[Coldfingers]

I have to wonder why one would be uncomfortable shooting dangerous game with a 45/70 when folks do it with not only handguns but bows and arrows.

Just how dead can something get?

You cannot convince me that my 45/70 falls short of the 454 Casull or a 475 Linebaugh from a handgun (not to mention the whimpy .44Mag which has been used).

I have an aquaintance from the States that has taken Buff with his longbow.

I will probably never get to Africa, but would not hesitate to use the Marlin (just in case I break a bowstring 8*) if I did.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

I have not seen such a rucus since the old 44vs45 thread ;*)

I have to admit that my input is pretty limited since our scrawny little interior bears cannot hold a candle to the fish eating bruisers in the more temperate zones of Alaska.

There is certainly some interesting info coming out pertaining to the real big boys of the big bore rifles.  I think that if I was ever to guide for Brown Bear, I would have to re-consider my choice in rifles, but, the chances of that are pretty slim.

As it is, Alyeska has been on top of things pertainting to guides choices in AK.

I do remain pretty well convinced that the Marlins are up to the task, but, they may never catch on since the precedence is well set.

The old "if it aint broke, don't fix it" rule may keep it that way.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

What a great thread.

I see that we are now arriving at the "fine line"...that point of "just how much can you handle WELL!

I had the pleasure of sitting with a fella from Kodiak who specialized in the Big Bears. There was alot of info put forth, and some just frittered it's way out of my head, but a few things stuck.

He was VERY adament about having a client use a well worn 30.06 or 7Mag rather than have same client purchase a GompStomper for the hunt. He was also quite insistant on not having a shot taken untill everything was perfect and the deck stacked in favor of exact placement with plenty of clear area for the follow up shots...He insisted that after the first shot, everyone shot till the bear was anchored, and then they shot some more.

I can fully agree with DOKs points about using a big enough gun, and perhaps working till you can handle something bigger with confidence.

I find that for myself, the Marlin meets my needs.  Having been a stick slinger all my life, I find myslef not even considering a shot till I can almost pinch the critter to see how tender it is. At those ranges, the 45/70 will make a hole and break a few bones doing so. Since it is my only big game rifle, and I use it for little critters also, I am fairly confident of the outcome when I drop the hammer.
The 45/70 is a bear stopper with proper loadings.

In a nutshell, I would hunt dangerous game with it in all confidence. I would expect the PH to use what he thought best. Since the desire to kill an elephant or rino has never come upon me, I see no reason to upgrade.

It is a fun point to ponder though!

Blessings,

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

TREESTANDS! Yikes!!!!

I have a few near and dear friends who love to tell me of my antics last spring after a stand went out from under me. I was very fortunate in that I only suffered a major concussion (enough to make my eyeballs bleed&#33<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo--> and a broken collar bone. The stand let go as I was getting tied in but had not gotten fully fastened.

While I remember nothing of the 8 mile boat ride, two mile 4 wheeler ride, 45 minute flight in the float plane, and 6 miles in the back of a pickup truck, I do remember the fuzzy faces as I came out of the CAT Scan wondering who hit me with the axe!

I guess that puts Black Bear guiding on the list of "Dangerous Game"

I dont need to stinkin elephants to get the misery factor up on a good hunt!

On the bright side, since I have no memory of that fatefull day, I will be setting stand again in a few weeks.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

Alyeska,

How true.

Having killed a charging bull moose with the 22Mag one winter day, I feel like I have had my moment of being outside the realm of "mear mortal" in deep within the class of "dang lucky"

I doubt I could convince my clients that my 22Mag is a reliable backup even though it has proven itself in the field.

I guess if I measured out the powder and lead expended that day, I would have been much happier using it all in one shot. I could have mixed that tube full of 22's together in a big pot and made a respectable big bore bullet.

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

Alyeska,

I would propose that it is only in the last few years that the 45/70 has come of age (so to speak) and perhaps it is only because of fellas like Sundles and Garrett making ammo and guys like Clay and Jim West that are creating the takedown and hybred versions that will perhaps cause a resurgence.

I know a few old pfarts that have been using the 45/70 since back when dirt was clean and they seem quite content.

I have yet to feel undergunned when totin mine in the puckerbrush. I do not really feel a need to get something bigger or stronger since I think there is a whole lot of gun in the little Marlin package.


Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

"Comfortable" would not be my choice of words either ;*)

 

[Coldfingers]

The Armistace Day blizzard was lodged deep in the minds of the men that ushered me into manhood back in rural Minnesota.

I almost paid a similar price when I took my two young boys on a mid season moose hunt years ago. We put the canoe in at our dropoff point with a small snow flurry going on. Everything was green and the leaves had not turned on the birch trees yet. I gave no thought to the snow.

The little river we were planning to float was a two day trip to home but there were no pullouts...once you start, you are committed. By the time we made camp, there was a dusting of snow, but it just kept getting heavier. As it got worse, the birches began to collapse under the laod, our tarp was sagging and required constant attention. Morning found the canoe filled with snow and water, and over a foot on the ground. It kept it up for two days with a final tally at over two feet. It took us three days to negotiate that nasty little crick.

Hypothermia was a constant threat, and it was all I could do to keep my kids alive and myself in condition to do so.

That was a wet, miserable, life threatening trip...similar to Gilligans "Three hour cruise" and all within a 15 mile crow flight from the house (some of our rivers meander for miles and never go anywhere&#33<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

I now have a tendency to "pack a bit heavy"

Aint it fun learnin?

Scotty

 

[Coldfingers]

MR Leadbutt (any man that can swat a groundhog at 175 yards with a bullet bigger than the groundhog desearves my respect&#33<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

Thank you for your post.

Scotty (wishin I'da been there to see that)

 

[Coldfingers]

Alyeska,

You would think that a generation raised with Gilligan, the Skipper, Professor, Ginger, Mary Anne and the Howells would know the dangers inherent in "The Three Hour Cruise"

Seldom is it one climactic event that puts one in danger, but a series of little and stupid mistakes. The temptation to run off half naked and take a look over that little hill is deadly!

Coming up with the perfect "kit" that will cover every thing yet be small enough to go everywhere is a real science (and I have yet to master it&#33<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo--> that needs constant attention. An "Alaska Specific" kit takes on a bit of bulk when you consider the weather extreams that we encounter. How it can be hot as heck one day and snowing the next amazes me.

I bet those guys wish that Ginger and Mary Anne were bear hunters! (a bonus would be if they liked to carry heavy packs up mountains)

Scotty