Win bigbore 94 vs 45-70 for bears?

If I were him I'd stick with the 375....I had a couple Marlins in 375 Win and it's way easier to handle than a 45-70 as far as recoil.

If he's worried about ammo prices he should go to a 30-30...any bear will be just as dead from a good hit with a 30-30 as it will be when hit with a 45-70.
 
I am sure with the right connections here at CGN you should be able to set you and your dad up to reload for the 375 Winchester and other cartridges that you use.
It would be a great thing for you and your dad do get onto. I never had that opportunity to do that with my dad.
Keep the 375 and expand the relationship with your dad and your firearms.
David
 
If you reload or have access to someone who does then get the 375 is a very nice cartridge. If you will be running factory ammo then I would go for the 45-70, but OTOH if you only shoot a couple rounds a year to scare off bears then you have 10 years supply of 375 ammo already.

You won't have a problem selling the M94 375 if that's what you decide to do, there is quite a demand for them. The 375 Winchester is basically a higher pressure/stretched version of the 38-55 Winchester. It's not in the 375 H&H class mind you, but it is a darn good close to medium range thumper.
 
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Thanks guys! Keeping things in prespective, reloading would be best. He likes his gun, knows it will do the job and seems the gun is in demand. Buying a box for him now and then would be the great and learning to reload or finding someone close who does would be a cheaper option.
Again thanks for all the input!
 
A box of 375 shells would make a great birthday or fathers day gift.

airwolf, what do you shoot for a rifle or pistol?
David

PS, Buy a box of shells and you can shoot, start reloading and you can shoot a lot.
 
little_Airwolf, you should consider getting a rifle or shotgun that takes either stripper clips or detachable magazine in the future. Loading up the '94 isn't quick should you need the rifle in a hurry.
A sporterized Enfield can be had for under $200, SKS for black bears, Mosin-Nagant, 8mm mauser, Garand, M305, snot load of military rifles that would fit the bill.

Stay safe and enjoy, glad to hear your keeping the .375.
 
Ya the 94 doesnt load fast but when you have three in the tube, youre ready to go, 1 warning shot, 1 shot and a safety fallow up.
He asked me to bring out my gun, I have a su16. I never thought about my 12g because its a single shot break action. 10 rounds of 5.56 should do something, if only to scare a bear off.
We brought out our 9mo son and I hope I never have to defend them, but I'll do my damnest to defend him.
Thanks guys!
 
little_airwolf said:
Ya the 94 doesnt load fast but when you have three in the tube, youre ready to go, 1 warning shot, 1 shot and a safety fallow up.
He asked me to bring out my gun, I have a su16. I never thought about my 12g because its a single shot break action. 10 rounds of 5.56 should do something, if only to scare a bear off.
We brought out our 9mo son and I hope I never have to defend them, but I'll do my damnest to defend him.
Thanks guys!
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a couple things here ..... with practice you can be loading the rifle and yelling at the bear . so when you finally are ready , you have a full magazine . if you are unable to do this the loading gate spring may be too stiff .

bears just don't jump out of thin air on people . they are big and noisy and announce their presence .

the second thing here is this , if your going to pick up a rifle for self defense us ...... USE IT ...... don't wave it around saying " looky here mr bear , I gots me a gun ..... see " " bang ....bang .... bang .... " .


if things have gotten so bad that you feel you need to involve a firearm , pick it up and use it and make the first shot count with the intent of not needing the rest of them .


the bad thing about warning shots is this .....bears in many areas are starting to associate gun fire with food , warning shots will do nothing more than to reinforce this , and possibly attract more bears .
 
burnt_servo said:
a couple things here ..... with practice you can be loading the rifle and yelling at the bear . so when you finally are ready , you have a full magazine . if you are unable to do this the loading gate spring may be too stiff .

bears just don't jump out of thin air on people . they are big and noisy and announce their presence .

the second thing here is this , if your going to pick up a rifle for self defense us ...... USE IT ...... don't wave it around saying " looky here mr bear , I gots me a gun ..... see " " bang ....bang .... bang .... " .


if things have gotten so bad that you feel you need to involve a firearm , pick it up and use it and make the first shot count with the intent of not needing the rest of them .


the bad thing about warning shots is this .....bears in many areas are starting to associate gun fire with food , warning shots will do nothing more than to reinforce this , and possibly attract more bears .
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noisy and announce their presence, that is something I'd have to disagree on. My father nlaws cabin has a dozen or so apple trees. At night or earily morning we always check the trees with flashlight. Atleast twice a year there are young bears climbing the trees to get the apples. Yes when they brake branches or get into the garbagethey make noise but when they don't you wouldnt know they were there.
Hence the guns.
Thank again guys, just need to find a guy in calgary area that has 375 dies and will reload for us.
 
l just need to find a guy in calgary area that has 375 dies and will reload for us.[/QUOTE said:
If I lived in Calgary I would buy a set of dies just so I could reload for you, I enjoy it and at a couple boxes a year it would be no problem.
I am sure if you posted on the reloading form you should get a hit from someone in your area. Try asking at the local gun store to see if they know of someone that reloads.
David
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