Rossi Rifleman

It takes a lot more "stopping power" to end a grizzly charge from 20 or 30 feet than it does to kill one when hunting.

That being said, what is your opinion on using a 454 Casull out of a 20" barrel to stop the charge of a mad coastal Alaskan brown bear. These things can sometimes go 1000 pounds or more.

I have been lucky enough to acquire some property on the Kenai peninsula and would rather buy and carry the lighter Rossi 92 than my Marlin 45-70. But only if it is "enough" gun. I have read till I am blue in the face and do understand the importance of remaining cool when charged and the equal importance of shot placement.

Why not split the difference and opt for the light Rio Grande in 45-70?

http://gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm
According to the data on the link above, the 20' barrel was pushing a 335 gr buffalo bore round at 1880 fps so energy at the muzzle is 2550 ft/lbs . Handgun velocity is shown at 1525fps for 1678 ft/lbs of energy.

Handguns in 454 Casull are commonly carried up here in AK for bear protection, and you are getting 872 ft/lbs more energy with the rifle. Quite an improvement but still around 1000 ft/lbs short of a hot and heavy 45/70 load.

Optimal penetration with a hardcast bullet in the 300-405 range is usually going to be had at velocities between 1200 - 1800 fps from what I have read online and the 454 out of a Rossi rifle provides that for sure, so to my mind it is an acceptable setup for bear protection. Most of the time if I'm by salmon streams I'll carry my short barreled 454 Raging Bull, so the rifle is a step up from what I'm comfortable with for protection.

In Greenland, the Sirius Patrol(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius_Dog_Sled_Patrol) uses Glock 20 10mm Autos, with full power loads, for protection against Polar Bears.
Normally, they also carry rifles, they use the old workhorse 30-06 M1917, as they are reliable, in Arctic conditions, which most semi-autos fail to be.

Civilians(Scientists) That can't carry a rifle, due to their work, typically gets a short term permit, for a revolver, in .44 Mag. But they have to guarantee, that the revolver leaves Greenland, when they do.

A Male Polar bear in Grenland is typically between 700 and 1000 pounds.
And they are NOT afraid of humans, gunshots, flashbangs, fog horns, signal flares and such...

In Greenland, Polar Bear hunting is legal, with rifles in 30-06 and larger.
Polar Bear hunting is only legal, for Inuit professional hunters, that has a license.

Buddy of mine's daughter is issued a 12g pump with slugs.

I'd think that hot .454 rounds out of a 20" rifle would be dandy bear medicine - with WFN hardcast slugs though or solid bullets, not hollowpoints. A Ranch Hand .45-70 would no doubt be even better. IF you can find a Rossi in either caliber that is.....good luck.

rondog wrote:. . .A Ranch Hand .45-70. . ..

a Ranch Hand in 45-70! Yeeowch!

I'm pretty sure the 454 would be a bear deterrent...

Here is a 0.25" steel plate that was shot using a both my Raging Judge Magnum and my 92. It is also an excellent example of the difference between the power of the same round from the two different platforms.
For the record, it was a Hornady 454, 300 gm XTP, which is purported to have a muzzle velocity/energy of 1650/1830 from a 7.5" barrel, which is pretty close to what the RJM has. Distance to the plate was about 20 yds. The pistol round left a monster divot, but no hole. The rifle made the steel plate not safe to hide behind... it also shows I'm a better shot with the pistol than the rifle..

I also recovered the bullet from the RJM shot. It is laying on top of the plate.

GRV01 wrote:

rondog wrote:. . .A Ranch Hand .45-70. . ..

a Ranch Hand in 45-70! Yeeowch!

Sorry, meant Rio Grande, or whatever the guy up above was talking about. Ranch Hand is that little sawed off thing, right? No, not one of those.

rondog wrote:

GRV01 wrote:

rondog wrote:. . .A Ranch Hand .45-70. . ..

a Ranch Hand in 45-70! Yeeowch!

Sorry, meant Rio Grande, or whatever the guy up above was talking about. Ranch Hand is that little sawed off thing, right? No, not one of those.

Hahaha

I'd say something else but people actually like Ranch Hands for something.