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Old 05-22-2017, 09:17 AM
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NINJABABY NINJABABY is offline
 
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Default Benelli M4 or Marlin 1895 GBL Lever Action, 45-70 Govt FOR BEARS PROTECTION

The the upcoming archery season which firearm would you prefer for bear protection and why?


Thanks a bunch
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Old 05-22-2017, 09:22 AM
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I own a Marlin 1895 stainless guide gun. But either one of your options will work!
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  #3  
Old 05-22-2017, 12:20 PM
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This has been gone over hundreds of times. Just do a simple search and you will have so much info it will take you hours to read it all.

This is just page one of "Bear Protection" as the search criteria in the hunting thread

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/searc...rchid=15929053

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  #4  
Old 05-22-2017, 12:58 PM
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C'mon Dean, what fun is using the search function?

There hasn't been a bear protection thread posted in a week to a week and a half.
How will all the Ursaphobic people, cope?
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Old 05-22-2017, 07:11 PM
New Hunter Okotoks New Hunter Okotoks is offline
 
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I think that either one of those would be good choices. That M4 sure is a well reviewed shotgun. Being a semi auto is certainly an advantage since you won't have to cycle the gun between shots. There are many opinions about how to load a shotgun; some say to use 00Buck for the first two shots and slugs for the rest- the idea being that you blind the bear with a shot to the head. Personally, I would just load the whole thing with top quality slugs.

The Marlin 1895 45/70 sure packs one heck of shot when you use good ammo specifically meant for bear. HSM sells a 430grain hard cast bullet that is called "Bear Load". Another manufacturer is Buffalo Bore and they make some very impressive ammo as well. The little Marlin is a very maneuverable gun in tight places and some models carry six rounds in the tube. (The Cowboy model carries 9 rounds but the barrel is 26 inches long; making it poorly suited for bear protection) The downside is that you have to cycle the lever for each round. With practice though, cycling a lever becomes second nature.

I guess it all comes down to personal preference. Something to think about is that the M4 is about twice the cost of the Marlin. I also think that the M4 is pretty much a 1 purpose gun whereas the Marlin 45/70 can also be used as a regular hunting rifle. My personal preference is the Marlin SBL 45/70.
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Old 05-22-2017, 07:21 PM
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Either will work fine. I use a Remington 870 loaded with slugs personally.
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Old 05-22-2017, 07:38 PM
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Buffalo Bore ammo is loaded very hot and some Marlin 1895's don't like them much so be sure to check what your buying and try it out before heading out thinking it will be fine. With a griz 10 yards away coming in for dinner isn't the time to find out your Marlin won't eject an empty case! As well, not all bullet selection's such as the 350 grain Hot Cor's will cycle through the Marlin's shorter action. Experimentation and testing is the only way to find a reliable load.
Having said that, I always think bullet weight trumps velocity when very close shooting is involved, better heavy and slow than unreliable.
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Old 05-23-2017, 05:53 AM
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Man ask a question and bam people all over the OP...me I like the Marlin choice, either will do but you gotta think the marlin is one sexy hunk of steal
Oh yeah practice, practice, practice shoot it lots, milk jugs attacking at 40 paces if a lot of fun
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Old 05-23-2017, 06:26 AM
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I would prefer Dean2's Marlin 45-70. Dang thing shoots tiny, tiny groups that you would not expect from a lever gun. Maybe he will sell it to you
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Old 05-24-2017, 10:14 PM
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We use 870s at work and sig 716s. Me I'm one of 2 who gets a 375h&halthough that's more geared towards bison. Personally if I was buying one I'd go the45/70 because lever guns are sexy.
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Old 05-24-2017, 10:19 PM
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Alaska wildlife troopers use shotguns with slugs (870 and m4 in various configurations). Lots of guides carry the marlin.

Nothing wrong with either, so long as the ammunition is designed for penetration and the operator is capable.
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Old 05-25-2017, 08:09 AM
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Again and again - Bear Spray has been proven to be your best bet! Learn all you can about bear behavior and how to react to different situations.
If you must have a gun, use a 12 gauge pump with double rails and ghost ring sights. It will let you use shell crackers, rubber bullets, etc. while the bear is still far enough away to be scared off. Slugs are a better bet than any pellets if the bear is going to chew on you.
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Old 05-25-2017, 09:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Young Eldon View Post
Again and again - Bear Spray has been proven to be your best bet! Learn all you can about bear behavior and how to react to different situations.
If you must have a gun, use a 12 gauge pump with double rails and ghost ring sights. It will let you use shell crackers, rubber bullets, etc. while the bear is still far enough away to be scared off. Slugs are a better bet than any pellets if the bear is going to chew on you.
Try re-reading what the OP said. He is looking for backup for bow hunting. Bear spray is NOT the answer to an arrow wounded bear. For most normal bear encounters fine, but not as a back up in a hunting situation. I do agree slugs are a far better choice than even the biggest buck shot but slugs are not superior to a 350 grain 45-70 round nose.
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Old 05-25-2017, 10:17 AM
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Anything but a 30-30, it'll just bounce off a bears head. So said by the older customer at Proline Shooters II inc. in Calgary

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Old 05-26-2017, 02:26 PM
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Thank you very much guys. I think I will take the Benelli M4 with me next time as I can put 7 slugs in it and it will be the firearm of choice for bear protection.

Will give you guys the updates soon.

Thanks again
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Old 05-27-2017, 10:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NINJABABY View Post
Thank you very much guys. I think I will take the Benelli M4 with me next time as I can put 7 slugs in it and it will be the firearm of choice for bear protection.

Will give you guys the updates soon.

Thanks again
When hunting big game with a semi auto you are limited to five rounds in the magazine in Alberta, just so you know. Pump does not have same limit.

Birds, limit is 3 round auto or pump.
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Old 05-29-2017, 06:47 AM
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Benelli M4 is heavy... You gonna muscle up!
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Old 05-29-2017, 04:34 PM
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delete
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Old 05-29-2017, 11:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean2 View Post
When hunting big game with a semi auto you are limited to five rounds in the magazine in Alberta, just so you know. Pump does not have same limit.

Birds, limit is 3 round auto or pump.
That's a very good point. So since I am hunting with bow, I am still limited to 5 rounds?
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Old 05-30-2017, 10:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NINJABABY View Post
That's a very good point. So since I am hunting with bow, I am still limited to 5 rounds?
You can try slitting that hair with the Fish Cop when you run into him. Personally, I would stick to 5 to avoid the argument. If that isn't enough rounds you are pretty much dead anyhow. Bear hunting isn't like the Zombie apocalypse.
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