doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stoeger 12ga coachgun

I'm more inclined to agree with Dennis, if you're looking for an inexpensive piece. What if two shots aren't enough, or maybe, with the stress factor high, they miss their mark? Do you want him to be digging the empties out of an extractor gun before he can reload? I wouldn't want to have to if it were me. The single trigger on a pump would be better for someone not 100% accustomed to double triggers, too, again, in a life threatening situation.

SRH

Stoeger makes a brushed nickel and a stainless receiver version. I'll check them out. Somehow a double seems like it would be easier to operate for him. He hasn't shot a lot....I'll rectify that situation asap.

Semper Fi to the Marine version.

I think that there may be better life insurance policies out there. Stoeger seem to have a few reliability issues with the single trigger.
ie. Marlin 1895G SS in 45-70.
A little heavier but garners more respect. Five shots & each with more stopping power than buck shot.
O.M

If not the Marlin, a Ruger guide gun as a stopper.

Two shots of buckshot seems inadequate to me.

My sister-in-law is an anthropologist working in coastal Alaska.

Everyone , and I mean everyone, carries a cut off 870 pump with a sling.
You do not go anywhere without it.
If you do, you are fired.
She's as anti as anyone ever was, but to see her swinging her companion around, is pretty impressive.

They are ubiquitous in Alaskan gun shops. Chopped, dropped, and ready to roll.

Quite handy for hunting moose as well.

What about bear spray and a big pistol? I know nothing about Alaska Brown Bears, but bear spray seems to be pretty well accepted for Griz in the Rockies out West.

One thing to remember about bear spray is that when you're hunting its usually INTO the wind. If we're going with the shotgun, I'd pick the Rem 870 FWIW...Geo

A stainless bolt gun in 338 would be a good alternative.

For a woman in the bush, bears come in from downwind, when you've got your drawers down.
It has been quite the treat listening to her about life on the rivers. She's as whitebread as any suburban mom there ever was.
It's also very sad when she sends pictures of fetal alcohol children in the villages she works with.
When they drop in to a site by helo, they establish a perimeter, 870's swinging, like it's an insertion.

The guns pack a lot of firepower in a small, light, simple package. Defensive firepower only of course.

They run off bears in other ways, but it's no coincidence that her companion is ever hanging off her neck.
A privy offers little protection from a brown bear.

I thought this is an interesting read about using common sense in brown bear country in AK.

I lived in AK for about 17 years and never had an issue with brown/grizzly bears. Of course, I was often hunting big game when in bear country and had sufficient fire power in case of an incident. I also hunted them and believe me, it's unbelievable how fast they can move. If one isn't darn good with a pistol, not much use, IMO.

I also spent a bunch of time fishing some of the rivers and streams and never had a firearm with me (unless of course I was also hunting). I used situational awareness and would make enough noise when fishing with friends.

Since it's SE AK you mention and mainly working in a saltwater environment, a stainless 870 with buckshot or slugs should work fine, with the caveat that the owner knows how to use it well!

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/safety/bears.htm