What rifle for Alaska

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Never been to Alaska but I wouldn't feel undergunned if I took my sporterized 03A3 in .30-06 or even my BLR in .358 Win
 
We've been thinking of booking an Alaska hunt and we talked to a few guides at the recent Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA; so I've given this some thought. The kind of hunt we'd be contemplating doing would be the type of hunt where we'd leave daily from some sort of base camp like a boat, cabin etc... Maybe we'd do an overnighter in the field, dunno.

In any event I'd take my Blaser R8 Kilombero with 2 barrels (.300 WM & .375 H&H M) and 2 scopes.
All will fit (barely) in a Pelican iM3100 case.
Changing barrels can be done very quickly either before the hunt or in the field; same with the scopes.
What to take out in the field on any given day would be a discussion I would have with the guide.

IMG_3477s.jpg
 
H&Hhunter said:
Low sectional density, light bullet....Doesn’t surprise me at all.
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image.png

I looked up the sectional density of a 200gr .338 bullet ... and I was surprised with it being .250 , I would have thought it would have been higher... Even though the newer bullets perform better ... Im still a stickler for SD also..

The SD of a 200gr 8mm looks good
325 WSM looks like a good choice
 
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Garandimal said:
The Alaskan Rifle:
.270 Win/150 gr. NP.

But then, I'm a rifleman.

:D




GR
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Everything in Norh America can be taken with the 270 Win .. With the right bullet .. ( but I would want a bit more , for the great bears )
Personally my Savage in 270 Win. loaded with 150gr Federal Fusion ...would be my rifle...

The article I posted at the beginning of the thread reccomends the 270 Win and other similar cartridges..
 
If your gonna peruse the downtowns of our few major city’s, I’d opt for something light and concealable, on choice of pistol. Maybe a .22 lr.....
Maybe my daughters 1903 Colt Pocket Pistol in .32 acp.

Concealed carry is for everyone in Alaska, as long as you can legally own a gun, you can carry concealed, no license required.

No school, bars or courthouse carry’s, though and tell any cop you chance to that you are armed. That’s simple, and of all the cops I’ve said “Im armed, just so you know...” only one wanted to see my gun, and I checked out his....LOL!!

Far more people are killed in Alaska by other people each year, than all the Bear attacks in 50 years.
 
Alaskan Ironworker said:
Just avoid anchorage and youll be fine.
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I don’t know about that! I’ve seen some pretty crazy stuff on Cushman Street in Fairbanks and Nome on a Friday night can be a sight to behold. Heck Kotzebue can get crazy if the hooch starts flowing as can any of the villages in Ak.
 
farmerboy78 said:
Cant believe I havent seen this caliber mentioned, if it is I overlooked it. THE VENERABLE .35 WHELAN
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The .35 Whelen is fairly popular in AK but just like here it will always be on the fring. The Whelen just never has had a mainstream following.

I have a question, and I’m not trying to be a jerk or a wise Alec. Is there a “thing” with Whelen fans about mispelling Whelen with “Whelan”? I see that a lot and was wondering if there was something to it or if it was a colloquial thing or what?
 
H&Hhunter said:
I have a question, and I’m not trying to be a jerk or a wise Alec. Is there a “thing” with Whelen fans about mispelling Whelen with “Whelan”? I see that a lot and was wondering if there was something to it or if it was a colloquial thing or what?
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I agree, I can't believe how many want to brag on them, but can't even spell the name right.

Kinda like K"a" bota owners… lol

BTW, in all the years I was in Alaska, there was very few that I knew of or ran into that owned or hunted with a 35 Whelen... In fact, as I sit here, I don't even remember even one...

DM
 
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I had forgotten about a custom Mauser
I picked up years ago ,, I really didn't get to work with it much .. It was a beautiful rifle .... chambered in
8mm/06 AI

The rifle came with dies , bullets and brass .. and a few recipes...
I traded it off ...
 
.35 Whalin? .375 HnH, etc.......Stock up on ammo.

If you go to the villages, and hunters often do, the basic calibers will usually be around, the odd or special will be hard to find.
Bring plenty of ammo, and bring spare, then pack some more. 50 lbs on 5he jets into major city’s and airlines are very gun friendly, with vendors in Anch airport, at least, helping with small stuff.
 
caribou said:
.35 Whalin? .375 HnH, etc.......Stock up on ammo.

If you go to the villages, and hunters often do, the basic calibers will usually be around, the odd or special will be hard to find.
Bring plenty of ammo, and bring spare, then pack some more. 50 lbs on 5he jets into major city’s and airlines are very gun friendly, with vendors in Anch airport, at least, helping with small stuff.
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I’ll betcha that’s why you shoot one of them Molly’s-Aunt rifles from the USSR!
 
There is a guy on Texasbowhunter.com in the interior hunting brown bears right now, WITH A BOW. He is doing a live hunt, but hasn't posted in a couple of days, due to lack of cell service. Imagine that, no cell service.
 
double bogey said:
There is a guy on Texasbowhunter.com in the interior hunting brown bears right now, WITH A BOW. He is doing a live hunt, but hasn't posted in a couple of days, due to lack of cell service. Imagine that, no cell service.
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You can hunt them with a sling shot, IF you have some one backing you up with a rifle...

Fred Bear hunted polar bear with a long bow, his backup man had to kill the first two with a rifle when they charged, orig.gif but Fred finally got the third one, as it ran off and died. orig.gif

DM
 
caribou said:
I buy ammo by the case, by the pound, by the ton.....and got my village store to get me some 762x54r made by PPU.

Jus sayin that new or odd ammo may not be readily available where the critters are.
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There is a big difference between being a visiting sport hunter and being a full time substance hunter like what you do. If I was in your shoes I’d be shooting something like what you shoot, no doubt.

Going up there and putting a bou or a moose on the ground for sport I’m still carrying old reliable the .375 simply because I like it and have ultimate confidence in it. I definitely would not want to feed the H&H a volume diet like you do your rifles in remote AK. Even when I lived up there I never did anywhere near the volume of hunting and shooting that you do on a regular basis. I was hunting for fun and meat but I wasn’t feeding a family.

One of the things I enjoyed about the big cities in AK was that you could buy .375H&H ammo at the common stores like Wal Mart. If I lived in Kotzebue full time now I’m guessing I’d be shooting a stainless .30-06 in either a Ruger or a Winchester. It’s just too obvious of a choice. Like you said 06, 12GA, .22 done.

I’ve often thought a 12GA/06 combo gun would be pretty handy as an every day carry rifle in Northwestern AK. I’ve just never seen one that really floats my boat in a stainless synthetic combo.
 
double bogey said:
There is a guy on Texasbowhunter.com in the interior hunting brown bears right now, WITH A BOW. He is doing a live hunt, but hasn't posted in a couple of days, due to lack of cell service. Imagine that, no cell service.
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That’s really not so uncommon now days with modern archery tackle.
 
Garandimal said:
As an aside, but in the same ballpark...

How is the 9.3x62mm following in AK?





GR
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The continental version of the .375H&H. There was a whole lot game up to and including elephants potted with the various 9.3MM rifles in the era of the German colonies in Africa. But the Brits and Americans preferred the 9.5MM round AKA the .375H&H because .375 is more better than .366 don’t you know. :)
 
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