Alaskan Guide Gun Question

[redbone]

I'm considering a move to Alaska, and need to get gunned up (and the wife agrees!!)

It looks to me like the Alaskan Guide in .457 WWMagnum-45-70 from Wild West Guns would be a reasonable choice. Does anyone have any experience with shooting .45-70s in that rifle? Wondering about accuracy.

Also, I'm real curious about recoil with the .457 WWMags - how does that compare to say a light 12 gauge shooting Buckhammer slugs?

Thanks.

RBD

 

[dodge]

I have a standard Marlin guide Gun in 45/70 and it's very accurate. When I had a scope on it, it was nothing to shot 1"to 1-1/2" 3 shot groups at 100 yards with my handloads. I have since changed over to a set of William's WGRS peep sights and I get these groups at 50 yards. My eyes just are not what they were 20 or 30 years ago.

 

[Cosmoline]

There's a resurrected thread on this. Ken's not here anymore, but I've never been able to understand how anyone can spend over a grand on a custom rifle to take into the woods up here. If you wouldn't mind seeing the rifle you take thrown down a fifty foot cliff onto rocks or speckled with rust, then by all means get one of their custom rigs. But most hunters tend to have simple, inexpensive rifles of one sort or another. A used Marlin standard 1895 can be had for $350 to $400 and will do fine for close range hunting and bear defense. For longer ranges or more modern cartridges a beat up old M-77 Mk II is always popular, and can be had for under $350. They frequently come up for sale over on the swap n' sell forum on the Alaska Outdoors Directory.

 

[grizz]

I'd agree with Cosmoline to a certain extent. Nobody is going to tell you how to spend your hard earned cash, but Alaska can be rough on gear.

On the other hand, it IS possible to take good care of your equipment and not beat the heck out of it while hunting in AK.

While dall sheep hunting, I once carried my Win M70 featherweight 30-06 up 6000+ vertical feet of elevation gain by hand (no sling) in a padded case just because I didn't want it banging against the metal frame of my backpack and getting scratched up, or rained on.

Personally though, I'd probably just buy a regular Marlin 45-70 guide gun in stainless steel. That rifle with the right load will do the trick on any big, antlered, smelly, toothy, clawed beast that roams the Alaskan wild.

 

[redbone]

Thanks for the info. Cosmoline: the Alaska Outdoors Directory is a great resource - thanks! I spent some time over there last night and learned a lot. We never see stainless gide guns for $300 - $350 here in Indiana, but I see what you mean about used prices in AK. I also looked at the Buffalo Bore loads for the .45/70, and it looks like the .457 WWMag just isn't all that necessary. The Guide Guns around here are usually "like new in box, only fired half a box" and priced accordingly.

I also see that there's not going to be much use for my fiberglass bass boat. Sounds like I ought to sell that here, before I move.

Thanks again to everyone for the info. This board is great!

RBH

 

[JustsayMo]

I'll cast another vote for the 1895 Guide Gun but I would dearly like to own one of the Wild West versions. I will one day when I can afford it...

45-70 is a great cartridge. It'll do pretty much anything you want it too. The Guide Gun is an excellent platform for that cartridge. I carried and crawled around with my 1895GS this year during Elk season. I can not think of a more perfect hunting rifle. I doubt my bolt rifles will see much field use from now on...

Even with the Rain & Snow I endured while hunting, the Guide Gun still looks great. I am considering fashioning a waterproof slip-on scabbard similar to what the Mountain Men sheathed their muzzeloaders in for added protection.