Driving From the Canadian Border to Alaska.What Rifle Would You Choose?

Would You Choose a Bolt or Lever Action

  • Total voters
    69
IJ1981 said:
Glad you love the M77 Ruger .30.06! I have had mine since 2001. A wonderful rifle for all seasons.

And the Henry Big Boy .45/70 is an outstanding rifle. It will handle anything in North America and probably most of Africa .
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Maybe CRF is overstated, I just like it. None of my guns even have it, but I have a love for older Rugers with the Mauser type actions, but I just never ended up with one even though I had intended. The Henry Big boy in 45-70 is a tack driver, I have bolt actions that are more capable at extended ranges but me and that Henry is good friends anywhere inside 200 yards
 
Going into the Great White North (Canuckastan) is always, ah, …. aspirational.

So good luck.
 
I will likely never go further north than Kansas City MO, but were I to traverse the great white North I think either my 1894 Winchester in 30-30 or M99 Savage in 303 Savage would be plenty good enough. After all, the Savage with 190 grain bullets will "shoot endwise through a grizzly" if you believe the old adverts. If I were to go on such a journey, I'd likely be fishing, so no need for a high-powered moose/elk/etc. rifle. Either of the lever guns I mentioned would be sufficient (in my mind) protection from any critter seeking to part me from my fish, and should needs require, both would "fill the pot" with smaller game easily, especially if using downloaded ammunition.

Mac
 
I voted bolt gun, and it would be a 350 rem mag if I could take my own ammo. Or 30-06 in a m77 if local ammo sourcing was on the menu. Either would be a good companion in north country.

But I wouldn't turn my nose up at a 45-70 levergun either...
 
Before you leave the states you had better register your firearm's with CBP on a 4457 even if they are American made. I am a retired Customs Broker and have seen my share of legally owned guns seized upon entry w/o this paperwork. The registration form serves as your entry for your firearms when returning.
 
bannockburn said:
A Tikka T3X CTR in .308 would be my bolt action choice
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I had mine out just last evening—I had my daughter and her boyfriend out shooting for the first time and despite that they did great with the rifle. It’s light and handy, and the stock design makes handling the recoil easy. With a ten round magazine I kind of view it as a modern version of the Jungle Carbine.

UQNnedJ.jpg
 
If you actually need to shoot a large up Nort critter, my first and second choice would be a 30-06 bolt action. I love my 35 Remington and 30-30 lever but I believe in serious gun power. A 308 is good too.
 
Our daughter's inlaws have a camp in 'middle of nowhere' in central Canada, and I've often considered what I have to take along. My Marlin .44 Mag is trappered, so it's too short. Maybe a .45 Colt '92, with some heavier handloads as bear discouragers; the gun will certainly tolerate heavy loads.
Are there any restrictions on how much ammunition you can take?
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
Our daughter's inlaws have a camp in 'middle of nowhere' in central Canada, and I've often considered what I have to take along. My Marlin .44 Mag is trappered, so it's too short.
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I’m not sure about the rules of bringing rifles across the border but short-barreled rifles are legal to own here as long as they’re not semi-auto and longer than 26”. I’ve got a bolt-action .223 with a 12” barrel on it.
 
Dragonfly said:
I’m not sure about the rules of bringing rifles across the border but short-barreled rifles are legal to own here as long as they’re not semi-auto and longer than 26”. I’ve got a bolt-action .223 with a 12” barrel on it.
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Wouldn't that be considered a "Restricted" firearm in Canada, and thus not a choice for those traveling from the US?
 
Sistema1927 said:
Wouldn't that be considered a "Restricted" firearm in Canada, and thus not a choice for those traveling from the US?
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No, they’re blessedly non-restricted, as long as they’re not semi-auto. No mag capacity restrictions either, as long as the magazine is designed specifically for that rifle and not a centrefire semi-auto.
 
sevt_chevelle said:
I've been to Canada, once was enough.
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Next month I’m going again for probably my 10th trip (see my avatar from Kapuskasing, Ontario). I’ve only hunted there once but taking a firearm for a legitimate reason is zero problem as long as you fill out the proper paperwork ahead of time. I’m not sure “just because” is a legitimate reason to them.

I personally wouldn’t bother, but it’s your circus, your monkeys. Were I so inclined, it would be a lever carbine in your favorite caliber

If this is your first trip, be advised that at least at some border crossings they have cameras and listening devices ahead of the guard site. I’d most strongly suggest you refrain from stupid jokes about drugs, bombs, etc.

Have any restricted items (tobacco, alcohol) inventoried ahead of time and written down for the driver. And be honest. It’s easier to pay a little extra duty than a far bigger penalty, plus get searched. I had one acquaintance who inadvertently tried to take a banned item across. They were detained for eleven hours and told that they were fortunate they didn’t end up in jail
 
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Dragonfly said:
No, they’re blessedly non-restricted, as long as they’re not semi-auto. No mag capacity restrictions either, as long as the magazine is designed specifically for that rifle and not a centrefire semi-auto.
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Ok, I was only going on what has been posted here, but after reading your post I went to see what the official form says. Looks like, since it isn't semi-auto, that my Ruger GSR .308 with 16" barrel would be allowed. At the same time, my SMLE Jungle carbine would qualify.
 
What am I getting out of the car and doing?

Even if we pretend that Canada is a giant 51st state and gun laws are no issue. I wouldn't carry any gun if I was just heading straight up the freeway, and would take a 4" revolver if I expected to be backwoods for some reason.
 
My first choice would be a lever action 45-70 or 444 Marlin. But my 7rm bolt would work great.
My buddy sent me pictures from Canada last night, he and his wife caught three Muskie over 40" largest was 48 3/4" (almost 50"). Not a bad day (yes one day) of fishing. Plus many pike largest 39 1/2".
For those that don't want to go to Canada because of there policies. That's fine. I'll carry a big knife.....
 
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