alaska rifle

[paintballdude902]

im looking into a new rifle to take to alaska with me

im looking at cartridges that wont be just an alaska gun so i dont want to get like a .375 or anything like that

i want a bolt action like a remmy 700 or a winchester 70

i was thinking .260-.280 or a .30-06 mostly but today at a gun store a .25-06 caught my eye and i started taking with a guy that regularly takes elk and mule deer with it

what would be a good round to take with me or should i just take my marlin guide gun in .45-70

this is for an all around gun moose, caribou mainly maybe larger game and probably smaller too

edit i forgot to put the .25-06 up there but anyone a fan of it?

 

[Bartkowski]

What are you doing there? Hunting bear, moose, or something else big up there. I chose 45-70 because it could be used on anything from bear down effectively. If you just want to buy a new gun, a 30-06 is always nice.

 

[SamG.]

30-06 all the way. Can't go wrong.

 

[paintballdude902]

this is for an all around gun moose, caribou mainly maybe larger game and probably smaller too

 

[Shawnee]

The 45/70 wouldn't be a bad choice by any means.

Personally, I would probably opt for a 7mm/08. Second choice would probably be the 7mm Rem. Mag.

If you've already selected a guide/outfitter - ask them for their opinion. Even if they suggest a caliber you don't care to keep back at home - you can always sell (or maybe rebarrel it) it when you return.

 

[paintballdude902]

im going up to work in alaska in april so im gonna definitly do some hunting i doubt i will use a guide unless i need to im hoping to use friends which i already have up there

 

[MCgunner]

If I was after a trophy brown bear, I think I'd get something over 30 caliber that ends in Magnum. A .338 can be loaded down for deer. A .30-06 can't be loaded up for a ton of mean, gnarly bear. I know exactly what I'd get, though. This would be my excuse for a Browning BLR in .325 WSM. Yeah, wouldn't need that much gun for Caribou, but hey, them bears are BIG. Be a good caliber for moose, too. I'd probably take my 7 mag along, though, for smaller game than bear. It does a number on big animals, just think I'd want more to face down a big bear with.

 

[paintballdude902]

im not planning on a bear hunt i want to do this with friends not with a paid guide that why im looking mostly into animals that dont require a guide for an out of stater.
heck if i was going for bear i would be taking a .375H&H but i dont like the gun much and im not hunting bear lol im working on my black bear here im using a .44mag for that

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'd go with .280, .30-06, .35 Whelen, or 9.3x62mm.

 

[koja48]

I selected .30-06 based on the calibers listed & inferring you wanted something of use in other than Alaska. While I like the 06, I'd be inclined to take a .338 if it were me going.

 

[22-rimfire]

I like Mc's advice. With what you said, 30-06 all the way also.

If you are hunting in an area which has large bears, you might want something larger than the -06. It would be for protection, not hunting and you could use the same rifle for hunting.

 

[TCB in TN]

Never been to Alaska myself, but friends have and one who lost part of his luggage (including his ammo, but not rifle) said that he was glad to have brought his ole 30-06. Not to many off cals to be found out in the boonies! That said any can get the job done, but out of your choices I would pick the ole 06.

 

[memphisjim]

since you already have a 45/70 i say use it and put the money into a good backup revolver like a 500 mag

 

[lawdogso]

I would go with 338 Win Mag. It can take anything in Alaska and every out of the way fishing village has ammo for one.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Keep the .45-70 and grab one of those Magnum Research .45-70 revolvers to match it!

 

[ltetmhs]

+ 1 on .338 win mag. Widely available, and imo the classic alaskan cartridge.

 

[Bartkowski]

Now that I know what you want to do with the gun I would say to get a .30-06. But if you are not set with any of your choices in the poll, a .35 whelen might be better for bears.

 

[moooose102]

in alaska, you never know what or when you will run across. you want enough gun to kill anything, at any distance. of what you have listed, i would choose either the 45/70, or the 30-06. if i was taking the 06, i would buy, or load some 220 grainers for a big old nasty bear defending her cubs @ 20 yards! personally, i think something like a 338 magnum (340 weatherby) would be more to my likeing. but i admit to being overkill. i use 300 win mag on deer. and i still like big blocks!

 

[JShirley]

7mm Magnum
.30-06
.300 Winchester Magnum
.35 Whelen

These are all good rifle calibers that could be useful both in Alaska and Cont. U.S.

I have two .35 Whelens, but if you could only have one rifle caliber for N. America, 7mm Magnum or .30-06 are the likeliest choices, IMO.

John

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, the .325 WSM is probably not going to be available just everywhere and factory loads could cost you as much as the plane tickets. LOL But, I just like the idea of that BLR in that caliber and I'd handload it. The .338 is a fine big game caliber that's more available. The .30-06 is plenty for anything you'll hunt if you ain't lookin' for big bears. I like my 7 mag a little better, but ain't like there's much difference ballistically.

 

[glockman19]

IMHO the .30-06 is a great all around caliber capable of taking just about any game in N. America.

 

[jetrecbn]

308 Win as minimium but I would prefer a 338. I do have a 7RM that I would not feel undergunned if loaded with 175 gr ammo. If you are making a new purchase I suggest the 338.

 

[mejeepnut]

You said you would be hunting with friends who already live in Alaska,ask them!I am a 30-06 fan and would take nothing smaller if it was me going.If the area that you are going to hunt was known for having big bears then I would suggest a sidearm to go along with what ever new rifle you get to celebrate "Your first Alaskin hunt".Some people get tatoos and some get cheap trinkets to commemorate all kinds of stuff.I would get a new rifle,wheel gun,Knife,and good pair of boots and break them all in before I went.But then again most of the people that know me say I just ain't right so you may just want to get a Savage in 300mag and call it good!

 

[Art Eatman]

I've read many an article about hunting in Alaska, and a fair amount from Alaska residents here and at TFL.

Of the choices given, I'd say the '06. Much better trajectory than the .45-70, and it seems reasonably probable that a shot on a caribou might well be at 300 to 400 yards.

I don't know of an animal up there that's a whole bunch larger than a big moose, and an '06 would be plenty good, from what experienced folks say.

In general, of course, a moose isn't likely to be up close and personal and closing fast. That's getting into the realm of the Big Hostile Bear, and I don't think an '06 would be my choice at all. Sure, if I'm taking a precision shot at a bear that doesn't have a clue we're together in the same state, okay, the '06. It doesn't always seem to work out that way, though, so I'd jump on the .338 bandwagon, I guess. Murphy was an optimist...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yeah, if you're hunting woods, then .45-70 would do reeeeeal nicely. But tundra caribou are out in the open. I've seen guys on TV get plains caribou with bows, but they're guided by a very knowledgeable guide. I'd want a rifle that can reach out there, with a trajectory of the .35 whelen or better preferably. .30-06 with proper 180s up to 220s should do just fine on anything that walks. But I speak as an armchair hunter ; never been up there, so grain of salt, all that. I'm not a big fan of *magnum* rifles for hunting, but the 7mm Rem Mag is a classic good caliber with a lot of bullet choices available in up to 175s/180s. If you're willing to go semi-wildcat, .338-'06 is a nice round, and for that matter, the very similar old old 8mm Mauser (aka 7.92x57mm Mauser) is a good choice with proper ammo selection. The .338 Win Mag may be a "classic" round up there, and no doubt it would work well, but I don't see the need for all the extra recoil. I would not risk taking a shot at the range at which having a .338 maggie would be justified in using in the first place, on an expensive hunt like that - but nothing wrong with that choice if you've got intact shoulder joints.

Personally, WHEN I make it to the great white north, I'm taking 3 rifles. My primary will be my CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62mm, with 20" bbl. My first backup will be my sporterized U.S. 1917 "Enfield" in .30-'06 spgfld with 25" bbl. My 2nd backup will by my Marlin 1895 in .45-70 with 22" bbl.