Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles EDIT: Tell me about rifles in 375 H&h -AK bush living

I'd take Headache's thoughts on the matter over the guy who thinks a 308 is a poor choice for elk because a lung shot bull went 30 yards before dying.

Get the new G&A. Boddington covers both in depth.

A hunting partner got his ass kicked by a bull moose a couple years ago in large part due to a Kimber in 338WM failure to fire. Wounded bull came at him from real close and he stumbled backward and attempted to shoot while lying on his back. Factory load, just a click...

Extreme excess "headspace" at the shoulder (+.125") and enough excess at the belt that a no go closes with slight stiffness.

Kimber CS yawned...

I'd look at a Ruger Guide Gun in 375 Ruger. Pretty much perfect as is.

https://www.ruger.com/products/guideGun/models.html

Never checked head space on a Kimber .308 I had that would go click on a certain load it bug holed. About every 6-7 shot "Click"! I likened it to a weak firing pin spring and CCI 250 primers. I hear its a harder primer? I switched primer and loads opened up a 1/4 but it always went bang. Still tho that click resonated in my brain and I never got past it. Kimber went down the road.

Internet search will render lotta conversation about weak kimber firing pin springs.

Get a Ruger 77 stainless in 375 Alaskan model or 30-06 or 308 if necessary.

Id have no problem trusting a Talkeetna, they are awesome rifles and I'd love to get one at some point. Right now I have a weatherby Vanguard Dangerous game rifle and it does well but a Kimber is nicer.

358WSM,
Man no shortage of opinions and some experience here in your posting. Here my 2 cents for the what it's worth department.
Well I might have missed it, but are looking to hunt bear or are you looking more for protection? Reading your first posting sounded like more towards protection. If thats the case than a fast pointing rifle is the ticket..... First off I've found over the years that tried and true is the way to go. Hard to beat a 375 HH, yea there are newer stuff like the Ruger,and I'm sure it's a fine cartridge, but, for teeth and claws, go with the one that has been working, and working very well for almost a century (1925). A former Charter Captain and fish guide that worked for me for 11 years only carries a 375 HH when he's Bear Guiding on Kodiak. My brother has a Sako carbine that he's thinking of selling, I don't think he's ever taken it out of the box from when I gave it to him 30 years ago. If intreasted let me know and I'll ask him.
BUT... For the up close and personal, I would go with the 45-70 with Buffalo Bore ammo. I used to take customers to shore off our long range charters in Prince William Sound and I carried a custom Remington 660 rebarelled to a 458x2 American along with a 5.5" Ruger 480. Finely went to a 50 Alaskan built on a Browning 71. We had customers in along bear streams lots.
I only hunted big Bear once when my Father and Brother insisted on it, I carried a custom 458 mag built for my move to Alaska 45 years ago. Nice gun, but, 45" long, 11 pounds loaded with a Lyman peep. Carrying that monster through the alders was what made me build the 660, 458x2, 7.75 pounds, 38" with a Leopold 1x4. Can't personally see a good reason to hunt big bears. But, there are times when you can find one close in and unexpected. Fast and big makes me feel better. So the question is are you hunting or just wanting to feel more comfortable?
John

John,

PROTECTION.

I'll be living and working out of one of the smaller villages, outside of Fairbanks. Then, in the fall, I'll be heading back in and around unit 19 to run a Marten line. It is back in there where my concerns rest. No way in or out, possibly for days, even weeks, depending on the weather and contact with the pilot. Even a little scratch could spell the end. So, Protection, especially before den up is my goal.

Feel free to add, or even PM me, please.

Get a 06 Shoot 200gr partition out of it.. I have a model 70 stainless classic in a 375 H&H I yet to take it out hunting. Most times I grab my model 70 in a 338 wsm (200gr ab) or my model 70 in a 325 wsm (200gr partitions) or my model 70 in a 30-06 (200gr ab). do you see a trend yet..

79, some guys may scoff at that 30-06/200gr partition remark, unless theyve actually used it. 5 in the mag box, makes me feel a little better too.

Yes. I do see a trend.

When running the 30-06, how did it perform when attempting to stop a charge.???

I actually think perhaps my next thread should ask/read - " How has your 30-06 performed for you durring a Brown Bear charge.?"

I'll have NO other shooter standing by.
I'll be a minimum of 3 days back in, by boat, without another living soul to call upon for just over 50 miles away.
I'll have to have near perfect snow conditions in order for the pilot to land, find my mauled body, and drag me to the nearest hospital.
I'll have a satalite phone that might work, might complete a call, and someone might answer...if I am in any condition to dial.


Still banking on the 06.???

So here it is.

" How has your 30-06 performed at stopping a bear charge.?"





.

358wsm,
I don't know how to PM, I feel lucky just making a post with not to many miss spellings and such.
Anyway: KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid.
45-70 with buffalo Bore, wide flat nose cuts a nice hole. Close in high velocity cartridges can pass through without expanding or just blow up. It's a crap shoot because you don't know what you will be confronted with. I did a test to prove a point on that subject for my Father who had just bought a 460 Weatherby mag, nasty gun and not needed since the T Rex passed on.. Anyway the very unscientific test:
1 each, 460 mag, 458 WM, and a hot 45-70. Target 8"x8"x16" timber chunks, mostly on the dry side at 20 yards. the 500 gr RN soft point 460 Weatherby drilled a nice 1/2" hole in the block. Next the 458WM with 350 gr RN soft point, split the block. The 45-70 with Barns Originals shatered the block. To much velocity close up does not give the bullet the chance to work. After that my Father shot the 460 for the first time after my testing, one shot and the 460 was for sale. Now there are exceptions to that for sure, but it comes back to KISS. I would shy away from the factory loads in the 45-70, like the Remington, 405 gr at what 1330fps. The Buffalo Bore 45-70 Magnum - Lever Gun Ammo - 405 gr. J.F.N.(2,000fps/M.E.3,597 ft.lbs.) or CorBon has a 460gr at 1650fps.. Buffalo Bore is expencive stuff, but it's not like your going to go plinking and burn up a bunch of ammo, so buy 2 boxes, 1 to test out and one to carry up the mag.
Around the interior or Fairbanks it's rare to get a Grizzly, mostly Blacks and those on the smaller side. But, in unit 19 you could run into Grizz. If you go with a Marlin get an older one and change it over to the Wild West extractor and a few other items to make the Marlin run reliably. No frills, if you get a older one the trigger will possablity be good and smooth. I have a older Marlin with some cleaned up rust pits, bought it that way. Makes for a good boat gun, don't mind getting a ding or 2 in it and it's short, light and comes up fast.
Anyway thats my 2 cents. I'm sure somebody will put thier 2 bits in and say I'm full of it. But you know what they say, opinions are like Azz holes, everybody has one.
Remember: KISS.
John

Probably like any other rifle in whatever caliber they have miserable.. if I’m worried about charging bears I’m packing a benelli semi auto in a 12 gauge loaded with slugs.. or a 870 in a 12 gauge ... as far as trend that one flew over your head I use nothing but model 70’s that’s the trend the other I guess would be I like nosler bullets..

Bump.

Wow you will be the only guy ever to venture into the wilds of Alaska.. good luck buy a 458 Lott shoot 510gr slugs out of it.. good luck

I'm not asking that.
I'm asking an honest question, I'd like to hear the reports of performance there while using yojr 30-06's to stop a Brown Bear charge.?
Encourage me a bit.

358wsm,
458win said it: simple buy Ruger 375 and be done with it. Can't go wrong there either. I personally don't have any experance with the 375 HH or Ruger. The only reason is I came here with a 338WM and just did not want one more caliber.
The main point is get comfortable and confident with your firearm..
My most used calibers for me are 30-06, 338-06, 35 Whelen in the interior/Fairbanks area. The coast is a differant story.
John

I don’t need to encourage anyone.. buy whatever you want but I can wander into any store in Alaska and get a box of shells for an 06.. I wandered the wilds of unit 13 and never worried about charging bears.. but I have complete faith in whatever I’m carrying to turn a charge if one ever happened. The big question will you be able to hit a charging bear? I don’t care what you have if you can’t hit what’s charging you might as well have a rape whistle and blow on it cause that bear about to give you the ass raping of a lifetime. That bear ain’t going to give you any chocolates afterwards either..