Poll: Headed to MT for the weekend, which long gun do I bring?

[Nosferatu]

The pup and I taking a quick trip out to the MT property for the weekend and am doing it pretty minimalistically as the truck and camper still aren't 100%, so taking the Bronco with my old 3-man tent and as little gear as possible.

There are bears living out there, and fat guys on ATVs.



So in addition to my CCW (S&W M&P 10mm 4") which of the following would be your choice?

Beretta 1301 Comp 21" 12ga

Marlin 1895GBL 16" .45-70

Argue amongst yourselves and happy Independence Day.

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[Andy54Hawken]

Both are very nice and excellent choices.
However I am "Rifle minded."..so my vote goes to the Marlin.
Andy

 

[Sxsnuf]

Given your choice of sidearm, you've got the bear/fatguy repellent covered already. So take whichever one you most enjoy carrying, OR both. I'm certainly not suggesting you leave the pup behind, but there must be room for 2 long guns.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Do you have any depleted uranium rounds in 45-70?

 

[Nosferatu]

Maybe the bruin ate the fat guy?

 

[Nosferatu]

Do you have any depleted uranium rounds in 45-70?

Fresh out.

 

[Nosferatu]

Given your choice of sidearm, you've got the bear/fatguy repellent covered already. So take whichever one you most enjoy carrying, OR both. I'm certainly not suggesting you leave the pup behind, but there must be room for 2 long guns.

Puppy dog goes, that's non-negotiable. He's never been to the MT property.

Yes, I have the space, but not the need to bring both. I'd only grab one should a rogue bear on an ATV came around.

 

[Meridian7750]

Tell you what…you bring the rifle and I'll meet you there with a few 12ga's.
Needing a getaway. REALLY needing a getaway…
Enjoy the trip.

 

[Yarome]

I said 12ga. The odds of a bear encounter where you need to fire is so slim, and even so... you're not going to be firing long range, your 10mm is more than ample, likely to be the most readily accessible and carries the most rounds.

I would be thinking more about 2 legged threats and trail meat. You really gonna try and tag a little stew pot meat with a 10mm or a 45-70? Even if you're not into cooking I bet your 4 legged companion would love a little roasted treat. He's on vacation too, right?

I would look at the 12ga as expanding my capability options where the rifle is kind of redundant and ill suited for anything other than bear knock down power at distance. If you need to shoot that far then you aren't really in any immediate danger and shouldn't be shooting, anyway, right(?)

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Since you're just over the hill from me I'd appreciate it if you brought the scattergun. I don't want any flyers on this side of the mountain. Also, try to keep the noise down, Okay?

 

[dangerranger60]

One of my favorite woods carry guns is a marlin lever gun in 45 Colt. With a 325 gr bullet at 1500 fps it will take any size animal I will run into. Or I can load it down to a 160gr that recoils like a 22mag and can be used for small game.
If I had a 45-70 lever gun I would be looking for a lite bullet load for plinking. DR

 

[orygun]

Without even reading the poll's options, I said to myself, Winchester 30-30. It's easy to pack and carry, small enough to stash behind the seat and powerful enough for most anything within reasonable range. If I was going strictly for hunting, it would be my 30-06, but in a case for travelling it's pretty bulky. My Winchester "might" get wrapped in a blanket.
That said, Marlin 1895. Like @Andy54Hawken 's sentiment, I'm more of a rifleman.

I have a 20" Mossberg that holds 7 rounds and that's not a bad choice either. Three different boxes of ammo, slugs, buckshot and birdshot. Pretty freakin versatile.

 

[orygun]

If I had a 45-70 lever gun I would be looking for a lite bullet load for plinking. DR

Without considering cast bullets, it's fairly easy to find 300gr jacketed bullets. If I remember correctly, I saw some 225gr bullets for 45-70 back when I reloaded for it. Those should prove to be pretty soft shooting.

 

[Spitpatch]

Dad's Bulldog .44 worked fine on a Bear he had to shoot at Flathead.

And not undergunned for killing an ATV either.

 

[Spitpatch]

There are fat guys living out there and one rides an ATV.

Fixed it for ya.

 

[Nosferatu]

Fixed it for ya.

Fixed what?

 

[quneur]

I once knew an Alaskan guide who named her dog Marlin because at the time she wanted a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Perhaps, you should ask Alaskan guides what they prefer.

 

[40nascar]

In this instance, I would go with the shotgun. I gives you more options while out enjoying your property.

If I was out with the specific purpose of bear hunting, then I would take the levergun.

 

[Spitpatch]

Fixed what?

"There are bears living out there, and fat guys on ATVs."

(One of these things is not like the other.)

 

[SCannon]

45-70 with suppressor