Guns for Alaska

[OrneryBear]

I have been a long time shooter. I love the 45. It is great on human size animals, I do shoot bowling pins and steel out to 50 yards, but yeah it is getting to its limit. People commonly hunt hogs and big game at 100 yards with the 10mm round.

The 10 mm round that I will use is the Underwood Ammo 200 grain bullet at 1250 fps.

So on the power factor formula looks like weight of bullet X speed.

The 10 mm round that I will be loaded a 200 grain bullet shooting at 1250fps with has a power factor of 200X1250= 250,000
A 45 is 230 grain bullet at 800fps = 184,000
A 357 is 125 grain bullet at 1444 fps out of a 5 in barrel revolver is 125x1444=180500

That should give you an idea between the rounds.

So my Alaskan Survival Derringer shoots a 45/70 rifle cartridge. 405 grain bullet at 1800 fps. 729,000 for comparison. Not sure how much speed it looses out of the short barrel, so it is probably not that high, but it does blow fire about 12 ft out the muzzle in low light and you can't see shit for a few minutes.

Mind you it is zero fun to shoot. Like zero. I have owned the gun for over 20 years and it has 22 rounds through it. Like put a leather glove and and hold on. It is ZERO fun to shoot, yet there has been a couple friends that have shot it once over the years.

Great to know, thanks I learned something! I also said a big load 357, so something like a 158 grain. Ive been shooting since I was 7 but I will easily admit its not until recently I started getting more into the ins and outs of grains/velocities and different calibers. Had to since my 77yr old father got into reloading in retirement (he retired for 6months before going back to work for the air force lol). So I try to take in all his giant “Im an engineer” reloading spreadsheets he wants me to look at with him. Long story short Im still learning.

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[jadmt]

So the G5 G20, they changed the barrel so it handles the lead bullets better. I will have a couple mags with FMJ and a mag or two with JHPs. also.

I will have to look and see if I can fond those rounds.

made in Montana so any sporting good store in Montana will carry it

 

[MtCamper]

Ted, I've lived in bear country all my life, except when we winter in Arizona and have a couple of thoughts for you. I like the feel a handgun on my side, but I'm more comfortable in bear country with a handgun and a jumbo can of bear spray. Check with the Canadians, they used to allow bear spray but not mace or other people pepper sprays. Go figure. Your 10mm has about the same muzzle energy as a 410 loaded with slugs. I wouldn't go bear hunting with a 410. I would be pretty comfy with that 870 loaded with slugs. Basically what I'm trying to say is a handgun is more likely to piss a bear off than kill it. If you shoot one with a handgun, you're probably going to get mauled. My first line of defense would be bear spray. I'd save the handgun for protection from the two legged critters. Of course the old timers will tell you the perfect gun to carry in bear country is a small 22. Shoot your hiking companion in the knee and run like hell.

 

[LostNotStuck-Yet]

I would be pretty comfy with that 870 loaded with slugs. Basically what I'm trying to say is a handgun is more likely to piss a bear off than kill it. If you shoot one with a handgun, you're probably going to get mauled. My first line of defense would be bear spray.

This is valid.

When a bear is charging you - the profile is predominantly head. A head with a thick conically shaped skull that a bullet (or slug) are unlikely to penetrate.
You'd probably succeed in stopping the bear if the shot was directly on the nose as there would be little deflection. Pretty much anywhere else on the head would be glancing.
There is some opportunity to hit the shoulders or chest but these target areas are VERY small - it certainly helps if you are a good shot but these areas are moving up and down and side to side - and it's all happening very fast and at close range.
If you hit the shoulder, you'll slow it down but won't stop it.
If you hit the chest and it's a lung shot, you probably won't stop it before it reaches you.
If you hit the chest and it's a heart shot, there's a good chance you'll stop it before it reaches you.
Bear spray - practice using it - carry it in a holster - carry more than one - everyone in your party should carry some - it's your best tool.

 

[GATORB8]

I used to qualify, but being retired, my local Law Enforcement Supply said they can not honor it. The Blue Label program, I could have got the G20 for $477. My fellow Jeep guy got me as close as he could at $488.

You can gain access to Blue Label coupons by joining GSSF.

 

[wibornz]

Ted, I've lived in bear country all my life, except when we winter in Arizona and have a couple of thoughts for you. I like the feel a handgun on my side, but I'm more comfortable in bear country with a handgun and a jumbo can of bear spray. Check with the Canadians, they used to allow bear spray but not mace or other people pepper sprays. Go figure. Your 10mm has about the same muzzle energy as a 410 loaded with slugs. I wouldn't go bear hunting with a 410. I would be pretty comfy with that 870 loaded with slugs. Basically what I'm trying to say is a handgun is more likely to piss a bear off than kill it. If you shoot one with a handgun, you're probably going to get mauled. My first line of defense would be bear spray. I'd save the handgun for protection from the two legged critters. Of course the old timers will tell you the perfect gun to carry in bear country is a small 22. Shoot your hiking companion in the knee and run like hell.

We are absolutely caring bear spray. I have no desire or wish to have a negative bear encounter. I see a gun as the last chance for the worse situation. We plan to be loud when we hike and fortunately, my wife hardly ever shuts up and with the dog running everywhere, I would think that our random close bear encounter should be slim.

Just know that I am under no illusion that a bear is likely to be taken easily with a pistol. I have seen deer shot with 12 ga slugs solid in the kill zone run a mile. When deer hunting, the common saying after shooting a deer is wait 20 minutes before looking for it. I would think that a bear, the likely hood of a fast kill would be slim. Just as any with any predator, look for distance between you and them, look for obstacles between you and them. and look for escape routes. Keep situational awareness high and try to avoid the conflict if at all possible. I am not looking for any glory. I just am looking o be properly prepared. That also includes being in good strong shape with cardio and weight training and running faster than my wife.

 

[BasementKitty]

G40 (longslide 10mm) is my go-to in griz country (with bear spray being first choice) and deer hunting at home. The extra barrel length gets a few more fps out of the rounds and reduces muzzle flip.

 

[wibornz]

G40 (longslide 10mm) is my go-to in griz country (with bear spray being first choice) and deer hunting at home. The extra barrel length gets a few more fps out of the rounds and reduces muzzle flip.

I could not get a good deal on the long slide as I had thought abut that too.

 

[wibornz]

Did add a Streamlight to it this morning.

 

[BasementKitty]

I could not get a good deal on the long slide as I had thought abut that too.

I also have the LWD 6” bbl for my G20. I built a long slide G20 with the LWD upper before Glock came out with the G40. I used to put the 6” bbl in the G20 before I got the G40.

 

[Erievon]

I can out run my wife, she walks faster than I do. Her natural gate is about three inches longer than mine so when we hike, I constantly have to concentrate on keeping up with her. My natural run gate running is faster than hers though and I am faster on the top end too.

She knows this and that is why she was like hey buy it and get comfortable with it. She is a smart woman.

After many many posts I have determined, Ted hit the wife lottery. Just sayin'.

 

[wibornz]

After many many posts I have determined, Ted hit the wife lottery. Just sayin'.

I am sure I hit the wife lottery. You have no idea how many times I have been asked if she has any cool sisters like her.

 

[DaltonGang]

Did add a Streamlight to it this morning.

I would go more with the flashlight on the 870 shotgun. Reson being, you are going to be hiking in the daylight, with the pistol, and lights will not be needed. At camp with the shotgun, at night, lights needed. Keep it simple, keep it easy to carry. Flashlight and optics on a pistol bulk up, and complicate things. Especially when 800 lbs of pissed off is charging at you, at 30+ mph.

 

[wibornz]

I would go more with the flashlight on the 870 shotgun. Reson being, you are going to be hiking in the daylight, with the pistol, and lights will not be needed. At camp with the shotgun, at night, lights needed. Keep it simple, keep it easy to carry. Flashlight and optics on a pistol bulk up, and complicate things. Especially when 800 lbs of pissed off is charging at you, at 30+ mph.

I have had a light on a pistol.....all my carry pistols for a very long time.. My daily carry pistol has a light. Truly, it should be day light almost 24 hours a day while we are in Alaska. The bulk of our time will be in June and July and the sun does not really set.

We took a cruise in 2022 in Alaska and this is what 0405 am in the morning looked like.

This was the darkest day that I saw on our 8 day cruise.

 

[wibornz]

So I have sighted the pistol optic in These shots are at 20 yards.

This is where I settled on adjusting the optic.

Soon the pistol rest and the bench. I am sure that after I get more rounds through it I will be able to tighten the groups up.

A slow fire target. I am getting more comfortable with the recoil. This is stout. I likes the 200 grain bullets better than the 180 gr bullets.

Then this is a rapid fire at 15 yards

I put 150 rounds through the pistol that day. I Still plan to put another 300 to 400 rounds through the gun before I leave.

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