[Kentucky]

OK, I am contemplating a move to Alaska next spring to work with the Highway Patrol. Right now I am trying to learn as much as I can about the state of Alaska and living there in preparation for our move. Lots of headaches involved with that right now.

One of the more enjoyable aspects of this move is reviewing my firearm collection to see if anything "needs" to be added to it. :D I am thinking about the big brown toothy critters that are reputed to run wild in peoples backyards up there.:p My current aresenal...

Olympic Arms AR-15
Winchester .22 Semi-Auto RIfle
Marlin .22 Semi-Auto Rifle
Mossberg 500 12Ga
S&W .357 Mag with 8 3/8"
S&W 459 9MM

...does not include anything that I would feel really comfortable running around with up there. I am trying to decide between a Remington 700 in .375 (and the advantage of a bigger cartridge but slower to operate bolt) vs a FAL in .308 (smaller cartridge but easier follow up shots). I know in a situation with a bear it seems like it could be a little tricky trying to work the bolt very fast when you are that nervous, but I have to try to have to hit 'em with a couple more shots when the first one would have worked with a heaver cartridge. What do the good folks of the High Road think?

[Thefabulousfink]

I would sugest a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70, a grizzly won't shrug that off easily.

EBRs like the FAL are a lot of fun, but I hear the FAL is heavy to carry around if you want a gun to take everywhere. A good bolt-action is nice to have especially if you plan on hunting up there. Mabey just get a normal caliber like .308 or 30-06 so you can use it on deer and Elk.

I like the Guide Gun because it is lighter than the FAL (7.5#s) but gives you faster follow up shots than large bolt-actions (and 45-70 is a proven large game round).

Edit: It's cheeper too. ;)

[GTSteve03]

Maybe I'm totally wrong but a 7.5lb rifle firing 45-70 from a short barrel seems like it would be pretty darn hard to control! :what:

Is it not really that bad?

[ECVMatt]

I have spent some time up there and had a great time! From my limited experience, magazine fed semi autos would be a PITA up there. They are just too big and cumbersome for the type of terrian that I was in. I carried and hunted with a Rem 700 in .338-06. I loved it and it worked great. However, getting wood and taking care of other things in the alders was a bit harry with that rifle as it was a chore to swing in the brush. Most of the time I could not swing it as the brush was too thick. I second the Marlin GG and the next time I go I am bringing mine. The only things I would recomend are getting rid of the safety button and replacing it with a plug, putting a Wild West Guns light mount on it and installing some ghost ring sights. Most if not all our encounters with questionable creatures occoured at, after, or around dark.

Hope this help you out.


ps they are not that bad to shoot. I actually like the recoil. It seems slower and moore like a push.

Matt


Matt

[Dr.Rob]

45/70 GG isn't that bad of a kick, ported or unported.

It's a thump, but nowhere near as bad as a 12 ga slug through an 21 inch 870 shotgun.

[30-06 lover]

I am not sure if you are talking bear defense or hunting. For hunting, go with the 375. My bear hunting uncle (20 something grizzlies alone) swears by the 375 for Griz. For protection I would say a nice 12 guage with slugs would be the ticket. The range would be terrible with a slug gun, but if you are trying to knock down a big pissed off bear, it would be nice to nail 'em with a wide and heavy ass slug compared to a zipping 37 bore. Guns would be my second chice for bears though. They make an O.C. spay for bear protection that is supposed to be better than a gun. Good Luck!!!
-Mike

[Clean97GTI]

I think the Mossberg 12ga would be plenty for bear with a nice magnum slug.

[Tokugawa]

for just carring around for bear defense a 12 gauge 3" pump 18" or 20" cylinder bore with sights with 1 3-8 oz Brenneke slugs. They are hard cast solids. Get a recoil pad, you will need it.

[Cosmoline]

Mossberg 500 12Ga
S&W .357 Mag with 8 3/8"


Nothing wrong with that combo. Load the 12 with Brenneke hardcast slugs and the S&W with 200 grainers.

The .375 is fine for hunting, though really overkill for what's up here in most cases. And it may be a bit too heavy and expensive to be a good knock around trail gun. The FAL is even heavier and harder to tote.

[cmb3366]

for an all around large/dangerous game gun, I think you would do well to look gor a .338win mag. The Kimber Montana is a particularly nice one as it's not too heavy (6lb 9oz), It's stainless/synthetic,and its CRF. Remington make a sweet deer/elk rifle, but when bear is on the table, CRF is the way to go.

[220_Swift]

I would feel perfectly safe with that Mossberg loaded with slugs.

[dakotasin]

i would most certainly contact some alaskan guides and ask them what they like to see their clients show up w/. those guys will know what works well, and what isn't quite up to the task. then, when you move up there, you will have a ton more confidence in what you have.

[Erud]

I know it's not one of your choices, but since you already have an AR, you could pick up a new upper in .50 Beowulf or .458 Socom... Lightweight, plenty of power, high(ish) capacity and quick follow up shots. I have 16" .50 beo with a muzzle brake and it is very manageable. If you reload they are really quite flexible chamberings.

Good luck,
Erud

[akodo]

First off, you need to add onto your handgun list. A solid 44mag revolver would be a good sidearm for bear country.

I too think the FAL will be a lot of gun to be carrying around in the woods. Sure, great for 2 legged problems, which are going to be the majority, but the .223 is going to do just fine there. I don't see the FAL being a good call for a general law enforcement plus bear control plus possibly hunting gun.

I'd also say that while the 375 is a solid choice for a rogue grizzly, it is somewhat limited in longer range shots, and I'm not talking 400 yards or such foolishness. To me, the quinticential bear plus everything else chambering is 338 win. You still have a great bearstopper, but something that is a lot more reasonable to use on moose, elk, carabou, etc. Hell, you will probably still be somewhat range limited, and shooting heavier bullets and facing more recoil than your average elk hunter or even moose hunter, but it will work excellent for all game catagories, enraged or othewise.

Now, to tie it into fast followups, what about a browning BAR or Remington 7400, and I think beretta has a semi-auto hunting style rifle now. If the 338 isn't available from one of them, I know the BAR comes in 300 winmag, and the 7400 comes in 35 whelen, (30-06 with a 35 caliber bullet on top)

[MCgunner]

I don't own a guide gun, but that would be a good excuse for one.:D

Of the guns I own, I'd probably get a short barrel for my Mossberg waterfowl gun and get a flash light for it. I'd also carry my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with hot Ruger only 300 grain handloads. Not the best weaponry against large carnivores, but beats a .22.:D My choice in sidearms would be a Freedom Arms single action with a 5 1/2" barrel, probably in .454 Casull, if I could afford to buy something for the specific application. The .45 is powerful in black bear country, but in brown bear country, it's a bit anemic I think.

[rangerruck]

just recently talked witha guy that came back from a hunt up there, he brought a 338 and a 375 h.h. he said the 375 was definitely the right medicine.