If You Were Heading For The Yukon Today

I'd be going with a S&W 629. 300 grain LFN Bear Rounds. Probably cross-draw.
These bones are getting too old and rickety for a 454. A six inch barrel would tame the
recoil and increase the MV a little.

My 5.5in 44 Redhawk

Borrow? My buddies Tolkat

John Joseph said:

The Yukon is in Canada. Canada doesn't like Yanks with handguns.
Frankly I'm amazed that Canada even lets Canadians have handguns.

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The 4.2" barrel revolvers are legal in Canada. (That's why Ruger makes a 4.2" barrel - it works out to 106 mm or whatever the Canadian minimum barrel length is.) A US citizen can (must) declare a firearm when entering Canada, and can get a temporary firearm license (for a gun legal to own in Canada; don't bring your AR15) right at the borer crossing. Americans go on guided hunt trips in the Yukon Territory, Northern Ontario, etc, all the time.

But I'm not trying to start a Canadian gun law debate.

TTv2 said:

Whatever is the smallest caliber proven to be a Grizzly and Moose stopper.

I think DB Cooper's response was excellent because it's exactly what I am thinking in that "It's a trade off between enough stopping power and light enough recoil to shoot effectively" and "The only other debate is whether to carry the heavy Rugers or the lighter (much lighter) scandium Smiths."

I'm very much a minimalist type and am going to try to find the lightest revolver that can do the job, but I also want fast follow up shots. If it's an unknown if I'm going to run into a big animal, I'll probably go for a 5 shot .44 Mag, but if I KNOW it's a guarantee I'm going to encounter such animals, I'm bringing the biggest revolver I can get, probably the 10 inch BFR in whatever hits hardest.

I wouldn't bother with the .500 S&W, too big and heavy and expensive to feed.

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So...first of all, one should always assume that one will have a bear encounter up here, and one should always be prepared for such. (Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.) Common sense and precautions (basic bear safety awareness) is the best bear defense.

Second, the one thing I've learned from shooting my Redhawk in USPSA type leagues is that shooting under pressure is challenging and everyone misses sometimes. Reloading is slow (not that Yogi is going to let you reload). With only 6 rounds in the gun, accuracy becomes absolutely paramount. (I'm actually getting better times by slowing down and missing less.) The more you miss, the more you have to reload. A bear can cover 100 yards in about 6 seconds. I say these things to dissuade anyone from carrying any of the 5 shot "L-frame" type revolvers for bears. The guns aren't that much lighter than the heavy 6 shot Redhawks or N frame Smiths.

Third, in regards to the "lightest revolver that can co do the job": that's the Smith 329PD scandiaum N frame in 44 magnum. 27 oz. But you're not going to want to train with that because a.) your hand will be killing you after 2 cylinders of even 44 special and b.) it just won't tkae the beating of constant training. (Two friends of mine have them. They never ever fire them, but the carry them hunting/fishing all spring/summer/fall. Never comes out of the holster. Yet.)

The taurus tracker .44 mag or a smith model 69 .44 mag are a great compromise between a heavy redhawk and the insanely light airweight. They both have about 10 ounces on an airweight and are entirely shootable. I have a mdl. 69 on layaway and its almost mine. As far as starving to death, most of the monster northern pike in the sloughs there have never seen a fishing lure, and can be caught nearly every cast of a rod and reel. It almost makes fishing boring, almost.

My first choice would be a Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum.

Second choice would be the same gun but in .41 Magnum.

Third choice would be a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Special.

If you're talking about the SUV made by GMC, maybe a J-frame sized revolver in my pocket. I'd even turn on the heater in another month or two.

If you're talking way up yonder, ummmm . . . anything north of Oklahoma in the winter is too cold for me.

44 Mag Mountain Revolver with Laser Grip. Light, powerful and accurate.

The biggest pistola I own is my Ruger Blackhawk 5.5" barrel in 44 mag. Thats what would go with me. I would be more concerned about a holster rig that makes it easy to carry and not wear me out having it on. And loads would be the 240gr hardcast bullets I already have on hand.

I only recently started carrying this revolver for back-up duty. It's a BFR in .500 JRH with a 5 1/2-inch barrel and open sights. I have it sighted in with a Kodiak Punch bullet load (420 grain bullet) that runs right around 1,400 fps. It is the same load and revolver type (I have another 5 1/2-inch BFR in .500 JRH equipped with an Ultradot 4 that is a primary hunting firearm) that I have used on a number of large animals to include a Cape buffalo, a water buffalo and a Gayal hybrid that twisted the scales at 2,500 lbs, so I am confident in its ability to inflict damage. It shoots to the sights at 10 yards but obviously can be stretched out much farther. I am confident in the combination.

5 1/2" Super Redhawk in .480.

D.B. Cooper said:

The 4.2" barrel revolvers are legal in Canada. (That's why Ruger makes a 4.2" barrel - it works out to 106 mm or whatever the Canadian minimum barrel length is.) A US citizen can (must) declare a firearm when entering Canada, and can get a temporary firearm license (for a gun legal to own in Canada; don't bring your AR15) right at the borer crossing. Americans go on guided hunt trips in the Yukon Territory, Northern Ontario, etc, all the time.

But I'm not trying to start a Canadian gun law debate.

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4.2 barrels are legal for Canadians.
Hunting rifles and shotguns are easy enough to declare at the border, but not handguns.
Target pistol shooters competing in Canada need to obtain special permission in advance from whichever bureaucracy is in charge of such things.
Also hollow point rifle rounds aren't allowed across the border.

What I'm saying is first hand circa 1985 from the Penticton, BC Customs personnel and may have changed.

Have to go with a Ruger Redhawk 454 Casull

I'd take my S&W 500 Bone Collector. I've been trying to find a chest holster for it so I could draw it. But it comes with a sling and that might just be faster to draw.
Left: S&W Bone Collector with 2.5-8 VX 3 32mm HANDGUN Leupold scope with M4 rifle mounts.
Right: S&W 500 and .45 ACP cartridges.

I’m with ratshooter! I’d carry my 7.5 SBH 44 mag. I’d use my 268 grain Kieth over very heavy Unique or lighter 2400.
But what do I know, I never faced a charging brown or grizzly.

My 4" Smith 629. I'd have to do some research as to the exact load. But I'd be real tempted to carry the much lighter G20 loaded with DoubleTap 200 gr hardcast. In fact in the lower 48, even in Grizzly country that is what I'd carry. But all critters are bigger in the far north. And since this isn't specifically a bear defense thread I think the revolver is a better hunting option than a pistol.

I'll play. S&W model 69.

I would take my Ruger original Vaquero.45 Colt 7.5” barrel loaded with Buffalo Bore 325 grain cartridges or equivalent handload If I had to take one handgun and it had to be from what I own now.

If I had the opportunity to take something else I am not so sure I would as I know this gun and I know what I am capable of with it.

John Joseph said:

4.2 barrels are legal for Canadians.
Hunting rifles and shotguns are easy enough to declare at the border, but not handguns.
Target pistol shooters competing in Canada need to obtain special permission in advance from whichever bureaucracy is in charge of such things.
Also hollow point rifle rounds aren't allowed across the border.

What I'm saying is first hand circa 1985 from the Penticton, BC Customs personnel and may have changed.

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I think yo might be right. Actually, you are right.

DPris said:

Can't help but notice a trend that does not include any of the NAA revolvers.....
Denis

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Those things cost too much to carry into the field. Can you imagine dropping one on a rock? Might as well carry a Colt Anaconda.

You guys and these 5 shot guns...you're going to miss at least the first shot and maybe at least one other. If they made an 8 shot 44 mag, I'd own it. (It would be so big I'd need a sling to carry it, but...)

D.B. Cooper said:

You guys and these 5 shot guns...you're going to miss at least the first shot and maybe at least one other. If they made an 8 shot 44 mag, I'd own it. (It would be so big I'd need a sling to carry it, but...)

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An 8 shot 44 mag X frame would be a neat gun.

460Shooter said:

An 8 shot 44 mag X frame would be a neat gun.

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I'm holding out for a long barreled 357Max X-Frame personally.

I'd probably tote my 5" 629 with some heavy cast boolits. A WFN in the 270-300gr range.

D.B. Cooper said:

You guys and these 5 shot guns...you're going to miss at least the first shot and maybe at least one other. If they made an 8 shot 44 mag, I'd own it. (It would be so big I'd need a sling to carry it, but...)

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How many shots do you think you are going to get off in a charge situation? I'm betting maybe one, but I've never been charged by a bear, so I'm speculating.