I will be fishing in the back country of Alaska, which firearm should I carry...

AR10A4, stainless 308
Marlin 450
Marlin 45-70..

thanks

beltloop@cox.net

Either Marlin will be fine; if the 45/70 is a stainless it would be better!
best,
bhtr

It is stainless...



but what about the overall firepower of the AR...20 vs 5?



By the way where you are is where I'll be...

Actually, fish aren't all that hard to kill. You might have better luck with a small bore and solids.

Bears? Yeah, I guess a gun is a good idea, but mostly, all you gotta do is holler "F*** Off, Bear!" and they run. Maybe throw a rock at 'em for good measure. Alaskan bears might be different, I dunno...but that's always worked for me, and I grew up with bears all around me.

beltloop: You did not list it as an option, but one of the best defensive weapons for bears is a 12 gauge shotgun with good slugs. A reliable pump or autoloader with a large magazine and short barrel is the perfect bear defense weapon. If you do shoot a bear in self-defense you should be prepared to prove that the bear was trying to kill you to the State Troopers. Be sure to read the regulations on what constitutes self-defense and wear noise makers on your clothes (bells).

MartinPotts: Most but not all bear problems in Alaska arise from grizzly-human encounters starting roughly right about now and ending sometime in Sept or Oct---some folks get hurt later in the year but this is the period when lots of people are in Alaska in places where bears are. Black bears that are not of afraid humans can be a problem. But grizzly bears frequently cause the most damage. It happens every year.

People who treat brown bears like stray dogs, people who yell at them before they attack and throw things at them before they attack, and ignore them before they attack and cannot back up this throwing and yelling and ignoring with a great big gun are the ones that need plastic surgeons or a plastic bag. I have taken professional courses in bear defense here in Alaska...these courses are provided by my employer. One excellent course was produced over in British Columbia I think. These courses basically say two things: (1) don't put yourself in a position where you have to confront bears (make lots of noise, where bells, blow a whistle, yell before you see a bear) and (2) carry a big gun.

During the warm season the question is not if someone will get mauled or killed while fishing (or while doing many other things), it is matter of how many will get mauled or killed...Most people don't get hurt or threatened....and I work at it so that I am not one of those who do.

[quote

(1) don't put yourself in a position where you have to confront bears (make lots of noise, where bells, blow a whistle, yell before you see a bear) and (2) carry a big gun.

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Spot on.

beltloop: don't you post pretty often on the Marlin Owners website?

Where do you fish in AK? I've gone each of the last few years. Carry my 45 Colt in a 5.5" Ruger with heavy doses of H110 and Sierra 300 gr FN. I figure that if I need to shoot it'll be dam close and also the ruger packs alot easier than a long gun while fishing.

Two years ago was the only time I needed to draw it! things got spookie real quick when a 6 or 7 yr old brownie decided he wanted the nice silvers I and two other partners had laying on a sandbar. even when we backed away that old SOB harrassed us for 100 yds.At one point he was less than 10 feet from us and I had the hammer back!BB.

Hi Beltloop you have got some good responces on which gun . me i think the shotgun . but did you think of the biggest pests you will need lots of bug spray and head net i hear those bugs are real big and hungry .