Maybe a trip to Alaska! What should we take?

[45shooter]

My father, brother and I have been talking about going to Alaska for dozens of years. We always wanted to go spend couple weeks to just bum around to see what there is to see and enjoy the sight while driving around.

This past weekend my father brought up the subject again during our monthly family dinner. We have a cousin who is planning on moving to Alaska this month so we figured he can provide us with basic information when we go. We plan on going next year in June or July as both my brother and I will be able to get away for about three weeks. My father has plenty of time as he plans on retiring at the end of this year.

We plan on flying up and then spend the time driving around in my cousin's SUV (he agreed to let us use it). We figured just driving around the interiors of Alaska without some firearm would not be wise so we plan on taking couple handguns and long guns with us. Also, I believe it would be legal to drive around with these guns in the car unless we drive into Nations Parks (please correct me if I'm wrong).

My father said he would take his Colt 1911A1 in 45ACP along with his 12 G Remington 870 with 20" slug barrel. My brother said he would take his SA M1A in .308 and his 1911A1 in 10mm. I was thinking about taking my 4" S&W 629 in 44mag and the Savage 110 in 30-06.

Would those of you in the "know" like to comment on our selection.
We each have safe full of guns but these are our choices based on what we expect we may need and our confort level with these guns.

 

[KiltedClaymore]

take the 10mm, the 12 gauge, the .30-06 and the .44mag

 

[Defensory]

Posted by 45shooter:
My father said he would take his Colt 1911A1 in 45ACP along with his 12 G Remington 870 with 20" slug barrel. My brother said he would take his SA M1A in .308 and his 1911A1 in 10mm. I was thinking about taking my 4" S&W 629 in 44mag and the Savage 110 in 30-06.

If those are the weapons you're most experienced and comfortable with, then they'll do just fine. They all fire no-nonsense cartridges that will get the job done.

 

[gbran]

2 summers ago, I went with my dad and brother. It was a 10 day fishing trip. Flew into Anchorage, drove to our cabin near Soldotna on the Kenai Pennensula. Could have fished every day, but chose to drive all over the place also. Did all kinds of fishing and tourism. And yes, we took and carried our handguns. I brought back over 250lbs of fish.

 

[45shooter]

gbran,

Thanks for that reply.
May I ask what you took in terms of guns?
Also, any problems with driving around with guns in car?

 

[45shooter]

BTW. Alaska will reconize my state's civilian CCW license!

 

[gbran]

45shooter

Thanks for that reply.
May I ask what you took in terms of guns?
Also, any problems with driving around with guns in car?

I took a .454 Super Redhawk, dad took a 1911. Bro don't carry. I should have taken something a little smaller, but it was OK. You don't need a CCW in AK and car carry is OK. Our trip was last week of June. 1st week of July best for salmon, but we did really well. Took two halibut trips also.

Bigest problem is it don't get dark............ our cabin had heavy blinds. I drove to Homer for our halibut fishing, left at 3am and never used headlights.

You won't be sorry.

 

[stevelyn]

BTW. Alaska will reconize my state's civilian CCW license!

BTW, you could show up here without the CCW and Alaska would still recognize your right to carry.

Having the guns in your vehicle loaded within reach, concealed or not is okay. Just make sure if you're ever stopped by LE that you disclose your being armed.

The Nazi Park Circus takes a dim view of guns on the King's land. They are to be stored and locked when passing over NPS lands. There are exceptions such as Gates of the Arctic, Yukon-Charley Rivers and Wrangell St. Elias where you can carry. But you should check with the NPS monkeys to make sure.

Myself, I stay away from NPS lands. And I don't venture off the main highway while passing through Denali.

Your choice of hardware is just fine. Chances are the handguns should be enough to meet any contingency. Besides, you're more likely to need them in Los Anchorage than out on the hightway.

 

[reddogIII]

I was just sitting down to post when I noticed what Stevelyn was saying. The guns you mentioned will be just fine, should you get into any trouble anywhere. What he said about the National Parks is true, no guns, personally I just don't tell them I've got them. You can go anywhere else in the state with your firearms, no CCW necessary.

Come on up - bring your fishing pole - if you need anything when you get here I'm in the phone book in Wasilla.

Welcome!

 

[Crunker1337]

What should you take?
A coat.

 

[45shooter]

Thank you all for your replies.

My father and my brother are getting really excited about this trip now.
I think I'm going to take my 1911A1 in 10mm too and I think I can talk my father into same pistol in 10mm too. That way we only have to take one handgun caliber. As for long guns my father said he's going with the 870 and I'll take the Savage 30-06. Now my brother is thinking about taking his Marlin 45-70 instead of the M1A. We plan on camping couple days in the woods.

As for the sun, I used to work in Sweden for couple years.

 

[Cosmoline]

In the sun season the interior can get surprisingly warm and muggy so don't make the cheechako mistake of overdressing. South-central is more temperate but by no means cold this time of year. It goes between 50 f. and 75 f. with minimal rain. Southeast is a completely different state in terms of weather. It resembles coastal British Columbia and rains a ton.

The firearms sound fine. I don't know about the ACP as bruin protection but there are other reasons to carry up here as stevelyn intimated. You should have no problems with the short guns if you fly up and abide by the usual rules. The Al-Can is another story completely. The 10mm is good and I think taking the Marlin instead of the M1A is an excellent, back-saving idea.

If you have the time take one of the local shuttle flights out to a few of the bush communities. There are dozens of villages out in SW that hardly ever get any tourists. They're a bit rough around the edges and you have to mind the dry laws, but to be in a place where everyone is engaged in subsistence hunting and fishing while speaking a language you never knew existed is a real trip. I remember my first time in Emmonak on business I was kept up all night to the local band singing "Ring of Fire" and other country hits in Yupik. Just be friendly and don't hunt on their turf and you'll be fine.

The only no-go zones are the NPS lands. Mainly that means Denali Nat'l Park, but they don't let you drive in there very far anyway. It really is like going to some strange Stalinist enclave. They put everyone on these Eastbloc green buses with a "minder" and a million little rules. Most locals detest them. But the good news is they only control a small part of the state. And the BLM, NFS and other federal agencies are a LOT easier to deal with.