Alan,

All this is really a matter of personal choice but I'd say whatever rifle the shooter is most at home with and can handle fastest. My own carry rifle is my 500 Jeffery, weighs about 12.5 lbs fully loaded and is fitted with mercury tube recoil arrestor, 19 inch barrel, shallow vee rearsight and red fibre optic foresight. The rifle is made to fit me and handles like a shotgun when it comes to fast target acquisition. Although I say it myself, I'm helluva fast with it when I need to be........ that rifle is the perfect charge stopper for my use. For cats, my choice of bullet, which is equally important, is the Woodleigh SP..... and I've never had an occasion where there was time for a second shot, so the first one has to be bang on target. Maybe others have had time for a second shot, but I never have.

I don't really have enough experience with shotgun and solid slug to comment, but I guess it'd work. The sights might be a problem but that said, I never remember the actual shot in a charge, so don't know if I conciously use the sights or not. All I ever remember is identifying the beginning of the charge and the animal laying dead afterwards. The bit in between is always a total blank.

As for the marlin. Yes, I guess it'd work but again have never used one so I don't really have any experiences to base my comments on.

I think the most impportant thing is to use a firearm that is capable of doing the job and that the shooter is 110% familiar with and can shoot very, very quickly.