How seriously limiting would it be to use a Marlin 1895 in .45-70, for a combo caribou/black bear hunt in Alaska? I have one, and love it, and it shoots 300 gr. winchester nosler partition golds very accurately. Sighted in at 3" high at 100 yds., I could do very well out to 200 yds., maybe a little farther. I would like to get a good bou, but wouldn't have to be a "booker", and a mature blackie would be just fine. The rub is that a lot of the caribou shots I read about are 300-400 yds. Is that normal, or just what you "read", in magazines?

Mad Dog

MD,
Just depends on how and where you are hunting. There are places that you really do need a flatter shooting rifle, especially if you limited on the amount of time you spend, on caribou. There are successful bowhunters every year for caribou though.

Caribou aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, but they aren't going to let you just walk right up on them. If the herd is in migration, you would be able to work your way into a position relatively close. If the migration isn't underway yet, though, it can be a bit tougher and shots at longer range.

If it were me, I would want something flatter shooting. My shots have come between around 225 yards out to about 400, or a little more. I'm not a caribou hunting fanatic, though, so I don't spend a lot time pursuing them.

A 270 or 30-06 class rifle would be plenty. 45/70 does limit you, a little too much, in my opinion. It is your hunt, the rifle is your choice. Go with what is best for you, I think you will really enjoy the hunt, whichever rifle you decide to carry.

I decided to edit this a little.

I didn't catch where you are from, or if this would be a "dream" type trip. Alaska is big country. It's expensive to get up here and expensive to hunt here. I don't know how many trips you plan to take up here, but I would recommend a little flatter shooting rifle with a good scope. It's one thing to live up here and to be interested in the challenge of restricting yourself to the 45/70 for caribou. Hey if you don't get one on this trip, just go next week, next month, next year. But for the visiting sportsman, a 30-06, 270, or other flat shooting cartridge makes a lot of sense. Caribou country is open country, for the most part. At least 200 yards + are more common than not.

You already got great advice on hunting Alaska, but if you are interested in reading up on Alaska Bears, here's a report that might interest you...


http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/brownbears/attacks/bear-human_conflicts.htm

Here's a very good article on the 45-70 in Leverguns if you haven't read it before already...

http://www.sixgunner.com/backissues/paco/4570leverguns.htm

That sounds like a great trip, and would be worth sorting out a special load for both species. I bet the Caribou would go down quick with a good hit from a 45-70, but like Alyeska suggests - it's real open country! Fortunately, there's some great long range bullets in 45 caliber that can extend the range of the 45-70 if you load it as a two shooter just for the Caribou...

GOOD LUCK! ;)