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Alaska Guide Special
Posted by Forestar on Oct 16 2003
Not long ago I, too, was in the market for a big bore handgun, to carry for bear protection (realizing of course that there really is no substitute for a rifle). I looked at the 454 Ruger Super Redhawk. It's obviously rugged and well-made. I know several people that have them and like them. But I think they're UGLY (no offense intended). They're also a lot bigger than what I wanted to lug around. So, I looked at the Taurus Raging Bull in 480 and 454. I like the way they look and they fit my hand well. But on close inspection, I just wasn't all that impressed with the quality, to say nothing of the fact that I'd rather buy "Made in the USA".
So where did that leave me? I wasn't quite sure. I began looking around at other small/custom gunmakers (Magnum Research, Freedom Arms, etc.) All good guns, but a bit too "spendy" for my wallet. Then I happened to remember Dan Wesson Firearms. I hadn't heard or read anything about them in several years and wondered what happened to them. I found them on the Internet, alive and living in a new facility in Norwich, NY. I was very pleased to find out that they have a new gun that they call the Alaska Guide Special, chambered in 445 SuperMag, available with a 4-inch ported barrel. For those that aren't familiar with it, the 445 is a stretched 44 Magnum, very similar to the 357 Maximum, which was a stretched 357 magnum. The 445's ballistics are way better than the 44 mag and only a shade under the 454. BUT, 445s are not avaiable as commercially loaded ammo (although you can buy loaded ammo through Dan Wesson). I'm a handloader, so that part didn't bother me (you can use 44 mag loading dies). And, you can also shoot 44 mags in the gun with no problem (like a 38/357).
To make a long story short, I was able to find a slightly used stainless DW 445 Supermag for sale here in Sitka with a Leupold-scoped, 8-inch barrel. But thanks to the DW interchangeable barrel system, I was able to order a 4-inch barrel and ported shroud. So now I have a scoped hunting rig (if I decide to I want to hunt with it) and a resonably sized bear protection sidearm.
I just ordered a custom shoulder holster from Ben Wetzel at Idaho Leather Co in Boise ($89.95). I should have it in about two weeks. I ordered a holster for the 4" barrel configuration, but if I decide to hunt with the 8" scoped barrel, I can order a second holster to fit the existing shoulder harness and just swap them out.
I've been shooting this beautiful gun for a couple months now and I am very impressed. It's capable of shooting better groups than I can hold. I know this because I let an experienced handgunner shoot it and he shot groups about 50% smaller than mine. But, I'm practicing and getting better. I'd be glad to talk to anyone about it or answer any questions.
Good luck in your quest.
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