I am moving to alaska in a couple weeks and was wondering if my marlin marauder in 35 rem. would be ok to carry around for bear protection. What do you guys think?
greatwhitehunter
Its better than a sharp stick or a handgun. If I were gonna carry a 35 remington, I'd load it with these;
Heavy 35 Remington Rifle & Gun Ammunition
Heavy 35 Remington Rifle & Gun Ammunition
Do a forum search for bear defense and you should uncover some very interestng discussions/debates on the matter.
As someone who lived in AK, a .35Rem would be way on the low end for me and I'd want good hard cast bullets with the widest metplat I could find.
As someone who lived in AK, a .35Rem would be way on the low end for me and I'd want good hard cast bullets with the widest metplat I could find.
Like buckeyeshooter said, it beats a sharp stick for sure. But......after hunting bear in Alaska and being within 20 yards of some rather larger brown bear, the .35 Remington is not what I would want for bear defense. If you are wanting to stick with a lever gun, I would start looking for a 450 or 45-70 as a minimum. Better yet.......a short, easy handling bolt gun in .375 H&H would be ideal.
Would the .35 Remington stop a bear? With proper bullet placement on an unsuspecting bear it probably would. It's when things get nasty that you want the most stopping power you can get to stop an angry bear that has intentions of putting some serious hurt on your body that you want to consider.
Would the .35 Remington stop a bear? With proper bullet placement on an unsuspecting bear it probably would. It's when things get nasty that you want the most stopping power you can get to stop an angry bear that has intentions of putting some serious hurt on your body that you want to consider.
Just use a heavy hardcast bullet with wide meplat and you'll be fine. You're better off shooting something you're comfortable with and used too and can hit with than buying some cannon you're intimidated by. Might want to get a 45/70 but I think you'd be fine with a 35 rem with good ammo. Yes Grizzly's are MONSTERS but they're are not built from steel, I'm sure 35 remington with the right bullets and placed accurately would take care of a Grizzly, and that's just it, you can carry whatever monster gun you want but with Grizzly every shot counts, bullet placements is more important than EVER, much more important than caliber. Being able to keep calm and hit under severe pressure and stress would but the thing to practice if possible.
Boy, I really like the 35's. Really. But I wouldn't want to depend on it with some ugly momma bear protecting her babies!
You can use it, but I would get me no less than a 1895 guide gun. They are quick handling, accurate and heavy hitting carbines.
I don't have any first hand experience with a big bear charging me, but I wouldn't trust a 35 over a 45-70 or 450 Marlin.
Have you thought about selling it, or trading for something like a 45-70? I might be willing to take it off your hands.
You can use it, but I would get me no less than a 1895 guide gun. They are quick handling, accurate and heavy hitting carbines.
I don't have any first hand experience with a big bear charging me, but I wouldn't trust a 35 over a 45-70 or 450 Marlin.
Have you thought about selling it, or trading for something like a 45-70? I might be willing to take it off your hands.
Welcome to the forum, greatwhitehunter!
I'd feel very underpowered in the face of a grizzly bear with a 35 Remington or a 30-30 for that matter.
A Marlin Model 1895SBL would be a good choice. The laminate stock and stainless finish would be good in that climate. I'd use some 430 or 500 grain Buffalo Bore ammo in this rifle.
Or I'd go with a Dixie Terminator or IXL-DGS slug and feel pretty good. You can buy a pump shottie for pretty reasonable cost.
DixieSlugs Products They have in the past made a .50 caliber 460 grain Sabot at 1500'/sec that seems to me to be a very good DG pill, also.
The NRCS Alaska guidelines for bear defense. In order to be qualified to carry a slug gun, you have to meet some pretty tough requirements. It will give you a good feel for the power of a grizzly.
ftp://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/downloads/centennial/article3620061204.pdf
I'd feel very underpowered in the face of a grizzly bear with a 35 Remington or a 30-30 for that matter.
A Marlin Model 1895SBL would be a good choice. The laminate stock and stainless finish would be good in that climate. I'd use some 430 or 500 grain Buffalo Bore ammo in this rifle.
Or I'd go with a Dixie Terminator or IXL-DGS slug and feel pretty good. You can buy a pump shottie for pretty reasonable cost.
DixieSlugs Products They have in the past made a .50 caliber 460 grain Sabot at 1500'/sec that seems to me to be a very good DG pill, also.
The NRCS Alaska guidelines for bear defense. In order to be qualified to carry a slug gun, you have to meet some pretty tough requirements. It will give you a good feel for the power of a grizzly.
ftp://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/downloads/centennial/article3620061204.pdf
Buy this Book:
Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance
by: Stephen Herrero
http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Attacks-Their-Causes-Avoidance/dp/0941130827
It will give you a true perspective of the Species.
Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance
by: Stephen Herrero
http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Attacks-Their-Causes-Avoidance/dp/0941130827
It will give you a true perspective of the Species.
I agree with most of the other posts about getting a larger and heavier caliber cartridge. However, regardless of what you end up with, be sure the rifle will smoothly chamber the round each and every time. In a situation where your nerves are perhaps a little on ends and seconds count, it is no time to have to giggle the rifle to get a big flat bullet to go into the chamber.
i'd think twice about using a lever unless you are really, really proficient at follow up shots. a pump is more natural and easier to stay on target with follow-ups. i'd go with a remington 870 3" mag with extended mag tube, collapsible stock and single point sling. load 'er up with the hottest slugs you can find and then practice your butt off. if you're going to be spending any time in the woods, i'd also have a serious hog leg like a ruger SRH alaskan in 480 ruger on one hip and a big old pig sticker on the other. i'd treat the situation as it is, life or death. 1000 lbs of PO'd bear is not something you want to scratch your marauder.
Sure in the case of Grizzly you shouldnt skimp on the caliber but 35 rem isnt exactly a 22lr...with some heavy fast ammo its quite enough to kill a bear, their are example of grizzly getting shot and killed with revolvers in 44 mag etc all over the place. 35 rem close up with good bullets will take down a grizzly if shot in the right spot. oh and no matter what caliber you have to hit the right spot. I mean if it was me i'd probably buy a guidegun and practice shooting it real fast and accurately, but if wouldn't hesitate to use a 35 rem either. I'd even feel ok with an 1894 in 44mag loaded up with some sick buffalo bore hardcasts.
Yeah... that's the ticket. Take a .22 short derringer and shoot your buddy in the foot, run like the dickens.
I envy you. One of my favorite games is to ponder which gun/load would I carry if in Alaska. You are going to do it for real. A .35 would not be my first choice, but with the right ammo, I would feel pretty good about my choice. That assumes that you are good with your rifle and there would be no issues if you need to defend yourself with it.
This makes me think of a Canadian bear guide I read about years ago. He used a .22 mag lever rifle and had stopped many bears with it. He shot them in the hump over the shoulders with a fmj .22. Worked like a charm. This story convinced me that knowing your game and gun is the key. That and remaining calm while a beast several times your size is trying to make you bear scat. That one may take some doing.:ahhhhh:
This makes me think of a Canadian bear guide I read about years ago. He used a .22 mag lever rifle and had stopped many bears with it. He shot them in the hump over the shoulders with a fmj .22. Worked like a charm. This story convinced me that knowing your game and gun is the key. That and remaining calm while a beast several times your size is trying to make you bear scat. That one may take some doing.:ahhhhh:
If you see the bear your ok with the 35 or many other cal. If you startle or walk up on a big bear one shot is all you will get if your "lucky" I would want no less than the 450! + a sawed off double barrel 10ga. with 3 1/2" hard slugs might be about right in thick timber. If a bear is right on you you will never feel the recoil from any cal. so go BIG my friend or do you feel "LUCKY" this might help, go look at a stuffed GRIZZ standing on Its hind legs. the first time I did I froze in awe of it, just think about if it was ALIVE!!!! just food for thought.
A while back I was looking for info about panning gold in AK. A state sponsered site came up and it recommended that folks leave their big pistols and heavyweight magnums that they don't shoot enough at home, and to bring a 12 Ga slug gun. I found this to be well sounding advice. The TV program Alaska State Troopers seem to punctuate that advice by issueing their troopers 870's, with slugs added to the mix. Did see one episode where a trooper carries a 1895G in 45-70.
If just for bear defense I would go with a slug gun. If for hunting, maybe something different. AK is a beutiful state, and you'll have fun just watching wildlife let alone hunting and fishing.
If just for bear defense I would go with a slug gun. If for hunting, maybe something different. AK is a beutiful state, and you'll have fun just watching wildlife let alone hunting and fishing.
greatwhitehunter, welcome to MO!! I agree with the others on this forum, a .35 beats a sharp stick BUT, I would go with a larger more powerful caliber and lots of practice. I would also suggest as others have, a large caliber handgun for more up close and personal with a bear. Alaska is a big beautiful state but you got to protect yourself. Take care up there and keep us in the loop about your adventures, John.
Black bear a good choice, Alaska bears,.give me a gun that will shoot cross ties 10 miles and thro rocks the rest of the way.
No Way!
You would be a candidate for the Darwin awards.
"Bear Protection" is an assumption that the shot would be a split second decision rushed shot.
"Bear Hunting" is different. Yes, if you were bear hunting you could have the time for the right shot placement to kill a Brown Bear.
edit: Before you go to AK, go to the zoo and have a look at a Brown Bear close up. Imagine it rushing you, and all you see is head and shoulders.
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You would be a candidate for the Darwin awards.
"Bear Protection" is an assumption that the shot would be a split second decision rushed shot.
"Bear Hunting" is different. Yes, if you were bear hunting you could have the time for the right shot placement to kill a Brown Bear.
edit: Before you go to AK, go to the zoo and have a look at a Brown Bear close up. Imagine it rushing you, and all you see is head and shoulders.
Just my two cents, I hunt black bears and one day hope to go to Alaska for a GUIDED bear hunt for the big guys. The thing I would keep in mind as far as the bears and other wildlife, go is how you will encounter them or how they will encounter you. The blackies I have shot were all bears I saw in advance, got to prepare for them and then pick my shot and that was anywhere from twenty to forty yards and the bears were unsuspecting. They all fell to a single shot from a 30-06. Now change all that to a bear that is startled by you or is otherwise aggressive and at least as close as my black bears have been. You need something very powerful that will deliver a tremendous amount of shock and damage in the first shot because you may not get another. Also, no matter how good a shot you are on paper, you will be shooting at a freight train sized target that is moving very fast. Always be alert, check your surroundings and avoid anything you don't know or feel good about and use enough gun when you need to. Enjoy Alaska and be careful and alert.
Well, I know the marauder will be going with me and I would never sell it cause it was a gift from my grandpa. I have been thinking about buying the new savage alaskan brush hunter in 375 ruger. I am betting nobody objects to that as a good rifle for bear defense. As for a sidearm I will be carrying either a glock 20 10mm or a taurus m444 ultralight 44 mag.
I really like Flat Top's signature line.
"You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong."
- Bob Hagel
I don't think a 35 Rem is that rifle. If the NRCS is issuing 12ga slug guns for bear defense I would think they have researched it a bit and that they believe it is best for their people.
I'm really envious of your move to Alaska. Good luck
"You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong."
- Bob Hagel
I don't think a 35 Rem is that rifle. If the NRCS is issuing 12ga slug guns for bear defense I would think they have researched it a bit and that they believe it is best for their people.
I'm really envious of your move to Alaska. Good luck
I just can`t see how you could beat a 45/70 or 450 Marlin Guide Rifle in a 18:biggrin:95 with Skinner or XS Ghost Ring sights.Loaded with Punch boolits you could kill T-Rex.
http://beltmountain.com/punch.htm
http://beltmountain.com/punch.htm
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