What's the perfect Alaskan rifle/round?

[35 Whelen]

That is an awful pretty bear gerry.................. lovely tipping . Looks like that 375R rifle is working well! :wink:
But I still like the looks of that Whelen!

 

[Guy Miner]

Agree - that is a terrific bear!

Hey, I've got a bear rifle too....

I'd imagine the 300 gr Partition ought to work pretty well, even on Alaskan critters?

 

[SJB358]

Well I guess that was kind of a loaded question. I guess my real question is I'm looking to complete
my 3 gun battery for Alaska. The first two are taken care of -06 and a 300wsm. Now I've been thinking of the 3rd witch will be the top "DOG" in my battery. Mainly looking for a "Bear rifle" I guess. I do have a line on a New Haven M70 SS 375 H&H but the 338WM and 358NM also sound appealing. Thanks again guys, Jager1

Although this thread sure has made for some "good reading" I must say!
Pics of current bear rifles is all this thread is missing. We do have 1 so far. :grin:

I would rate the 338 WM the most versatile followed by the 358 Norma and then the 375. The 300 gr AccuBond in the 338 would be pretty good bear stopper. The Outfitter I guided for shot lots of big coastal grizzlies here with his 338 in the worst imaginable curcumstances and lived to tell about it.

Here are my bear guns

35 Whelen

375 Ruger

Gerry, that is a great looking bear, but I am not sure if you noticed, the bolts are on the wrong side... Just wanted to give you a heads up buddy..

These are my "bear rifles" currently!

The M70 338WM

The M700 35 Whelen

I will goof around a bit with that 300 AB when it comes out in the little 338WM. I imagine I could get 2400 out of them. Might be a fun plinker! :shock:

 

[35 Whelen]

Now your talking............. nice pics of bears now get out those Moose photos out . Here is what they look like up there![60" plus only please; LOL]

Whitefish Lake

Innoko River

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have hinted Shiras Moose and Quebec-Labrador moose on several unguided DIY trophy hunts and never actually shot one but not the Yukon -Alaska variety, they are truly giants!

 

[SJB358]

Now your talking............. nice pics of bears now get out those Moose photos out . Here is what they look like up there![60" plus only please; LOL]

Whitefish Lake

Innoko River

Great moose Earle. They are some beasts! Unfortunately, my moose only tapes 46"! He was as big as a dinosaur to this kid when I saw him in 1995!

 

[35 Whelen]

Well lets not forget about the animal almost everyone shoots when they get to Alaska! 8) The deer of the NorthCountry. Here is one that made the "book: :wink:

Brooks Range

Upper Nushagak

 

[SJB358]

Great caribou buddy. Again, mine isn't so much to look at, but from what I remember of him, he ate well and was a legal bull! :twisted:

 

[DrMike]

I do have a few bear rifles that I occasionally carry.

There's my 35 Whelen, that is getting a new workup at the present.

I have a couple of .356 Winchesters that take down mountain grizzlies with surprising aplomb.

Another .356 Win

.358 Ruger Hawkeye

.350 Rem Magnum

Unfortunately, I'm unable to post a picture of my 9.3X64 Brenneke. However, I should be able to get up a picture of two shortly.

 

[Oldtrader3]

DrMike, how do you like the 9.3x64 Brenneke? It has an awesome reputation as a medium game slayer and certainly has the horsepower. I notice that they are becoming a more popular chambering among larger game hunters in this country.

 

[DrMike]

Charlie,

I THINK I will like the Brenneke very much. It isn't finished. It has been test fired at the shop and the extractor groove is cut. It needs to be crowned and the stock work completed. I am hoping to have it within the next couple of weeks to begin working up some loads. I chose it because it does have some "oomph." Also, it has a bit of mystique due to its relative rarity in these parts.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I wish you well with that project and that caliber. It just seems that people are shopping more now for the medium magnums and the 8mm Brenneke, despite having been around for awhile, seems to be scratching an itch for those bigger game hunters who do not want to go all the way to the .375 H&H but want the power for sure kills on larger animals up to and including the large bears.

I am reallt interested in seeing how this works out for you, despite probably never needing to buy one myself, I still have the interest and curiosity about (new to us) calibers for larger game. That seems to be a hot spot more and more as more hunters have the time and money to persue moose, elk and bear.

 

[Jager1]

Ok guys let's keep this one going! Still needs more pic's. Guns,Game and Alaska it can't get any better. Haven't been there sense 96 can't wait to return going to get back up there someday and I'm never going come back down to the lower 48 ever again.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My pictures are not attempts at photographic art they are records for insurance. However, the first rifle is my Alaskan, Mark V Weatherby, .340 Wea Mag that has been restocked with a Euromark stock and is equipped with a 3.5-10x50 Kahles scope. I shoot this rifle very frequently and it is my go to elk rifle.

Second medium caliber rifle is a Model 85 Sako Hunter, .338 Federal rifle with a 3-9x42 Kahles scope. This is my brush rifle for Roosevelt elk.

 

[257 Ackley]

Charlie -
I love the look of that Sako! That is the one caliber that I don't have off the old .308 case.

 

[BK]

Damn, Charlie, that's my kind of Weatherby! .340, SS, and a gorgeous, but not overly flashy, stick of wood!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Thanks guys, I am pretty committed to wooden stocks now. I still have the Tupperware stock for the Bee and used Plastic stocks for nearly 20 years but the wood is something that I will willingly carry and put honest wear on and not worry about it. At my age, I am not walking 10 miles a day anymore through the hills either.

 

[35 Whelen]

Mike,
That is one rugged table your shooting off from . Nice! No wonder your groups are so small!!!
I just picked up a new portable one off the Sportsmans Guide and am a bit disapointed with it. The table is ok and quite rugged but the deminsions are smaller than advertised so will probably have to add some plywood to the top also the seat distance from the table when using a lead sled is waaaaaaay to low so I am going to need to tig weld an extension onto the seat rail..................
Oh boy................. these so called bargins can be a bummer. I may take some pictures before and after to show how we got around all this drama! :wink:

 

[DrMike]

These tables are due for a refinish. However, kudos to the Dawson Creek Sportsman's Club for the quality workmanship evident in the various ranges. It does make for accuracy.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I have blue jean sand bags just like that :grin: . I'll probably fab a good rest this year. I built a nice bench last winter out of 1 1/2" square tubing with 3/4" plywood on top. It's a little heavy to tote around but much more solid than the previous wood benches. It also has adjustable legs for the uneven ground out in the desert where I shoot.

Oldtrader,

Is that Kahles scope purple in real life like it looks in the pic?