top is a bolt from a 1909 Argentine Mauser made nearly 100 years ago. Other than lacking a turned-down handle for scope clearance, it is identical to that of the Remington 798.

Both units share the exact same trigger assembly, which is fully adjustable for sear engagement, overtravel and tension, but are factory sealed to discourage tampering. To do so by any but an authorized Remington service station would void any warranties.

As they were, the triggers of both guns had a noticeable amount of creep and required four pounds to release--in other words, typical lawyer triggers. The two-position side safety that blocks trigger movement does not lock the bolt, so cartridges can be chambered and extracted with the safety engaged.

A few days after my range session with the guns, I left on that Alberta black bear hunt I mentioned. Having made as many baited bear hunts as I have, I knew the shooting distances would be virtually point blank, so I zeroed my Remington 180-grain Core Lokt factory load to hit dead on at 50 yards.

My hunt was booked with W&L Guide Services (www.wandl guides.com), which conducts bear hunting in the High Level area of northern Alberta about 350 miles north of Edmundton. I had hunted this general area about 15 years ago and remember it well, for it was the first time I had not one but two bears try to climb into my treestand with me.

Other than a new twist in the form of a transverse button to release the floorplate, the bottom-metal unit of the Model 798 hasn't changed in 108 years.

I'm sure it was more out of curiosity than aggressiveness, but the bears in this area simply seem to have no fear of man. Two other hunters in camp at the time had similar experiences sitting in stands many miles from where I was, and one ended up shooting his when it reached the top step. That bear had powder burns on its face.

The two bears that tried to share my stand were both small, and I didn't want to shoot either one, so I waited until they reached the second step from the solid floor of my stand, then peered over the edge so they'd get a sudden look at me. At the same time, I pointed my rifle right in their faces. Both times it was enough to get them to drop off the ladder. I'm sure they were far more surprised than I.

So here I was 15 years later hunting the same area, and damned if it didn't happen again. It was the first week of the 2006 spring season, and we were in a two-bear area, so I took one--just an average bear--on the first evening, just to ensure I'd have a story and pictures. On the third evening I had two bruins come in at the same time. One was a good bit larger than the other, but I wanted to be sure he was a really good one, so I watched them for a long time before deciding to shoot.