Well don't know that I am, but I think the gun is.
Had the 15" 450 Marlin out this morning with the Remington 405s @ 1650, & after I resighted the gun for a 130 yd -0-(just put on a bi-pod) & figured out my holdover I busted 2 clay birds in a row (All I had at that range to shoot at. Prone in the dirt with a small sandbag under my hands) @ 200 yds
, & had no problem hitting them resting on the hood of the truck with the bipod & one sandbag from 100-170 yds. so that's the hunting load for next week.
Now just practice & no more playing with loads until after that, including messing with the 35 WAI. I wanted to have a 225 gr load worked up for the 35 & take it with me too, but I just don't have the time to divide between 2 guns, personal stuff, getting ready for the hunt, & work this week. So it will just be the 450. That's not bothering me too much
I'm a tag along on this hunt so I'll go where it takes me, but it sounds like we'll start next Monday hunting an area off the road system south of Talketna (Between Anchorage & Fairbanks, close to Anchorage). It's supposed to be a mixed with Brown & black bear area, but it sounds like the brownies are running the blacks out, so it may be just a day or two there if there aren't any blackies, & then over on over to the Valdez area for black bear. I'll have to head back by friday night. The 1st area is about a 250 mile one way drive for me, & the second a little over 400.
As I said, I'm a tag a long here. .358 Hammer is the head honcho, Shawn is along (7STDUBBERU), one other guy from the states (sorry, don't remember who right now!) & a couple of Alaska guys, all hunting with handguns. Neal & his wife will be heading up to the 1st area in a couple of days to do some scouting for the rest of us. They are catching the ferry over from Kodiak to the mainland this morning (about an 18 hr trip I thing, then will drive about 80 miles to my place for our 1st face to face meeting & lunch, then on to Anchorage.
The 1st area & most of the second has a 3 black bear limit along with one brown bear, while a small portion of the second area is one black bear.
The out of state guys are limited to black bear (brown bear is a with guide only thing here) thus the back up area (Valdez).
Will stretch my comfort zone a bit (I usually hunt alone, occassionaly with one close friend), but should be a blast.
Sorry for the long post, but I guess I'm beginning to get in the spirit of things. I've killed critters with a long gun & a bow, but this will hopefully be my 1st successful handgun hunt.
Yes, there will be pics!!!
(There MePlat, I'm keeping you informed
)
) Good luck, Rod.
