I'm assuming you're getting this for protection against bears that might find you smelling tasty...Diz wrote:Interested in a 44 Mag to carry in Alaska fishing.
4 or 5 in bbl. S&W, Tarus or ?.
I like the Tarus Tracker with ported barrel but open.
Perfer Stainless Steel.
New or Used.
There's a *lot* of opinion about this so do your research and weed out the folklore. At the end of the day a 44mag is an excellent choice. Ammunition is key, you'll find that those that have actually had to shoot bears will consistently steer you toward a hardened flatnose cast bullet. this appears to be the most effective round by far. grizzy/cast performance, montana, there are a bunch of excellent choices.
I have not personally had to shoot a bear yet, but I have been on many horseback and foot hunts in the high mountains of Wyoming and have also *almost* come between a grizzly sow, her cub, and a gut pile that had been left in the trees. I got within about 100 yards accidentally once, a little nerve racking walking slowly away while being stared down by one of those things.
that being said at the end of the day you have to pack that thing *and the ammo for it* and weight is always an issue, especially on foot. I have quite a few revolvers of this sort (S&W, Ruger, Taurus) and having taken them all, I have settled on my Taurus tracker 4 inch 44mag because it is light weight and it fires the rounds out the barrel just fine. Big Stainless Steel is sexy until you've had it on your hip for several hours hiking through wilderness, at that point you're ready to toss the damn thing in the nearest river...
The tracker has a cylinder length just *barely* over the COL for 44mag so you have to be careful about your ammo. I reload my own bear rounds using cast performance 300gr hard cast and they fit the taurus perfectly. I get right at 1400fps from my load (which is fairly hot for a 44m) and all my research shows that is more than enough to penetrate the muscle and bone mass on a bear from any angle. Any decent 44mag that can get one shot off will serve you well.
find one that fits your hand, you could carry on you comfortably for the duration and terrain you will be in, and is easy for you to quickly unholster and bring to target. You don't need high round counts or quick reload, you need that first shot to count. odds are heavily against you having time to fire a second if the charge is not a bluff :-)