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My next bear gun

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My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 08 08, 2019 •  [Post 1]

Decided i need a new bear gun. The only open sight lever guns i have suitable for bears are really old, and in good condition, so i dont want to use them in bad weather. Need something i can take out in the rain. Was thinking of the stainless synthetic trapper model, but im going this route. I like the shorter barrel and the fact that its threaded for a brake / suppressor. New gun, not really available, so i put my name on a list to get one when they become available. This sucker shooting 325 grain bullets ought to thump the crap out of a bear. And i will be putting a suppressor on it, cause why not? https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-ac ... ark-series
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 08 09, 2019 •  [Post 2]

Great, the forecast i looked at showed no rain til sunday, so i left my stainless savage at home and just brought the old 49 marlin out again. And just as its about to get light out it starts pouring. Well im in no hurry to get soaked anyway, maybe ill just try to wait this out a while, hope it clears up.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Indian Summer » 08 09, 2019 •  [Post 3]

You’re still mad at that bear aren’t you? :lol:
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 08 09, 2019 •  [Post 4]

The one i couldnt find? Nah, its a bummer but its water under the bridge. When i went back out a few days later i got one at 15 yards with the .30-30, he went down hard. Zero tracking required.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby 7mmfan » 08 09, 2019 •  [Post 5]

Maybe this afternoon? Pretty slow moving front by the looks of it. Good for the woods though. Those bears won't be out in the pouring rain anyway. An hour after that sun breaks out though... giddy up.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby >>>---WW----> » 08 09, 2019 •  [Post 6]

My buddy shot a prairiedog with his 45/70. Punched a heck of a hole in the ground. Never did find the prairiedog, but there was a lot of blood and hair around the hole! :shock:
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Lefty » 08 10, 2019 •  [Post 7]

I like big guns and big bullets
325 otta work
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Deanmac » 08 10, 2019 •  [Post 8]

That baby will kick like an Arkansas mule. lol
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 12 20, 2019 •  [Post 9]

I believe ive finally found one for sale in missouri. Will be contacting the seller today. Looks like i may have to contact my suppressor guy shortly. Already got an RPP synthetic stock set for it. So a cerakote job for the rifle, and get the ball rolling on the suppressor paperwork and ill have me one kickass bear thumper.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 12 20, 2019 •  [Post 10]

New bear gun incoming. Chambered in .444 marlin instead of .45-70
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby 7mmfan » 12 20, 2019 •  [Post 11]

Sounds like a real bear getter. I'm not familiar with the 444 marlin. How's it compare to 45-70?
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 12 20, 2019 •  [Post 12]

7mmfan wrote:Sounds like a real bear getter. I'm not familiar with the 444 marlin. How's it compare to 45-70?

Basically its a bit more flat shooting, a bit more recoil, and a lot less factory ammo options. Im pretty damn excited to get it. Ill be using it to hunt bear this spring, and hoping to take posession of my suppressor for it before august 1st fall bear opener. But between 2 WA bear tags and 2 ID bear tags that i have for next year, this gun will get some action. Going to do my damndest to weigh down the meat pole here with bear carcasses next year. And our elk season is going into the late cycle next year, so i may actually get to hunt elk in 2020, barring any caribou migrations or other stupid crap getting me stuck in alaska all through archery, muzzy as nd modern elk seasons yet agsin. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 12 20, 2019 •  [Post 13]

Sweet. No caribou’s, no caribou’s ;)
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 03, 2020 •  [Post 14]

My new WMD has arrived. .444 marlin. I put a brake on it for now, will be getting the ball rolling on a suppressor soon. I have an RPP synthetic stock set for it that ill put on tomorrow, then im going to have the stupid parkerized finish stripped off and get this thing cerakoted. Going to knock the hell out of some bears this year.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Swede » 01 03, 2020 •  [Post 15]

Your Marlin looks like a great short range bear gun. I don't know about removing the finish and having it creosoted though. That stuff is nasty. :D
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 03, 2020 •  [Post 16]

Swede wrote:Your Marlin looks like a great short range bear gun. I don't know about removing the finish and having it creosoted though. That stuff is nasty. :D


Cerakoted, not creosoted :lol:

Short range bear hunting is what this was made for, imo. Call em in close, the closer the better. My record bear kill so far is 8 ft, but i dont know that i want to beat that!!!
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Swede » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 17]

I suppose you get enough of creosote working on the water front. It is not likely you miss the scent of it when you are inland. Still, if it will preserve a piling, it could keep your gunstock from rotting.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 18]

Swede wrote:I suppose you get enough of creosote working on the water front. It is not likely you miss the scent of it when you are inland. Still, if it will preserve a piling, it could keep your gunstock from rotting.


I have a polymer stock set im putting on it tomorrow, aint nothin gonna rot that. 8-)
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Swede » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 19]

There will be nothing for the Teredos to bore out either.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 20]

No worries there, this thing wont go anywhere near salt water. Ferry county is as far west as this gun goes. Really want to put a few rounds down the pipe. Got half a mind to just blast a few rounds from my back porch, you know, for the sake of science. But i think ill wait until tomorrow, go shoot at my parents place. I like to keep the gunfire here at home down to just as-needed. Dont want to disturb my critters.
If i manage to fill all 4 bear tags with this gun this year, i think ill have to take up a bigger challenge. Calling in bears and peeing on them.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Swede » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 21]

If anyone ever wants to pee on a bear, Here is what you want to do to pull off that stunt:
Set your tree stand up high over a pile of deer or elk guts in good bear country. Sit there quietly and wait. The bears start coming around about the next day after you make your deer or elk kill. You have time to get your stand in position and even place the guts where you want them. Remember to have a lot of fluid and drink it frequently. Don't worry about the scent of urine. The bears don't pay attention to it. Just be ready at all times and bring along a good book to read. I have seen a lot of bears in some places in just one morning.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 22]

Swede wrote:If anyone ever wants to pee on a bear, Here is what you want to do to pull off that stunt:
Set your tree stand up high over a pile of deer or elk guts in good bear country. Sit there quietly and wait. The bears start coming around about the next day after you make your deer or elk kill. You have time to get your stand in position and even place the guts where you want them. Remember to have a lot of fluid and drink it frequently. Don't worry about the scent of urine. The bears don't pay attention to it. Just be ready at all times and bring along a good book to read. I have seen a lot of bears in some places in just one morning.



I feel that peeing on bears over bait is unsportsmanlike and unethical. Im going to start a voter initiative to ban baiting bears for urination purposes. The only true fair chase way to pee on a bear is to call it in first. Stalk n soak is also fair chase, just not as challenging.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Swede » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 23]

I got my first pee bear "fair Chase", but from now on it is every bear for itself. I would suggest they look up before they start scarfing in guts under my tree.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 24]

You could always try trapping too. Just fill a water balloon up with urine, cover it with elk blood, and set it in the gut pile.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 06, 2020 •  [Post 25]

Well, i put some rounds down the tube today. Didnt feel like setting up paper targets, so i shot steel at 50 / 100 yards. Didnt use the bench. Just kneeling and standing offhand. Rang steel enough to be quite satisfied, going to do some bench shooting at paper targets later, but so far so good, dont think ill need to adjust the sights at all. And it doesnt kick near as hard as i expected, which im sure can be credited to the brake i put on. Pretty damn sweet gun! Look out bears, im comin!
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 06 15, 2022 •  [Post 26]

Well shes come a long way from original condition now. I think this is its final form, except for the fact that sometime in august or september ill finally get my big bore suppressor for it. Other than that the ultimate bear gun is complete. Had the parkerized coating stripped off, 2 tone cerakote job done. Swapped the ugly stock for a nice laminate set. Put a 1-6×24 scope on. Installed an adjustable kydex cheekpiece and the hammer spur to make the scope usable. In a couple months ill be able to put the suppressor on. This is the rifle i get the most use out of. My freezer filler. Figured id better just make it exactly how i want it. Next spring ill start hand loading for it. Have all of the stuff to do so. The factory ammo i like in it is discontinued, so going to load up 280 grain swift a frames. I think this is my favorite gun here (dont tell the others). While i have guns that are a bit more universally useful through a wider range of applications, theres just something about a big thumper lever action that turns my crank. Cant wait to get my can.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 06 16, 2022 •  [Post 27]

Boooom! That's pretty much the nicest bear thumper I've ever seen.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby 7mmfan » 06 16, 2022 •  [Post 28]

That sure is a pretty gun,
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 06 16, 2022 •  [Post 29]

What i really want now is a small branding iron of a bear paw. Cant find one. Everything out there that comes up from my meager internet searching skills is too damn big.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby 7mmfan » 06 16, 2022 •  [Post 30]

Might need to just get one of those heat etchers and a tiny stencil.

https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Tempe ... 5322006747
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 08 19, 2022 •  [Post 31]

The mailman brought me some new parts today. New trigger, loading gate, hammer spur extension, and takedown screw. Man the trigger and loading gate are big functional improvements.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby 7mmfan » 08 19, 2022 •  [Post 32]

I like it
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 08, 2023 •  [Post 33]

According to the atf, the new efile system released this year was going to make the form 4 paperwork thing take about 3 months, instead of 12. Ive currently been waiting nearly 9 months now for my .444 suppressor. Really, im not surprised. I would have been shocked if it only took 3 months, like they claimed. The entire purpose of the atf is to infringe on our constitutional rights.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 08, 2023 •  [Post 34]

Just took my aftermarket hammerspur off, and put marlins factory hammerspur back on, as i feel the factory part is superior to rpp's aftermarket "improvement". Im considering sending an email to RPP with my input on the hammer spur subject, but i highly doubt they would listen.
This is not to say im a ranger point precision hater. Their stock set was junk, and their hammer spur misses the point, but i have to give credit where credit is due, their trigger and loading gate are fantastic products, big upgrades for a very reasonable price.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Lefty » 01 10, 2023 •  [Post 35]

wawhitey wrote:
Swede wrote:Your Marlin looks like a great short range bear gun. I don't know about removing the finish and having it creosoted though. That stuff is nasty. :D


Cerakoted, not creosoted :lol:

Short range bear hunting is what this was made for, imo. Call em in close, the closer the better. My record bear kill so far is 8 ft, but i dont know that i want to beat that!!!


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 01 25, 2023 •  [Post 36]

Its a beautiful day today! Just got a love letter from the atf, fibally approved my 444 suppressor!
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby 7mmfan » 01 26, 2023 •  [Post 37]

Just in time for Valentines day!
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 02 17, 2023 •  [Post 38]

Oh boy. Ordered this can 4/21/2022. Just arrived today. Took a few shots off my back porch and oh what a difference, its like a whole new rifle. Im the happiest boy in the world at this moment.
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby wawhitey » 02 18, 2023 •  [Post 39]

Took a shot to check poi shift from the can, adjusted, couple more shots, adjusted, then did this 3 shot group (100 yrd) and just adjusted another half inch left and down, called it good. Going to be working up handloads soon, before august anyway. But that group there, i didnt measure but its right about 1/2 moa. Not bad accuracy for a catapult. (The little hole a couple inches from the group was a shot from a different rifle)
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Re: My next bear gun

Postby Lefty » 02 18, 2023 •  [Post 40]

Pretty sweet looking group there!!!!!
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