Ultra-compact takedowns

[Ardent]

What do we know collectively about options for a takedown that breaks down to a couple pieces less than 18" long, and ideally barely over a foot? I'm looking for an ultra compact take down for bear and pot filling duty at work in remote northern BC. .44 Mag carbines won't cut it, Grizzlies are the biggest worry. The Alaskan copilot customs are very attractive, but costly. I currently use a .375 H&H double rifle broken in two, and this gets me to 24", I want a smaller and more weather / damp resistant package.

This desire gets me into true customs, I'm alright with that. Ideally I'd like a stainless gun, and the Copilots are in the lead, even if spendy. They're a lot cheaper than the double rifle, so I have to maintain perspective. pitched if you're reading this I haven't been able to get your custom Marlin out of my head, even 5 years later.

Cartridge: .45-70, .308, or better.

 

[Dorian Gray]

I always thought for that kind of work, the Copilot in 50 Alaskan would be ideal for defense. I dunno about pot filling duty though. Guess you could load birdshot shot in them but the patterns might leave something to be desired.

I hope you're never in a situation where you truly need to use a gun like that for what it's designed for Ardent.

 

[Stevebot-7]

Hmm, someone had an H&R Handy Rifle in .500S&W on the EE a while back, not sure of the barrel length but it's probably longer than you're looking for.

I think a potential option might be to find one of the AAC Handi Rifles in 300 Blackout, they come with 16" barrels, and I imagine you should be able to ream the chamber to fit .308 Winchester, or 30-06, or a few others that share .308 diameter bullets. The receiver is the standard SB-2, so it should be fine with the pressure.

As far as I am aware, that'll get you the shortest disassembled length, maybe even at a lower price than some other guns start at. Maybe not the best choice, but it may be less work than ordering a custom barrel for some other type of action, or doing extreme modifications to an action to make it takedown.

Singleshot may not be the best idea for grizzly defense though. I'm sure you could probably put together some sort of lever action that fits the bill for a horrendous amount of money.

This is mine, it's a very compact gun.

 

[bearkilr]

There's definitely not much out there that comes close in "cool factor" and it would suit your profession.

I wonder if they'll make them without porting? It's been my experience that standard porting (holes) do very little for recoil yet increase noise level considerably. They may help for muzzle jump. Given the circumstances you'd use these guns in, I doubt hearing protection would be worn on a regular basis.

 

[Ardent]

I'm sure they'd do no ports, wonder if I could get it trimmed back to mag tube length for an export order. Repeater would certainly be the preference, but clever solution I must admit on the handi option Steve. Something to be said about a gun you can afford to work hard and treat roughly.

 

[thepitchedlink]

pitched if you're reading this I haven't been able to get your custom Marlin out of my head, even 5 years later.

Cartridge: .45-70, .308, or better.[/QUOTE]

Yup, it was a cool gun I'll admit and I carried it the same as you as you want to....it was a fine gun but:

As mine got loaded onto commercial flights, float planes, trucks. etc, I was alway nervous that it would get lost/damaged, whatever.....it was a 2000$ gun
I didn't really like shooting it. The proper bear loads in the Guide Gun config just hurt...for me anyway. So I had a really nice gun, that tied up a bunch of $, that I didn't like shooting....
Hard to buy ammo in remote locations for it...so if you wanted to do a little shooting on the weekend, now you can't find ammo for it
I'be become skeptical of the "take down" mechanics of many custom rigs...they feel like they start to get loose as you use them more....so it made me not want to use it....what's the point of that? That's what's cool about a double, build that way from the beginning

Anyway, I carried a BLR take down in 358, that actually was a good rig...doing it again, for the $, I'd do that probably...could even go 450 Marlin if you really want the horsepower

My last 2 years fly in the Arctic, I carried a MK5 Jungle Carbine, 250$ off the EE, barrel was shortened, 10 rounds in the clip, by reloads ANYWHERE, and a 10$ screwdriver allowed the butt to come off in 30 sec....still have that one

The other option might be a short double shotgun and see if you can get slugs to regulate....Beretta makes one I think
I was on the phone with Wild West, talking about ordering a Co-Pilot, just couldn't do the $......but it's probably the way to go if $ no object.....get the curved lever......I've never seen/handled the take down mech on one of those.....

 

[popper]

BLR short action takedown in 308, 358 or 450 Marlin breaks down in 2 pieces a little over 20" each...I think it is the best reasonably priced factory option

 

[cleo]

A can of bear spray is not much over 6" long, lots quicker and more effective. You ever see the video of guys using various different firearms to shoot at various different sized balls rolling and bouncing down a hill, simulating a charging grizz? They couldn't hit the balls with rifles shotguns or handguns with any consistency at all. And I figure a rolling basketball is not near as scary as a slobbering charging grizz..

Cleo

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

A can of bear spray is not much over 6" long, lots quicker and more effective. You ever see the video of guys using various different firearms to shoot at various different sized balls rolling and bouncing down a hill, simulating a charging grizz? They couldn't hit the balls with rifles shotguns or handguns with any consistency at all. And I figure a rolling basketball is not near as scary as a slobbering charging grizz..

Cleo

 

[bollox]

A can of bear spray is not much over 6" long, lots quicker and more effective. You ever see the video of guys using various different firearms to shoot at various different sized balls rolling and bouncing down a hill, simulating a charging grizz? They couldn't hit the balls with rifles shotguns or handguns with any consistency at all. And I figure a rolling basketball is not near as scary as a slobbering charging grizz..

Cleo

I think your targeted audience (the OP) is well versed in adept shooting at dangerous game. Lol!

 

[Ardent]

A can of bear spray is not much over 6" long, lots quicker and more effective. You ever see the video of guys using various different firearms to shoot at various different sized balls rolling and bouncing down a hill, simulating a charging grizz? They couldn't hit the balls with rifles shotguns or handguns with any consistency at all. And I figure a rolling basketball is not near as scary as a slobbering charging grizz..

Cleo

I've used spray on problem bears a couple times, and it leaves a lot to be desired in certain circumstances. I find it quite challenging to fill my pot with too if the machine won't start and I don't feel like eating shortbread, the thrown can's ballistics leave something to be desired.

This of course leaves out you can't fly with it in the cabin for obvious reasons, my sole means of transport. As for shooting moving critters, I like my odds... The suggestions are all appreciated though.

 

[Darkw]

A can of bear spray is not much over 6" long, lots quicker and more effective. You ever see the video of guys using various different firearms to shoot at various different sized balls rolling and bouncing down a hill, simulating a charging grizz? They couldn't hit the balls with rifles shotguns or handguns with any consistency at all. And I figure a rolling basketball is not near as scary as a slobbering charging grizz..

Cleo

Having discharged a can of bears pray in the woods, I can estimate it's range to be about 10 metres max. And the bear had better be down-wind cause if he's coming at you from any other direction in a 270 degree field of view you are now a well seasoned and incapacitated victim.

 

[Stevebot-7]

That does give me a great idea though. Just carry some Tannerite or other binary explosive, if you see a bear throw the thing at it and shoot it. Bear banger, am I right?

I've wished there were more takedowns available on the market. But I guess the improvements in cartridge availability that lead to smaller OAL has kind of removed a lot of the demand for a takedown.

Hmm, if you feel like spending a whole lot of money, I think Alberta Tactical Rifle Supply has said the Magnum Modern Hunter will only cost a couple dozen thousand dollars.

From the looks of it, the thing should break down to somewhere around 25" once you remove the upper from the lower reciever. Maybe, I forget their exact receiver measurements, in any case it'd be a semi-auto .308Win, 18.5"barrel, with a whole bunch of magazine choices.

 

[Ardent]

Yup, it was a cool gun I'll admit and I carried it the same as you as you want to....it was a fine gun but:

As mine got loaded onto commercial flights, float planes, trucks. etc, I was alway nervous that it would get lost/damaged, whatever.....it was a 2000$ gun
I didn't really like shooting it. The proper bear loads in the Guide Gun config just hurt...for me anyway. So I had a really nice gun, that tied up a bunch of $, that I didn't like shooting....
Hard to buy ammo in remote locations for it...so if you wanted to do a little shooting on the weekend, now you can't find ammo for it
I'be become skeptical of the "take down" mechanics of many custom rigs...they feel like they start to get loose as you use them more....so it made me not want to use it....what's the point of that? That's what's cool about a double, build that way from the beginning

Anyway, I carried a BLR take down in 358, that actually was a good rig...doing it again, for the $, I'd do that probably...could even go 450 Marlin if you really want the horsepower

My last 2 years fly in the Arctic, I carried a MK5 Jungle Carbine, 250$ off the EE, barrel was shortened, 10 rounds in the clip, by reloads ANYWHERE, and a 10$ screwdriver allowed the butt to come off in 30 sec....still have that one

The other option might be a short double shotgun and see if you can get slugs to regulate....Beretta makes one I think
I was on the phone with Wild West, talking about ordering a Co-Pilot, just couldn't do the $......but it's probably the way to go if $ no object.....get the curved lever......I've never seen/handled the take down mech on one of those.....

Good friend and coworker uses a Jungle Carbine- a lot to be said for it! Two mags and you're set for a winter. Price is right as you mentioned, ammo's like mushrooms, and good point on pulling the butt. Interesting points on your take down Marlin, the double will likely ride awhile yet while I make a plan. I'll have to take a serious look at the BLR TD. Wish somebody made a stainless, short bush double, either shotgun or rifle, for exactly this kind of work. 16" barrels, rifle sights, stainless... Maybe tuck a .22 barrel in the rib drilling style... Sigh. Almost makes a guy want to tool up and build them, but afraid we'd sell about 9 of them. Or maybe just two.

 

[Silverado]

LOL! Too perfect.

Ardent, I can't think of anything more compact than the Co-Pilot units, other than a coach gun. Like you, I think a rifle is a better tool than a shotgun for the bear question, though maybe not for the pot-filling question.

EDIT: Just read your post above. Tool up! I'll buy two, you can keep the other seven.

 

[dan belisle]

Google Kifaru rifle . - dan

 

[keith mokry]

The browning takedown lever is nice and simple to use system. . Only thing with the browning is the lever design is a lot more complex than the marlin. You can try Jennings outdoors in BC and see if he still does the take down version on the marlins as he did one for a few years back. Only issue with the marlins is the threaded part that could fail in time dependant on amount of time it gets taken apart. I would also look at a baikal double in 4570 or 3006. Same style as your double(very nice) but does not hurt when it gets scratched and a little longer than the co pilot.

 

[brybenn]

Another vote for the baikal mp221 double. I love mine. Just have it Armor coated if you're worried at all about weather. Mine has seen rain snow and sleet and no worse for the wear. They balance quite nice actually. And they take marlin loads just fine. With 405 gr hard cast at 1800 fps they're still quite pleasant to shoot
Another option is a coach gun with a 45/70 sleeve in one barrel
A cut down model 12 take down pump may also be an idea. Slugs for bear. OO for wolves and shot for pot

 

[MaxKW]

I have a TC Encore with 15" barrel in 500 S&W mag, it would fit all your criteria except it's not a repeater, would be fairly simple to carry an extra barrel or two as well, not sure what game you would be filling the pot with but with short barrels in 22 hornet, 223, 308 or maybe .410 depending on intended target you should be covered.

 

[bush1]

I'll have to take a serious look at the BLR TD.

I've been loking at a BLR Model 81 TD as well. Still haven't nailed down a caliber as of yet. My favorite calibers 30-06 & 300WM make for a longer 22" and 24" barrel and heavier 7+ lb rifle. The 358 is a 20" barrel and weighs 6lb 8oz, and the 450 is also a 20" barrel but a tad heavier at 7lb. I will have to do some more ballistic comparisons to convince myself that the 358 is adequate before deciding.

I've had a few Japanese Miroku made rifles in the past and the fit and finish is outstanding so I would suspect this to be the case with the 81 BLR as well.

My planned use for this rifle is to take on floatplane excursions into remote areas so I guess barrel length really isn't too important unless I plan to backpack it later on.