Guns for Alaska

[wibornz]

So I just found out that I can take a semi-auto pistol through Canada to get to Alaska. I own many handguns. For a semi auto pistol to go through Canada, the barrel has to be over 4.1 inches so my 40 cal carry guns are out of the question. I have sold off my big revolvers over the years. I am thinking about picking up a Glock 20 (10mm) for a sidearm in Alaska as we plan to camp and hike for 3 or so months in Alaska.

I do have a really nice 45 with 10 round mags that I am highly proficient with. Think like 75,000+ rounds through it. It is more of completion gun so I am on the fence about caring it.

I do have an Alaskan Survival Derringer cambered in 45/70

Yet I do not see this as a realistic option. It is more of a conversation piece.

I will also have a 870 pump gun with 8 rounds of slugs for a camp gun.

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[jadmt]

I am a G fan. I have G34, 43 and 20. 20 is super easy to shoot and you could probably drag it behind your jeep and it would still function. I spend a lot of time in bear country and it always makes me feel better but in reality probably doing just that. One thing I noticed on another post is you talked about cooking under your tent....I would probably buy a new tent for your AK trip..I have a good buddy who probably has spent more time camping in griz country than about anyone I know and he swears by setting a portable electric fence around his tent. He has used bear spray many times and does not carry a sidearm. He also carries one of those compressed air horns.....

 

[1Evil55]

45LC or 454 casull in a revolver couldn't hurt.

 

[jeepingib]

G20 absolutely. I plan to pick up a blue line one myself in the next few months. Been waiting for the gen 5 so I could get it.

 

[Erievon]

I have a G23, which is 40S&W. I love it, but it has a huge recoil to it. I don't mind it, but my wife has difficulty with the time to set up the follow on shot. I hear the 10mm kicks more then that, but I can't say I've actually tried one.

 

[GATORB8]

Not as fun as buying a new one, but what about re-barreling one of yours?

 

[Ted392]

Sig P220 45cal would be an option.

 

[jadmt]

I have a G23, which is 40S&W. I love it, but it has a huge recoil to it. I don't mind it, but my wife has difficulty with the time to set up the follow on shot. I hear the 10mm kicks more then that, but I can't say I've actually tried one.

the 10mm in the large frame does not kick at all. super easy to shoot or at least it was before I lost mine in a boating accident. I have put many rounds through both a G22 and G34. By far the g34 is my favorite for ease of shooting. I think almost anyone could shoot dimes with that one...sure wish I would have been more careful when I was boating...

 

[wibornz]

I have a pair of Glock 23s. The barrel is not long enough to bring through Canada. The pistol barrel has to be at least 4.1 inches long or I would just bring the g23 guns. My 1911 in 45 has a long enough barrel, but it is a competition gun and I want a hotter round. I sold my G21 a few years ago. I thinned out my big bore revolvers too. That why I am looking at the G20 gen5 with an optic.

 

[GATORB8]

I have a pair of Glock 23s. The barrel is not long enough to bring through Canada. The pistol barrel has to be at least 4.1 inches long or I would just bring the g23 guns. My 1911 in 45 has a long enough barrel, but it is a competition gun and I want a hotter round. I sold my G21 a few years ago. I thinned out my big bore revolvers too. That why I am looking at the G20 gen5 with an optic.

Glock has a 4.5" threaded barrel for the 23.

 

[jadmt]

I have a pair of Glock 23s. The barrel is not long enough to bring through Canada. The pistol barrel has to be at least 4.1 inches long or I would just bring the g23 guns. My 1911 in 45 has a long enough barrel, but it is a competition gun and I want a hotter round. I sold my G21 a few years ago. I thinned out my big bore revolvers too. That why I am looking at the G20 gen5 with an optic.

if purpose if for bears in the back country a 10mm is what you want anyway. you won't regret getting a G20

 

[Pinion]

An MP5 would work. Just don't SBR it.

Edit, sorry I didn't see you were talking big boy calibers.

If you're hiking in Alaska and looking for protection from local fauna, anything that has been mentioned so far except for the 45lc or the 454 is just going to piss them off.

 

[LazyJL]

My wife and I have done two 10-day, self-guided kayak camping trips in SE Alaska. If brown bear protection is what you are looking for, every ranger in Alaska I have talked with has recommended using either a large caliper handgun or, preferably a short 12-gauge shotgun, loaded with a combination of buckshot and solid slugs.
The rangers suggested a shotgun because it is more likely to get more than one shot off and a magnum load punches much harder than most handguns and is easier to control.
I carry a cutdown Remington 870 pump with 18-1/2” barrel and shorter stock, it fits in a tray under the deck of my kayak. Border inspections have been fine as long as it is declared.

 

[tomk62]

If I were making that trip i would go with the Glock 10mm and an 870. I have a SA XDM .45 with a 5.25" barrel so I'd be tempted to take that, but might just be more comfortable with the 10mm instead.

 

[LostNotStuck-Yet]

If brown bear protection is what you are looking for, every ranger in Alaska I have talked with has recommended using either a large caliper handgun or, preferably a short 12-gauge shotgun, loaded with a combination of buckshot and solid slugs.

Solid advice… I skip the buckshot.
Nothing wrong with carrying a large caliber pistol when hiking in AK. I used to carry a .44 when doing field work. I have had a few rounds of bear defense training (including time at the range with a bear target on a sled charging), I’ve been followed by bears, and I’ve had friends and coworkers attacked by bears. I have well over 10 years of AK field work- much of it remote. After a few years carrying the .44 I abandoned it and rely entirely on bear spray. Yes there are situations where bear spray isn’t likely to be effective- like if they are upwind of you on a breezy day.
You are clearly an experienced and capable marksman with handguns - my hat is off to you 75k is a lot of rounds.
If you get a new pistol to carry, get stainless steel. If it’s not shooting 12ga slugs<g>, get the round that has is as close as possible in energy. Bullets don’t always stop bears. Well placed slugs probably will if you can get the shots off.
Whatever you do, carry bear spray and make it your primary option for protection. Be ready to spray a low wall of capsicum. It’s likely to be most effective and you won’t have to deal with a dead or wounded bear. Shooting a bear is a huge time suck, a lot of work, and you’ll have paperwork and interviews.
And if your tent smells like food, get a new one.
Humans aren’t considered good eating by healthy bears- just don’t surprise them and make sure they know you’re a human.
Have a safe journey.

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