dlr110 wrote:It's a joke Jerry, but the cabin where I will be in Alaska I'm sure there will be bears not too far away. Some small communities do have problems with bears coming into neighborhoods from time to time. We have other guns in case there is any bear problems.zp4ja wrote:Just curious and honestly mean no offense...dlr110 wrote:In preperation for my upcoming flight in September I stopped into Academy Sports for a handgun lockbox. When I asked the store attendant that was helping me to try one of the Taurus pistols to see how large of a pistol it would accommodate, he grabbed a Taurus G2s. The next thing I know I was buying both the lockbox and the gun. It won't kill bears on my trip to Alaska, but it will protect me against varmints on two legs. Next it's time to go to the range and try it out, the gun not the box.
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Is there a possibility of encountering a bear with where you are and associated activities you plan while there?
Jerry
Sorry, missed the the reference to the joke David. Again, please don't take this the wrong way, those whom know me on the forum know my intentions are well centered. Do as you wish and I hope all the safety and and safe travels on your journey that one can hope for. Please take lots of pictures as I would like to see some of your journey.
That said, if it were me (which you are not) free will and all, I would not carry less than a 10 mm if it was my trip unless/ in addition to you have 2 buddies watching with their heads screwed on and attentive with using outdoor facilities (if that is the scenario) with a .300 Win Mag each. Bear minimum, pun intended, I have a 10 mm that has 220 or 230 Bear loads at like 1200 fps and 500 to 700 muzzle energy. They are called Bear Loads on box, hot and heavy stuff. Even use Buffalo Bore which is also hot JHP but expensive at
close to 2 buck a round if possible.
Do as you wish as I stated but where I live sometimes even going out alone or with buddies, the only person you can really count on is yourself, depending on situation. Very remote here ( not Alaska of course but an area that has no cell service for 50 to 70 miles I call remote) and we have black bears but they are far from me.
Just a locally sad example there was an uncle killed here in a hunting party of FOUR by a Grizzly mistaken for a Black Bear. Just wounded and pissed off but could happen if you stumble across protective Momma and Cubs which I think fall in this general time of year.
Wounded, pissed off and think a Black Bear, chased into the brush.
The attached story is slightly different from another article and local folks I talked to. Could not find the original article after the Coroner and ME sorted out the post mortem details.
Basically, from what I understand, they shot this Grizzly mistakening it for a Black Bear, chase it into the brush, Uncle got mauled and this young local kid shot the Bear thru the top of his back and right through his Uncle with a hunting rifle, unsure of caliber. I fully understand that it seems based on your comments that bear hunting is not planned but feel my comments still apply.
If I sound like a dark cloud on your post, so be it. Sad and true story. Not my intention. Some serious stuff and no joking.
The air travel part sucks, you, get it but my suggestion is, pack the largest caliber handgun you can carry. The large caliber stuff to handle bears does no good besides in your hand and even then, people have died with gun in hand since the bears are so fast.
For reference, I know a guy that lived in Alaska and he, the LEOs, everyone had a 12 guage at minimum with Glazer Slugs (I think they call them) and these were not rural folks. From what I understand, these slugs will go through 2 telephone poles stacked one behind the other side if confronted with a Grizzly attacking. If true, that is a serious round. Shot lots of double ought buckshot in critters. Minimum I personally would take if a shotgun. As I said and will continue to say, to each his own, just how I do it.
Do as you wish. I hope you safe travels. Some may gauge my comments as overkill, so be it." Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it". To each his own. Just want to hear of good times and pics when you return.
BTW, I am an avid Hunter and Outdoorsman and have zero interest in hunting bear as much as I do hunting a Mountain Lion with dogs, treeing it and blowing a big cat out of a tree. Not my bag. However, I know they are capable of and try to be slightly over prepared even if I never need what I bring.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grizzly-ki ... nt-border/
Jerry
That is a superb looking rifle. The M-14 was the first rifle I learned to fire. I've heard it said that one always loves their first rifle. In my case it is definitely true. Have appreciated and enjoyed many other weapons, but have never fallen out of love with the M-14.
sorry, just havin' a little fun ....
While being a Snipe ( that's a guy who works in the enginroom) we didn't train with any weapons. I got to shoot an M1 off the fantail with the gunnersmates while they were practicing? 
Rumors. You know how the military is about stuff like that.