Keith and David,
Regarding the "co-pilot" as an Alaskan bear gun, Marlin has your answer. New last year was the M1895G "guide gun" in .45-70. This year they have the same thing in .444Marlin. The barrel has been shortened from 22" to 18.5" and ported. The buttstock and lever have also been changed to a straight grip instead of the curved, semi-pistol grip.
Go to www.marlinfirearms.com.
If you go to the Gunsamerica site, you'll find guide guns for sale for $409. There may be other ads for more or less, I didn't spend a lot of time looking. Here is the URL:
www.gunsamerica.com/showguns.cgi?guncat=1940
I think you'll find this a much more affordable and powerful option. At most, maybe a pound heavier than a Trapper.
By the way, I grew up in Alaska (Anchorage area), before I joined the Navy and moved away. I spent some time on a fishing boat in Prince William Sound out of Whittier, but never made it to Kodiak. My folks had a 2nd house in Seldovia so I spent some time there as well. Good luck.
------------------
Dorsai
Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal
weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the
monarch of all he surveys.
-- Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle
Regarding the "co-pilot" as an Alaskan bear gun, Marlin has your answer. New last year was the M1895G "guide gun" in .45-70. This year they have the same thing in .444Marlin. The barrel has been shortened from 22" to 18.5" and ported. The buttstock and lever have also been changed to a straight grip instead of the curved, semi-pistol grip.
Go to www.marlinfirearms.com.
If you go to the Gunsamerica site, you'll find guide guns for sale for $409. There may be other ads for more or less, I didn't spend a lot of time looking. Here is the URL:
www.gunsamerica.com/showguns.cgi?guncat=1940
I think you'll find this a much more affordable and powerful option. At most, maybe a pound heavier than a Trapper.
By the way, I grew up in Alaska (Anchorage area), before I joined the Navy and moved away. I spent some time on a fishing boat in Prince William Sound out of Whittier, but never made it to Kodiak. My folks had a 2nd house in Seldovia so I spent some time there as well. Good luck.
------------------
Dorsai
Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal
weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the
monarch of all he surveys.
-- Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle