45/70 Lever Actions -

[Slickshot]

Which make is best in an under 20 Barreled gun?  Primarily will use it for Bear protection in Alaska.


Slickshot

[rbertalotto]

Marlin has a number of rifles in both Blue and SS that will fit that bill nicely.

[rickk]

I have the 1895 Marlin with a 22" Barrel. It works flawlessly.  The 18.5 inch "guide gun" version should do well too.

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[Pancho Peacemaker]

If you could tolerate a 22" barrel, I'd look for a Browning 1886 SRC.  These were made for Browning by Miroku in the late 1980's.  You can find them on Gunbroker all the time in top condition for around $900.  They are beautiful, well made rifles which can handle any modern 45-70 factory load.  I have one and it is one of my favorite rifles.  I've handled the Marlin guide guns (which are nice) and I find the '86 to be a superior rifle.

Miroku still makes an 86 under the Winchester brand, but they have that silly tang safety and a rebounding hammer.  Opinons vary on the quality of these newer reproductions.

If you can't trust a John Browning design, who can you trust?


Pancho

[Lumpy Grits]

With the WET weather of AK. I carried an older Marlin SS .45-70 or a Mossberg 500 "Mariner" 12ga. I also had along a Freedom Arms .454 Casull 
It is VERY hard to keep your guns dry when out in the field.......
We had 2 bear "meets", but no rounds were fired. A string of firecrackers chased them off.
Cheers,
LG