Scenario:

You're in Alaska with a quantity of tags in your pocket..Grizzly, Black Bear, Caribou, Moose, Dall Sheep, Wolf, etc.

Does not matter if you're a resident or non-resident because you have either a good buddy or your guide sitting next to you and are cool, calm and expert shots under any amount of stress. Both have of you have rifles in the caliber of your choice in your laps.

You're sitting on a knob/knoll/small hill, some kid of lookout, spotting for the game animals you have tags for.

Also you have a pistol, of your preferred brand and action, in 45 Long Colt sitting in a chest holster. In the chambers are heavy, 280-310 gr cast lead bullets of your choice at an honest 1100-1200 fps. It's sighted dead on at the range you specified and you are dead nuts accurate with it from any field position.

The weather conditions are perfect, wind blowing in the correct direction with enough speed to make noise which would mask any movements you made or whispering you and your "side kick" might communicate with.

The animal in question is continually looking away, quite occupied.

Now........

Any one of the above animals suddenly appeared, as we all know they can and have, at an easy pistol distance, would you quiely pull that hog leg and let fly or stick to the rifle?

Keep on Patterning

Big Al

I'm boring. I'd stick to the rifle.

Me too.

The real question is:

What would YOU DO in this situation ?

Good question to ponder in advance of it actually happening, eh?

me ? I would use my rifle.

This is easy - use the rifle. Period...
Bear in Fairbanks

Rifle

Every thing but the Grizzly; In a New York minute!

The Grizzly? I know the 45 LC would do the deed. It all depends upon my precence of mind. If emotionally, I'm freaking out; rifle!

I would like to take the Grizzly w/ either my Ruger ss 4-5/8" Blackhawk or S&W 25-9 ss 4". I do plan on carrying the Smith in a chest holster as back up to my rifle. It will be loaded for bear with either the 45-270-SAA's & 280 gr doing 1100+ or a 300 LBT or Keith SWC doing 1000+.

Rifle.

I hunt with a handgun only and carry a bobbed 44 Redhawk as back up.
Handgun

Hammer

The handgun, except for Grizzly/Brown Bear. With a .500 or .460 S&W I wouldn't hesitate to use the handgun on any North American animal within handgun range.

I think I've had more one-shot drops with the handgun than with rifles and shotguns.

Namibiahunter

The handgun.

.............Rifle ,.,however it depends on how much and movement would be created by [chambering a round] if there isn,t one already there or cocking the pistol ????......I have had bucks stand up out in the middle of a muskeg when I blew a call less than 25 feet away , and just stand there .....Same with does .. I once shot a yearling @ about 6 feet with a 375 ,I had a 4x scope on it and had to turn around, away from it , shoulder the rifle with it ready to go then turn back around with both eyes open and take its head off .,., litterly ,....Turning away from the animal will often times keep it there as they think they are being sneaky ,.,., You can getaway with quite a bit of movement if you are faceing away from the animal ......

I would choose the rifle, no contest. Good shooting.

Rifle unless I have killed a bunch of that type of critter before. I if that was the case I might try with the hand gun.

shoot the rifle. Not a 45 colt fan either-- only carry 44 mag

I'd use the rifle.
I know some people are outstanding pistol marksmen, I'm not. I'm more of a hunter than a killer, so I would take the most certan way of dispatching the animal as quickly as possible. For me that's the rifle.

Rifle
I've killed quite a few critters with a pistol but a rifle is my weapon of choice. Pistols have their place though,in camp and tents.

Shooting a griz with a 45LC seems like a good way to make life interesting for yourself and your companion.

Rifle, unless there was no realistic way of bringing it to bear without spooking the critter, then I'd go for the pistol.