Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Which rifle for Muskox?

I have a February Tag for Muskox

Which Rifle/load? This is what I have:

Browning A-bolt 30-06

Or

CZ 550 9.3x62, Shoots handloads 286g partition at 2550. Or 250g accubond at 2700fps

Or

35 Whelen Handi Rifle, handloads 275g woodlieghs at 2550fps. Or 225g partition at 2780fps


They all shoot straight, The Handi rifle breaks down

I am not worried about the kick

1.) I am most worried about the action working in the cold
2.) bringing enough gun
3.) the ammo getting lost in transit

Thoughts?

The Browning A Bolt will work just fine.

I use an M-39 in 7.62x54r.

Chip I watched you shoot a musk ox last night on your show. What kind of double was that? I know for a while you were limited to muzzleloaders.

First off, to the original poster, Mt mnt 30-06 is found in every nook and cranny in AK, and Browning A bolts are reliable, and 30-06 is definitely enough gun for Muskoxen. When you get one, you will be surprised at how much the bulk the hair and wool add to the animals size.

As to Muskox hunting........
First I did a high, rear double lung with the .50 and that was after a load of 70 grns of pyrodex and an ffff nipple topping of real Black Powder.
The second shot was straight up Pyrodex, and after the ''snap'' of the cap, the second or so delay (it was -34) I unseated the butt from my shoulder and it finally went off. My remark to the camera was along the lines of '' 'F$#@!! That went over his head!!'' with extreme loathing, prejudice and sarcasm in my every word, so Im not sure how that played out. ( We dont have a TV and havent seen the show for a couple years) I ditched the rifle and I had purposely brought the double 12 gauge Pedrosoli, loaded with 70 grns Pyro and the nipples set with real ffff and kept pressing them on foot.

Anyways he stayed with the herd and moved downhill about 1/4 mile and stopped at the deep snow, where the herd circled. I ended up haveing to wave the wife over and when she came along with the ride, they up and moved. When the camera man and Ox were both clear, I put a shot cup of 15 pellets into his neck with no exit.

Thankfully, I dont have to deal with that anymore and normal firearms are the norm.
Not being a felon for almost a year now reminds me often of what there is to lose.

Always found it absurd that the firearms available at the time of the writing of the Second Amendment are not firearms in many jurisdictions.

Take the 06 and shoot’em in the gizzard.

Your '06 will work fine. I shot mine with a 7mm Rem mag shooting 160 grain Accubonds.

Take two of your favorites and have fun.

I used a bow for two bulls and I'm not a bow hunter. Any of rifles would work well. Take the .30-06 if you are worried about loosing ammo.

I like the Handi Rifle. Once you find them the hunt is pretty much over. They are a really fascinating and beautiful critter in my opinion.

Friends have used rifles, bows and a spear on them, but finished the speared one off with a handgun.