What pistol for Alaska?

[whiskeysierra762]

Planning a summer vacation in Alaska and I'm thinking that my daily carry Sig p226 357 sig isn't enough.
I'm looking at the S&W 329PD 44mag or maybe a Glock 40 in 10mm. We will be doing some hiking, camping, and fishing.
Any thoughts on either one of those?

 

[ak12ring]

I personally carry a Glock 20. Ill take the light weight and 15 rounds over a revolver any day.

 

[Brightwhite]

I bought a G20 just for my alaska trip next October...It seemed to be the best option and the most recommended. I would have to go look in my safe to get you the exact ammo I picked, but it was hard cast double tap ammo for it for bear protection. Again, that double tap hard cast was at the recommendation of some members here that had tried different hard cast rounds.

 

[rileybassman]

Don't live in AK, but i do live in Montana in grizz country. I prefer revolvers for woods carry - even tho they are a little heavier. I carry a redhawk .44 mag.

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[Beendare]

....
I'm looking at the S&W 329PD 44mag .........?

Thats what I would get if purchasing one now.

FWIW, I've shot just about everything from a SW500 to the Glock 10mm's...and I own a SW 629 classic which is very nice but a lot heavier than the 329PD.

If you get the 329PD, TWO THINGS I would do;

remove the hammer safety

and make sure the hardcast loads you use are crimped well.

Trust me........A thorough search of the internet will explain why.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I lived in Alaska. I would worry more about a people gun than a wild animal gun. Just saying

 

[Thinkingman]

I lived in Alaska. I would worry more about a people gun than a wild animal gun. Just saying

Local wisdom here.
329PD is all but unmanageable.

 

[belly-deep]

I lived in Alaska. I would worry more about a people gun than a wild animal gun. Just saying

Just Dirty Harry 'em with the bear pistol

 

[Snipershirt]

Carried the Glock 20 pretty much my entire tenure in AK...never had to use it on a bear thankfully but did personally witness a S&W 500 on a griz. Not saying a 500 is nessacery, just the only actual firsthand knowledge I have of a DLP with a handgun.

 

[Tastybearmeat]

I own both. Both are fine weapons. 10 mm will work on all but the big brownies. If you get the smith buy the grips S&W uses on the x frame. She's a handful.

 

[luke moffat]

I owned a G20 10mm and I currently own a 329PD....both will work, but this year I am going to try just carrying a rifle for 2 pounds more...we shall see how it goes.

 

[wyosteve]

Given the activities you've described, why not just get a short barrel 12 ga.?

 

[Beendare]

....
329PD is all but unmanageable.

At one time I felt the same about heavy recoil handguns....i didn't shoot them well. In my case, it was because I didn't shoot them enough. After training with my .44 was a tack driver [surprise surprise, grin]

The recoil on the 329PD is more than my heavier SW629 with followups being a titch slower....but after spending some time with one, you can get used to it, IMO.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Give me first-shot accuracy first. Then give me power. Follow that with # rounds. Obviously it has to be a gun I'm willing to carry.

The 329PD is as accurate for me as any autoloader I've owned or shot on the first round. I've watched plenty of guys throw lead wildly using both revolvers and semis.

I'll take 1250 ft-lb muzzle energy in the .44 mag over 650-750 in the 10mm myself. The .44 mag is widely thought to be the minimal acceptable round in terms of power for defense against the big bears. I'm just not willing to give up 40%+ power to gain more shot capacity. That holds even if subsequent shots can be accurate. This isn't advice or a lecture....it's just me and my preferences. There are probably guys out there carrying .38s and that's their absolute right, too.

 

[whiskeysierra762]

Thanks for the info So far.
To answer the shotgun question, I don't want to fly with the long gun hard case.
And I would probably not carry it when I needed it.
We will also have bear spray, but I still will feel better with a bigger sidearm.

 

[justin davis]

Glock 20

 

[realunlucky]

I carried a Glock 20 but after about 4 grinding days I took 10 shells out of magazine and just rolled with 6. Lightened the gun up a bunch figured I was only getting a couple off anyway. We saw bears everyday and to be honest i would have felt under gunned with any handgun not just the 10mm.

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[KJH]

My suggestion is either take whatever caliber you have and can shoot well or have a shotgun handy.

I have carried a .44 mag, .460 S&W, .45LC, and a .45ACP while hunting in Alaska. Never had to use any of them for protection. If I was strictly fishing or floating, it would be a short 12ga... hands down.

 

[kingfisher]

Of you that have the glock 20, how many of you have a gen 3 or gen 4. I remember reading that the gen 4 had some feeding issues with the larger loads. Anyone have any input on this?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have the gen3 with a barsto barrel. I load it up with 230g double tap or something similar from buffalo bore. It's been 100% reliable. I carry it in a chest rig made by man gear Alaska. Great set up.