Great choice of sidearm. You don't need to keep a chamber empty under the hammer in a double action. You also don't need to in more recent single action guns. A forcing cone...not a "gas check" has to show a gap of around 4/1000th of an inch with the cylinder. If you rock the cylinder back and forth, there has to be some movement. The reason for the gap is obviously to enhance rotation of the cylinder but particularly because firearms flex when they are fired and that movement requires a small gap. There are no "gas checks" on firearms.
Thanks for sharing your outdoors bear gun with us. When I am photographing in the wilderness, for protection from black bears, feral hogs, and wild dogs, I carry a 6-inch barrel Smith & Wesson model 27-2 revolver loaded with HMS .357 magnum 180 grain hard-cast lead ammunition.
My 10mm or .45 super generates almost 900 ft lbs... that makes it way more than half and closer to 75% of the energy with over double the rounds... Still carry a .44 magnum on my hip with 10mm or .45 Super in chest rig. You're right that 2.5" 44 mag is not enough barrel to build up the speed. .45-70 takes the cake, but you're 100% right, nothing guarantees anything
I would prefer G20 because of capacity but .44 is a great choice. I’d load the entire cylinder. Modern revolvers are different from the old six shooters.
I have owned a few 29's and now have a 6.5" 629 which is slightly stronger because of a few slight mods. I have been casting my own bullets (and now coating em) for more than a few decades and have always cast heavy for caliber bullets. My standard 44 mag load is a 250-260 cast swc or wide flat nose at around 1300 fps. That is not quite as potent as the buffalo bore round but close and probly a lot easier on the guns. It is a very dependable load. accurate and hard hitting. It is amusing to me tho to now see all the ammo companies offering cast bullet loads when for 50 years they have disparaged em
I like the 29/629 family of revolvers. I own two 629's. A 5" 629 Classic and a 7.5" 629 PC Stealth Hunter. Both are excellent revolvers. That 29 you are carrying is a solid woods tool.
Good choice of sidearm and load, I have buffalo bore and Underwood, and I think I would always opt for nickel coated since I don't plan to ever take the rounds out. Looks like you're in a wet environment, so I would recommend the same. Get your wife a similar firearm when in bear country, broken wrist or skin is better than being dead.
Somehow over the years I've ended up with four .44 magnum firearms: an 80s high-polish stainless Model 29 with a 6 inch barrel, a current Model 629 with a 4 inch barrel, a ported Marlin 1894P with a 16 inch barrel, and weirdly, a Harrington and Richardson Shikari .44 magnum single shot. The last one even has a ramrod/cleaning rod something akin to a black powder muzzleloader. The 80s high-polish revolver has been worked over and slicked up perfectly, and shoots like a target revolver. They are wonderful fun to shoot, and will handle anything from primer-powered rubber bullet rounds to full-house big game rounds. I shoot a lot of .44 special rounds and plan on loading up some blackpowder loads as well.
I love the old 29! I had a 1978 28 (41 Magnum) and wish I kept it. I now own a 629 Stainless with 6 1/2 barrel. Love the all weather stainless and its a great shooter. Used 320 gn hardcast in a recent trip to Montana and it was a handful! Cant go wrong with these older 44 Magnums! I am getting a chest rig for it next!
I have a 29 6 1/2” circa 1966-67. Same serial number range as the one used in Dirty Harry. Near mint. I also have a 500 Linebaugh made by John Linebaugh himself, built on a Ruger Bisley. Superb action. Never fired. I don’t know which one to subject to the wear and tear of the wild.
I bought mine new in 1980 with 8 3/8" barrel, pin barrel and recess cylinders,comes in a wooden presentation case.I also have a 6 inch barrel model 29 with a unfluted cylinder.A 6 inch barrel Classic DX.
I live in black bear country and had to use my 9mm I use underwood extreme penatrators and 147 grain +p hard cast done fine on a charging black bear but I prefer 44 or 10mm
I also tend to plan for worst case scenarios, and therefore have always carried in these situations a 4-1/4" S&W 629. I carried in a Bill Jordan Border Patrol holster (Don Hume Leather). I handload, so carried hard cast 240 gr Keiths. I knew a retired U.S. wilderness park ranger, and, coincidentally, he carried the same rig & loads, so I felt reassured in my choices as I was ony a sometimes wilderness backpacker. That was many years ago. I do like your choices of Buffalo Bore loads and Outbags holster rig.
I love that 44 40 years and it's still going strong. Speaks of the quality. I agree... What do you think of Ruger ranch rifle in .556 for bear medicine ? That's all I have at the moment. Also, I'm selling my Excalibur matrix 355 crossbow if you have any interest in something a little different.
Thank you. It is absolutely true! As to 5.56. I am not against that rifle, however when we talk about bears, so many people tend to lump them into a generic word of "bear". But in the state of Alaska we have 5 species of bear. The Black bear, the Brown bear, the Kodiak Brown bear, the Grizzly bear, and the Polar bear. I do personally believe that a 5.56 would easily dispatch a black bear, and with some struggle would kill a Grizzly or Brown. However, I would NOT trust it to kill a Kodiak brown bear, or Polar bear.
Great Admonishment in your Closing, you wouldn't go out on a Boat without a Paddle, let a lone a Life Jacket, it's also important to hear from someone in the Field.....Thumbs UP!!!!
Cross draw chest holster is the most effective. In any stance situation. .44 is an ideal Bear defense cartridge. Any of the bigger is better folks don’t realize the speed of a Grizzly in a real world situation as well as reaction time per shot. Because they’ve never been in that situation. Most haven’t. But Reaction time is greatly reduced from a bigger cartridge to get off a 2nd shot. So if you don’t hit on 1st shot you’re done. So bigger is not better. It’s all about being able to put more lead on target quicker. .460 Rowland is king of the Auto’s. 10mm being 2nd best. .41/.44 mag is best choice revolver cartridge. It’s all about being controllable with fast reaction time.
I trust the 10mm for the back country here in my neck of the woods. I'm just more comfortable with autoloaders. 44 Mag isn't double 10mm as 10mm can get up to 900 ft/lbs in that much barrel.
How about a chest holster? I've always been partial to the Kenai Gunfighter chest rig for open carry. Good setup you got there just add a couple speed-loaders.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 very true I've been sporting a Hill People Gear chest pak for many months and so far is my most comfortable carry option although it can get a little sweaty sometimes and it fairly easy to access with your off hand honestly I haven't tried the Gunfighter rig yet hopefully someday
One thing that really amazes me is most of the videos of Alaskans shooting they most of the time dump their brass on to the ground plus they are shooting factory ammo? I always thought the shipping to Alaska was an expense I couldn't afford if I lived there? Don't any of you guys reload? Don't get me wrong, I love the N framed S&Ws myself and shoot them as often as possible and I personally reload for everything I own and never leave brass where I shoot.
Two feet penetration against a charging bear?! Stout loads with heavy hard cast semi-wadcutters have a tendency to penetrate into next week. Nice choice on 6" 29. Those are sweet guns. Thanks for the vid.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 Revolvers, especially larger guns, always had their place being carried in a shoulder holster, too. Most folks in the 19th century carried concealed since most cities enforced strict gun laws which did not permit to carry openly within city limits.
That’s a broad question, as there are many kinds of bear. Yes a .357 would stop a black bear. But it will probably not work in a Kodiak brown or Grizzly
@@AlaskanFrontier1 never thought of that of all the different type of bears y'all have out there, but thank you for answering question. Be safe out there and greetings from Arizona .
Most Alaska Bear have never seen a human and not likely to bother you unless protecting her cubs. A Alaska fishing guide I talked to carried a 9mm as noise was effective to deter bears. The guides opinion was that Moose and humans are more dangerous in Alaska than Bear. If Bear hunting get an appropriate center fire rifle.
Did you know double action smith and Wesson’s are made to be carried with all six rounds in the cylinder? In alaska you just might need that extra round in the cylinder and a sped loader with 6 more to back t up!
If you read buff bore Tim sundaes writes things to help 45 colt would be better 454 or 480 and up and redhawk can handle pressures that would tear a Smith apart
You choose the "Dirty Harry" revolver, good choice. S&W have always been a top choice. I have five of them, including the stainless 629, .44, in 8 3/8 barrel and the 500 mag in 8 3/8 barrel. I would hate to kill a bear and would prefer the large "bear spray", then a big revolver if necessary. As you say a pissed off mama bear charging at 30 mph might be too risky to rely on the spray..
Excellent choice of handgun and ammunition, and a very beautiful gun it is, too. Have you considered a backup gun on your left side, in the event that your right arm was injured when you most needed your gun?
Here is a topic very few authors pay attention to: The importance of Shot placement A SOLID HIT IS WORTH MORE THAN A THOUSAND MISSES!!Please watch the RU-vid video: Bear attack: Woman's incredible fight for survival by Wild Assault.: the relevant part starts at 21:18 This bear took 14 shots with a 44 magnum and was still coming. All the hunter have left was a 22LR and he fired. The bear turned away and when they tracked it they found it dead. Death was caused by 22LR hitting her vitals!! Nobody would suggest you use a 22 LR for bear defense,that is totally unwise, but the gist here is SHOT PLACEMENT CARRIED THE DAY. WE can discuss best caliber for bear defense till the cows come home tonight ,however it is all relative and subject to THE MOST RELEVANT FACTOR:DID MY BALLISTIC PROJECTILE REACH THE VITALS!!! It is much more important to practise practise practise to shoot while moving and to be proficient with and know the firearm you carry inside out. We should get away from this Hollywood Cowboy movie perception that a large caliber will stop a human let alone a raging bear.Caliber as a stopping power is a myth. A human or animal will only stop in its tracts if the spine or brain is hit. Even hitting the vitals on a large animal may still result on a raging bear on top of you. They don't die instantly. I have a 44 magnum and to shoot that revolver fast and accurate for me is very difficult. I would advise anyone to rather carry a firearm you are proficient with in shooting very fast and accurate. These attacks can happen lightening fast ,you better be fast on the draw! Practise from the draw. Going to the the shooting range is only a good start,you better follow that up with practising at a safe outdoor facility equipped for holster draw and shoot on the move!! Anything less than this is unwise!!! Remember a high power rifle preferably an autoloader or pump action is a better option if possible
The need for an empty cylinder is not action dependent but in general is age dependent. If the hammer rests with the firing pin on a cartridge then leave it with an empty under the pin. Newer revolvers typically use either a transfer bar or don’t rest on the primer. That assumes that dropping the gun from horseback, say, can’t/won’t cause the rebound hammer to go forward anyway. Since I often fire older revolvers I load 5 unless I think I need 6. Shooting myself with my own weapon is not in my plans for any reason. Of course, if you will never in your life drop your weapon you don’t need to take any precautions.
Larry Kelly Rest In Peace, dropped an elephant with a five inch Ruger Super Blackhawk using a 320 grain hard cast bullet as well as a KTW bronze bullet hollowed out at the base to insert tungsten steel to increase weight. Penetration was not a problem.
Ill stick to my river vaquero in 45 long colt. Its the first model out which was made incredibly strong so it handles 454 casull pressures, I use buffalo bore 350 grain hard cast flat nose at 1350fps out of a 5 1/2 barrel and over 2000 ft lbs I also like carbon 325 jacketed soft points around the same levels. That my pak gun for almost 20 years. That and my Mossberg A1.
Wouldn't loading to 6 be a safety hazard? Sure it can have 6 loaded, but if the hammer is snagged or something hits the trigger it could go off. Having 5 means that if something makes the gun discharge it will then fire nothing and cycle to the next bullet, giving time to notice without possibility of injury.
To each their own. However my general rule is that with a minimum of .44 Mag, the best caliber is the one you can shoot accurately and reliably. If we merely go off caliber then the best handguns to carry would be those chambered in 45-70.
They work great! the bears in the interior of Alaska like a little pepper on their food. i grew up in this state carrying a black hawk 357 mag single action. my dad trusted it with my life and I trusted it the same. now days i carry a Taurus tracker 44mag in the gunslinger chest rig or side holster depending on if I'm wearing my sling pack fishing pack. I've had to draw down more than a few times on grizzly bears and a couple black bears. not once did I doubt the firearm or the draw or my ability to defend myself. regardless of your choice of firearm or caliber of choice any real Alaskan will tell you its the bear that you don't see is the one that will get you. That being said, most importantly you need to be most concerned with situational awareness and not putting yourself in a bad position, as I have done more than once. In my experience 9/10 times the sound of a gun does the trick for the times that you do see the bear first. As for the ones you don't see... good luck
@@AlaskanFrontier1 Yes you can carry all 6 chambers loaded for my 1991 629-3 44 mag and all those old school revolvers by Smith & Wesson has what they call a rebounding hammer it's a built in safety for all those revolvers with firing pins on the hammers !!! So load it up FULL you won't regret it having that 6 th round in the chamber at the ready !!!
Yes. But ammunition choice is everything. Even if you have a 500mag, if its loaded with a rapidly expanding hollowpoint, it's just gonna enrage a bear. A 41 magnum, with a good stout charge, and a HARD CAST lead bullet, is gonna be very very effective beat medicine
Underwood ammunition had a 41 magnum load with a 265 grain wide flat nose harcast bullet at 1350 feet per second, and 1073 ft lbs of muzzle energy. That is a formidable load. And a good bit more powerful than even the most powerful of 10mm auto factoy loads by buffalo bore and Underwood. Two companies known for manufacturing full power ammunition
Like this video's author, I tend to plan for worst case scenarios, and in those cases I'd prefer the 44 mag. It's significantly more powerful with potentially better penetration. I say "worst case", because, if jumped by the bear at point- blank range, or if it won't take "no" for an answer, you need all the extra stopping power. I say "potentially" because it depends on the loads. The author's Buffalo Bore load is excellent. Because I handload, I've carried hard cast 240 gr Keiths. Great penetration & a skosh more velocity. I knew a retired career wilderness park ranger, who said he operated often alone in known grizzly areas, and, coincidentally, we carried the same rigs, 4&1/4" S&W 629s in Bill Jordan Border Patrol holsters (Don Hume Leather), hard cast Keith loads. As a sometimes wilderness backpacker, I felt reassured knowing that's what a pro carried. That was many years ago. I do also like the author's Outbags rig.
@Rom vin Calm down old timer. People like to have more options that can keep them safe AND comfortable. Any gun can be used to make noise, and any gun can be used to kill, that was well explained in the video. The purpose of his gun is to give him a chance and to make noise, to save him in a rough patch while not requiring him to drag around a heavy and bulky rifle for when he is out in the field. This is not explicitly the only gun he would carry if he was hunting for a bear, as you had mentioned in your field of work, this gun would not be ideal. Nor does he even need to kill a bear in close range to know that one shot likely will not put it down (Hence the double action). Every encounter is a roll of the dice. Can you reach your gun in time? Can you hit the shot? Did you hit vitals? There are factors in which even a gun that could just straight up erase the bear's existence, would not guarantee your survival. Another point to mention is that he is in Fairbanks, which is central Alaska and would more commonly find the grizzly bear vs brown bear or Kodiak bear, which are much larger by comparison due to the large supply of salmon. If he feels safe with his gun, then let him be. He gave his reasonings as to why he likes it and did not even make the claim that it was the best gun for taking on bears.
If your set on using a 357 magnum then use a load like the buffalo bore heavy outdoorsman that has a 180gr hardcast bullet going 1500 fps!!! It generates like 900ftlbs or more depending on your gun
I posted a pic of my 3040 krag on my Instagram and Facebook asking if anyone could tell me the name of the gun... I love old firearms and needless to say. It’s been up for an hour and no one’s guessed it yet lol
Years ago I read an article about backpacking in bear country. The author stated if attacked by a bear anything less than a 44 Magnum is just going to piss them off more.
@@johnharris8191 I should of stated that the author was talking about Grizzly and Brown bears. I would feel confident with a .357 in Black Bear country.
I have guided professionally in Alaska on brown bear hunts since 1989. I can answer your question, this person hasn't ever had to save his life from a brown bear charge using that handgun because he is still alive. Only the stupid people that move to Alaska from the big city's believe handguns are Alaskan bear guns. Also, this kind of big city slicker green believes completely from hearing untrue crap from someone said a bear in Alaska was killed using a handgun that means to them all Alaskan bears can be killed with a home defense handgun. The very old gun shop in Anchorage called Great Norther guns gets new arrivals to Alaska in the shop and the first think they want to buy for bear hunting is a Glack 9 mm or 10 mm for all the liar's crap on RU-vid and in lower 48-gun stores. This gun shop is the hangout for people of the Alaskan pioneer days and when one of these knuckle heads comes looking buy a handgun for bear hunts all the old times get a real laugh together. My self and other Alaskan big game guides require clients to bring as a minimum gun is a 338-win mag not a handgun a high energy rifle. Every summer travelers to Alaska end up mauled or killed and many killed always have a fired handgun or shotgun as the seen when the Troppers arrive. Once the bear is hit that bear goes into the meanest animal you even seen, and weight is from 1000 to 1500 pounds that handgun is nothing but a painful poke of a stick to the bear and it is going to get revenge on whoever cause the pain. My clients use on average to keep these bears down is 5 bullets from 338 win mags and larger.
@@wendellbell6164 I am using a Winchester Model 70 in 338 win mag shooting reloads with Barns TSX 225 & 250 grain bullets. Years after inheriting the Winchester 70 in 338 I bought a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 Mauser which my reloads for that are a 286 grain Barns TSX bullet using 70 grains of H-414 powder that brings the cartridge up to commercial loaded 375 H&H magnum. The 9.3x62 as long as the reloads are used that 9.3 kills every animal with one shot stone dead ! I have had to use up to five 338 win mag on some of the bears. What is new and untested is the new AR 10 upper in a wildcat cartridge called 375-300 WSM that matches the 375 H&H magnums, so I have big bore 375 power in the AR 10. If you aren't failure with the AR 10 built to use the WSM cartridge you can look on RU-vid videos of people using AR 10's in 6.5 WSM / 300 WSM / 458 WSM / 475 WSM. If you want to know how you can build your own AR 10 for any of the WSM cartridge you can ask me how and where to buy the parts like the WSM bolt. I also own AR 10 uppers in 6.5-284 Norma and upper in 6mm - 284 win, this is a match for the 6mm - 06. I see the advantage of using the AR 10 as when fired the gun is loaded right away for another shot and the time it takes to work a bolt rifle chambering a new cartridge the bear has covered 20 feet at you. With all of the different AR 10 uppers I have built never have I ever had issued with then jamming or any kind of cartridge cycling issues, they just work fine. Using the AR 10 upper in 6.5-284 for example for recoiled it is less felt recoil as a 308 rifle, so recoil is so mild I shoot and see through the scope where the bullet hit and then ready again to shoot again. The barrels I use are Pac Nor super match barrels. The AR 10 in 375 WSM using the muzzle break has the recoil of a 20-gauge shotgun, so I am able to keep on target and fire repeatedly with 10 375 WS cartridges in a 20 round magazine.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 It's not really a transfer bar more of a hammer block but yeah just wanted to know if you knew good video and I love the 29&629. I had a model 66 that was one of the first SS models and had SS sights front and rear. And my dumbass traded it.:-(
Never liked S@W, over priced and not built heavy enough. "When ammunition company's say Ruger only" "loads. That should tell you you'll always end up in 2nd or 3rd place. Knowing this I have several Ruger's a 22l.r. a 38, 357,and #2 44's a Super Blackhawk and a Super Redhawk. When in deep woods or bear areas it is always the Single action Super Blackhawk. #2 reasons for that. A single action forces you to calm down and concentrate. A double action in a panic will get empty before you even realize it. The Super Blackhawk is much more accurate as well. Plus a single action is simple in design and construction, thus a 100% more reliable with less chance of failures or problems. In Engwish it always goes bang. A pistol is always the 2nd choice . 1st choice is a single barrel Stevens 301 with #4 Buckshot. 12 ga. 2nd round and 3rd rounds will be slugs. I'll be aiming the first round for it's front legs. That's how the guides do it. Peace.
@@AlaskanFrontier1 Nice revolver sir. I caught the bug recently, having purchased many a semi-auto. Now I’m picking up some revolvers and enjoying the art and mechanics of the wheel gun
I think your choice is excellent. Bears can be on a person so fast that you may not have time to rack a slide on a semi-auto. An old school big bore revolver is just what the doctor ordered. It's always sad to hear about someone being mauled by a bear, especially when the person chose to go into bear country with no means to defend themselves. Only a dumbass would do that.
Larry Kelly who founded ssk hand cannon he's gone now dvc Larry Kelly he shot a kod on kod island shot this bear point blank range he was with jd Jones the rounds 300gr they did not get pass the armor plate they were all stuck in the gresul all 6 rounds and this was in arms length you can gogl the story like the ammo you picked good choice go fore a hard lead bullets or a sold jacket round and shot for and opening bobby James gunsmith 32yr now retired be safe always look over your shoulder them there critters like to sneak up on you dvc my friend
Every you tube video with bears attacking that i've seen require way more rounds than a revolver. Luckily i have only black bears , these seem very timid until their not i guess. I carry 10mm XDM elite while hiking. 15 rounds. 4.5 inch . I've shot large caliber revolvers , 454 Casul. Ruger red hawk. I liked shooting it , but boy pretty hard to control in a controlled situation. Nevermind over my shoulder while i'm running the hundred yard dash , just kidding ! Love your videos
You didn't just load that with an empty chamber, did you? Sorry, if you can not carry a gun with full cylinders or with one in the pipe, then you shouldn't be carrying a gun at all.
