Alaska bear protection: any point in taking one of these?

[Sour Kraut]

I'm going fishing in Alaska (bear country) and the largest caliber guns I have are 357 mag and 45 acp. Any point in even taking one of them? I will get bear spray up there, but I would like to have "something" that shoots.

They are likely useless on bear, so should I just leave them home?

 

[hogshead]

I wouldn't say useless. I would a lot drather have either one of them than a sharp stick. I would probably take the 357 with some heavy hard cast bullets and feel pretty safe.
Now get ready for the you can't kill a bear with anything less than a howitzer post.

 

[Sour Kraut]

I wouldn't say useless. I would a lot drather have either one of them than a sharp stick. I would probably take the 357 with some heavy hard cast bullets and feel pretty safe.
Now get ready for the you can't kill a bear with anything less than a howitzer post.

Yeah....I'm waiting for those!

 

[Onward Allusion]

If a .357 mag is the most powerful you have, you might as well take it. Hopefully it's has 6 inch or longer barrel. Load up with Buffalo Bore 180gr.

 

[ChuteTheMall]

If you shoot any animal in the face enough times, it will be inclined to leave you alone.

Or so I heard, hope I never find out.

 

[Robert]

Now get ready for the you can't kill a bear with anything less than a howitzer post.

I really hope not. I hate having to lock honest thread because people can't be mature.

 

[firesky101]

What kind of .357 do you have. If it is at least a 4" barrel then it is a pretty capable gun. I don't know your circumstances, but the preferred method of bear protection up there is 12ga w/premium slugs, or so I have heard. Also I hope you are flying or taking the ferry, bringing a handgun through Canada is a huge problem.

 

[rcmodel]

OMG??

Is it time for the semi-monthly "best bear gun" thread again already??
Any shotgun with slugs would be much better bear protection if you have one of those.


BTW: I believe getting a handgun from Oregon to Alaska is impossible if you plan to drive through Canada to get there.

If you Fly or go by Ship, you can do it.
I just don't know all the hoops you need to jump through to do it.

rc

 

[gbran]

Nice thing about AK is you can carry concealed w/o a permit. Dad, Bro & I went for a 10 day fishing trip...... multiple locations all over the Kenai area. Actually fished out of a small boat with bears 50 feet away, but other than that, had no encounters. I had a .40, dad a .45 and bro a .357. At least there were 3 of us.

 

[Sour Kraut]

If a .357 mag is the most powerful you have, you might as well take it. Hopefully it's has 6 inch or longer barrel. Load up with Buffalo Bore 180gr.

686 4". Thanks for the advice on Buffalo Bore. I don't reload any more so I need to use a factory load.

 

[Sour Kraut]

OMG??

Is it time for the semi-monthly "best bear gun" thread again already??
Any shotgun with slugs would be much better bear protection if you have one of those.


BTW: I believe getting a handgun from Oregon to Alaska is impossible if you plan to drive through Canada to get there.

If you Fly or go by Ship, you can do it.
I just don't know all the hoops you need to jump through to do it.

rc

Sorry if this is repetitive, but my question was pretty specific based upon what I have available. Not asking what's best without restrictions and I don't have a shotgun. I'm flying and fly with guns all the time so I know the drill. Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Travel in groups, the more the better. Make noise so you don't surprise the bears. If a fish on your line is grabbed by a bear, cut the line and let the bear have it. Do fight the bear for the fish. It is a very stupid dispute to have (but I have seen the video of the park ranger arguing with a fisherman to give up the fish to the bear and the guy is bent on fighting the bear for "his" fish. It was on "his" line before it was in the bear's mouth. He thinks he is having a dispute with another angler, not a top tier predator). Don't transport a backpack of fish after dark in your backpack by yourself. Don't sleep with your food. Wash well after processing your catch, especially if you are camping. Store food properly. Have bear spray. Have all your buddies have bear spray. Keep it with you at all times when in the bush or camping. Have your buddies do it. Take one of your guns. They certainly may help and bear isn't the only threat you may encounter. There are smaller animals that may be a threat and animals aren't the only threat. People hiking and fishing in bear country have been beat up, robbed, and/or raped, but not by bears. Personal security is always a good idea if you can do it legally.

In short, don't do the stereotypical stuff that gets people into bad situations with ears most commonly. Do take proper precautions. Security is always a salient issue.

 

[Sour Kraut]

Nice thing about AK is you can carry concealed w/o a permit. Dad, Bro & I went for a 10 day fishing trip...... multiple locations all over the Kenai area. Actually fished out of a small boat with bears 50 feet away, but other than that, had no encounters. I had a .40, dad a .45 and bro a .357. At least there were 3 of us.

Yes, safety in numbers! I figure if the worst happens I can shoot one of my fishing buddies in the leg and escape. OR, save the last bullet for me if I can't turn the bear!

How was the fishing?!

 

[Sour Kraut]

"Spy"- ALL great suggestions, thank you. Would never argue with a bear over a fish.
And good points on the other predators, 2 & 4 four legged!

 

[rcmodel]

Not asking what's best without restrictions and I don't have a shotgun. I'm flying and fly with guns all the time so I know the drill. Thanks for the thoughts!

Ohhh My!

Your OP sounded like you didn't have a clue, and didn't know the drill.
So I just tried to help and cover some bases you might not have known about.

I did not know you knew all the international gun laws, and flew across borders in your own airplane, cause you didn't mention all that.

Sorry to have bothered you.
I won't do that to you again!

rc

 

[gbran]

How was the fishing?!

Stayed near Soldotna, very nice log cabin on a small lake. Took 7-8 day-trips to numerous locations to fish. Boat floated major rivers, floatplane to the boonies. Two halibut trips out of Homer.

I came home with 250 lbs of fillets. Caught 2 halibut per trip, biggest 75lbs.
So most of my meat was halibut, but a great deal of salmon too.

Will probably go back in another year or two. My trip a few years ago cost me about $3,500 and was worth it.

 

[Sour Kraut]

Ohhh My!

Your OP sounded like you didn't have a clue, and didn't know the drill.
So I just tried to help and cover some bases you might not have known about.

I did not know you knew all the international gun laws, and flew across borders in your own airplane, cause you didn't mention all that.

Sorry to have bothered you.
I won't do that to you again!

rc

Whoa....I wasn't trying to be a smart ass..... I know how boring it is for people to keep starting new threads on old topics as in your semi-monthly comment....just wanted to explain the reason for my post, and that I was familiar with the laws.

I really DID appreciate your comments/suggestions...sorry if I came off rude....

 

[Sour Kraut]

Stayed near Soldotna, very nice log cabin on a small lake. Took 7-8 day-trips to numerous locations to fish. Boat floated major rivers, floatplane to the boonies. Two halibut trips out of Homer.

I came home with 250 lbs of fillets. Caught 2 halibut per trip, biggest 75lbs.
So most of my meat was halibut, but a great deal of salmon too.

Will probably go back in another year or two. My trip a few years ago cost me about $3,500 and was worth it.

GREAT TRIP you had! We are just fishing for Silvers this trip so no halibut. But really looking forward to it..... Ran into bears on our last trip. Some camper shot a sow with cubs and wounded one of the cubs as well. Really sad story....for the bears. They waded in the water quite near us. We knew their mom was dead so it wasn't quite as dangerous as it could have been. I never turned my back on the cubs but some folks acted like they were raccoons or something. Not good.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Just take a really slow friend....

In my experience, where there are bears, there might be Moose and Wolves. Both present their own issues, and should be considered in the gun/caliber selection.

 

[gbran]

I never saw wolf on my 10 day trip, but moose are more than plentiful and can be very dangerous in the right (or wrong) setting. We spooked on in heavy saplings.......no threat to us, but sure could have been.

 

[PabloJ]

I'm going fishing in Alaska (bear country) and the largest caliber guns I have are 357 mag and 45 acp. Any point in even taking one of them? I will get bear spray up there, but I would like to have "something" that shoots.

They are likely useless on bear, so should I just leave them home?

No. The S&W .500 with stout load which is enough to stun an african or asian tusker at close range is what is needed.

 

[Alaska444]

I'm going fishing in Alaska (bear country) and the largest caliber guns I have are 357 mag and 45 acp. Any point in even taking one of them? I will get bear spray up there, but I would like to have "something" that shoots.

They are likely useless on bear, so should I just leave them home?

Yes, taking both a gun and spray is the best option. I carry a .357 as a BUG but it can be effective with proper shot placement. Add a few friends hopefully better armed and all with pepper spray.

Funny, where we fished near Hope AK we never took any thing when I was a kid. We never saw any bears where we fished and there was LOTs of salmon. It is a different world today.

 

[mnrivrat]

At the very least if something is going to kill me, and eat me, I would prefer it has bad memories of the incident.

Besides being tough to chew, and bad tasting, a few sore spots from either the 357 or the 45 should ruin their day. Take either, but you will likely get better penitration with the hard cast 357 slugs. Shoot at the nose and mouth for best chance to stop them, and if you don't, perhaps a chance of the critter not sticking around for a full meal with a sore mouth and all.

 

[scaatylobo]

Buffalo Bore + 1

If your staying with the named calibers I see that the B.B. ammo is THE way to go.

I have a box with 180 grain at 1400 FPS .

I carry that load in bear or boar country [ which is most of the wooded area's in the nation ].

Good luck,and hope the trip is a hoot !.

 

[Sour Kraut]

If your staying with the named calibers I see that the B.B. ammo is THE way to go.

I have a box with 180 grain at 1400 FPS .

I carry that load in bear or boar country [ which is most of the wooded area's in the nation ].

Good luck,and hope the trip is a hoot !.

Although BB 45ACP is listed at 484 ft lbs vs. 700+ in 357, would there be any advantage to taking the 45 with more rounds available? Revolver at 6 rounds vs. 12 in my XD 45? I realize the 357 is more potent, but curious as to what others think.