Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Fishing gun for AK

First of all, a disclaimer, I've never been in on the kill of a brown bear. So, I speak with zero practical expertise as to what might be the best caliber, bullet weight, etc. However, I did spend a period of my youth around the big bears, slogging up salmon streams and often bumping into them at very close quarters. If someone has never been to Alaska, and seen brownies in the wild, it can be difficult to get your mind around how really, really big they can be. And how incredibly fast they can cover lots of ground. I've been in situations where a 44 magnum revolver, was all that was available for protection. Let me say, that nothing can make you feel more insignicant and vulnerable than having a stare down with bruno at close range with only a handgun. A big handgun can sound pretty good on paper, but man oh man those bears can be really big. For gosh sakes, the small ones are big. And did I say, they are very, very fast when they put their minds to it. Some thoughtful guys I knew a long time ago carried Rem. 760's stoked with 180 grain partitions. You can send a lot of lead pretty quickly with those pumps and get back on target quickly with the relative light recoil as compared to the big magnum bolt actions.
So a few years back, when the opportunity arose to fish in grizzly country in Canada, I picked up a 7600 and stoked it with partitions. Never used it, so don't know how effective it would be, but I FELT, with the rifle and bear spray I was pretty well prepared. And a handgun was not an option in Canada. If I were going to Alaska, I would have all three, rifle, handgun and spray. Try to have the rifle close by whenever possible and save the handgun for those times when a rifle is just totally impractical. The big bears are magnificent creatures. It is a thrilling experience to see them in the wild. Use your noodle, give them plenty of room, stay out of brushy situations where visibility is limited and you're likely not to have any problems.

A rifle is totally impractical to use while fishing the salmon streams of Bristol Bay. The bears are awesome. A rifle would be nice to have at camp but not in the middle of the stream while wading.

Did the OP ever say where he was fishing?

Not sure where in AK. I mentioned Bristol Bay from my experience and the obvious concentration of bears. I have no experience with black bears. My only point is that I think the threat is overblown and ruins some folks fishing experience. The flight in is infinitely more dangerous than the bear.

Casting a line while holding a rifle in the "African Carry" position has always been difficult for me.

Never mastered that while holding a pistol ready either myself.

To each his own.

The only time I ever carried a firearm while fishing during the fourteen years I lived in AK was on a fly-in float hunt north of Dillingham. I slung my FN 06 loaded with 180 gr Nosler Partitions over my shoulder and it wasn't a problem wading or casting. It just takes a little bit of getting used to.

I got past past my bearanoia early on and to be honest I was more worried about startling a moose and getting stomped to death than having a bear attack.

Just this past summer I went to Idaho fishing and had my first moose "encounter". My buddy an I were wading in the river when a mama moose and her calf came down to get a drink. My buddy's dog got in between mama and her baby and she started stomping, charging, pawing and holy schit she was mean. Mama moose was every bit as dangerous and deadly as a bear.

And I wonder how many people who question the terminal effectiveness of a properly loaded handgun have ever actually used handguns to hunt big game. Seems the ones who do the questioning have little to no experience with them. I was forced to use a revolver to stop a grizzly bear that came in on our moose kill. They work if you do your part.

To the OP:

I used to live in Alaska (2-1/2 years) and am trying to go back.

Those who say your mind is your first line of defense is spot on. It will keep you out of a place you wish you hadn't got into. To many people have the brass gonad philosophy "I have a gun so I can do as I please. I am invinceable". That gets people killed. Avoidance keeps you from becoming a statistic.

Of the two options you offered put me in the rifle catagory. My ideal bush gun is a M1 Garand. My reasoning is this:
1. Battle proven design. It kept our GI's alive and can do the same thing in the bush.
2. A .30/06 loaded with 200 gr. bullets will take down any thing on this planet.

If you don't like the 24" barrel a competent gunsmith can shorten it for you. You are not going for accuracy here just something that will keep you from being cycled through a bears digestive tract.

I had a mama moose and calf scare me pretty badly. Those things are huge. Never been close to a bull moose. Am sure is more huge.