[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I recently came across a place to buy a new X-framed .460 S&W for about $650.


Now, I don't really have this kind of dough to throw around.

However, once when hiking in CO, my father and I came across a huge brown bear, and I'll never be in the same forest as one of those without being appropriately "equalized."


Now, I have no doubts that that would be enough gun, but here's the catch.

It's the 3" barrel version, and that worries me a bit.

I don't want to buy something that'll be too painful to shoot, for a "just in case" situation.


What are your thoughts on the subject?

[campbell]

Get bear spray. Light, effective, and cheap.

The smith X frames are ridiculously heavy. Not a backpacking gun. The 2 3/4" models are 55 oz. unloaded.

[Zoogster]

The smith X frames are ridiculously heavy. Not a backpacking gun. The 2 3/4" models are 55 oz. unloaded.
Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casull weighs ~43 ounces, so is easier to carry. A much better gun for carrying long term for just in case against big toothy things as the .454 casull delivers just a bit less performance.

I don't want to buy something that'll be too painful to shoot, for a "just in case" situation.

You can also use it with light to heavy .45 colt ammo when you don't want the expense or massive recoil of the .454 rounds at other times.

So .454 for woods carry with big bears, and .45 colt for recreation. A much more versatile gun.

The .460 will also use the .454 casull and the .45 colt ammo so it is useful for other purposes as well. However the weight is unsuitable woods carry IMHO. The difference between the .45 colt and .454 casull is tremendous. The difference between the .454 and the .460 not as significant.
The cylinder is also a bit longer making it a less compact gun.

[campbell]

Still going to be 600 bucks though. If money's an issue, then bear spray.

But yeah, for packable double action that'll chuck a heavy .45, Ruger Alaskan or a 4'' Redhawk. The .480 Alaskans are an option as well.

[ArchAngelCD]

Why not sling a $200 Shotgun across your back and call it good? Nothing like a 1 1/8 once solid lead pill to make a bear understand your not on the lunch menu.

I'm only suggesting a shotgun because you probably aren't going to find a handgun powerful enough to stop a big bear for less than $600. If you are set on a revolver at least buy one you can fire accurately and quickly. If you are set on a revolver I would suggest trying to find a used 4" S&W 44 Magnum Mountain Gun. You can fire full house Magnum rounds like those made by Grizzly Cartridge Company (http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/-strse-Grizzly-Cartridge/Categories.bok) but still carry it all day because it's not too heavy.

[gbran]

I have the 7 1/2 inch 454 SRH. It's not too tough to carry compared to the X-Frames. But I gotta agree on the shottie.

When I was in Alaska, my guides carried shotties with buckshot 1st to get the bear's attention, then followed by slugs. Sounded reasonable to me.

[mek42]

A friend of mine told me how he in the Adirondacks once and saw a mama bear and three cubs before she saw him. He started quietly talking, slowly increasing his volume, "Hello mama-bear, how are you this morning?" while slowly getting his 44 spl. Thankfully the bear troop just went a different way after being made aware of the human presence.

Good luck!

[BlkHawk73]

If your concerned about shooting it in a "just in case" situation you'd better pass now. As with any firearm intended as a defensive tool, you should definately be practicing with it. So if your concerned about it's recoil in the field, you're not likely to put in much practice at the ange with it.

[DPris]

I worked with the S&W .460 "bear kit" snub a while back.
Recoil was very tolerable & I fired it one-handed three times just to see if I could. Just get a good grip & hang on.
Denis

[Newton]

Suggest you opt for the S&W .44Mag Mountain Gun loaded with flat nose hard cast rounds.

[madprof4]

And don't find it particularly difficult to lug around in a holster or even the front pocket of heavy blue jeans. In the weak side front cross draw position it is fairly easy to cover with a thick shirt and would disappear under a jacket.

The weight compared to the Alaskan is an advantage to me as I can fire Buffalo Bore 360gr 454's pretty quickly and controllably.

I'm turning into a fan of this heavy (54 oz) piece.

I'm also persuaded that there are some advantages to a short-barreled revolver over a rifle. Many bear attacks result in the rifle being thrown out of reach instantly while the victim end up being played with or dragged by the animal for 15-30 seconds or even much longer, A revolver can be held in the hand more easily, even when the hand is protecting the vitals, and a lanyard ring might be life-saving here.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

You guys are making some excellent points for the gun.

Also, I'm a big boy, so I don't think I'd mind the extra weight.

For Brady's sake, my brother and I carry Chunky soup up the side of mountains so we can eat good food! hahahah, those cans are heavy, I'll tell you that!

An extra 4 pounds of security wouldn't be too much of a drag, I suspect.

[Wolfeye]

I've thought of picking up that same x-frame snub, only in .500. It has the edge over the .454 Alaskan in power, looks, and maybe in shootability... but I'd rather pack the lighter Alaskan if I were going to backpack for more than an overnight trip. I've been doing research, and that little thing is more powerful than a long-barreled .44. Shooting .454 out of a 43 oz. gun scares me, but so does the thought of the high-pressue flash coming out of the .500's cylinder gap. I bet shooting either gun for the first time would be a good adrenaline rush.

If I were rich, I'd already own both. :)

[71Commander]

With the right leather, nothing is too heavy to carry. I have a 4" 500 W/ a Galco cross draw. Not a problem.