Dedicated Alaska / Canada big game "just one" rifle chambering

[benzy2]

35 wheelen would be my first pick, though a couple others basically duplicate that round and would all be good options.

375 HH is fairly available which is another consideration as well as having a great background.

The .338 mags all seem like they would do a fine job as well, though with bigger options out there it is getting to the point where I would ask myself why not go bigger?

Then there is the 45-70. A ton of energy, just need to know trajectory very well before heading on a hunt with long shots possible, though I guess that goes for them all to a lessor extent.

Really any of those listed should be at least capable. I have a hard time talking myself into less gun when I start to get into territories where critters bite/claw/stampede back which puts the 35 wheelen(and similar) and the 375 HH high on my list.

 

[SpeedAKL]

"Reasonable" Alaska gun (a.k.a. wont totally break the bank) - Browning X-Bolt or Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in .338 Win Mag

Dream gun - Weatherby Mark V Deluxe or custom-grade in .338-378. If I want to go a little bigger, I'l grab something in .375H&H, .357RUM, or .416 Rigby.

 

[WestEnd65]

I would suggest something like a Marlin guide gun in 45-70. You can get lighter loads for deer and extremely hot loads for things like polar bear. The only problem I have seen with it is the balistics look like a rainbow

 

[UnTainted]

my dream gun would be a sako safari in 375hh.

5 rounds in the mag, 1 down the tube. nice. I'd put a 1-4 illuminated on it. Or probably leave it open sights.

 

[Old Time Hunter]

Ok, not the expert, but I have been on a Kodiak Bear hunt. Not with a specified "guide" but flown in on a "bare" foot deal to an island(off the Southwest Penninsula) by a charter. In preparation for the hunt we sought the advice of both the charter and an experienced camp hand(his own name for being a quasi guide for 20+ years). Their advice, a large caliber, lever action. No semi's, pumps maybe, and preferred you did not bring bolt actions. Their reasoning....the islands are humid and in the mid 30's to 40's during the day but drop down at least into the 20's at night, the heavy coastal brush usually creates shorter shots, and if you happen to piss off the bear by wounding it....did you ever try cycling a round while running with a bolt? Every step counts. The semi's, according to them, leaves too big of a chance for frost lock up when trying to take a second shot. The hand carried a .45-70 Guide Gun, the charter owner had a 1895 Winchester chambered for .30-06 (bugger looked as though he beat someone to death with it, it was so hammered up). He did say if he could have any gun to use anywhere, it would be a Winchester 1895 TD in .405, then again he never went into the bush with us. He just dropped us off on the shore and brought supplies in every couple of days while staying for lunch (I think he was keep'n an eye on us). That is how I ended up with four different .444's, a couple of .45-70's, and a .450 Marlin amongst my other 92 rifles.

 

[Float Pilot]

A couple years ago I did a poll amongst my fellow resident Alaskan hunters. The question was which center fire all-around.

The two most popular cartridges were tied. They were the 30-06 and the 338 Winchester Magnum. Those two accounted for 66%.
They were followed by the 375HH. Then the numbers split up amongst cartridges like the 45-70, 358 Norma mag, 9.3x62 and 458.

The truth is that the folks who live in most villages think the 30-06 is as big as they need to use. On the other hand, having been a Cop in those villages, I must admit that some of the hunting methods often practiced out there were unethical and or illegal. But anyway, the 30-06 is as much as most of those smaller folks want to shoot. Plus ammo is very easy to find.

As for the rest of Alaska, the 338 Win Mag has become the pick-up truck of Alaskan cartridges. Everybody has one, had one, and might get another. Sorta like the 30-30 used to be down south.

Then there are a few folks like me who are really experimental hand-loaders, target shooters and general gun collectors who also like to hunt. We build or buy things just to be different. Like my 416 Taylor... Which is really overkill, but interesting to talk about around the camp fire at night.

That said, I do miss my old 358 Norma mag chambered M-70. That was a real hunting rifle. I have replaced it with a 350 Rem Mag, but it is just not the same...

Oh and the biggest Brown bear I ever took was with a little 7x57mm Mauser, One shot.... The biggest bear I ever wounded that had to be hunted down by three of us, was with a 458 Win mag. Shot placement and hunting skill is much more important than rifle or cartridge.

 

[Cosmoline]

As for the rest of Alaska, the 338 Win Mag has become the pick-up truck of Alaskan cartridges. Everybody has one, had one, and might get another. Sorta like the 30-30 used to be down south.

That's true. You can find used rifles in .338 WM pretty easily for under five or even four hundred. To get any comparable magnum rifle you'd need to up that a serious notch. The exotics go up a notch further. My favorite was an old Ruger .338 WM that had been horribly abused and "refinished" with some kind of automotive sealant! I wish I remembered where I saw those pictures. It allegedly still shot straight, and was being used as a cabin gun and loaner.

 

[mooner]

.45/70 in a Marlin lever action. I guess I would value quick repeat shots and reliability so as not to become food if things go bad.

 

[ColeK]

9.3x62. Why? 'Cause I got one. A 286 gr Partition @ 2400 fps will kill anything in NA.

 

[BADUNAME37]

.458 Winchester Magnum

One accurate shot with calm accurate loads.

 

[saturno_v]

To the OP


If you look for only one firearm to cover you from short range wildlife defense to the potential very long shot the choice is only one IMHO

This (which I own)...Remington 7600 (or the older 760) in 30-06

Very accurate, light, extremely handy, availability of extended magazines (10 rounds) lightning fast in repeating shots (without the need to visually re-acquire your target).

With the right load you can go from varminting (ultra fast 110 grainers), very long range deer/elk hunting (150 and 180 gr. ballistic tips) and short-medium range grizzly bone drillers (220 gr. & up)

Use quick detachable scope rings.

However from what I hear, there is not such thing as an ideal AK firearm ideally suited for all situations (again from long range hunting to short range blasting)

That is one of the reasons you should hunt at least in couple, taking turn at the short range defense firearm.....ideally a 12 gauge pump filled with Brenneke Black Magic.

 

[Gungnir]

You all must be rich so that you can hire some poor shlub to be gun barer for you. But then the title does say Big Game not what one gun would you carry if you were living off the land. Still I think I would stick with my choice, something in 358 Winchester, when I go hunting I don't plan on sniping from long range.

In AK it's recommended to get a guide period. People come up here hunting every year and vanish into the bush never to be seen again.

If you're specifically non-resident hunting Grizzlies you have to take a guide/outfitter, or resident relative. It's in the hunting regs. So without the schlub you can't take a Grizz.

 

[armchairQB]

I dont see why 303 British is not included since it is the most prevalent cartridge in Canada.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

So if I do the poll again, I need to add:

-.308 Win
-.375 RUM
-.458 Win Mag
-9.3x64mm Brenneke
-.358 Norma Mag
-.444 Marlin
-.303 Brit

What else? (not counting Howdah pistol )

 

[Old Time Hunter]

What else?

.450 Alaskan

 

[Maverick223]

So if I do the poll again, I need to add:...9.3x64mm Brenneke

That covers the important stuff, but I would add the .378Wby (and perhaps the .338-378Wby) as well.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

the .375 Ulta and .378 Weatherby will come under the ".375 HH mag and other .375 mags"

and the .340 Weatherby and .338-.378 Weatherby will also come under ".338 win mag and other .338 mags"

since I'm limited to 20 choices.

Also, .45-70, .444 marlin, and .450 Alaskan will also have to be put under one lumped category.

Edit: Well, looks like I will not be doing this poll (or any poll) again - evidently my (or everyone's?) "poll privileges" have been revoked? Or there is a problem with the software? No option any more to add a poll. Wish I could create a poll asking people on here whether they would or would not like to see more poll threads from me, but gonna be hard to do that now. Any mod here know what's going on?

 

[Maverick223]

Also, .45-70, .444 marlin, and .450 Alaskan will also have to be put under one lumped category.

.444 isn't worthy.

No more polls for you. EDIT: just checked...no polls for me either.

 

[UnTainted]

On second thought, the gun I'd like in the camp next to me, besides the revolver on my belt, would be an ar-10 fitted for 450 marlin.

 

[Float Pilot]

I dont see why 303 British is not included since it is the most prevalent cartridge in Canada.

We are not Canada.

The 303 British is not very popular here for some reason. While Fort Yukon- Alaska, Wrangel Alaska and a couple other towns were under British flags at one time or another, that all ended by 1867... Before the 303 came into use.

You are much more likely to run into old 30-40 Krag's and Model 95 Winchesters chambered in 30-40 Krag. Particularly out in the older villages like Fort Yukon.

During the 70s and early 80s everybody in the Bush had an old Winchester model 94 in 30-30. Often with a heavy piece of cord as a sling going through a hole in the stock. Many I worked on also had the rear sight secured with electrical tape.

Many of those village M94s have now been replaced with SKS carbines. They work just fine when 3 or 4 guys run down a moose on snow-machines and riddle it full of holes during poaching season.

There is a saying up here that "the calibers get larger the closer you get to Anchorage and the big gun stores."

 

[grubbylabs]

Hay DR. Winslow I vote Archery gear. If I am hunting and not defending my self then archery gear. If it is defense then I vote for any large caliber magnum .44 and up

 

[Maverick223]

^I'll pray for you, grubs...those are some big, angry beasts that roam up north. It can be done with a bow and steady shot, but I think I would want a nice back up gun, for when you piss one off.

 

[blackops]

300 RUM. 200 grains going over 3k fps with 4k lbs behind it. Range and authority. Montana, HS, Krieger, Leupold, and Talley.

 

[W.E.G.]

.338 Win. Mag. kills everything, and at good distance.

Ammo should be easy to come by in Alaska.

 

[Cosmoline]

It *should* be, but ammo has been dismal around here lately. I'm telling everyone to bring extra if they come.