Guide Gun

[TnProHunter]

I recently bought a Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 Gov't., and i'm interested in opinions about loads for Alaska. I have spent time in Alaska but never hunted there. I do have several years experience hunting and shooting, and i've functioned as a back up hunter, or a P.H. for inexperienced and new hunters. My area of Tennessee has an abundance of black bear and wild boar, so the hunting isn't exactly dull. I'm also a handloader. I load for the Guide Gun and also for my .308. Any recommendations are appreciated. Also, I have an interest in becoming a Guide and/or a P.H. in Alaska.

Thanks,
TnProHunter

[got1hkd]

45-70

My preferred load is 405gr projectile. I am not sure what charge of powder now since my father has been reloading them for me and has changed the load up a bit. It is a real pumpkin slinger.

[AkHunter45]

Might want to ask this question in the shooting forum, there's a wealth of knowledge there.

[AlaskaTrueAdventure]

Guide/PH

TPro,
Concerning becoming a guide or pro hunter in Alaska....the following words keep coming to mind, like an after-thought, or a prior-thought, or something...

Mamas' don't let your babies grow up to be game guides
Don't let 'em shoot guide guns and drive those old trucks
Make 'em be lawyers and doctors and such
Mamas' don't let your babies grow up to be game guides
They'll never stay home and they're always off alone
Even doing something they love

Those words just kind of stick with me. I don't know...it goes on and on...

TPro....make some money somewhere, someway, not guiding...

Dennis
Alaska True Adventure Guide Service

[Vance in AK]

The guide gun will serve you well. Mine is a 450 Marlin. As for loads, I prefer something with a heavy hardcast bullet with a large meplat in the 420gr area pushing 1800fps. The equivelant of Garret & Buffalo Boar's factory stuff.
Welcome to the forum!

[windypoint]

I second the heavy hardcast loads, but I am going to try the Hornady Leverevolution round for a bit more distance and accuracy at 200 yards.

[Marc Taylor]

Garrett Hammerheads for me. Find a way to get them up here!

I keep a 540gr. in the throat, with 6 420gr. backups. That is absolute bad news for anything walking in this state. I took a nice goat with Garrett SuperJack 350's.

A fresh batch of Buffalo Bore just came in to Alaska Custom Firearms. Won't be there long.

Taylor

[Vince]

TPro,
Concerning becoming a guide or pro hunter in Alaska....the following words keep coming to mind, like an after-thought, or a prior-thought, or something...

Mamas' don't let your babies grow up to be game guides
Don't let 'em shoot guide guns and drive those old trucks
Make 'em be lawyers and doctors and such
Mamas' don't let your babies grow up to be game guides
They'll never stay home and they're always off alone
Even doing something they love

Those words just kind of stick with me. I don't know...it goes on and on...

TPro....make some money somewhere, someway, not guiding...

Dennis
Alaska True Adventure Guide Service

Dennis don't quit your day job.... i can hear your yowling up here..

[BrentC]

3 405 gr Buffalo Bores out of my 45/70 guide gun, 3 very dead bears.

2 blacks and 1 grizz, each dead on impact.

In factory ammo, you can't beat the Garrett's and the Buffalo Bores for the guide gun.

[Alaskan22]

Have a Browning BLR in .450. Shoot the Hornady Leverlotion 325 gr out of it. Great gun. Goes bang, things die. Very accurate bullets too (which surprises me as the barrel isn't that long).

[CHAPS]

Nice load!

My Marlin Guide gun in .45-70 likes:

IMR 4198 42 grains
Hornady 350gr FN #4503
CCI 200

Obtains avg of 1713fps (10 rd average) at muzzle.

I have taken caribou with this load and it is very accurate. Blessings.

[Fuse]

Levers levers everywhere and not a bullet to shoot...

We talked about this some in another thread

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/...d.php?p=446818

I personally like the Leverevolution stuff from Hornady. Good energy and great ballistics. Dropped a moose no problem and did good work on Kodiak too.

Fuse

[OzAK]

A guide??!!! Alaska Adventure Specialties

Friends shouldn't let friends become guides, unless they're just as demented as they are, perhaps makes us look smarter that we are. Just an observation.

Oz
Alaska Adventure Specialties
ARG #874

[AlaskaTrueAdventure]

Friends...

(sing it...OzAK, TnPro and Alaska True..all together now...)

Friends don't let your friends grow up to become game guides...
They will never stay home, their lady will alway be alone...
Guides are always off doing something with a big guide gun...

A...whatever... should have listened to Vince, above, and left the song writing and singin to Willie.

(Sure, I enjoy the guiding-hunting gig, but...)
Friends, do something different. Make some money. Reduce your stress having fun on personal hunts.

Dennis
Alaska True Adventure Guide Service