As far as bear defense is concerned I wouldn't worry too much about how loud it is. I doubt you'll even notice it and the bear is probabably already as pissed off as he's going to get.
Myself, I chose the 4.2" barrel Redhawk, I think its more practical and versatile. I will say that at the range folks don't hang around too long if they are in the booth next to me so I reckon it must be fairly loud so whether it's a 2.5 or 4 incher, you'll do hearing damage with either one if unprotected.

 

I own two 44 Magnums, an Alaskan and a S&W 629-6 Deluxe with a 3" bbl. I have never fired where the blast bothered me and I always wear plugs and muffs. I wear hearing aids, taken out, and the noise has not bothered me nor have I received any complaints. I have had people look to see what I am shooting. Mine is my woods firearm for my short hikes in the woods, plus I love the short bbl.

 

Have a S&W 629 3" Talo. That's about as short as I wanna go. Between it and the Redhawk 4.2" I feel pretty well covered, love that little snubbie and I love the sheer hunk of mass of the Redhawk.

 

Does the 2.50" inch barrel on the Alaskan have any problems stabilizing heavier hard cast bullets like the 370gr and 410gr or the lighter longer monolithic brass and copper 330gr bullets? Any tumbling issues?

Another concern over the short barrel is the lack of velocity compared to longer barrels.

 

I have not tried the 454 Alaskan but I can tell you the Alaskan 44 version is a lot louder than than my 629 with a 8 3/8" barrel with the same load. BUT if you are worried about something taking a bite out of you I would rather have some hearing damage than have something take a chuck out of me.

If I shoot a good bit of full power loads I double up on the ear protection since it will give you a headache, BUT it is a fun pistol to shoot.

 

I've owned 3 .44 mags, a S&W 629 4", a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley 5.5" and a S&W 4.2" model 69. I always wear double hearing protection when at the range and none bother me. However, I shot a deer with my Bisley and no hearing protection. Only 1 shot taken, but my ears rang for two days. Will never do that again. I now wear sound blocking electronic ear muffs while hunting with a handgun.

 

My 6" GP100 was bad enough when I shot it while hog hunting. I figured that if .357 Magnum muffled my hearing for a few hours after a shot that there was no way I would shoot my Redhawk with naked ears. I got a set of Walker's electronic earplugs.

 

My 44 Alaskan is very loud but I would not worry about it if defending myself against wildlife.

 

Welcome from Southern Pennsylvania. When shooting at the range, yes, it is loud. Be courteous and let others nearby know about the muzzle blast so you don't take them unawares. However, when shooting in self-defense against 2 or 4 legged predators, no. The louder the better.

I have a 2.25" SP-101 in 357 mag., and the muzzle blast is somewhat impressive with full-house loads - especially at night. So you can get an idea of what a full-house 44 mag. will do.

 

With regards to electronic hearing devices (muffs or plugs) is there any security concerns wearing those in the woods, forests or mountains in bear and moose country? Do they pick up all sorts of sounds around you like foot steps and twigs snapping or do they block it? I don't want to be ambushed by a 4 legged or 2 legged predator and not hear it and be caught off guard. I want to be able to hear everything around me.

 

The Walker's devices actually amplify ambient noises. If there are chirping insects of any sort, it'll drive you nuts if you don't tone them down a bit because they work so well.

 

Plugs are the only way to go in the woods. Nobody walks with muffs.

 

But muffs help keep your ears warm.

 

The 480 ruger alaskan shouldn’t be too bad. My 480 SBH isn’t that loud. The higher velocity rounds will always be the loudest, as they break the sound barrier.

 

Any .44 mag pistol is loud. The Alaskan in .480 is loud, but not noticeably more than the .44.

 

Well have several big boomers, the alaskan 454. blackhawk 30 carbine, desert eagle 50 ae, gp100 4.2" 357, 8" 29 smith in 44 mag. I can say that the short 454 will cause serious hearing damage if fired without hearing protection.
I recently took my boomers to the range, the srh, smith, gp, and blk 30. I used only plugs and I had ringing ears for a day or 2. I also had a problem hearing for a couple days. I immediately ordered a set of walkers muffs. Problem solved. It magnifies the sound in great detail but cuts out damaging levels. I can hear more than I would without them, never took them hunting, but would. They are a great product.

Be aware the 454 in the Alaskan as well as others that are magnums will have alot of muzzle flash too due to unburnt powder not being consumed n the barrel, resulting in a large muzzle flash.

But I wouldn't shoot them without hearing protection. Once the damage is done, its irreversible.

 

Simple laws of physics that can’t be discounted. If you’ve heard a normal length 44 magnum fired then you know what a short barreled gun will sound like.

 

When it comes to db I think most of my questions have been answered. My concern and questions are now about velocity and energy from the short barreled 2.50" inch Alaskan...

Is there a minimum velocity and energy requirement for hand guns in stopping a charge from dangerous game (brown bear, polar bear, moose) ?

Would the 480 or 454 Casul perform better out of the 2.50" inch barrel in penetration on large game?

 

A protection handgun needs to be fired by you, double action, rapidly and place all six rounds in a 4-6 inch circle. How much gun can you realisticly handle? Groups are talked about in single action, slow fire. Watch people at the range. How many fire their double action revolvers in double action?

 

Just an idle thought…. I wonder if short barreled blast is a function of a slow burning powder still under full burn after leaving the muzzle. If so would a very fast powder like Clays or Nitro 100 have less blast?

I own this in 44 mag but a heart 4x bypass sidelined me before getting it out on the range. I plan to load it with Clays or Trail Boss for lighter volume shooting.

 

Here is a case full of W296 and a 180gn out of the Alaskan. One of the few times I was able to get a good pic of a muzzle flash.

 

Great picture. The muzzle-flash does wonders for your night vision.

 

Sorry guys. Any gun I am betting my life on in bear country is going to be sporting a 4 inch barrel.

I want the ballistic advantage and the site radius. It’s going in a hip holster anyway.

 

It wont be very loud once it is pushed up against the bear. It is a get off me gun not really meant to be fired with an air gap. If you do shoot it with an air gap neither you or the bear will hear your screams. Preferred carry is a chest holster.

 

OP: here is data for .44 mag
BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .44 Mag Results

Scroll down and look at the real world weapons table. Not much of a drop off in velocity.

The shot is likely to be close range (hopefully not at contact, or it is probably too late), so sight radius is not going to be much of a factor at all. And if you are shooting, the bear is moving at a good rate of speed more than likely. So fine aiming will be difficult if not impossible.

I would recommend getting the Alaskan magnaported. And Magnaport can do a half bob on the hammer, which I also recommend for your application.

 

OP: here is data for .44 mag
BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .44 Mag Results

Thanks for that link. Didn't know it existed. It will be very helpful when using ballistic calculators to determine bullet drop for the longer barreled revolvers and rifles.

 

I hope to be shooting sooner, instead of burning hair off Yogi’s chest.

 

I might be interested in a longer barreled double action revolver similar in size to the Colt Anaconda 6" inch.

If I choose to buy a Ruger with a longer barrel, does Ruger make a 6" inch barrel double action revolver chambered in 480 Ruger? If not, do they offer custom builds?

 

Not much!?!?! You went from magnum power to less than special power. And a handgun, even the 44 magnum is marginal for brownies.
Power wise you’d be better off with a 10mm auto than a stubble 44m, and have more to throw at yogy before he eats you.

 

A 44 Magnum may be marginal, according to you, but they are fun to shoot. 300 gr. FPSP will do the job according to me, who has never even seen any bear in the woods.

 

The thread has become under the pretense of protection in the woods. To say a castrated 44m is good enough could be fatal in the Rockies.
Go over Beartooth Pass on the Montana/Wyoming border and count the bear warning signs and get back to us. And count the bear attacks within 100 miles of there over the last decade.
And I have 44 magnum Super Blackhawk loaded very stout on me and my motorcycle when I camp there.

 

They don’t seem that dangerous to me.