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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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Any argument against a 308 for a do all Alaskan hunting rifle?
It'll be on a 700SA. Currently a 243, thinking about finding a 308 take off barrel.
I Could be swayed to another chamber, but factory ammo is likely a given.
Thoughts or suggestions?
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Campfire Ranger
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I figure it's worked a whole bunch before, and 308 take off's seem reasonably common. As does(did) the ammo.
Just open to other suggestions.
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Nothing wrong with the .308. And then there is the "Beware the one-gun, man...." you know the thing.
An unashamed bitter/clinger/deplorable
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Campfire Regular
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Nothing in Alaska that ain't been dropped with a .243 Win. or the equal older cartridge. If you can't get it done with a .308 Win. Find a place to hide.
Last edited by AGL4now; 03/30/21.
ALASKA is a "HARD COUNTRY for OLDMEN". (But if you live it wide'ass open, balls'to the wall, the pedal floored, full throttle, it is a delightful place, to finally just sit-back and savor those memories while sipping Tequila).
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Campfire Tracker
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My sister lives in Alaska and her "do-all" is a Winchester M88 in 308 I got for her about 30 years ago. She shoots 180 grain Partitions I load for it and so far everything she's shot had died and so far I think she has had to shoot 2 times only once. She did hit one moose 2 times, but I have killed moose with a 375H&H and even hit with that, they often don't seem to notice all that much for a few seconds after the hit.
Anyway, a good 308 with proper bullets will do the job. If you can keep cool and shoot well, the 308 will do what you ask of it.
Last edited by szihn; 03/30/21.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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My great uncle worked around Dyea , YT from 1898 to 1916, felt well armed with a '95 Winchester in .30 Army (.30-40 Krag to us). But, he probably had 220 gr slugs, no .308 will handle them I guess.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Locals shoot moose and deer in the head and yes a 308 is pretty good at head shots...
Watch 'Yer Topknot!
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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Don’t remember the poster from the valley? that put his wife behind a .308 on a Kodiak bear hunt. One-shot success, so there is that.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Campfire Regular
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Any argument against a 308 for a do all Alaskan hunting rifle?
It'll be on a 700SA. Currently a 243, thinking about finding a 308 take off barrel.
I Could be swayed to another chamber, but factory ammo is likely a given.
Thoughts or suggestions? If you reload or have a friend that reloads, Jes reboring will take that rifle sent regular mail and send it back a 358 Winchester. http://www.35caliber.com/2.htmlAlot cheaper/easier deal at about $250. Many guys have had this done. Two of mine had no trouble launching 200 grain ttsx bullets at 2700 fps and 250 grain A-frames to 2400 fps.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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The only problem I'd have with the 308 is it doesn't lend itself to using bullets over 165 grains as well as say...the 30-06.
That said, the 308 was the round of choice for our mountain caribou hunt guide in far northern BC when I was 13 (1960). Otto Elden of Chetwind BC carried a Savage 99 FW 308 with open sights as his rifle of choice. He liked how it carried, how fast it was to get pointed at critters, and how well it went into a saddle scabbard.
I believe he used Remington Core-Lokt 150gr ammo. He had used it on moose and grizzly and swore by it.
Hunt with Class and Classics
Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray
Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary”
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Any argument against a 308 for a do all Alaskan hunting rifle?
It'll be on a 700SA. Currently a 243, thinking about finding a 308 take off barrel.
I Could be swayed to another chamber, but factory ammo is likely a given.
Thoughts or suggestions? If you reload or have a friend that reloads, Jes reboring will take that rifle sent regular mail and send it back a 358 Winchester. http://www.35caliber.com/2.htmlAlot cheaper/easier deal at about $250. Many guys have had this done. Two of mine had no trouble launching 200 grain ttsx bullets at 2700 fps and 250 grain A-frames to 2400 fps. I load, but the rifle will be for my BIL, who does not. I'll give him a rifle, but ain't going load his ammo and send it up😁 Jes is a good thought. I was leaning 308 mostly for the factory ammo options but I suppose 358 is pretty well represented as well. Thanks.
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Campfire Regular
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Don’t remember the poster from the valley? that put his wife behind a .308 on a Kodiak bear hunt. One-shot success, so there is that. That might have be been Luke's wife? I think I remember that, and it was a 180 grain fusion. Luke and I over 10 years ago, tested out various 200 grain bullets out of the 308 as a bison legal load. We found that the boat tail bullets were too long, but the flat based spitzers did great. We used alliant 2000 Mr using 200 grain partitions, getting 2450 fps from my 20 inch barrel savage. Luke got over 2500 fps from his 22 in barrel Kimber Montana. I eventually sent mine off to come back a 358. I think Luke sent his off to become a 358 too.
Last edited by mainer_in_ak; 03/30/21.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
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The only problem I'd have with the 308 is it doesn't lend itself to using bullets over 165 grains as well as say...the 30-06.
That said, the 308 was the round of choice for our mountain caribou hunt guide in far northern BC when I was 13 (1960). Otto Elden of Chetwind BC carried a Savage 99 FW 308 with open sights as his rifle of choice. He liked how it carried, how fast it was to get pointed at critters, and how well it went into a saddle scabbard.
I believe he used Remington Core-Lokt 150gr ammo. He had used it on moose and grizzly and swore by it. Very true on your first sentence. Here's how I load the 308: That was for 180gr partitions and 165/168 Barnes bullets.. You really have to stoke the case, but it's still not a 30-06..
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Campfire Tracker
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My cousin Doug only has one rifle a 308 Win in an Abolt. He has probably 10 rams that book. These are some of the older ones from his shop. The brown bear was from Fidalgo Bay.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,359 Likes: 35 |
Don’t remember the poster from the valley? that put his wife behind a .308 on a Kodiak bear hunt. One-shot success, so there is that. That might have be been Luke's wife? I think I remember that, and it was a 180 grain fusion. Luke and I over 10 years ago, tested out various 200 grain bullets out of the 308 as a bison legal load. We found that the boat tail bullets were too long, but the flat based spitzers did great. We used alliant 2000 Mr using 200 grain partitions, getting 2450 fps from my 20 inch barrel savage. Luke got over 2500 fps from his 22 in barrel Kimber Montana. I eventually sent mine off to come back a 358. I think Luke sent his off to become a 358 too. By Jove. I believe you’re right.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Campfire Regular
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My cousin Doug only has one rifle a 308 Win in an Abolt. He has probably 10 rams that book. These are some of the older ones from his shop. The brown bear was from Fidalgo Bay. The ram on the far left is what dreams are made of........
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Campfire Tracker
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Is that ram in the left, a Stone Sheep? I have zero field experience with sheep other than seeing Dalls from afar a bunch of times and Desert Bighorns along the Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam. That one looks more like a Bighorn than a Dall.
Mark
NRA Life Member Anytime anyone kicks cancers azz is a good day!
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Oh The Drama!
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Campfire Tracker
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His bigger ones are in the house. It is a dall but he has a woodstove in his shop and he took it about 15 years ago.
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Campfire Tracker
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My wife thinks her 308 does fine on moose. She killed quite a few deer and a couple elk with it as well before we moved to Alaska. She drew a caribou tag this year so perhaps it will see some time in the field. Specs - BSA Majestic, 150 grain Barnes TSX, Leupold VXII 1-4x.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
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