Reeder Custom Guns - If you were going into grizzly

country in the lower 48, Montana, or Wyoming what handgun would you carry in your holster. Trying to arrange a fly fishing trip this coming summer with one of my sons that likes to fly fish and grizzly country may be on the planning list. Haven't quite decided where we will go yet.

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1750 fps with 340gr. hard cast bullet from 7.5 revolver.

In the gun you are most familiar with

Caliper it is. Five or six rounds from your 9 mm is better than one miss round from your 44 magnum or 454 etc. Think about it? Pete

I fish quite often out of the beaten path and have “protected” mountain lions and many black bear in the area. My Reeder Trail Gun .45colt with heavy loads is going to be my carry gun this spring! Dialing in some mandatory lead free stuff now and I feel confident it will get the job done. Once had 2 game wardens ask me if my Glock26 that I was carrying would be enough for me when they stopped me in bear country once. Told them it was for 2 legged bear protection, not 4. Laughed, checked my fishing license and went on their merry way!

You REALLY, really, don't WANT to use it in that capacity. So it's a 99.99% chance it's just for piece of mind and confidence. BUT it has to be credible to achieve that goal.

I'd think a 300 gr. heavy constructed bullet at around 1400 fps a minimum to be real. For me anyway. A handgun would feel like a toothpick to me in front of a small Blackie, much less an adolescent Grizz.

The real men I've had heartfelt conversations with, those that have been there, all say to bank that you have ONE shot. Maybe. That is pretty humbling.

developing a fondness for the 480 Ruger. It is powerful yet the felt recoil seems to be more manageable than say the 454.

Currently I have a Ruger SRH but I would not mind a more packable Ruger SBH Bisley with the 6.5 inch barrel.

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One with a high capasity mag and the 220 hd cast ammo from one of the companies that make +p 10mm I would want a lot of ammo without reloading and a slow running fishing buddy

I load a special 230 gr. FNGC for my G20 6" that runs 1200 fps using a stiff charge of Longshot. It's kinds rough on the gun but run a 26# recoil spring and I don't shoot huge amounts of that hot ammo. It holds 15 in the mags. That is some respectable firepower. The .45 Super runs the same bullet and speeds, if not maybe 100 fps more, and holds 13 in the same gun.

Like WB says a hot 10mm or 45 Super. Sure Would be more comforting to have a stout loaded 45/70 Marlin slung over my shoulder, but hard to fish with that hanging on ya.

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with in my 510 GNR in Alaska from 2 feet. Then hit him again and he ran off. Bears are hard to kill. They have an extremely tuff hide and normally 2 or 3 inches of fat under that, so a 45 Long Colt, 10mm, 44 mag, or 480 and such will just piss him off in most cases. A perfect shot will work in those calibers but that perfect shot seldom occurs when the bear is coming at you..

areas call or text me 3078511102

jumps out at you you won't feel the recoil at all. You will have a death grip on the gun. Go with the most powerful handgun you can handle. Forget the 480. Go with either the 475 Linebaugh, 500 Linebaugh or my 510 GNR. I shot a big bear in Alaska at kissing distance (literally) twice and he ran off and I had to go into the alders to finish him off. Probably due to the heavy dose of Adrenalin I didn't even feel the recoil.

Bears can be extremely hard to put down. Coming at you with their head down is an extremely hard target as the bears skull is slanted and very thick and hard and the bullet will often skim off his head giving him even more reason to chew on your ass. On a charging bear your best bet is to put as much lead in him as you can to at least make him change his mind. But forget anything less than a 475 Linebaugh. Having danced with 3 bears in the past I know first hand that they can be extremely hard to stop once they start that charge.

And forget the snubbies like the Alaskan as it doesn't burn enough powder in that short 3 inch barrel to make it even somewhat equal to a full size 475 Linebaugh, 500 Linebaugh or 510 GNR. We were the ones that designed the Alaskan Survivor 25 years ago, later to become the Alaskan Survivalist, which is the gun Ruger currently puts out as their Alaskan. It is a good handy gun for critters like wild hogs and such and maybe a Black Bear but not for a Grizzly. Go with at least a 4 inch barrel, or better yet a 5 or 6" barrel. That little extra powder you will burn may be enough to make the difference.

carry my 510gnr. Everywhere else, I carry my gnr revolver in .45 with a hot loaded 300gr hard cast bullet.

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