Handgun Brown Bear

[BRobertson]

Next month I will be flying down the Alaska Peninsula with a long time hunting buddy. We will be after a couple of very large Brown bear.

We have both killed several brown/grizzly bear with our revolvers, but hope to have a chance at some very large examples. The area we are hunting is
probably one of the top two or three areas in the State for the likelihood of running across a boomer bear!!

I have not looked forward to a hunt as much as this in a long time. Probably the knowledge that we don't have a lot of active hunting years left between
us!! I am just hoping that I don't jinx it by talking about it!!

Stid2677 has generously agreed to post some photos for me to help a computer dummy out!!

Thanks Stid!!!!!!

 

[Nick Muche]

Sounds awesome!! Best of luck!

 

[miller1]

good luck. what gun and caliber are you using?

 

[BRobertson]

I will be using a Freedom Arms 7 1/2" .454
Load will be a 325gr homecast , basically an LBT copy that I had a custom bullet mold maker in Utah make for me.
It is doing approx. 1600 fps in the 7 1/2" Freedom

Thanks
Bob

 

[luke moffat]

Can't wait to hear the results from this hunt....keep us posted Bob!

 

[BRobertson]

Thanks everyone!!!

Luke,
we are pushing it a bit by going the last 10 days of the season. Our buddy that has a guide area in that part of the Peninsula tells us that the later the better! Hopefully it works out, this has been such a mild winter!!

Bob

 

[Vance in AK]

Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted.
I'm hoping to get after one serious here on the Kenai Peninsula this fall with my SRH in 480.
I really blew it last year & forgot to turn in my permit report for 2012/2013 so I couldn't get a permit for 3013/2014 season. June starts the new permit year so I will be able to hunt this fall...
Have you messed with the 480 at all?

 

[BRobertson]

Vance,

I haven't had any experience with the .480 at all , but I have no doubt it will do the job!!

I had one of the first .475 Linebaugh Ruger Bisley s that John built in the 80s. I never hunted with it, and sold it when I got the .500 Linebaugh.

The .44 with 300 gr cast has always worked so well for me that I always seem to gravitate back to it!!

Bob

 

[AZ Vince]

Sir,

Since you have the experience and knowledge of hunting the great bears I would like to ask your opinion.

Using a 4" .41 Remington Magnum Double Action Revolver as a bear back-up gun in bear country, what would be your suggestions. I view this handgun like view my J-Frame 38 Special. It's for up close and personal work when I have no other option. Best of luck on your upcoming hunt and I look forward to seeing the pictures and hearing about your trip.

Vince

 

[BRobertson]

Hi Vince,

If I was going to use the .41 as a bear gun, I would use a Beartooth Bullet 280gr WLN or something similar. Loaded to a moderate velocity, it will penetrate very well!!

The .41 is a great cartridge, very underrated!! I killed my first handgun "big game" with a S&W mod 57 . It was a caribou that we used for camp meat while we were bow hunting for sheep in the Wood River-Alaska Range in 1969. The .41 did as good as anything I have ever used!


Bob

 

[AZ Vince]

Bob,

Thank you sir.
I lucked in to a Model 58 with a 4" tube and while it isn't a .44 Magnum I have often felt the .41, with the right load, would work well as a bear country back up gun. I already know, with a different loading, that it works well on bipedal aggressors as I have a friend that has had to use his on the job years ago.

Vince

 

[Snyd]

I will be using a Freedom Arms 7 1/2" .454
Load will be a 325gr homecast , basically an LBT copy that I had a custom bullet mold maker in Utah make for me.
It is doing approx. 1600 fps in the 7 1/2" Freedom

Thanks
Bob

Nice... a classic pair. FA and the 454.

Are you still using open sites or have you gone to an optic of some sort?

 

[BRobertson]

Good afternoon!!

I still use open sights. I had Ken, at Magnaport , engrave a white outline in the rear sight, and install an orange insert in the front sight for me. It is similar to what S&W has put on their Mod 29s for decades. It is what I grew up using on my hunting revolvers. It is not as precise for shooting groups as the all black sights, but that is not my thing anyway! The high vis sights really help in a hunting situation, and are very natural for me!

I do have an SSK/SOB scope mount set aside for my new Freedom 83 .44 mag for load testing. Mostly curious as to how accurate the gun will be.?? I will use the open sights for hunting, a lot more convenient to carry!!

Bob

 

[Bar]

That's the way to do it Bob. Handgun, muzzleloader, or rifle i've used open sights only my whole life. I like getting close, and scopes were never needed.

 

[Snyd]

Good afternoon!!

I still use open sights. I had Ken, at Magnaport , engrave a white outline in the rear sight, and install an orange insert in the front sight for me. It is similar to what S&W has put on their Mod 29s for decades. It is what I grew up using on my hunting revolvers. It is not as precise for shooting groups as the all black sights, but that is not my thing anyway! The high vis sights really help in a hunting situation, and are very natural for me!

I do have an SSK/SOB scope mount set aside for my new Freedom 83 .44 mag for load testing. Mostly curious as to how accurate the gun will be.?? I will use the open sights for hunting, a lot more convenient to carry!!

Bob

Sounds like a great setup. Did you have it mag-na-ported as well? I've got a 4" Redhawk I converted to a 454 and had it mag-na-ported, really helped the muzzle flip. Had it done on my Kimber 325wsm also. Really tamed the muzzle flip on that one.

I put a 2X weaver on my 45 Colt Bisley Hunter "for load development" and have never taken it off I like it so much! Just having the crosshairs and really no magnification is pretty nice. But, when I get my 500L it will be open sights only that's for sure. It's supposed to be done "this spring" says the smith. In the meantime I'm waiting very impatiently

Good Luck on your bear hunt. I'll be trying to get out after a blackie here over the next few weeks. Trying to get some bait out if I can just find the time!

 

[stuck]

Good luck on the hunt. Look forward to seeing the pictures. Would be a dream hunt for me.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I've read many, many guys HATE a Magna Ported handgun. You both seem to prefer them. Can either of you weigh in? I've been smitten by Redhawks as of late. Seems a 5.5" in 45LC commands a premium if you can find one.

Kudos to both of you for running the wheel guns.

 

[Vance in AK]

I've read many, many guys HATE a Magna Ported handgun. You both seem to prefer them. Can either of you weigh in? I've been smitten by Redhawks as of late. Seems a 5.5" in 45LC commands a premium if you can find one.

Kudos to both of you for running the wheel guns.

I had my 8&3/8 Mod 29 MagnaPorted years ago & love it. I didn't notice any real noise increase & definitely reduced muzzle flip with 320s. I may get my 480 Super Redhawk done at some point.

 

[Vance in AK]

Are you home yet?????????????

I'm waiting for a story!!!

 

[BRobertson]

Good morning Vance!

Yes I got back a few days ago. Been busy with family type stuff, amazing how things stack up when you are gone for a couple of weeks!!

No bears were harmed in the telling of this story!!

We didn't get an opportunity on anything big. We had a good chance on one that wasn't any bigger than ones we already had taken. On the last day of the season , there was one of the huge Peninsula monsters across the river from us. It would have taken a boat to cross, and of course we did not have one with us . If we used the Cub to fly across, we would have to wait till the next day to hunt. He was paired up with a Big blond sow. Even the sow was a shooter!!

The weather was largely responsible for the lack of bears. The first few days after we made camp were VERY warm. Nothing much was moving, even the moose were scarce.

The week before we got to the area, our guide friend had done very well, several big bears, and saw a lot more! Of course when we brought the warm weather, that all stopped!! I tend to have that affect!!!
The past few years were just the opposite, meaning that the last part of the spring season was a lot better. That is the reason that the season was extended till the 31st.

If we don't get a chance in another area in the next couple of seasons, we will go again when they have the next spring season down there.
I will probably try around here locally, maybe I can come across one of the occasional outsize Southeast bears!

But with all that said, it was a great trip. How could it not be, spending a couple of weeks camping in that kind of country, spending time with a good friend of 40+ years , seeing a variety of animals, flying in a Supercub!!!

Bob