No expert on Alaska or what works there, but I've owned three different Marlin 45-70's including a guide gun dating back to 1976. I have a lot, I mean a lot more confidence the bolt rifle is going to work when it has to. I have no doubt the round will work. It is the rifle that I have my doubts about.
The carbine length Rugers weigh about the same and I've found I can get off multiple shots just as fast with a bolt gun. The pistol caliber levers can be fast, but once you reach the recoil levels of hot loaded 45-70 and the longer lever throws of the rifle calibers the levers aren't any faster.
