Back in June of 1989 I was going to go on a 2 week kayak trip in Price William Sound area of Alaska with 3 friends who were avid kayakers. This was going to be my graduation present for myself for finishing university. We had planned for this trips for almost a year and spent a lot of time training and preparing our equipment. All 4 of us were mentally and physically ready for the trip. Then the diseaster struck... Exxon Valdez incident occured just a little more than 2 months before we were to leave. Needless to say, our trip was cancelled.
Tonight I get a phone call from my brother-in-law. He said he and 5 of his friends are planning a 18-20 day kayak trip to Alaska next June as a graduation gift. Instead of going to Prince William Sound they are headed to some bay near Nome area. Since he does not have enough money to buy all the equpment he wanted to know if he can take some of my stuff... including a gun.
Needless to say I have no problem with my brother-in-law using anything I have but I don't know which gun I should let him take. I'm thinking that the gun I was going to take on my trip would be ideal... a Remington 870 with 18" barrel loaded with 1oz slugs. The gun's purpose is not for collecting food or anything like that but for protection against bears. Also, he has been shooting trap and skeet with my Rem 870 for about 5 years so he knows how to operate, clean and maintain the shotgun. My second choice is the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 which he has shot several times. He said 3 other people will be bringing guns (a Winchester 94 in 30-30, Mossy 500 with rifled barrel and a Winchester 70 in 338WM). He said 2 other friends will not bring guns because they have very little experience with them.
So what do you think, a Rem870 or the Marlin 1895 for the trip??