Ardent
AH enthusiast
Work Guns I’ve Known…
I have owned and have used a diverse range of guns in my professions in the outdoors as a bush pilot and guide outfitter who specialized in coastal Grizzlies, Brown bears to our American friends. The guns range from a .375 H&H double rifle to a Glock. Those two actually mark the beginning and ends of the progression to date, without saying the Glock is the best yet by any means. Each excelled and was limited in different ways, and for fun, I wanted to detail them and reminisce a bit, in chronological order. I’ve owned and carried for work occasionally many, many guns not listed here, but these are the few that saw months of service at minimum, and the ones I liked years.
Merkel .375 H&H 140AE Double Rifle
The gun that pulls my heartstrings the most in memory. My Merkel double flew with me for scores of flight hours in the day job as a helicopter pilot in the north and outfitting being a handy takedown, as doubles naturally are. It pointed like a ten pound Red Rider BB gun, that is to say like lighting, and shot where I was looking even if I ignored the sights and fired both eyes open. I did some speed shooting with it knocking pairs of wood blocks about to practice target transitions, and it was the fastest gun I’ve owned, even over far lighter chamberings and semi automatics. Doubles rule the world of speed… for two rounds. They point like shotguns, and are extremely compact owing to zero action length. They’re also sealed to the elements; IF you trust the safety. The closest scrapes I’ve had with the big bears all happened with the Merkel for whatever reason too, and it was a great comfort on several occasions when an underhand tossed pebble would of landed behind the bear.
Pros:
-Very good stopping power and penetration
-Very quick handling and instinctive shooting
-No sharp edges or protrusions to snag gear
-Excellent iron sights
Cons:
-Weather sensitive, blued carbon steel
-Heavy enough to be a reliable boat anchor in an emergency
-Too expensive to leave unattended in boats or river camps that may flash flood etc
-I often carried it open with two in it, to have it safe yet ready, as I don’t trust tang safeties
The Merkel doing what it does best with an adversary, that at closest was eight yards from its muzzles; and that likely overestimates the range.
In its natural environment at the cabin.
Stoked for work.
Mossberg 12ga 590A1 14”
This gun was the first step towards carrying a Glock. I needed something cheap I could beat up, not worry about, and lighter. The compactness and weight were wonderful on a handy single point hands free sling, but I hated this gun. It was also far less reliable than others I’ve carried in that despite being mil spec and supposedly built for extreme use, it gummed up with wet sand and salt spray and jammed quicker than any other. Internals rusted sooner owing to the gaping ports, and were fragile, with semi exposed critical parts like the shell lifter. It wasn’t the workhorse I expected and I have little good to say about it honestly, I also found 12 gauge slug ballistics and stopping power to be lacking compared to a .375 H&H which has no more recoil than the slugs. Less in fact, due to the heavier guns the .375 H&Hs are. Sound like I hated this gun? I did.
Pros:
-Compact
-Cost effective
-Ammo versatility (flares, bangers, bird shot to fill the pot, etc)
Cons:
-Susceptible to the elements
-Weak internals (compared to Model 70s and Doubles)
-Inaccurate in comparison to rifles
-Inferior stopping power as compared to higher velocity rifles
590A1 with the track of a bear that left thirty seconds before. I was coming up river with Greg (member Hoytcanon), and we found these tracks on the the bar and sand crumbles on a log where he’d stood to listen to our approach.
The gun I loved to hate. While skinning a Grizzling in the water at dark, the Mossberg took a bath. The source of some of my problems with it were not the gun’s fault, to be sure.
Boat rides and salt spray. Yea I wasn’t exactly fair to it.
Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless .375 H&H
A rifle that compromised between most factors I asked. Weatherproof, lighter, powerful, decent handling and pointing, and cheaper. I really like the Model 70, and still own one of this exact model, I gave my second to one of my former guides and shouldn’t have. I’ve owned this same somewhat rare Model 70 three times now, probably a good indication I should hang onto this last one. They aren’t perfect at anything, but in heavy Grizzly / Brown bear country in the salmon run are good enough at everything to be a dependable and trustworthy main gun and friend. They’re exactly what the Model 70 legend purports it to be; dependable, reliable, affordable. They’re a legend for a reason. Damn shame Winchester has killed this model.
Pros:
-Stopping power and penetration
-Weatherproof
-Cost effective
-Intuitive, solid safety and controls
Cons:
-Still heavy although lighter than the double
-Long overall length
-Poorer handling and speed than the double
-Mediocre factory iron sights
On the job with the Model 70 Stainless Classic .375 H&H.
Model 70 friend.
Made to work.
Glock 40 (Longslide 10mm)
Glockasaurus as I call it affectionately, is my soulless companion. It weighs nothing, is slim, and is always there. I needed a hands free, lightweight solution as I’m flying bushplanes, running river jet boats, and packing mountain goats down and need to shed pounds. The Glock offers the lightest and most compact, and most hands free solution, and begrudgingly I’ve come to love it. Utterly weatherproof, light enough to forget it is there, and safe to carry ready it has become an unexpected friend. There isn’t much to say here as there’s nothing to wax eloquently on about with it, it’s just a damn fine tool.
Pros:
-Lightest option
-Smallest option
-Hands free, I never put it down
-Affordable
Cons:
-Weak stopping power in comparison to rifles
Thanks for reading, each gun has its place and I’m always trying to find the best. The best, would be the Glock complimenting a stainless double rifle I can afford to lose. That doesn’t exist… Butch Searcy offered to make me a stainless .375 double at a very fair price, and I’m sorely tempted. Will be fun to see where that thought goes.
Will add further thoughts on some ultimate work gun builds, one that didn’t satisfy despite no expense spared.
I have owned and have used a diverse range of guns in my professions in the outdoors as a bush pilot and guide outfitter who specialized in coastal Grizzlies, Brown bears to our American friends. The guns range from a .375 H&H double rifle to a Glock. Those two actually mark the beginning and ends of the progression to date, without saying the Glock is the best yet by any means. Each excelled and was limited in different ways, and for fun, I wanted to detail them and reminisce a bit, in chronological order. I’ve owned and carried for work occasionally many, many guns not listed here, but these are the few that saw months of service at minimum, and the ones I liked years.
Merkel .375 H&H 140AE Double Rifle
The gun that pulls my heartstrings the most in memory. My Merkel double flew with me for scores of flight hours in the day job as a helicopter pilot in the north and outfitting being a handy takedown, as doubles naturally are. It pointed like a ten pound Red Rider BB gun, that is to say like lighting, and shot where I was looking even if I ignored the sights and fired both eyes open. I did some speed shooting with it knocking pairs of wood blocks about to practice target transitions, and it was the fastest gun I’ve owned, even over far lighter chamberings and semi automatics. Doubles rule the world of speed… for two rounds. They point like shotguns, and are extremely compact owing to zero action length. They’re also sealed to the elements; IF you trust the safety. The closest scrapes I’ve had with the big bears all happened with the Merkel for whatever reason too, and it was a great comfort on several occasions when an underhand tossed pebble would of landed behind the bear.
Pros:
-Very good stopping power and penetration
-Very quick handling and instinctive shooting
-No sharp edges or protrusions to snag gear
-Excellent iron sights
Cons:
-Weather sensitive, blued carbon steel
-Heavy enough to be a reliable boat anchor in an emergency
-Too expensive to leave unattended in boats or river camps that may flash flood etc
-I often carried it open with two in it, to have it safe yet ready, as I don’t trust tang safeties
The Merkel doing what it does best with an adversary, that at closest was eight yards from its muzzles; and that likely overestimates the range.
In its natural environment at the cabin.
Stoked for work.
Mossberg 12ga 590A1 14”
This gun was the first step towards carrying a Glock. I needed something cheap I could beat up, not worry about, and lighter. The compactness and weight were wonderful on a handy single point hands free sling, but I hated this gun. It was also far less reliable than others I’ve carried in that despite being mil spec and supposedly built for extreme use, it gummed up with wet sand and salt spray and jammed quicker than any other. Internals rusted sooner owing to the gaping ports, and were fragile, with semi exposed critical parts like the shell lifter. It wasn’t the workhorse I expected and I have little good to say about it honestly, I also found 12 gauge slug ballistics and stopping power to be lacking compared to a .375 H&H which has no more recoil than the slugs. Less in fact, due to the heavier guns the .375 H&Hs are. Sound like I hated this gun? I did.
Pros:
-Compact
-Cost effective
-Ammo versatility (flares, bangers, bird shot to fill the pot, etc)
Cons:
-Susceptible to the elements
-Weak internals (compared to Model 70s and Doubles)
-Inaccurate in comparison to rifles
-Inferior stopping power as compared to higher velocity rifles
590A1 with the track of a bear that left thirty seconds before. I was coming up river with Greg (member Hoytcanon), and we found these tracks on the the bar and sand crumbles on a log where he’d stood to listen to our approach.
The gun I loved to hate. While skinning a Grizzling in the water at dark, the Mossberg took a bath. The source of some of my problems with it were not the gun’s fault, to be sure.
Boat rides and salt spray. Yea I wasn’t exactly fair to it.
Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless .375 H&H
A rifle that compromised between most factors I asked. Weatherproof, lighter, powerful, decent handling and pointing, and cheaper. I really like the Model 70, and still own one of this exact model, I gave my second to one of my former guides and shouldn’t have. I’ve owned this same somewhat rare Model 70 three times now, probably a good indication I should hang onto this last one. They aren’t perfect at anything, but in heavy Grizzly / Brown bear country in the salmon run are good enough at everything to be a dependable and trustworthy main gun and friend. They’re exactly what the Model 70 legend purports it to be; dependable, reliable, affordable. They’re a legend for a reason. Damn shame Winchester has killed this model.
Pros:
-Stopping power and penetration
-Weatherproof
-Cost effective
-Intuitive, solid safety and controls
Cons:
-Still heavy although lighter than the double
-Long overall length
-Poorer handling and speed than the double
-Mediocre factory iron sights
On the job with the Model 70 Stainless Classic .375 H&H.
Model 70 friend.
Made to work.
Glock 40 (Longslide 10mm)
Glockasaurus as I call it affectionately, is my soulless companion. It weighs nothing, is slim, and is always there. I needed a hands free, lightweight solution as I’m flying bushplanes, running river jet boats, and packing mountain goats down and need to shed pounds. The Glock offers the lightest and most compact, and most hands free solution, and begrudgingly I’ve come to love it. Utterly weatherproof, light enough to forget it is there, and safe to carry ready it has become an unexpected friend. There isn’t much to say here as there’s nothing to wax eloquently on about with it, it’s just a damn fine tool.
Pros:
-Lightest option
-Smallest option
-Hands free, I never put it down
-Affordable
Cons:
-Weak stopping power in comparison to rifles
Thanks for reading, each gun has its place and I’m always trying to find the best. The best, would be the Glock complimenting a stainless double rifle I can afford to lose. That doesn’t exist… Butch Searcy offered to make me a stainless .375 double at a very fair price, and I’m sorely tempted. Will be fun to see where that thought goes.
Will add further thoughts on some ultimate work gun builds, one that didn’t satisfy despite no expense spared.
