Gun for wife - Pls check my logic

[Slim Wallet]

Gents,

Our plan to spend 6-8 weeks in BC and Alaska this summer is still on. We are sixty and plan to spend time in the truck camper and at lodges and what not.

My wife is itty bitty....120 lbs or so...Wife wants to "watch my back" so-to-speak while I am fishing and of course I want a gun for the truck cab and one for the camper.

Here's the question.... pistols seem to be out as we will travel through Canada and given that she is slight of build, I am thinking one or two of the following:

20 guage youth model pump with slugs or ?
Marlin 38/357 lever
Marlin 44 Mag lever

I am leaning to the 20g and the Marlin 44. I figure she can become proficient with both.

Am I missing something else that's out there?

Your thoughts please...

Thanks,

Slim

btw.... yep, I know... I fished trout/salmon in the rivers in BC quite a bit when I was younger and never even saw a bear.....yep, am concerned about two legged varmints.

 

[yukon254]

good choice

good choice

Slim wallet your right about bringing the pistol into canada, that wont happen! The 44 is a great choice, some might not agree with me on this so I will tell you why I say this... When my parents immigrated to Canada from Cal. my dad went to work as cow boss for the gang ranch in the caribou country of BC. He didnt know anything about grizzlys at that time except they were killing cattle! So he bought the little ruger 44 auto, in the years we were there he killed 7 grizzly with that gun, and remember those are coastal bear in that country. One of the bear he killed is still ranked 16 in the BC record book. Later we moved to Northen BC to our own ranch and that 44 along with a marlin served him well killing more grizzly and black bear. He was always shooting at close range and didnt reload so was useing factory ammo. I hope this helps and am glad you are going armed! remember the Laird fiasco! and with all the exploration camps ect. in some areas of BC bears have lost their fear of people and maulings are on the rise. You will find great fishing tho!

 

[AGL4now]

Why not have both firearms the exact same-same-same. What if "HER" firearm is behind the seat, locked in the cab, and she needs to use "Your" firearm. I love the 20 Gauge. I carry my "Youth" model 11-86 synthetic 20 gauge; Is the Length of pull to short...? Yes in the summer, but not in the winter. And the worst that can happen is I get my thumb banged against my nose if I snap shoot it in the summer.

Another option would be H&R single shot youth models and paint them bright red, so you can find them.

 

[icb12]

Can't go wrong with the 20ga if you're worried about 2 legged critters.

I got my sister a Win 1300 upland special with the speed pump in 20Ga. She shoots it with ease. Can empty it faster than I can empty my mossberg 12ga.

 

[Bill S.]

You might consider a 12 ga remington 1100 or 11-87. The extra size and weight of the 12 ga slug might be worth it. Recoil is not bad on either weapon.
You choices are good, the .44 over the .357 any time. If you go with the 20 ga, make sure the slugs are brenneke or other suitable bear load.

 

[AK Bearcat]

Camp Gun

Camp Gun

Have you thought about a Marlin 1895 Guide gun 18" barrel in 45-70? That is what we have for one of our 'camp guns'. For pratice you can shoot the 'standard' 405 slow mover and for serious work get some of the 'heavy' loads. Depending on where we are at we use any thing from the Sierra 300's to some hard cast 430 hamd loads.
The other that you mentioned work and are fun guns to shoot.
Where are you going to be in Alaska and what time frame?

 

[Lost Sheep]

Some quick thoughts

Some quick thoughts

Thoughts off the top of my head
The carbines chambered for pistol cartridges are good. Much easier to shoot accurately than a handgun, too. However, ammunition might be hard to find in Canada. Of course, for your uses, one box will probably be all you need and it's likely you will not shoot any, so the question is likely academic. But since Canada doesn't like handguns, anything chambered for handgun ammunition might be socially questionable.

The 45-70 lever gun suggested by AK Bearcat is a good choice.

But the shotgun is probably better. In a pump shotgun, I believe you can get reduced recoil loads in 12 gauge. I am not sure, but I would check it out before committing to a 20 gauge.

When people consider going to a lighter shotgun than the 12 gauge, why do they (like 90% of the time or more) talk about the 20 gauge? Does no one like the "sweet 16" gauge?

Oleoresin Capsicum (red pepper) bear repellant spray is effective agains bears, dogs and people. Get the 10% stuff. The 3% is only good as a condiment.

UDAP bear repellant spray has only been on the market for a few years, but is said to be even more effective than the pepper spray.

The sprays can be worn in a holster on your belt, so are less likely to be leaning up against a tree at the moment on need.

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post.

Before you rely on new facts from ANYONE on the web, do your own research.

Lost Sheep

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=453449

 

[AGL4now]

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post.

Before you rely on new facts from ANYONE on the web, do your own research.

Lost Sheep

1/2 of 1/4 = 12.5% Not trying to be argumentive, but do you think only 12.5% of INTERNET info is valid.....???? Again I don't know, just wondering.

 

[ADfields]

1/2 of 1/4 = 12.5% Not trying to be argumentive, but do you think only 12.5% of INTERNET info is valid.....???? Again I don't know, just wondering.

He said "half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear" in his post. If you want to apply the rules of math to that, and means add.
½ + ¼ = ¾ = 75%

The “That goes double for what you get from the internet” is inanother sentence and I don’t see how it would apply mathematically. Maybe 75% X 2 = 150%?

But I think he meant don’t trust blindly trust what you read on the internet, look into it for yourself.

Andy

 

[Smitty of the North]

Were it me, and with the choices you like, I would go with the Marlin 357 Mag., and Marlin 44 Mag. Take heavy Cast Bullets. (180 gr. for the 357, and 300 gr. for the 44)

Like Hopeak says, it's good to have the guns work the same, and both Marlins will.

Smitty of the North

 

[danattherock]

I can't believe I am saying this, but bear spray might be the right call here.

I am a gun guy myself, but spray has its place. This may be one of those times.

For guns, if spray is not an option, the Marlin Guide Gun 45/70 is an awesome gun. Loading it with factory ammo will keep it tame enough that your wife could shoot it and still be standing afterwards. With Buffalo Bore and other hot loads, she may not be able to shoot it as well. Big difference in the factory stuff and Buffalo Bore. Nearly twice the knock down power if I am mistaken.

 

[Bruce1965]

Well.....I'm assuming "watch your back" while you fish,means bear protection.....I would probably stick with the 12 gauge for that,instead of the 20,even for the wife. 12 gauge auto someone mentioned was not a bad idea. Another thought would be the Marlin in .35 Rem...still fairly light but with more wallop than the .44 MAg. Another great option you might wish to check into would be a Browning BAR lightweight model in .308. Only around 7 pounds...and your wife could practice with the low recoil loads available from Remington or Federal...but hit the salmon or trout streams loaded for bear!

 

[rdklinak]

semi-auto shotgun is out....

semi-auto shotgun is out....

Canada don't allow them (unless things have changed between '97 & now)

I'll throw my hat in the ring for a short barrelled youth pump 12 gauge with 2 3/4" breneke's. (sp) Replace the stock recoil pad with pachmeyer or simms.

the 2 3/4" shells deliver plenty of power to deliver the breneke's with authority but they don't kick the snot out of you like the longer shells will.

My 105 lb 54 y/o mother who's 5'5 shoots this combo back home for deer. Last year she had to "deal" with a 2,000 lb Charlet bull with brain worm who decided he was going to get even with her for his insanity. He charged head down from less than 40 yards, she fired for center mass and hit him in the forehead. 2 more shots followed as he plowed ground to within 3 feet of her and he laid dead as a door nail. Autopsy showed 1 round (the 1st) hit the bull. Hit him in the forehead and they found the slug very near to his poop chute.... the slug maintained 68% of it's original weight too.

IF I had to downsize due to recoil.. the 20 gauge in the same set up would be the ticket.

 

[Lost Sheep]

16 Gauge?

16 Gauge?

edited down for brevity...
I'll throw my hat in the ring for a short barrelled youth pump 12 gauge with 2 3/4" breneke's. (sp) Replace the stock recoil pad with pachmeyer or simms.

IF I had to downsize due to recoil.. the 20 gauge in the same set up would be the ticket.

rdklinak,

I don't want to pick on you, (it seems everyone skips directly from the 12 to the 20 gauge)

Didn't there used to be a shotgun that was sized between the 12 gauge and the 20 gauge?

Lost Sheep

 

[.338 mag.]

.44 Marlin

.44 Marlin

For many years my wife has been packing a Mod. 94 Winchester loaded with 280 LBT's. It is light weight, handy and easy to operate. We have never used it on any thing but a coyote, I know it is a good .44 load. I would use it over a 20 gauge.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Slim Wallet,

Your orginal preference for the 44 mag. marlin carbine is about as good as it gets. I do think that some people here forgot that your wife is only a 120 pound gal. In my opinion the little 44 carbine is perfect and the recoil won't ruin her and make her flinch. I'm not sure about this....but i think you can fire 44 specials in the marlin which would provide some fun practice for her so that she could become familiar with it without the punishing recoil. Buy her a nice pachmeyer or limb saver recoil pad and start her out with some light target stuff. Sight it in for the heavy stuff and be done with it.

 

[ADfields]

rdklinak,

I don't want to pick on you, (it seems everyone skips directly from the 12 to the 20 gauge)

Didn't there used to be a shotgun that was sized between the 12 gauge and the 20 gauge?

Lost Sheep

I have 3 shotguns in 16 gauge and I like them just fine. Unfortunately 16 gauge ammo has become very hard to find and I don't think anyone makes a good bear slug in 16 gauge today. 20 gauge is a bit smaller in diameter than 16 but a 20 packs the same power or even more with the choice of loads that are available for the 20. I will never let my 16’s go because they were the guns I first hunted with as a kid.

My pick for this post would be the 44 Marlin from the list.
However a much better pick is the Puma lever action 454. The Puma will shoot 45 Long Colt or 454 Casull, 45 LC is about the same power as a 44mag and 454 fired from the rifle is on a par with the 45-70. This gives you one gun that is capable of shooting a wide range of ammo in varied levels of power, all good enough to stop a bear. All the best of a 44mag rifle like light recoil and the 45-70's power when you want it.

Take a look. http://www.notpurfect.com/main/puma.html

Andy

 

[danattherock]

I'll throw my hat in the ring for a short barrelled youth pump 12 gauge with 2 3/4" breneke's. (sp) Replace the stock recoil pad with pachmeyer or simms.

Very good thought.

 

[Slim Wallet]

OK - Making progress here

OK - Making progress here

Gents,

Thanks for the info..... Here's what I'm thinking about doing....

20 pump - youth model..... For the itty bitty gal ....mostly for the two legged varmints but I can get some "deer slugs" for it.

44 Mag Marlin ..........can get HC bullets with not terribly heavy powder loads... the itty bitty gal should be able to handle it. We'll practice.

12 ga pump and Brennekes (just gotta find someone that has the Brennekes for sale ... that seems to be an issue right now)

Got the whole range covered..... although I'm gonna think about taking a 30.06 or 308 pump or maybe think more about that 35 Rem idea. I'm better with a shotgun than a rifle....years of "practice." We'll see......


Thanks for all the advice...it was quite helpful....

Oh.... and YEP! on the UDAP or ??? bear spray......

More later... thanks,

Slim


btw.... current plan has us leaving Colorado in early June... spending a couple of weeks in BC...then on to Alaska....we may fly back to Denver in mid-July for 3 weeks...then fly back up, poke around some more and then take the ferry back in late-August.

 

[Ronnie]

long guns in canada

long guns in canada

This may have changed since I made my trips through canada but when I came through my long guns had a lock put on them and I was told not to remove them until I was again in the USA under penalty of law better check before you go they were checked to see if still on at the Alaskan border....good luck