Thinking, thanking, thunking....

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine and I have been bantering back and forth about the ultimate Alaska "all-around" rifle in prep for what I'm sure one of us will undertake as a build.

While it is fun to think about big belted mags and numbers starting with "4" to thump big bears, that's not really what we're talking about. But rather a general purpose sort of rifle that's flexible enough for about anything.

It would be pretty easy to simply pull any reasonable .30-06 off the rack as well- but that's boring. Where's the fun in that?

We've got the cartridge worked out to the .338-06 shooting the 180gr- 225gr bullets. I'm a real fan of the 210 Partition and it should be a real killer at 2650fps or so on just about anything that walks up here about as far as I'd shoot it.

So now for the rest of it....

What action? Barrel length? other features?

I'm thinking that 8.5 lbs scoped would be about right....and 5 down would be nice. Walnut is probably out given the crappy weather that is September and stainless is probably nice.

Interested in what you guys come up with.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

It's gotta be on a model 70 action...I think 22" of barrel would be plenty.

Manners or McMillan...pick your poison...there are other options here, but my vote goes to one with pillars...not a chassis.

Smallish, lightweight, low power scope.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I gotta say though...I think I'd make it a Whelen.

 

[Vince]

Hard to beat the .35 Whelen as an all around rifle in Alaska.
The only other two calibers I'd look at are the .338 Win Mag and a .375 Hurt & Hurt.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[sask boy]

I would go with a 35 Whelen using a Defiance action and a PacNor SSM 24" barrel with a 1-12 twist.
I would go with a Manner's stock and H&S detachable clip system and a Timney trigger set at 3lbs.
I would likely one shoot one grain of bullet and that would be a 225gr. ABs.
It has great knock down power with a wide range of bullet weights. The 1-12 twist will let you shoot really as heavy as you want to go.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[DrMike]

Ah, Dan is just trying to duplicate his own rifle. Which is not a bad thing to do. The 338-06 will get 'er done, no doubt. The 35 Whelen is just a little more of a good thing. Either would be a great rifle in Alaska. The 35 Whelen has an advantage (if you call it an advantage) or frontal area and with selected bullets more mass. The 338-06 has an advantage (such as it were) of bullet selection. The 35 Whelen has an advantage in properly head stamped brass (doesn't matter to many people, but does to some). Properly head-stamped brass for the 338-06 is less readily available and is generally expensive when it is found. Still, I'd say it is a coin toss as to which is "better." On the 338-06, I would think that tossing 210 grain or 200 grain bullets would serve you well. We live in wonderful times when great stocks and excellent barrels and actions are available to the builder. Great fun you are embarking on.

 

[nvbroncrider]

This is my 338-06AI built on a Pre-64 M70 24" barrel #4 Pac-Nor 1-9" so if I want crank up to the 300 gr. 8.5-9 lbs SG Micky mag fill Cerakoted Flat black looking at 2750 for a 225gr pill. I put it on the scale once I think field ready bipod scope and ammo came in at like 10.5 or so. Or maybe a 9.3X62 built to similar specs.

 

[Anonymous]

Defiance action... nice. I haven't thought too much about those kind of component actions. Spendy, but I'm sure the finished product will be. In reality this could be as simple as picking up any old 270 or '06 and sending it out for a bore job or a new barrel but I'm thinking something a little more custom. Stiller Predators came up and it looks similar. Nesika Bay also came up. $1200 or so for an action seems high but they are all beautiful. I hate paying $800-1200 for a rifle donor and chucking half the parts.

As far as Win 70 actions go, I like it. ... and that'd be pretty easy to boot. I'd likely just order a Montana 99 already chambered in .338-06 and drop it into a McM stock. We also talked about reaming out a Kimber Montana (again, boring)

On the .35 Whelen v. .338-06... we talked about that a lot. My buddy already loads a .338WM and he didn't want to add a caliber of component bullet (boring and lazy...I know). I looked long and hard but if there's a real nickel's worth of difference between the .338-06 and the .35 Whelen....I sure can't find it. Neither are really available in loaded ammo here and the component availability is about the same. This will be a hunting rifle- carried a lot and shot very little. 100 pieces of brass would last a very long time.

These are all some great ideas and exactly the sort of thought provoking input I was looking for.

 

[BK]

SS M70 'Classic' action; .338 WinMag or .375 H&H; 23" barrel in the H&H, 24" in the WinMag; dark blue and yellow McMillan McSwirley Winchester Express (colors represent the Alaska flag) pillar bedded, 14-3/4: LOP to a 1" Decelerator; VX3 2.5-8x38 or 3.5-10x40 scope in matte, #4 reticle, M1 elevation knob; Leupold DD rings and bases; all the metal (except scope) Cerakoated in Blue Titanium or Graphite Black. Looking for about 8-1/4 pounds on the .338, 8-1/2 on the Holland.

If I could guarantee ammo availability, I could be talked into a .340 Weatherby. I could also be talked into camo with white, yellow, blue and black on the Mickey.

 

[Dr. Vette]

There's a Savage in 338-06 for sale on another forum I was looking at, as I too really like the idea of that caliber, but I already have more firearms than I have storage room so I didn't make an offer on it. If you wait in the weeds you will occasionally find one available.

 

[tddeangelo]

Having an M70 Classic in 35 Whelen dressed in a McMillan and sporting a 12 twist, I would imagine my "vote" is easy to predict.

That said, I waffled a LOT when it came time to decide on the chambering for that rifle. It started life as a 30-06, and gave fine service as such. I really was leaning hard to the 338-06 for a long time, but when it came down to it, I went with the Whelen, and I have zero regrets for doing so. I'm sure I'd be saying the same if I'd gone 338 as well.

Of course, my lineup is lacking a 338 bore of some sort, and that's something that is starting to bug me....

:?

 

[Guy Miner]

Boring... .30-06 with a low power variable, quality synthetic stock, ceracoated or stainless, or both.

Stoke it up with 180 gr Nosler Partitions at 2750 or so, zero it at 200 yards and go hunt.

:grin:

 

[BK]

Boring... .30-06 with a low power variable, quality synthetic stock, ceracoated or stainless, or both.

Stoke it up with 180 gr Nosler Partitions at 2750 or so, zero it at 200 yards and go hunt.

:grin:

Sensible, though I might think about 200s rather than 180s.


Or not.

 

[6mm Remington]

30-06 Model 70 with a 24" barrel and a 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 Leupold, 180 gr. Partitions or Accubonds

338-06 with 210 gr. Partitions or the 200 gr. AccuBond , 24" barrel, 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 Leupold again for scope.

Stainless barrel and action with the barrel and action coated. I like the B&C stock with the aluminum bedding block. May different colors to choose from.

 

[Guy Miner]

220 gr Partitions... I like!

 

[DrMike]

That's a lot of mass; it has to drop game right smartly.

 

[SJB358]

I think just about any of the options are great ones. You could always pick up a Nosler Patriot in 35 Whelen, a 100 cases and some 225 AB's or PT, loaded with a case full of RL15 and go to town. One of the Zeiss HD5's with a Z600 reticle would let you shoot as far as you wanted with the Whelen and it be ready to go pretty quick.

Your right though, not alot of difference from the 338-06 and Whelen. Both are super cartridges and can be housed in nice rifles. Good luck and update us when you can.

 

[ajvigs]

Defiance action... nice. I haven't thought too much about those kind of component actions. Spendy, but I'm sure the finished product will be. In reality this could be as simple as picking up any old 270 or '06 and sending it out for a bore job or a new barrel but I'm thinking something a little more custom. Stiller Predators came up and it looks similar. Nesika Bay also came up. $1200 or so for an action seems high but they are all beautiful. I hate paying $800-1200 for a rifle donor and chucking half the parts.

As far as Win 70 actions go, I like it. ... and that'd be pretty easy to boot. I'd likely just order a Montana 99 already chambered in .338-06 and drop it into a McM stock. We also talked about reaming out a Kimber Montana (again, boring)

On the .35 Whelen v. .338-06... we talked about that a lot. My buddy already loads a .338WM and he didn't want to add a caliber of component bullet (boring and lazy...I know). I looked long and hard but if there's a real nickel's worth of difference between the .338-06 and the .35 Whelen....I sure can't find it. Neither are really available in loaded ammo here and the component availability is about the same. This will be a hunting rifle- carried a lot and shot very little. 100 pieces of brass would last a very long time.

These are all some great ideas and exactly the sort of thought provoking input I was looking for.

Stiller Predator would be a good idea..I sold my Montana 1999 to have a precision rig built off of a Stiller Tac30AW action.

If you do order the Montana 1999 they have a really nice model, the American Vantage Rifle, that comes with express sights and an awesome trigger, AND it comes factory chambered in 35 Whelen. They offer it in both wood/blued or stainless/synthetic.

 

[JD338]

I think just about any of the options are great ones. You could always pick up a Nosler Patriot in 35 Whelen, a 100 cases and some 225 AB's or PT, loaded with a case full of RL15 and go to town. One of the Zeiss HD5's with a Z600 reticle would let you shoot as far as you wanted with the Whelen and it be ready to go pretty quick.

Your right though, not alot of difference from the 338-06 and Whelen. Both are super cartridges and can be housed in nice rifles. Good luck and update us when you can.

All suggestions made are good ones! I have to agree with Scotty here and go with a Nosler M48 Patriot in 35 Whelen. Loaded up with a 250 gr PT at 2600 fps, you have a lot of horse power and penetration. The Zeiss HD5 with the Z600 reticle would get you all the distance you would ever need.

The 338-06 offers better bullet selection, BC and maybe a bit more penetration over the 35 Whelen but the 35 Whelen offers slightly more frontal mass. Both would ne great rounds. I would also make sure which ever one you choose that you get proper head stamped brass.

JD338

 

[Anonymous]

I've been mulling this over more and more. Given my druthers- I'd likely opt for the Whelen. My buddy is dead set on the .338-06...

The idea that the .338 had better bullet selection is a bit misleading in my opinion. A great many .338 bullets are made for .338WM speeds and might not be the best in the .338-06 . I guess when you consider that- the number of suitable .338 bullets isn't really any more numerous than .35 Whelen bullets.

Since I keep stuff simple- both are available in ABs and PTs as well as Speer Hot Cors for blasting. That's enough. Neither cartridge really needs a mono metal bullet