What Hand Cannon?

[shooter32]

.44 would be my choice.

Redhawk would be a great choice in .44 or .45 colt. 

[BAC]

Cheaper, not necessarily.  I will say finding 'full power' .45 is tough (I get reloads that shoot about 1200fps).  The regular .45 is about 750-800 fps.  So of what you can find easily the .44 is more powerful.

Thanks, Haz.

[Combat Diver]

What activities are the two of you planning on doing?  For hiking were weight is a premium I would suggest looking at Smiths 329NG or 329PD.  Then there are the standard weight M629 Mountain Guns, M29s and M629.  For more needed horses and dollars then don't forget the 460 & 500 with several bbl. lengths. 

Just in the last few days in Alaska a women jogging was attacked, killed and eaten by wolves.  Best be armed.

CD

[PegLeg45]

The ammo you choose is probably more critical than caliber choice.
I would, as others suggest, go with at least the .44mag...then you could have the option to download to .44spl to practice. If not the .44, then as Haz suggested, I would go .454 Casull because of the option to shoot .45 Colt. Of course, you could also go with the .460 S&W Mag and shoot .460, .454, AND .45 Colt.

Anyway, regardless of caliber and gun choice, the big issue would be proper ammo for grizzlers and such threats. I'd go with something in the 300+ grain range @ 1200fps with a solid core for penetration purposes. Something like the 44 Rem Mag 300gr COR-BON Hunter FPPN [HT44305FPPN-20]. Guaranteed to rattle your teeth....but then again, if a bear is after you, your teeth ain't the first thing on your mind.

[GUNS-R-US]

Go with a .454 and you can shoot .45 Colt from it as well.

This is +1 to what Peg said
My first choice would be S&W .460 then you could shoot .460, .454. or .45's. If that's out of your range at about a $1000, I would go with a good S&W or Ruger in .44 Mag then you all so have the option for 44 spl at the range. I think .44 Mag is plenty for a Grizzly at close range! Remember that my first option is very difficult to shoot one handed and if you can't hit the target with it .

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

Remember, the handgun is the "latrine" gun and good enough to stop an attack or at the very least get you to a long gun, 12 ga or a big bore lever gun....

I've shot a few .44's with one hand.  It ain't fun and it ain't very bright.  Watched a guy nearly break his nose with a S&W 500 going one handed a while back.  Be smart, one carries the big bore revolver (DAD) and you carry the lever gun, both in the same caliber would be a no brainer.

[Hazcat]

Peg, GunsrUs:

The 460 is cool BUT the 460 isn't really much (if any) better than the 454.  Get the 454 and shoot 45 (of any hot flavor)

Second I would go Ruger simply because it will stand up to anything!  Want to hot up that .44 mag or 454?  NO PROBLEM with a Ruger, NOT recommended with the S&W.

[PegLeg45]

Peg, GunsrUs:

The 460 is cool BUT the 460 isn't really much (if any) better than the 454.  Get the 454 and shoot 45 (of any hot flavor)

Second I would go Ruger simply because it will stand up to anything!  Want to hot up that .44 mag or 454?  NO PROBLEM with a Ruger, NOT recommended with the S&W.

Agreed, my friend...I was just giving viable options.  

My first choice for my own use would be a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 magnum. I have 3 of them and they are rugged guns. My second choice would be the same caliber in a Super Redhawk. The Super Redhawk loads faster, but I still like the single actions.

[Walter45Auto]

Under $650, the Ruger Redhawk and Super Redhawk Can't be beat. The Super redhawk can be had in .454/.45 Colt, and .480 Ruger. The Redhawk is pretty much only available in .44 Mag. The 4 inch Redhawk sounds like it would fit your needs well. You may also want to look at the Taurus Raging Bull revolvers. They can be had in .44, .454, and I think there's even a .500 chambering. But .44 and .454 ammo will be a little cheaper most places. If I was choosing for the criteria you suggested, I'd go with the 4 inch Ruger Redhawk.

[Pathfinder]

.450 nitro, .454 casull, .480 Ruger, 500 - whatever. Don't sweat the details guys. He will buy the hand cannon, and then immediately regret not having bought a different one. Remember the AR? ? ?