In July I will be in Alaska...what firearm

27 April 2004, 06:29

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

27 April 2004, 06:42

bearhunt'r

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

27 April 2004, 07:45

beltloop

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...

27 April 2004, 08:19

Tumbleweed

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.

27 April 2004, 15:34

rwj

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).

27 April 2004, 16:16

MartinPotts

Quote:

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.

Your right on the money there Tumbleweed .

I was sitting out side the cabin one morning errr uu
over the uu ya that !! and who should look over the
the bottom rail a little black bear .
It was a site me sitting on the Cra&&&r and his little guy smiff the the air about 2 feet from me
I said good morning crap sniffer now SHOOO .
Well he did not run off he just sashawed on down to the
Trail head and gave one look back and walked off.
So black bear really arnt a bother what is the bother are brown's i have yet to met one in a good mood
And the few i have seen or shot were nither afraid of me or scared of me i have had them lundge at me although i did kill them ;with out a gun i would have been on the trail leading away as small turd's
The amount of brown bears in SE Alaska has fall off to a
great extent becouse of the large amoutn of Wolf's taking all the game . (Deer martin's etc)
But there are still lots of little black bear most can be killed by shaming them to death as thay really arnt that big .

Pottsy

I carry a auto mag 44

27 April 2004, 18:24

rwj

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.

28 April 2004, 02:14

JeffP

[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.

Spot on.

28 April 2004, 05:01

BALLBUSTER

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.

28 April 2004, 06:24

Paul H

Quote:

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

If you didn't get it sorted out in 5 shots, more isn't the answer. The only reason 5 shots aren't enough is the rounds aren't powerful enough, or shot placement is poor. If the shot placement is poor, then ones accuracy will not improve as more shots are fired. If the gun is under powered, then more won't help either.

Think of it this way, what round gives you the confidance that it will be able to stop or turn the bear with one shot, as that might be all you get. Narrows the field quite a bit, doesn't it?

Bear attacks are really quite rare, 2-3 per year. You're likely at much greater risk traveling in a small plane, then from the bears.

29 April 2004, 12:26

BobReed

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 .

30 April 2004, 07:52

bearhunt'r

Quote:

Quote:

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

If you didn't get it sorted out in 5 shots, more isn't the answer. The only reason 5 shots aren't enough is the rounds aren't powerful enough, or shot placement is poor. If the shot placement is poor, then ones accuracy will not improve as more shots are fired. If the gun is under powered, then more won't help either.

I "second" all of the above! (The discussion has been made.) All in favor, say "I"....

best,
bhtr