my 629, more chances of mischevious bear behaviors with more bear numbers and likely encounters.

Tough to outdo a .44mag with the 10mm---keep your rifle handy.

edit: I have an optional barrel for shooting the TEN with hardcast-a KKM 6" hunting barrel plus a heavier recoil spring and a SS guiderod.

Why not a .357 stoked with 180 gr. hard cast bullets? If it just for last ditch, shoot 'em at 10 ft. - stick in their ear - defend the tent sort of thing, I see no why one wouldn't work. I carried a blued steel S&W K-frame snubbie last year on a DIY caribou hunt - all I wished was that it was lighter.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...angId=-1&isFirearm=Y

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...angId=-1&isFirearm=Y

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=259&category=Revolver

I think a double action revolver is a better choice.

You may never know you have "bear trouble" untill you are knocked down.

It is very easy for an auto to get jammed up with hair if you are shooting an animal at contact distances, not to mention part of your body/gear, the bears body, brush or the ground causing the slide not to function properly.

My favorite gun for bear protection is a S&W 4" 44 Mag Mountain gun with @300 gr hard cast bullets from Garrett, Buffalo Bore or Federal Cast Core.

I have shot the Titanium S&W and I think for anyone but a SERIOUS big bore revolver shooter it is too much of a good thing. Hand slap is pretty bad.

I carry my 44 in a DeSantis dual action hunter crossdraw holster. I also carry 2 speed loaders on my belt as well.

If you want to spend a little less $$$ My sister-in-law carries the 5 shot Taurus [the steel one] in 44 Mag, and there is also the Ruger single action.

You might have to shoot the revolver with one hand at an akward angle, the super revolvers like the 454, 475, 460, 500, etc. just might break your wrist on the first shot.

Also if the gun was to hit you in the head or face because of the position you HAD to shoot from.... well you get the idea.

Also the 44 can be used when ever hunting in places that do not have bear.

My wife and I always carry ours on the deer lease in Texas. We have killed a lot of poisonious snakes and small game with the Speer shot shells.

If I am going to shoot a bear, then I want as big a double action pistol or single action pistol as I can get or handle the recoil of, starting with the 41 Mag. and up.

A 9mm is not my idea of a bear caliber.

I was bear hunting a few years back with a Montana taxidermist friend and saw a fresh rifle killed black bear come into the shop that had two 9MM "finishing" shots delivered at point blank range....both bullets stopped in the hide on the way in.

I like the Ruger 44 mag in the Alaskan, heavy yes (43oz), but barrel jump is not off the charts and the Corbon solids in the 305 grain at 1100+ fps good bear medicine in a tight place. I use a cross draw holster. Had the S&W in the airlite in 44 mag., light but could not shoot it as well and you cannot get a quick second shot with all of the barrel jump.

Having carried a couple different pistols around the back woods of Alaska I can highly recomend the S&W 329PD. It's light, it shoots well, and did I mention that it's light? It has a nice fiber front sight, easy to see in poor light/rain, and there are lots of rigs for it. Practice with light 44 spec type loads and load it with a good hard cast heavy bullet that doesn't go to fast. To heavy a load and you might wind up with sticky extraction which is probably not what you want when your heart is beating out your chest and the bear is still moving... I've heard from folks that the Corbon isn't a good match for this pistol.
I have carried a Colt Kodiak 44, a Ruger single action, and a 629 - most of them wound up sitting on the shelf due to weight. The 329PD doesn't sit and the only gun that will do you any good is the one you have with you...

........WELCOME TO THE FORUMS Kelson ....It good to have people from all over the state ......

Whatever pistol you decide to use, make sure you file off the front sight.
It wont hurt so bad when the griz sticks it up your you know what!

Ken_ak that stuip response has been killed off here many years ago.

I'm carrying a New Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 mag SS with 4 5/8" barrel and running 320 grain HC Alaskan Back Packers through it. Not sure what it weighs though it is a tad heavy. If I have to use this gun it will be a close range, meaning 20 yards or less, then I know the bear is probably serious with his threats.