compact heavy firepower for wilderness helicopter travel

I have a pistol with the law tactical folder. It's pretty slick. Main issue would be that it leaves the back of the gun open and risks dirt or debris entering the action. I also have a sb tactical collapsing brace on my 458 socom pistol. It works very well and is pretty compact. Here it is fully extended next to a 16" carbine

Bones741 said:

I'll echo MachIVshooter , ar-10 pistol in 308 loaded with high quality partitions. Idk if you'd need 25 rounds, but a 10 round mag would probably be sufficient and more compact/less weight and still get the job done. Could always keep a second 25 round mag on you as well.

Edit to add:
Does it need to be an AR pistol? I see youre willing to do a take down rifle for the helicopter trip, so what's to stop you from using the take down pins on the AR and breaking it down quick for the flight? That way you don't need to compromise on barrel length or stock options as much.

Click to expand...

I have not decided if I like AR pistols yet.

With a AR carbine you could shorten the barrel to 14.5" and add a permanent muzzle brake to meet the legal 16". Along with a collapsible stock and separating it into two parts it will made a compact package.

.458 SOCOM 10 inch barrel Deadfoot arms bolt mod folder kit and an adjustable tailhook brace. A pricey build but compact ,heavy firepower and same controls as your regular AR. I have a friend with that setup in 9mm and a fostech binary trigger .Fun gun and runs well.

You already have the 629/ammo so a SS 44 MAG lever cut to the minimum would be my thought. Possibly a lightweight SS folding stock could be made for it as well.

So can you stand a long gun between your legs when you're on the chopper? Were I going somewhere I might need a rifle, I'd want an honest-to-goodness rifle. I think I'd lean toward a Ruger Guide Gun in .375 Ruger.

And I'd keep carrying the 44 Mag.

My opinion, worth what you paid for it.

I have a Rossi lever action 44mag Ranch Hand that is light and not too hard to carry in the woods. Holds 7 rounds and with a 12" barrel length pushing 240 grain bullets at 1600 FPS.it kicks hard even holding on with two hands. Also I found a way to shoot accurately by cradling it in my arms. But it does shoot high though, probably best to buy a higher aftermarket front sight or filing down the rear sight notch.

HuckFinn said:

I have a Rossi lever action 44mag Ranch Hand that is light and not too hard to carry in the woods. Holds 7 rounds and with a 12" barrel length pushing 240 grain bullets at 1600 FPS.it kicks hard even holding on with two hands. Also I found a way to shoot accurately by cradling it in my arms. But it does shoot high though, probably best to buy a higher aftermarket front sight or filing down the rear sight notch.

Click to expand...

I've heard numerous times a tall front sight in bear country is a big no no. No front sight and a slim barrel is best......For your comfort anyways, when the bear gets a hold of ya and shows you where to put that gun...... But that's just what I've read, no personal experience. HEY! maybe that's why people put those rubbers over the ends of there barrels in Alaska!?

I have the newer SBA3 from SB tactical on my Blackout pistol. It works with a standard carbine buffer tube. Makes a nice short package. Not sure about how recoil of a big thumper would feel.

I have to ask, what do you do that allows you a privately owned rifle in a helicopter?

I would bring a pistol. Rifles are a pain in the butt unless the entire point of the trip is to shoot it once at an animal.

HB

HB said:

I have to ask, what do you do that allows you a privately owned rifle in a helicopter?

I would bring a pistol. Rifles are a pain in the butt unless the entire point of the trip is to shoot it once at an animal.

HB

Click to expand...

He's in forestry so I'm guessing its a federal employment.

https://gun.deals/product/kriss-vector-sdp-pistol-10mm-g2-55-threaded-15rd-alpine-117299, for something that is compact enough to sit on your lap and still blast 15 or more rounds on 10MM handloads into whatever predator you need to dispense of, although I voted for the AR pistol, This Kriss Vector may be the right choice.

bluejeans said:

No no no no. Them’s fighin’ words. Nothing fed here. Private contractor working private timber.

Click to expand...

Good, state/federal work force should always be a last resort.

A Keltec Bullpup .308 cut down to 14.7" with fixed muzzle device would be very compact, handy and deadly, 20 rounds of 180gr. @ 2,450-2,500 FPS. But I still stand by the best bear defense weapon is one that is always on person.

Of your choices, I would pick the Browning BLR lightweight takedown in 30-06. I myself don't have one but I do have everything else on your list. It just seems ideal for your circumstances. Accurate, rugged not too heavy, powerful enough and you have the added bonus of longer effective range if you need it. I would add a scout scope but that's just my preference.




https://www.browning.com/products/f...on/blr-lightweight-81-stainless-takedown.html

btw, there's currently one available in .30-06 on gunwatcher as well as several in other calibers:

https://gunwatcher.com/Search/browning-takedown-for-sale-link

Now I (and my wallet) have to get off this post

<*(((>< said:

A Keltec Bullpup .308 cut down to 14.7" with fixed muzzle device would be very compact, handy and deadly, 20 rounds of 180gr. @ 2,450-2,500 FPS. But I still stand by the best bear defense weapon is one that is always on person.

Click to expand...

Doesn’t IWI make a Tavor in 308 also?

I have zero experience with any of this, but since this is the internet I'll throw in my two cents. If a bear is charging me I want a semi auto in .308, so I'd go with an AR10 (S&W supposedly has a good one for the money). For a sidearm, since I'm carrying an AR10, I'm going to steer away from the big heavy revolvers and go with a G20 loaded with hot 10mm rounds.

nebraska_farmer said:

If a bear is charging me I want a semi auto in .308, so I'd go with an AR10 (S&W supposedly has a good one for the money).

Click to expand...

When the bear is bearing down (pun intended) I'd be fine with either my 308 or 450. But my 308 AR is a good 2.5 pounds heavier than my AR15 450, that big hole drilled in the barrel is a good portion of that. I know I could build a 308 lighter but it'd be cubic dollars.
And Federal just announced a 300gr fusion load 1900 fps nasty

Since you are going to be in a very remote area, I would recommend carrying 2 firearms: rifle and handgun. For simplicity sake, go for a common caliber in both. I am thinking a 357 or 44 lever rifle and wheel gun.

I would prefer the big bore sidearm unless I wanted more than sd

HB said:

I have to ask, what do you do that allows you a privately owned rifle in a helicopter?

I would bring a pistol. Rifles are a pain in the butt unless the entire point of the trip is to shoot it once at an animal.

HB

Click to expand...

Pretty much everyone piloting general aviation aircraft in Alaska is carrying a long gun with them along with other survival equipment.

bluejeans said:

I hadn’t seen the collapsible version of the sb brace... nice. Since you both that and the law folder any chance you ha e a pic of the two side by side collapsed and folded for a comparison?


I’d never come across the dead foot arms folder.. thank you. I like the right side folding option and it looks like the gun is still shootable while folded, correct?

Click to expand...

yes can shoot folded .

bluejeans said:

2. compact (must fin in my lap in the chopper with all my gear.

Click to expand...

This pretty much ended the discussion for me right here.

Big bore revolver in a chest holster.

Yes, you can get more power in a big bore lever gun (my second choice), but your profession is anything but a rifleman/bear guard, and even a take down lever gun is going to get bulky and in your way in relatively short order. What is going to be conducive to doing most of your daily tasks afield? What is going to be always at the ready, yet out of the way most of the time? You could go the rest of your career, possibly the rest of your life and never need to use your firearm (this is especially true if you use your best weapon-your brain-to avoid conflict with wildlife); do you want to carry a big heavy long gun all that time, or small, (admittedly still heavy) revolver? I know I quickly tired of carrying a long gun to go fishing-gets in the way of my back cast.

PS: skip the autoloaders.