gift to neice

[sncup]

A nephews daughter went to Alaska for a job. While there she met a boy and they are now setting up housekeeping. They are about an hour north and east of Anchorage Alaska, near a main highway. She has a city job and drives 5+ days a week by herself.

Her father is going to truck her goods and horse up there in a couple of months. I am sending a lever action center fire rifle and 1 other gun as a house warming gift with her father. This will be a surprise to her. I know she knows how to shoot and she has hunted with her father.
Question: should the 2nd gun be a 22 rifle or a 20 gauge shotgun?

Bearpaw and others with Alaska experience may have an answer.

 

[pete44ru]

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IMO, a 22LR can be very useful, but I would opt for a 12ga ILO a 20ga if a shotgun is to be the 2nd gun.

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[nekvermont]

I would opt for a .22 rim fire. Useful for so many chores and so cheap to shoot.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

A nephews daughter went to Alaska for a job. While there she met a boy and they are now setting up housekeeping. They are about an hour north and east of Anchorage Alaska, near a main highway. She has a city job and drives 5+ days a week by herself.

Her father is going to truck her goods and horse up there in a couple of months. I am sending a lever action center fire rifle and 1 other gun as a house warming gift with her father. This will be a surprise to her. I know she knows how to shoot and she has hunted with her father.
Question: should the 2nd gun be a 22 rifle or a 20 gauge shotgun?

Bearpaw and others with Alaska experience may have an answer.

Is she living in Eagle River, Chugiak, Palmer, not sure where she's at, or if she is in a standard subdivision, or why you are sending this gun, My impression is it's for her car while she is driving by herself, or maybe when she's off and can get out? Tough to answer with out more specific information. Feel free to pm. Do you have an idea of her age? Alaska is pretty generous with concealed carry and so long as she's a resident she can carry (if legal age) openly or concealed when ever. Even when I lived there that was the case, I still got a CCC to carry with me so I could pack when I traveled to other states. If you are concerned for her being on her own a CCW might be helpful. I have friends that live in Eagle River that had a problem with a grizzly coming to their house, getting after the dog. Husband used his 30-30 to kill the bear. It was a juvenile. Many different uses or possibilities. a 22 Rimfire rifle is always handy for getting out. Many folks use a 22 RF pistol to shoot Ptarmigan or grouse. I generally always had a 22 pistol with me for camping and such.

By the way it's pretty expensive to feed a horse in Alaska because there not a lot of hay grown there, and a fair amount is brought up. Her father should do some homework before he brings a horse that far, it's a tough haul and I know of horses who have died on the trip. FWIW, obviously none of my business. Just the expensive can create a real hardship on families.

 

[bogus bill]

Back in the 1940`s or early 1950`s, I had a distant cousin go somewhere in Alaska. Nothing was heard of him for a few years so a brother went to investigate. They found his bones in some remote cabin.

 

[#1rugerman]

As far as the gift good for you, but legally I believe that a transfer across state lines requires a ffl on each end to make it legal so dad might get in some trouble with that. As far as a choice of guns first ask her what she would prefer and if she already has a carry permit. If she will not carry it's a wasted exercise, a shotgun would be great for repelling varmits around the house but as far as caring it around in a vehicle it can present several problems, not the least of which is availability or theft. Took me several years to get my wife to realize that just having a gun in the vehicle wasn't enough, it should be accessible at all times which means carry on your person or in a purse. My 2 cents.

 

[Armybrat]

What Rugerman said, not to mention that the Canadian customs folks take a dim view of Americans hauling firearms across the border. OP might want to check on that before said firearms get confiscated.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Taking long guns through Canada is no problem at all. You do have to declare them and fill out a form. Cost is like $25 or so and you can list multiple long guns (no semi-auto rifles or barrels shorter than 18". So that is no problem. If you want to send a Handgun, you have to do just that, send it to an ffl. If you need a name pm me and I'll give you a contact there in Anchorage.

sncup, you don't say where you are or her father but for the drive to Alaska I would strongly recommend a book called MILE POST. It breaks down what is along the highway (commonly referred to Highway 1) whether you are looking for gas, a rest room, rest stop, it tells you EVERYTHING. The daughter surely needs to do her homework to find out how much it's going to cost to keep a horse up there, I'm thinking from what you said it's probably Palmer, and what it will cost to lodge it. Again, it's extremely expensive. Her father really need to do his homework to find out what it's going to take to bring the horse through Canada, including shots, and letter from a veterinarian as to health. He needs to contact THE border crossing he is going to use on the trip (suggest Montana) so he does, and brings what they say through that border crossing. Get a name. May also say what it takes in the MILE POST. Good luck if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me.

 

[Armybrat]

I didn't know that about long guns. Good to know.

My dad toted a service 1911 when he was in the infantry while stationed at Fort Richardson & later on during the Aleutian campaign of 1943.