500 S&W vs. 460 S&W for brown bear... + reloading qu

[Caliber357]

Ok, I need one of these guns. Haven't figured out exactly why yet, but I'm trying to use hiking in bear country as a justification. lol. Not that I'm not confident in my 8" .44 Mag, but I feel a need for one or possibly both of these monsters. Which one does everybody think would be most effective on brown bear (planning a trip to Alaska to hike into Kodiac with a buddy of mine.) I don't think I'd necessarily be undergunned with the 460, right?

My other question is does anybody reload for these? I'm thinking the 500 is going to be just too darn expensive to shoot on a regular basis without it. (And before some smart-aleck tells me I won't be able to shoot it on a regular basis and to give up - I'm NOT recoil shy.) I can always use .45LC for plinking with the 460, I suppose. So would the 500 work out to something wallet-friendly if I were to take up reloading?

Last question: I know the 8 inch 500 is pretty formidable, but I was thinking more along the lines of the 4 inch variation. Anyone shot one to tell the difference? Is it still controllable? (I may not be recoil shy, but I'm not stupid either. I think the 2" snubbie version is asking for trouble.)

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

"2" snubbie version "

??????

CCW, maybe????










[roll]

[Gman]

The 460 is better suited to longer range shots due to its flatter trajectory. The cartridge was built around the XVR's gain twist rifling and longer barrels, so I'm not sure how this applies to a 2.75" bbl version. For brown bear, you want the biggest, heaviest, bullet as fast as you can push it...and you won't be taking long range shots for bear defense.

The shorter barrels will also help start signal fires around you in a survival scenario. Also, if you don't hit the bear (or set it on fire), bears fear fire more than humans. :P

You need one of these, don't you?
Model 500ES - Emergency Survival Tool Kit

Model 500ES - Emergency Survival Tool Kit contains:
-Smith & Wesson Model 500, 2 3/4" Barrel with Bright Orange Hogue® recoil reducing grip
-Waterproof Storm® Case
-Blast Match™ Firestarter and WetFire tender
-Saber Cut™ Saw with fabric sheath
-Jet Scream™ whistle
-Star Flash™ signal mirror
-Polaris® compass
-Two MPI Mylar Space® Emergency Blankets
-Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Liner Lock Folding Knife with Black Sheath
-"Bear Attacks of the Century - True Stories of Courage and Survival" book by Larry Mueller and Marguerite Reiss

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