30-06 Alaskan rifle choices

[RPRNY]

Nothing to do with me, but a good deal on a fine Mauser action BSA Monarch 30-06 with open sights and scope base:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=312468168

This is a Birmingham made gun, not one of the later models with the Spanish made actions.

 

[hunterda]

Not sure of the quality, but the shop is top notch. Might be worth looking into.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=311740343

sent from an insecure device with a mind of it's own

 

[Float Pilot]

I have lived up here in Alaska ever since Eisenhower was the President.

Except for part of college and a 6-7 years overseas for Uncle Sam. And I have lots of rifles.
If I only could have one...The action and trigger reliablity would be the primary driving force, being stainless or blued would be secondary.

Sights can be added to ANY rifle and are not very expensive.

PRIMARY

1. Claw extractor. I have seen Rem, Savage & Howa's spring extractor fly out into the grass when jammed with sand.
2. Controlled feed. The MK1 Ruger M77s looked like a controlled feed, but were really push feeds. 3. Trigger assembly not enclosed in a box. Grit water and ice do not like being inside a box.

SECONDARY

1. Safety that holds the firing pin on at least one safe position. Ruger M77MKII
2. Safety that holds the firing pin while chambering,-unchambering. M-70, Mauser Mil, Springfield, Montana, Kimber
3. Stainless or other non-corrosive finish. I have 120 year old blued rifles that look just fine...

 

[Float Pilot]

Sounds Like you are looking for an Alaskan Sourdough Rifle.

Ruger M&&MKII Stainless.
Opitical Fiber front sight
Emergency rear Peep Sight stored in stock
Quick detact scope mounts.
side and bottom slings for climbing
Cleaning gear stored in stock.

This one is in 350 Remington Magnum.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Sights can be added to ANY rifle and are not very expensive.

PRIMARY

1. Claw extractor. I have seen Rem, Savage & Howa's spring extractor fly out into the grass when jammed with sand.
2. Controlled feed. The MK1 Ruger M77s looked like a controlled feed, but were really push feeds.
3. Trigger assembly not enclosed in a box. Grit water and ice do not like being inside a box.

SECONDARY

1. Safety that holds the firing pin on at least one safe position. Ruger M77MKII
2. Safety that holds the firing pin while chambering,-unchambering. M-70, Mauser Mil, Springfield, Montana, Kimber
3. Stainless or other non-corrosive finish. I have 120 year old blued rifles that look just fine...

Great minds think alike.

 

[DM~]

Have you given thought to a sporterized Mauser 98 in 8x57? Loves the 200 grainers and keeps up with 30-06 right out to long range. Little bit bigger entry hole, little less recoil. Tough Mauser action. Available cheaper than some options.

I hunt with my 8x57 loaded with 200NP's more than any other rifle/cartridge that i own these days. The 200NP is the finest all around big game bullet i've found for my 8x57.

I also have hunted with a 30-06 extensively with 200NP's and i can assure you a 30-06 loaded with 200NP's will give more penetration, out performing any 8mm 200 grain bullet on the biggest big game.

SO, if moose and big bears live where i'm hunting, i would/did pick my 30-06 over my 8x57 every time! I spent a lot of time brown bear hunting and i would trust my 30-06/200NP cartridge/load to break down the biggest brown bear, the 8mm not so much...

DM

 

[sayak]

Listen to the Alaskans and you will be fine.
A Winchester M 70 in 30.06 has a long and proud history in Alaska. Blued is fine and has been so for over a 100 years, but I must admit, I'm moving toward Cerakote and plastic these days as the cleaning and upkeep is so easy.

 

[sayak]

Sounds Like you are looking for an Alaskan Sourdough Rifle.

Ruger M&&MKII Stainless.
Opitical Fiber front sight
Emergency rear Peep Sight stored in stock
Quick detact scope mounts.
side and bottom slings for climbing
Cleaning gear stored in stock.

This one is in 350 Remington Magnum.

Tell me about the portal you made in your stock. I like it!

 

[dirtengineer]

My Alaska experience has lead me towards stainless - my blued Remington 700 has gotten pretty trashed, although it still functions just fine. I chose a 300 win mag as my all around rifle and borrowed a .375 H&H for a Kodiak hunt. I think that if I had it to do all over again I would have opted for a lighter weight rifle in a smaller caliber for sheep, like maybe a .308 (or perhaps .30-06) and then something larger than .300 for bear like .338 win mag or .375 H&H.

Personally, I think the Rugers are too heavy. If you could find a Remington Titanium 700 or maybe a Tikka T3 would be good choices. Finding a lightweight rifle in stainless with iron sights would be a challenge. It probably would be easier (and likely cheaper) to get a rifle and add the sights.

 

[michnorris]

Well I traded my crappy Mossberg 100 atr 308 for a barely used Remington 700 bdl with a 3x9 leupold varxIIc with a 2 pound trigger!!! I'll have to post a picture tonight when I get back to the house. It's not stainless but the price was right, and it has good iron sights and a quality scope(leupold varxIIc). I zeroed it in at 200 yesterday and was shooting(benchrest) five shot groups of less than an inch... I didn't think 06's could do that good!

 

[Speedgoat]

Winchester makes what you want, and they even call it the 'Alaskan'. I just got the blued and walnut style in .300 Win Mag a few weeks ago and absolutley love the rifle. Sounds like you're pretty much sold on synthetic and stainless. They have a stainless steel version with a laminate stock. I'd pull off the laminate wood stock and get a Houge overmold or something similar if I was dead set on a synthetic stock, but the blued and walnut fits my taste much more. I'll enclose the links

Blued / Walnut - http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535134

Stainless / Laminate - http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535142

 

[X-Rap]

I'm not in Alaska but aside from the extractor being of the Rem design I would think that an ideal EDC rifle for AK might be a 16" 760 pump with B&C furniture and some weather resistant coating.
You have the mechanics of the 870 shotgun and the power to take BG out to at least 300 yds even with the reduced velocity of the short barrel. A quality low power scope with removable mounts and have the front iron sight reattached and you would have a nice quick, light, accurate rifle that could be by your side at all times.
I see them used for 200-300 dollars often so that leaves a lot of money to customize to your liking. They can even be fitted with folding stocks and 10 rd magazines.
It might not be the only gun I would choose for AK but I would definately start with one that would be convienient enough to have around all the time.
I'd be interested in thoughts from AK residents and if the 760 has any following up there.

 

[Float Pilot]

Originally Posted by Float Pilot
Sounds Like you are looking for an Alaskan Sourdough Rifle.

Ruger M&&MKII Stainless.
Opitical Fiber front sight
Emergency rear Peep Sight stored in stock
Quick detact scope mounts.
side and bottom slings for climbing
Cleaning gear stored in stock.

This one is in 350 Remington Magnum.

Tell me about the portal you made in your stock. I like it!

I used a boat deck drain fitting. I just made the flange smaller and fiberglassed it into the side of the stock-butt. Then I removed some of the little baffle walls inside the butt-stock.
The compartment is kept round inside by a section from a plastic one-pound powder can.
It is epoxied into place, and foamed around it for noise reduction.

A couple more photos I already posted here. I have another I am making right now with a 1903A3 action in 30-06.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=77964&page=3

 

[RPRNY]

Speedgoat takes the brass ring!

Just read a great piece in "Sports Afield " about the famous Alaskan grizzly outfitters of Kodiak fame Pinell and Talifson, known universally as P&T. Old School Alaskans. Both used well worn Model 70s in.375 H&H up until their last guides in the late 80s. Great guns, great read.