Ruger Alaskan Revolver

How do you find the flap does it slow down your draw much?

I went with the thumb break on both the cross draw and shoulder holsters which covers/protects a bit but nothing like the flap.

My Uncle Mike holster just has a strap/snap retaining system and I find the strap catches on the gun between the hammer and rear sight if/when I try to do a faster draw.

The flap sure doesn't speed up my draw :)

I'm more concerned about protecting my sidearm from bush crud like twigs, leaves, bugs etc. and rain/snow. I feel that it insures proper functioning. All of my encounters to date have given me plenty of time to open the flap and draw the big dog.
 
I too am thinking about getting a S&W 460V. I carry a glock .45 on my ATC right now. Honestly, I have never shot a thing with it. And a lot of people here have never shot a bear with a handgun, because you can't hunt with handguns.

So I looked to our friends in the south, who are allowed to hunt with handguns. Honestly, I didn't like what I saw. I read 2 websites and everytime the S&W 500 failed to stop. Infact, One said they shot it 10 times with the 500 and twice with a 45/70 rifle before it went down. Mind you this was a big alasken brown bear.

So kind of questioning using a handgun as my main defence. Without a doubt questioning the .45. Still yet, carrying something is better then nothing.
 
I read 2 websites and everytime the S&W 500 failed to stop. Infact, One said they shot it 10 times with the 500 and twice with a 45/70 rifle before it went down. Mind you this was a big alasken brown bear.

I find that very hard to believe unless they were shooting it in the paw ... The power of 500 is far above that of .44 or .454, so ... seeing as bears have been killed with these "lesser' calibers without a problem in the past .... one has to wonder about their bullet placement or ??. Further, the 500 cartridges are so big, the cylinder is designed to only hold five (not six), so to shoot a Bear 10 times, you would have to re-load.

Now think about this ... bang bang bang bang bang , stop, eject spent cartridges, load five more, not sure when buddy chimes in with the 45/70 (which on it's own should have dispatched the Bear) but where is the Bear in all of this ??? Standing around waiting for the re-load and subsequent five more shots?? If the first five didn't do the trick, what's the chances he's still in range after the re-load? Now you could speculate that there were two revolvers blazing away but that isn't mentioned. Sounds to me more like inept hunters blaming the gun.
 
Last edited:
Aw come on. You know the 500 is so powerful, that even missing with it is supposed to kill any beast that walks the earth, lol. - dan

Thanks Dan, I got a good chuckle.

That does bring up an interesting point about the concussion of the fired round. To fire one of the 500's without hearing protection will (not may, it definitely WILL) cause permanent hearing damage. So as great (or not) as they may be for bear defense, consider that. No one I know wanders around the bush with hearing protection on/in and there usually isn't going to be time to put some on/in when you need to use that side arm. Not saying that a lesser caliber won't cause hearing damage, just they aren't as likely to cause as much. Yes, better deaf than dead, I'm just pointing out how loud they are as people tend to forget about that aspect of these big Magnums.
 
Last edited:
TPK No one I know wanders around the bush with hearing protection on/in

Well actually I do...

I am never in the bush without hearing protection on. :D

These are the hearing aids/protection that I wear in warmer weather http://www.earinc.com/p1-electronic-hunting.php and I use electronic Peltor Soundtrap muffs during cooler weather.

The Shooting Edge who is a dealer here on CGNTZ is a dealer for EAR Canada I found this link thru their site.
 
"WOW"
Five 470 grain, 1625 fps Buffalo Bore cartridges
I load my Marlin 1895GS with 550gr WLNGC's @ 1600fps and 405gr too 1980fps...

The best I have loaded my 4.25" 454 Casull is 1330fps with 405gr loads and 1420fps with the same loads in my 7.5" 454 Casull...

but if you think about it that is still very close to original 45-70 loads that used to be the best stopper available in there time.
 
Well actually I do...

I am never in the bush without hearing protection on. :D

These are the hearing aids/protection that I wear in warmer weather http://www.earinc.com/p1-electronic-hunting.php and I use electronic Peltor Soundtrap muffs during cooler weather.

The Shooting Edge who is a dealer here on CGNTZ is a dealer for EAR Canada I found this link thru their site.


Cool, thanks for passing this along. I'm gonna have to look into a pair or two ...
 
Oh ... :redface: I hadn't checked the price ... OK, I won't be getting two ... :)

We use the valved earplugs all the time when bird hunting, as shown at the bottom of the page.

http://www.earinc.com/p1-filtered.php

They are a cheap alternative to the electronic plugs or to custom moulded plugs if you are not going to be using them all the time.

One person at my club had a 2 1/2" 454 Casull and both the recoil and blast from that thing was more than fierce. He said that the most shots in a row he was ever able to fire from it was 3.
 
I can't even hear what you guys are typing, wish I could afford good hearing protection..... but seriously folks still doubting the handgun even the 500.
 
Can't you hear he said he is doubting that a handgun is enough to kill a bear... :D

Was that loud enough for yhaa? :wave:
 
elsewhere on this page there's a story about a park ranger using a 357 to kill a bear- draw your own conculsions- the bear did
 
Sorry dan couldn't help myself... :D

I agree a 45acp is definately not a bear stopping round and it doesn't matter what kind of power you have in your hands (500) if you don't place the bullet in the right spot...

I can just imagine the excitement that was going on during the 500 story guarantee a few shots hit it in the feet or were complete misses.

Having a handgun is better than smacking it with a stick...
 
Back
Top Bottom