Beyond Any Shadow Of A Doubt ...
:santa: To begin with, there is NO ONE GUN for, 'All Around Service'. Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind.
1. A rifle is, always, preferable to use over any handgun.
2. A BOLT ACTION rifle is the most reliable action to use. (Especially if it's going to be frozen over or covered with snow.)
3. If I were a, 'poor man' living in Alaska, (Actually I'm a poor man living in Pennsylvania where they've, just, raised taxes, again.) and I could afford only one gun, that gun would be a 12 gauge pump-action shotgun. I'd keep birdshot for the birds, 4 through 6 for the medium stuff, 0000 buck through 2 for the tough stuff, and slugs and 00 buck for the real killers. I'd probably favor slugs for the latter; but I understand, on good authority, that at handshake distances nothing survives a blast of 00 buck!
(Peter Hathaway Capstick used a 12 gauge shotgun and 00 buck on wounded big cats that he had to finish off in heavy African brush. He made his shots at, 'kissing distance'; and he said that this was the only gun/load combination that he trusted for this sort of intimate life or death struggle between two totally committed antagonists.)
4. Many hunters would agree that the traditional 30-06 is the most versatile of centerfire rifle rounds. With bullet weights starting at 150 grains and going up to 200 grains, (or more) there's not too much that you can't do with an 06. (As long as you remember that's it's a little light for most bears. Many Alaskan hunters I've known used calibers like 300 Win Mag or 7mm Rem Mag.)
5. It's easier to chose a handgun. In today's world make it a Ruger; and, for reliability, make it a revolver, too. (Unless you're rich and can afford something from Freedom Arms.) Because availability of ammo is, always, an issue my choice of calibre would be 44 magnum. Barrel length should not be less than 6"; although, 7 1/2" would be closer to ideal. (This means that you're, also, going to need a good shoulder holster - like a Galco, 'Explorer' with, at least, one tie-down. Personally, I'd put an ammo carrier under the other arm.)
6. Oh, by the way, most of the bullets you'll need to use will, of course, be solid points.
7. Finally, everyone can afford some sort of 22 rifle. My farm/yard workhorse is a Winchester 9422 with a Leupold 4x sitting on top. Always shoots; never misses! (Yeah, unless I do!) If you need to keep a gun, you'll need to own a 22. Good luck! Alaska sounds like fun. One of my sister-in-laws lives outside of Fairbanks; and they shoot moose in the backyard. She sends us steaks that her husband bags out the window. I know; I know: Mighty White Hunter; but we've got farmers, around here, who process vension from field to freezer exactly the same way! (NOT me, though.)
Regards,
'AA'