Got the Alaskan for protection only during hikes in the Tennessee/Kentucky area. Buddies carry hot loads of .44 mag or .45 Long Colt. When I introduced my wheel gun, I told them I only needed 2 rounds of .454 Casull. They mocked me for being overly confident with my marksmanship. I corrected them with the explanation the first round is for the bear, if that fails, the last one goes in the knee of the person closest to me. The old adage: "Don't have to outrun a bear, just got to outrun YOU."