I've always been fascinated by the cartridge while the .300 WinMag holds no appeal to me.
I agree. Just handled an old Sako that had "300 Mag" printed on the barrel and everyone knew what it meant.
I've always been fascinated by the cartridge while the .300 WinMag holds no appeal to me.
neither the 30-06 nor the 300 Win Mag are "classic" chamberings for the Model 70 Alaskan.
I have a 1962 Winchester Catalog sitting in front of me, and it shows that back then, the Model 70 Alaskan was only chambered in .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H. Of course the catalog lists a bunch of other Model 70s too: the Featherweight, the Standard, the Westerner, the African, the Varmint, and the Target. And they're chambered for calibers from the .243 to the .458 Win Mag, but the 1962 Model 70 Alaskan was only chambered in .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H.
All this discussion of Pre-64 M-70's and magnums has caused me to dig out a few that have been hiding in my gun room and look them over again. At top is a Griffin & Howe Pre-64 in .300 H&H. In middle, another Griffin & Howe Pre-64, in .375 H&H. At bottom is my favorite, a Pre-War M-70 in .375 H&H.
Ps a guy I know runs a 30-30 for moose with great success(i don't want to hear nay Sayers on that choice) . And once I get my 250 savage running well? Moose in my crosshairs.
Oh, BTW none of the 1962 Model 70s were chambered for the 300 Win Mag either (I don't think it had been introduced yet).
I like the new model 70's better than the early models. If you get the Alaskan, get it in the .338 Win Mag. You can load it down easily and boy do the shot good groups. JMHOFolks,
I've decided my small accumulation of bolt action center fire rifles won't be complete without the ubiquitous Model 70. By no means am I a collector of prestigious rifles, I just feel this one needs to be added.
I'm stuck between a pre 64, #19xxx, and a brand new Alaskan. I read a decent amount of material on the 70, but I need some sage advice. I can appreciate the history of a rifle made in 1938, but it would have to be a shooter.
If I get the Alaskan, which caliber? I'm on the fence between 30-06 and 300 Win Mag.
I'll mostly shoot at the range, so intended use aside, Logic tells me the .06 is the classic caliber in a classic rifle, but to be truer to the name, would not the .300 Win Mag chambering be better suited to Alaskan game?
Help me decide between logic and horse sense,
Igotta40
Yep, I like it too, nice touch. The guy who first owned it was quite a shooter and hunter and used it to shoot a moose in Canada. He had its huge head hung in his office. He was the Doc who delivered my wife, and said she was his most beautiful baby and left the rifle to her in his will, along with some other gun stuff. So I can't honestly claim it is mine.I really like the peep sight on that Winchester.
Mine, which was made in 1939, also has a peep sight, snuggled up against the rear scope base.I really like the peep sight on that Winchester.
Excellent!Fellas,
I've made a decision. A new Winchester Alaskan chambered in 375 Holland & Holland.
I tend to agree with Robert about the recoil. I actually have a pre-64 Model 70 .338 Win Mag, and can say for sure it's recoil doesn't hurt me as bad as the post-94 Model 70 .300 Win Mag I used to have. I know - on paper a 225 gr. bullet at 2,900 fps from a .338 Win Mag has more recoil than a 165 gr. bullet at 3,000 fps from a .300 Win Mag. But it just feels to me like the recoil of a .338 WM is slower than the recoil of a .300 WM, so it hurts less. I suspect that might be the case with the .375 H&H. I've never shot one though, so I don't know for sure.I promise you the recoil is not as bad as the internet would lead you to believe.
The 375 is a big shove not a snappy kick. The recoil pad on the Safari Express and Alaskan is very good at absorbing the recoil. I got to handle a pre 64 Alaskan in 338 Win Mag last night. Beautiful rifle but wow was it light.
Yeah, my pre 64 338 Win Mag is not an "Alaskan." The fact is, the only thing about it that's actually "pre 64" about it is the action. I had a #3 Douglas premium barrel screwed on, and put it in a custom, laminated wood stock. It's definitely not light, but it's gorgeous, and shoots like a dream come true.I got to handle a pre 64 Alaskan in 338 Win Mag last night. Beautiful rifle but wow was it light.
I have a buddy who is no stranger to hard kicking rifles, and he swears up and down his .257 Weatherby hurts worse than his .416 Rem Mag.It's because I think there may be something to the idea that recoil doesn't feel as bad when it is slower vs snappy. Which is the only reason I can think of why 25-06 recoil is less pleasant for me than 30-06 when the exact same model rifle is used.