Looking at Alaska and would like to get advise on a all around Alaska Rifle. Looking for a dependable rifle in a caliber that will serve me well. Some say go with the 375 class others say the 338 is good for the all around application. I want a caliber that I will be able to get ammo for...not some exotic caliber. Note - I am a lefty.
Best Alaska Brown Bear Rig?
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I'm not an Alaskan hunter but between these 2 calibers the 338, IMHO, gives you the best versatility.
Reloading manuals tops both calibers at 300 gr. (Double Tap makes a 350 gr. load in 375)
Muzzle Energy wise, the stout 338 loads comes very very close to a 375 H&H and, on average, with a better sectional density which means more penetration.
The Double Tap 338 Win Mag load with 300 gr. Woodleigh basically is in African Caliber territory when it comes to power...people drop Cape Buffalos with it (where legal).
At longer distance is when the 338 really shines over the 375...much better ballistic coefficient (for example, the 300 gr. Sierra has an incredible .768 BC) means flatter shooting and much more energy downange.
So with the 338 you get the best of both world....very good punch at short range and excellent long range capability. Wider bullet weight selection too, from 160 gr. to 300 gr....from "almost" varmint to dangerous game.
Finally you have the price factor. You can buy the excellent Weatherby Vanguard in .338 WM for $399 nowdays....I bet you need to shell out at least $300 more for a 375.
If you do not reload, factory ammo cost is significantly less with the 338 with much more assortment. The 338 is EXTREMELY popular in Alaska.
Outside of these 2 calibers, by the way, even a 30-06 with the right loads will seve you very well up there. Shot placement is the key.
Reloading manuals tops both calibers at 300 gr. (Double Tap makes a 350 gr. load in 375)
Muzzle Energy wise, the stout 338 loads comes very very close to a 375 H&H and, on average, with a better sectional density which means more penetration.
The Double Tap 338 Win Mag load with 300 gr. Woodleigh basically is in African Caliber territory when it comes to power...people drop Cape Buffalos with it (where legal).
At longer distance is when the 338 really shines over the 375...much better ballistic coefficient (for example, the 300 gr. Sierra has an incredible .768 BC) means flatter shooting and much more energy downange.
So with the 338 you get the best of both world....very good punch at short range and excellent long range capability. Wider bullet weight selection too, from 160 gr. to 300 gr....from "almost" varmint to dangerous game.
Finally you have the price factor. You can buy the excellent Weatherby Vanguard in .338 WM for $399 nowdays....I bet you need to shell out at least $300 more for a 375.
If you do not reload, factory ammo cost is significantly less with the 338 with much more assortment. The 338 is EXTREMELY popular in Alaska.
Outside of these 2 calibers, by the way, even a 30-06 with the right loads will seve you very well up there. Shot placement is the key.
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jim in Anchorage
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No one in Alaska that I know likes the 338 win. It has a poor reputation[at lest in my circle]. It is impossible,however to find anyone who will bad mouth the .375,bears to moose. one shot,done.
Being left handed limits your options a lot. I would highly recommend the stainless Ruger Hawkeye, but 300 win mag is the biggest chambering I can find a left handed model in.
Never been to Alaska but I understand that the 300 mag or even 30-06 is much more common there than the big boys. As an all around rifle I would stick to one of those 2. If specifically hunting large bears It may be different.
Never been to Alaska but I understand that the 300 mag or even 30-06 is much more common there than the big boys. As an all around rifle I would stick to one of those 2. If specifically hunting large bears It may be different.
mgregg85
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Could go with a ruger #1 in whatever caliber you choose, no lefty issues with that rifle.
Cajun
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I would say get a Marlin 45-70 definitely big enough for bear or any thing on the North American Continent and then some for that matter.It being a lever action you could definitely shoot it left handed I know because I'm left handed and have 3 Marlin Leveractions.You should be able to find the 45-70 ammo just about anywhere you go!!
Gordon
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A dedicated Brownie rig is a 20" .458 98 Mauser or pre 64 Win 70 shooting 500 grain bonded soft points and an Aim point M3 or Low power Leupold.
I have two .35 Whelens I hope to take to Alaska with me one day. One is a Montana 1999 custom, and the other is a Remington 7600 for close defense.
Sorry I totally forgot that you are left handed (I'm myself)
The Weatherby Vanguard is not available with a left handed option.
Interesting...instead I heard it was very popular...
However for pure defense purpose, few guns are more effective than a 12 Gauge shotgun with 3" Brenneke Black Magic...a real thumper...
The Weatherby Vanguard is not available with a left handed option.
Interesting...instead I heard it was very popular...
However for pure defense purpose, few guns are more effective than a 12 Gauge shotgun with 3" Brenneke Black Magic...a real thumper...
Lived in and hunted Alaska for 4 years in the 80's and primarily used two guns; 30.06 for non-dangerous game and 375 H&H when hunting Brown or Grizzly Bears.
I successfully took Sheep, Black Bear, Moose and Caribou with the 06 and never needed more than one shot. Since I lived in Fairbanks I only went on one Brown Bear hunt; I flew into a place called Kayak Island, I didn't take a bear but when I was standing in Devils Club (with 15 feet of visibility) with both feet fitting inside a Brown Bear paw print and the smell of wet dog in the air, I felt completely under gunned with the 375 H&H. I just backed out and hunted in another direction.
I had a completely different experience than jim in Anchorage with the one gun hunters around Fairbanks, they almost to a man carried controlled round feed 338 Winchester Magnums.
I successfully took Sheep, Black Bear, Moose and Caribou with the 06 and never needed more than one shot. Since I lived in Fairbanks I only went on one Brown Bear hunt; I flew into a place called Kayak Island, I didn't take a bear but when I was standing in Devils Club (with 15 feet of visibility) with both feet fitting inside a Brown Bear paw print and the smell of wet dog in the air, I felt completely under gunned with the 375 H&H. I just backed out and hunted in another direction.
I had a completely different experience than jim in Anchorage with the one gun hunters around Fairbanks, they almost to a man carried controlled round feed 338 Winchester Magnums.
starkadder
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If you talk to peole who "regulary hunt in Alaska" they will tell you that if you plan on taking a brownnie you better have a minimum of a .338 mag. I know that a 3006, 35 Whelan, or .300 mag "will kill" anything that walks, crawls, or flies, BUT you don't get many second chances with a 1200 pound wounded bear.
The 45-70 is good at under 125 yards for bears but you will need something that can take a bear or caribou past that range so I would at least get the .338, maybe a Browning BAR, Savage 111, or Winchester model 70( both of which are availible in left hand) But my choice is the .375 H&H, it is a very versitile round and it WORKS.
This is this! It's not something else, it's this!
Don't pull it if you don't plan to use it, and don't use it if you don't plan to kill!
Always remember our men and women over there.
The 45-70 is good at under 125 yards for bears but you will need something that can take a bear or caribou past that range so I would at least get the .338, maybe a Browning BAR, Savage 111, or Winchester model 70( both of which are availible in left hand) But my choice is the .375 H&H, it is a very versitile round and it WORKS.
This is this! It's not something else, it's this!
Don't pull it if you don't plan to use it, and don't use it if you don't plan to kill!
Always remember our men and women over there.
thesolidus
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I second the 45-70, got one, fun to shoot, fast to reload, packs a damn big whollop.
I've shot Hornady LEVERevolution 325 Grain through my Marlin 1895 and love it. Keep trying to get out and pig hunt with it. Short barrel, light enough gun, shoots a decent distance (like a rainbow but oh well...) and packs a damn big whollop.
Nothing like detonating a series of water jugs then burying a round in the hillside.
There's also a company that makes a realllllllly nice take-down version and stocks a high penetration round for Alaskan Bear.
http://www.wildwestguns.com/copilot.html
I'd love to get mine done but it's not cheap.
45-70 is easy to get compared to some of the safari double gun ammo.
It's easy-ish to reload, not necked down.
And for my money I love a lever gun. The short gun, left or right handed use and rapid follow up are perfect for a woods gun, pig, bear or dangerous game gun. And it's plenty big enough, like shooting a lead chapstick. Not subtle.
Here's ballistic
45-70 GOVT 325 gr FTX LEVERevolution
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd
2050/3032 1729/2158 1450/1516 1225/1083
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd
-1.5 3.0 -4.1 -27.8
So obviously not shooting to 300 yards! But 3000 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards!
If you want to go cheap, just get a shotgun. Load one mid size shot for small critters, then slugs.
I've shot Hornady LEVERevolution 325 Grain through my Marlin 1895 and love it. Keep trying to get out and pig hunt with it. Short barrel, light enough gun, shoots a decent distance (like a rainbow but oh well...) and packs a damn big whollop.
Nothing like detonating a series of water jugs then burying a round in the hillside.
There's also a company that makes a realllllllly nice take-down version and stocks a high penetration round for Alaskan Bear.
http://www.wildwestguns.com/copilot.html
I'd love to get mine done but it's not cheap.
45-70 is easy to get compared to some of the safari double gun ammo.
It's easy-ish to reload, not necked down.
And for my money I love a lever gun. The short gun, left or right handed use and rapid follow up are perfect for a woods gun, pig, bear or dangerous game gun. And it's plenty big enough, like shooting a lead chapstick. Not subtle.
Here's ballistic
45-70 GOVT 325 gr FTX LEVERevolution
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd
2050/3032 1729/2158 1450/1516 1225/1083
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd
-1.5 3.0 -4.1 -27.8
So obviously not shooting to 300 yards! But 3000 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards!
If you want to go cheap, just get a shotgun. Load one mid size shot for small critters, then slugs.
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remingtondude58
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thesolidus
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375 HH is okay and 8mm Mag isn't too hard to find.
But for a lefty I still like the lever gun. Plus, fast second shots which takes some doing with a bolt. Good argument you shouldn't need a second, but when what you're hunting hunts you back, a short light rifle with a quick second shot that you can rack at the hip while backpedalling...
I'd go lever, or pump, either shotgun or pump rifle.
The Remmington 7600?
But for a lefty I still like the lever gun. Plus, fast second shots which takes some doing with a bolt. Good argument you shouldn't need a second, but when what you're hunting hunts you back, a short light rifle with a quick second shot that you can rack at the hip while backpedalling...
I'd go lever, or pump, either shotgun or pump rifle.
The Remmington 7600?
Badger Arms
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Lived in AK for over a decade and sold lots of guns there. Never hunted Brownies, but I always suggested a minimum of .300 Win Mag. You have to get Safari loads for it though. Nice thing about the .300 is that ammo is available for it and you can use reduced loads for anything in North America. You wouldn't be buying a "1-hunt" gun.
That said, the .35 Whelen is a decent fallback... good for Elk and moderate ranges. .338 is a great caliber and performs just fine. There is no voodoo to these cartridges: Fatter, Heavier, and Faster are your most important factors. Again, make sure you have a bullet designed to penetrate a big game animal.
My preference is for the .350 RM. Shorter barrel, lighter gun. I have a .300 too but it was a Range gun most of the time. I just liked the Remington Carbine.
That said, the .35 Whelen is a decent fallback... good for Elk and moderate ranges. .338 is a great caliber and performs just fine. There is no voodoo to these cartridges: Fatter, Heavier, and Faster are your most important factors. Again, make sure you have a bullet designed to penetrate a big game animal.
My preference is for the .350 RM. Shorter barrel, lighter gun. I have a .300 too but it was a Range gun most of the time. I just liked the Remington Carbine.
Most of the natives I know use an 06, 303 British or 6.5 x55 for the big stuff, and 222 mags and the like for everything else. I don't know of any that use a magnum of any kind. Many of the natives also handload. However, I have a 375 H&H and 9.3x62 for the big bears.
gadgetguy1288
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I live in Ak with the Coast Guard, and everyone on my ship that hunts uses either an 06,270 or 300, with that said they have all taken at least one grizzly, and/or large Black. Largest shot was an 800lb grizzly, taken down with 2 shots from an 06, first shot dropped him, 2nd shot finished him. My advice would be to pick something that you can shoot well, an 06 will do the job just fine with the right round selection, however as always, shot placement is essential.
lefteyedom
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I have both a 338 win and 375 H&H, both left hand Savages. Ether would do just fine on anything.
If you are worrying about finding ammo go with the 338.
I would take an 30/06 bolt action with open sights and a quickly removeable scope as a back up to what ever rifle you decide on. Even the best rifle can be damage during a hunt.
Dr Lou's 375 H&H and 9.3X62 is a dandy combo. The 9.3X62 being very close to a 35 whelen.
If you are worrying about finding ammo go with the 338.
I would take an 30/06 bolt action with open sights and a quickly removeable scope as a back up to what ever rifle you decide on. Even the best rifle can be damage during a hunt.
Dr Lou's 375 H&H and 9.3X62 is a dandy combo. The 9.3X62 being very close to a 35 whelen.
KMD
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I hunt and live in North West BC and I use a Tikka T3 Lite 338 WM Lefty.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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May I just mention that I hate you?
Unless I can move up there and live with you, in which case you're awesome!
FWIW, if I "got the call" for a tag-along, can't-refuse trip this fall to CAN/AK for XXL game, I'd grab the 550FS in 9.3x62. And as backup, the sporterized 1917 in .30-06 (with 220s), and the Marlin 1895 in .45-70 (w/ Buffalo Bores).
groundhog34
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I have a mauser 3000 left handed bolt action in 338 win mag. I feel it is adequate for anything in north america
The natives will tell you anything bigger than a .223 is over kill and if I were going to head shoot my brown bears (thus blowing apart the trophy skull) that would be fine and dandy. That's what they do. Good for them. However, you asked for a serious brown bear hunting gun and that would be a .375 H&H. no questions asked. A 35 Whelen would be cool and a .338 will kill them deader than dirt, as my Dad's did last spring but a .375 is the answer to your question. It's shootable, It comes in nice light rifles, the Remington 700 XCR for example, and as an added benefit it will look like someone threw a 5 gallon bucket of blood and guts out the far side when you hit one.
Gtscotty
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I spent this last summer in Alaska, and of all the folks I hung out with/talked to, the great majority used 30-06 for their hunting needs. A good 30-06 would serve you very well for anything other than Brown bear. Indeed a 30-06 would likely be fine for brown bear, but personally I would chose a larger caliber for that specific purpose, probably .338.
Vern Humphrey
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Pick something you can shoot well. A .30-06 that you can place all your shots with will beat a .458 Lott that makes you flinch and close your eyes when you pull the trigger.
The modern .30-06 isn't your grandpa's .30-06. With modern loads and modern premium bullets, it can do things that shooters of the old '06 of a generation ago couldn't imagine.
I'm not knocking other calibers, but I have shot a lot of critters with the .30-06. If I were after grizzley, I'd use a premium bullet in 180 grains or so, and plan to automaticaly shoot twice -- and practice getting off that second shot accurately.
The modern .30-06 isn't your grandpa's .30-06. With modern loads and modern premium bullets, it can do things that shooters of the old '06 of a generation ago couldn't imagine.
I'm not knocking other calibers, but I have shot a lot of critters with the .30-06. If I were after grizzley, I'd use a premium bullet in 180 grains or so, and plan to automaticaly shoot twice -- and practice getting off that second shot accurately.
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