Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Alaskan Big Game Rifle?

An interesting bit of information that says a lot about this conversation, is our bison hunt. In all their wisdom our Fish and Game officials decided to put a minimum caliber requirement on our bison hunt. The minimum allowed is a 180 grain, 30 caliber bullet @ 2800 ft/lbs. The 30/06 is the baseline. Of course hunters read this and think bigger is better. Bison hunting is really popular here now that we have a general season on them. Our local gun store sells more 375s and larger calibers than anything. Well guess what happened? Fish and Game now say that a full 50% of the bison killed have been wounded in the past. Its such a problem that now one of the questions on the mandatory kill report is if your bison had any old wounds. I've killed four bison since they opened the season, three of them with a 338 Federal. One was taken at 300 yards. I didnt need more power, none went more than 20-yards, and I can tell you a bison is a big tough animal. They have thick hide and big bones, far tougher in that respect than any native big game animal up here and that includes bears.

Weapons Legal for Bison Hunting

Bison may be shot with any centerfire rifle, handgun, muzzleloading rifle, bow-and-arrow or crossbow that meet the criteria listed below:
Successful bison hunter with harvested bison

Rifle/handgun: must fire a 200 grain or larger bullet, which retains at least 2000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. A .30-06 with a 220 grain bullet is about the minimal weapon that meets this specification.
Muzzleloader: muzzle-loading rifles must be .54 caliber or larger, or at least .45 caliber with a 300 grain or larger elongated slug. Further, for safety reasons, those hunting with muzzleloaders must also have within easy reach a smokeless powder rifle meeting the centerfire rifle requirements listed above.
Black Powder cartridge rifles: must fire a 400 grain bullet or larger loaded with a minimum of 70 grains of black powder or equivalent (.45-70 with a 400 grain bullet or a .44-90 with a 550 grain bullet).
Not Legal — .45-70 loaded with 55 grains of black powder, or a .45-70 with a 330 grain bullet.
Bow: longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows are permitted, but they must have a peak draw weight of 50 pounds or more. Arrows must be at least 20 inches in overall length, and tipped with unbarbed, fixed or replaceable-blade type broadheads. Arrow and broadhead together must weigh at least 300 grains total weight. ADF&G strongly recommends that bowhunters have a rifle close at hand.
Crossbow: must have at least 100 lbs. peak draw weight and at least 14 in draw length. The bolt must be 16 or more inches in length, tipped with unbarbed fixed, replaceable or mechanical/retractable blade. The bolt and blade together must weigh a total of 300 grains or more.
— No electronic devices may be attached to the crossbow.

Ive never been to Africa or Alaska. I do love a 375 H&H and the 45/70's. Have several of both. I figured if I was going to build a do all rifle a 375 would be a good base. I have a classic stainless 375 with zeiss 3-9x40 with talley QR rings. I just have to get the barrel chopped to 20". It will do everything I will ever need if I ever get to make those trips. I love shooting my no 1's and leverguns more, but if I had to pick only one for everything, the m70 would prob be my pick, followed by my marlin stainless guide gun.

Wouldn't surprise me if much of the wounding has to do with lack of familiarity with bison anatomy. As for the four kills, many Native people tend to hunt close and aim for non-typical places - ear or neck rather than the lungs/chest, (ruins less meat.)

Beware the man with one gun...

Because he spent the rest of his money on whiskey and women?

(Notice I didn't say wasted!)

A .458 Winchester handloaded with 350gn TSX bullets make a great .375 load while maintaining .458 caliber for those that use recoil as the excuse not to step up to the best caliber for dangerous game.

A 300gn .375 bullet is good but a 350gn .458 bullet at the same speed is damn good.

I’ve hunted in Alaska twice, once for Dall Sheep and once for a caribou. Both fell to a 280 Remington pushing 160 Nosler Partitions hot. Both died in their tracks, the sheep then decided to roll down a rocky ridge 200 yards.
I’m schedueld for a moose hunt in September this fall during the rut, and I’m going to be carrying a custom 338-06 Ackely improved that pushes a 210 Nosler Partition out a 2,850. It’s been the center piece of the action on nine bull elk harvests; only one went beyond 20 yards after the shot. Two flipped over, four feet up. In conversations with my outfitter he says it should handle moose well, and I’m confident it will. Yes, it requires handloads, but I’m well stocked and well prepared. I’m not saying that this cartridge is the best for Alaska, but I’m confident it will do anything someone wants to use it on in the land of Enchandment.

My daughter Tia has a 7 1/2 # M70 in 416 Rem that she uses for virtually everything. She had it loaded with 300 gr X bullets ans used it last year to take a Dall sheep.
With lighter bullets the bigger calibers can be pretty versatile.

[quote=super T]A Ruger SS with a "boat paddle stock" in 30.06. ]

This but in a 338. It has worked for me several times and if it's lost or stolen or damaged you can always get another one.

I’m also another lived and hunted in Alaska, 4 years.
Honestly it really depends on your hunt.
Sheep 7mm mag, distance is king
Caribou 30-06, 7mm
Blackbear 30-06
Moose 300 win mag up to 416 Rigby
Grizzly, 338 win mag to 500

Always carry a 44mag side arm. No longer than a 6” barrel. Overly combersome sidearms will not be useful in a charging bear situation.

I carried a 338 WinMag browning stainless stalker as my main rifle. It was a heavy round and you could’t take those really long shots. 200yrds was the longest I would consider shooting with it. Also my side arm was a SW 629 classic with a non-fluted barrel.

The 30-06 is a great rifle and round but some bigger game just doesn’t stop even with a well placed shot. Also a double lung moose shot with an 06 can still mean 300-500 yrds tracking into some of the worst bush ever. Keep in mind post shot tracking that can become a major issue.

Sorry KenB, but there’s a whole lot in this post that simply leaves me scratching my head. Just............wow. 🙄