If defensive, I think it's hard to find suitable ammunition for either the 12 ga or the .45-70. It's been a few years since I last looked, but with the Guide Gun, I could only find either the trap door loads or the LeverEvolution cartridges, and I didn't think either were that suitable. With the 12 gauge, it was hard to find anything other than the soft hollow point slugs at the time.
I thought I would be better off with a .30-06 or .308 with Nosler Partitions, A-Frames or something similar at a few yards away. So I sold the Guide Gun to rely on a Ruger .338 WM or a Winchester Model 70 FWT in .30-06 for long solo walks in bear country, with bangers and spray of course. Iron sights or Aimpoint, maybe a 2.5x20mm or 1.5-3x scope if I could put up with low magnification. I think the Aimpoint could be best but don't see many who have tried them in the North. Don't know how they hold up.
The other logic is that a bolt action would be easier to clean or unjam than the lever if it got gummed up or frozen or I fell in the mud. Same with the shotgun. Unscrew the magazine cap and take the thing apart.
I would use a 12 gauge 870 if told I couldn't have a rifle, but would have to get some Tru-balls, Challengers, or Brennekes for it.
Have to admit that carrying any long gun is a giant pain while doing field work, and I've yet to find a carry solution that didn't have it in the way of everything else I have to carry.
If hunting bears, I guess I'd probably use a .30-06 for black bears, and a .375 H&H for grizzlies. A .338 WM would work too. Personally would rather leave them be though.
I thought I would be better off with a .30-06 or .308 with Nosler Partitions, A-Frames or something similar at a few yards away. So I sold the Guide Gun to rely on a Ruger .338 WM or a Winchester Model 70 FWT in .30-06 for long solo walks in bear country, with bangers and spray of course. Iron sights or Aimpoint, maybe a 2.5x20mm or 1.5-3x scope if I could put up with low magnification. I think the Aimpoint could be best but don't see many who have tried them in the North. Don't know how they hold up.
The other logic is that a bolt action would be easier to clean or unjam than the lever if it got gummed up or frozen or I fell in the mud. Same with the shotgun. Unscrew the magazine cap and take the thing apart.
I would use a 12 gauge 870 if told I couldn't have a rifle, but would have to get some Tru-balls, Challengers, or Brennekes for it.
Have to admit that carrying any long gun is a giant pain while doing field work, and I've yet to find a carry solution that didn't have it in the way of everything else I have to carry.
If hunting bears, I guess I'd probably use a .30-06 for black bears, and a .375 H&H for grizzlies. A .338 WM would work too. Personally would rather leave them be though.
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