.375 H&H! If you a hand loader, for a few bucks you can make it an AI. Then you have both a close range stopping rifle and a 500+ yard Caribou rifle …..with the proper bullets! A pretty good “do it all” cartridge! You’ll thank me later! 😉 memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
I would worry less about the caliber or chambering and use a premium bullet in the rifle I was most comfortable with and with which I was most confident. If that’s a 308 or 7x57 so be it. If that’s a 375H&H so be it.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
the caliber would be 30 caliber the cartridge would be just the simple 30-06 because ammo is so easy to find , but i hope i never have to only have one cartridge / rifle
Did carry one for 4 seasons on USFS trail crew. It's nice that the 270 gr in .375 has the same trajectory as the .30-180.
PS - I've made it a pact with the big bears not to go around trying to poke holes in them if they aren't trying to do the same to me. For 54 years, the pact has held, so I've never had the "need" for the big bore.
Close Encounters of the Turd Kind don't count as "need". I can get scared chitless with a smaller bore!
If you’re bored…..a lifetime is much longer 😂! Been a one rifle/cartridge hunter for 42 years, 32 years with the same combo! The calibers have been the same for 42, in 1990 I got a rifle and cartridge upgrade! memtb
Last edited by memtb; 09/08/22.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
Definitely don’t have just one. But what I was trying to get at is one caliber just for Alaska! Moose Bears etc. Too old and outta shape to hunt sheep.
I have a.338 Federal but it’s blued.
Thinking about a stainless rifle, reliable weather resistant. Have always been intrigued by the Ruger 375.
Have a stainless 300 UM that hammers everything I’ve ever pointed it at.
A good cartridge no doubt! I picked “one” that would work well in Alaska, as well as legal for the big stuff in most of Africa! More than necessary for most of America…..but, ther is no such thing as “overkill”! 😉 memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
From my current rifles, it would be my Model 70 Classic stainless cerakoted in a Mcmillan Edge stock chambered in 338-06. Top one in the photo. Love the looks of the 338-06.
300 RUM because it's the best , why is it the best ?
because it can also be a .....
30-378 Wby 300 Norma Mag 300 Wby 300 PRC 300 Win Mag 300 WSM 300 H&H 30-06 308 Win and all others not mentioned, including wildcats ...
but the best things about it ? it's phenomenally accurate and easy to handle even with heavy 230-250 gr bullets loaded hot without needing a muzzle brake, kills far better up close and further out than anything in 7mm, 270, 6.5mm ever did or ever will .....
the 300 RUM effectively negates the need or usefullness of anything in those calibers . FACT
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
From my current rifles, it would be my Model 70 Classic stainless cerakoted in a Mcmillan Edge stock chambered in 338-06. Top one in the photo. Love the looks of the 338-06.
[quote=hikerbum][quote=CRS]From my current rifles, it would be my Model 70 Classic stainless cerakoted in a Mcmillan Edge stock chambered in 338-06. Top one in the photo.
I have that same setup except a standard fill McMillan and not cerekoted, Yet. Very handy and capable rifle.
Last edited by tankerjockey; 09/09/22.
Its not always easy to do the right thing, But it is always the right thing to do.
From my current rifles, it would be my Model 70 Classic stainless cerakoted in a Mcmillan Edge stock chambered in 338-06. Top one in the photo. Love the looks of the 338-06.
For Alaska, one rifle only, I would choose the .375 Ruger. My go-to two rifle battery is the 30-06 and 375 Ruger anyway, and as mentioned above, the 30-06 180 and 270 375 in handloads have practically the same trajectory. For the lower 48 states, 30-06 is the choice.
"Caliber" would be .308, chambering in something like 30-06 or 300 Win Mag.
correct ....
that's why I said the 300 RUM can be any of the lower power scale 30 cals ... and 30 cal is a far better killer than anything ever dreamed up in the 7mm, 270 & 6.5 cals .... effectively negating their usefullness for Alaskan big game hunting .... one King to rule them all !
also ... how can the 300 RUM be a 30-06 ? well, at 500 yards the 300 RUM has the same velocity/energy as the 30-06 at the muzzle .... etc . etc
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
Like many Alaskans, when I lived up in AK, I had multiple. From .270 up to 458Lott.
One only would be a toss up between the 338winny and the 30-06.
Not as fancy as the OP's list but if I'm in Tok or somewhere and for some ungodly reason and need ammo , I can run to 3 bears or similar and find something.
300 RUM because it's the best , why is it the best ?
because it can also be a .....
30-378 Wby 300 Norma Mag 300 Wby 300 PRC 300 Win Mag 300 WSM 300 H&H 30-06 308 Win and all others not mentioned, including wildcats ...
but the best things about it ? it's phenomenally accurate and easy to handle even with heavy 230-250 gr bullets loaded hot without needing a muzzle brake, kills far better up close and further out than anything in 7mm, 270, 6.5mm ever did or ever will .....
the 300 RUM effectively negates the need or usefullness of anything in those calibers . FACT
Uh did we just become best friends?? I have 300 rum in a model 70 and that thing is a shooter. Was shooting 180 ttsx the other day over the chrono’ed at 3280. Unfortunately mines twisted wrong and can’t take advantage of the 212 Lrx
Last edited by 79S; 09/09/22.
Originally Posted by Bricktop
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego.
The 375 Ruger is a lighter rifle than any 375 H&H rifle for all day carry. It has the same or slightly better ballistics. The Alaskan model is stainless steel for the damp weather up there. Then the 35 Whelen followed by the 30-06. The 338 Win Mag is ok, but it's ballistics aren't as good as the 375 for big bears and moose. I have a 35 Whelen and a 30-06 so there is that.
The 375 Ruger is a lighter rifle than any 375 H&H rifle for all day carry. It has the same or slightly better ballistics. The Alaskan model is stainless steel for the damp weather up there. Then the 35 Whelen followed by the 30-06. The 338 Win Mag is ok, but it's ballistics aren't as good as the 375 for big bears and moose. I have a 35 Whelen and a 30-06 so there is that.
Huh???? 338 win mag is a great all around cartridge for up here..
Originally Posted by Bricktop
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego.
The 375 Ruger is a lighter rifle than any 375 H&H rifle for all day carry. It has the same or slightly better ballistics. The Alaskan model is stainless steel for the damp weather up there. Then the 35 Whelen followed by the 30-06. The 338 Win Mag is ok, but it's ballistics aren't as good as the 375 for big bears and moose. I have a 35 Whelen and a 30-06 so there is that.
Huh???? 338 win mag is a great all around cartridge for up here..
yes sir it is, so popular that ammo is non-existent around hunting season, recently loaded up a bunch of 225 gr Accubonds for a fella out of ammo right at the start of moose season
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
Think I only had 1 stainless rifle. Kimber in 30-06. Rest were either blued, rust blued, or parkerized. My 338 had a krylon finish, ugly but dang it held up.
The 375 Ruger is a lighter rifle than any 375 H&H rifle for all day carry. It has the same or slightly better ballistics. The Alaskan model is stainless steel for the damp weather up there. Then the 35 Whelen followed by the 30-06. The 338 Win Mag is ok, but it's ballistics aren't as good as the 375 for big bears and moose. I have a 35 Whelen and a 30-06 so there is that.
I’ve got a 6.67 # ouch n ouch KS which begs to differ.
Hopelessly old skool, but I bought a nicely sporterized Mauser 8mm-06 from my cousin in McGrath in 1969, got a big coffee can full of Hodgdon surplus 4831, a custom Belding and Mull handloader , and a bunch of old Hornady 220 gr spire point bullets for the grand sum of 150 bucks. It did everything well, mice to moose. I traveled constantly, the rifle got borrowed by everybody in the village since I didn't take it with me on jobs. The original Lyman 4x got killed in a boat wreck and the borrower put a new Leupold 4x on it. I got 20 offers to buy it, but I kept it to this day, but it's not needed down here, more's the pity. Nobody would go looking for an 8mm-06, but if you had one, it's a workhorse with the 220.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
Caliber wouldn’t matter much to me ‘slong as it was running 80 grain or heavier TTSXs around 3300 fps…give or take - or 180 grain or heavier Hard-Cast at 1200 fps on up.
Now if for some reason I was in the interior and feared that the boas might dump my ammunition to the bottom of the river (but miraculously I’m still holding my rifle) then that’s an obvious choice…but we’ve beaten that horse until the flies came off.
"I'd rather have an Army of Asses led by a Lion, than an Army of Lions led by an Ass." (George Washington)
I had a Remington KS in .375 H&H that I sold several years ago. I have a .35 Whelen and a .338wm so I don’t have the need for a niche type rifle. I don’t feel undergunned carrying my Sako in .308 but I built the Whelen for a 1 gun Alaska rifle but luckily I have more than 1 rifle that will be living up north.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
My 3 main rifles when I lived up there, and will have when I move back are my 30-06, and 338 WM (both stainless) and my 375 H&H Sako which is blue with a Macmillan stock. Weather there is tough on the finish, so my primary was the 338 WM. I used my 30-06 mostly for Caribou when I was up in Barrow.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
My 3 main rifles when I lived up there, and will have when I move back are my 30-06, and 338 WM (both stainless) and my 375 H&H Sako which is blue with a Macmillan stock. Weather there is tough on the finish, so my primary was the 338 WM. I used my 30-06 mostly for Caribou when I was up in Barrow.
Had enough of America? Come on home!
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
Yes I have. I'm I am coming home. Be there in about 3 weeks.
This time I'll be valley trash.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
I was thinking 300 PRC since it can do pretty much what the 300 RUM does but more efficiently. Also, I don't want to carry my 375 H&H Magnum up the mountains for sheep and goats. So, I will split the difference between 300 PRC and 375 H&H and go with my trusty 338 Win Mag. In the end Dead is Dead....
Interesting thread. Learned the 338wm sucks by some guy in Ak. Seems weird, as it works great on big critters in the lower 48..
If you hang around Alaska gun shops you’ll hear all sorts of blather. I heard one loud mouth several years ago claiming the 375 H&H wouldn’t kill a moose. He claimed his son shot one in the neck and it didn’t kill the moose. I had to ask if he didn’t recover the moose, how did his son know it was hit in the neck. Seems the people who know the least, say it the loudest.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
My Ruger 77 in .338 Win Mag should be just fine and I will not need to buy anther rifle. It did great in Africa - all one shot kills on 7 critters, which included an Eland bull.
CRS, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Whittington Center, TSRA, DWWC, DRSS Android Reloading Ballistics App at http://www.xplat.net/
Still the smartest reply. Pluck that just 1 crap, sounds like something an anti gun liberal would say. Then they would question why you think you need a decent ammo supply. Damn that mentality to hell..mb
Last edited by Magnum_Bob; 09/15/22.
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
Winchester didn't name their original .338 the "Alaskan" for nothing! If Africa was ever in the cards then sure maybe a 375... But otherwise, I love my 1958 "Alaskan" for just about anything short of varmints.
Yes I have. I'm I am coming home. Be there in about 3 weeks.
This time I'll be valley trash.
Your one lucky S OB, I'm stuck in Michigan. I'd give my left nut to pack up and move back.
Congrats
I think you left before I did. One thing for sure in the almost 10 years I've been gone the cost to move back has more than doubled. Seriously spendy!!!
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
Interesting thread. Learned the 338wm sucks by some guy in Ak. Seems weird, as it works great on big critters in the lower 48..
If you hang around Alaska gun shops you’ll hear all sorts of blather. I heard one loud mouth several years ago claiming the 375 H&H wouldn’t kill a moose. He claimed his son shot one in the neck and it didn’t kill the moose. I had to ask if he didn’t recover the moose, how did his son know it was hit in the neck. Seems the people who know the least, say it the loudest.
Good post mart..
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
Winchester didn't name their original .338 the "Alaskan" for nothing! If Africa was ever in the cards then sure maybe a 375... But otherwise, I love my 1958 "Alaskan" for just about anything short of varmints.
Beautiful rifles that will do it all, in my experience.
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
My choice would be a bigger 35 ai 358 Norma, 35 Gibbs, 358 STA, etc,etc
Good bullets from 180grs to 310gr,, perfect for my Alaska!
Always thought the .358 STA had to be one of the very best "zero to whatever" chamberings ever devised for NA............and most of the rest of the world. There's a Model 70 Classic in .300 Wby in the safe that never sees any use. I've entertained the thought............. But there's also a .375 Wby in the safe that DOES get used and there's a pretty big redundancy factor there. Still not sure if redundancy is a valid reason NOT to, yet.
My choice would be a bigger 35 ai 358 Norma, 35 Gibbs, 358 STA, etc,etc
Good bullets from 180grs to 310gr,, perfect for my Alaska!
Always thought the .358 STA had to be one of the very best "zero to whatever" chamberings ever devised for NA............and most of the rest of the world. There's a Model 70 Classic in .300 Wby in the safe that never sees any use. I've entertained the thought............. But there's also a .375 Wby in the safe that DOES get used and there's a pretty big redundancy factor there. Still not sure if redundancy is a valid reason NOT to, yet.
I always thought that a “hot rod” .35 caliber may be on of the best caliber options for the handloader….. with the .358 STA possibly the best! 👍 memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
My choice would be a bigger 35 ai 358 Norma, 35 Gibbs, 358 STA, etc,etc
Good bullets from 180grs to 310gr,, perfect for my Alaska!
Always thought the .358 STA had to be one of the very best "zero to whatever" chamberings ever devised for NA............and most of the rest of the world. There's a Model 70 Classic in .300 Wby in the safe that never sees any use. I've entertained the thought............. But there's also a .375 Wby in the safe that DOES get used and there's a pretty big redundancy factor there. Still not sure if redundancy is a valid reason NOT to, yet.
Yoder, you really need to put that Weatherby to use! 😉 memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
Truth of the matter is if you have a 30-06, it will do anything you need it to do. Having said that people choose their rifle and cartridge based on wants, rather than needs. Nothing wrong with that. I'd never be without a 30-06, but I dearly love my 338 mag, worked for me in Alaska and Africa. Awesome cartridge. If my 375 H&H was stainless rather than blued it would have been used more than it has, and it's still killed my biggest moose and my brown bear.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
My choice would be a bigger 35 ai 358 Norma, 35 Gibbs, 358 STA, etc,etc
Good bullets from 180grs to 310gr,, perfect for my Alaska!
Always thought the .358 STA had to be one of the very best "zero to whatever" chamberings ever devised for NA............and most of the rest of the world. There's a Model 70 Classic in .300 Wby in the safe that never sees any use. I've entertained the thought............. But there's also a .375 Wby in the safe that DOES get used and there's a pretty big redundancy factor there. Still not sure if redundancy is a valid reason NOT to, yet.
Yoder, you really need to put that Weatherby to use! 😉 memtb
If you “really must” eliminate your .375……you could do far worse than the .358 STA! Especially so, if you’re a hand loader that likes to shoot cast bullets or perhaps jacketed pistol bullets at much reduced velocity. The “hot rod” .35 calibers offer a lot in versatility! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
If you “really must” eliminate your .375……you could do far worse than the .358 STA! Especially so, if you’re a hand loader that likes to shoot cast bullets or perhaps jacketed pistol bullets at much reduced velocity. The “hot rod” .35 calibers offer a lot in versatility! memtb
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH, NOOOOOOOOO !!!!
There'll be no elimination of Whomper !!!! No way!!!
I've crawled on my belly and lips, pushing that rifle ahead of me for more miles than most would believe. We've been through thick and thicker together. Whomper has accounted for, likely, the only B&C entry I'll ever have. And when things go to schidt.........guess who draws the short straw to go in and fix it ?? Me and Whomper.
That rifle ain't going NOWHERE.
A nice, pretty and classy walnut Model 70 in .358 STA could share stable space with him. But it'd have to live a row or two back.
I misunderstood! I love my .375 AI, and have no intention of “ever” getting rid of it. However, if I were starting over and Africa were “not” on the “bucket list”…..the .358 STA would be a top contender for my “go to, do it all” cartridge! 😉 memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
I misunderstood! I love my .375 AI, and have no intention of “ever” getting rid of it. However, if I were starting over and Africa were “not” on the “bucket list”…..the .358 STA would be a top contender for my “go to, do it all” cartridge! 😉 memtb
I have three rifles chambered in 375 H&H and two in 375 Ruger. I also have the big bores and the lighter bores. I think the .375 is the sweet spot and the best "all-arounder" is the 375 H&H. The 375H&H has great knockdown power but a very tolerable "push" recoil. Plus, it can be loaded to duplicate 30-06 ballistics.
The375 Ruger can slightly exceed 375 H&H velocities but at the expense of a much sharper felt recoil.
Bullet velocity isn't everything. In general, the lower velocities on heavy game produce deeper penetration.
The 375 H&H is very effective, drives deep but doesn't needlessly produce massive tissue damage and as they say, "you can eat right up to the hole". I have killed game from small whitetails to the huge eland with a 375 H&H. One shot kills are common.
For the cape buffaloes and up. I use my 458 Lott but, I doubt there are many of those in Alaska. :-)
T.S.
Last edited by TexasShooter; 09/18/22.
NRA Endowment Member Firearms Accumulator Proud Trumpster!!
I've owned 4 ea. 338 Win Mag's (2 ea 700's and 2 ea 70's) and I liked them, but they all went away. It's not on your list, but I'll suggest the 300 Weatherby with 200 grain (or heavier) partitions for the closest shooting and 200 partitions on the longest shooting. I've heard some complain about the 300's recoil, which I don't understand it isn't a heavy kicker on the 700 Classic platform - I have a BDL stock on the one I shoot.
I have a 375 H&H AI and that would be another option for me. It doesn't kick when at game, but it can get tiresome on a long bench rest shooting day.
I like the 375 Ruger cartridge, but I don't like the Ruger 77's - (I get to like and to dis-like what I want).
Last edited by Bugger; 09/18/22.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
According to the Navy, you'd have a barrel that was as long as the diameter of the projectile in question (or of interest, to quote a certain Navy vet).
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
For me it’s hard to beat a 338 Win Mag. Bullets from 160 gr - 300 gr for any game challenge. .33s have a nice sweet spot when it comes to quality bullets and BC/SD characteristics. Provides close to .30 mag trajectories and can provide close to .375 performance when loaded heavy.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
Simple, the 30-06. Because that is what the M1 Garand and 1903 shoot.
kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR. American conservative. Never trust a white liberal. Malcom X Current NRA member.
Agree with just one rifle being a depressing concept, but if I was in AK, had to pick just one, I'd go with this SS M-70 Classic in .375 H&H with Zeiss Victory 1.5-6x42, QD's and NECG irons.
I just sold a very nice FN Mauser 336-06 which would work. But, the old .375 H&H is a time proven classic, so many ways you can load it and you'll never come up short.
Agree with just one rifle being a depressing concept, but if I was in AK, had to pick just one, I'd go with this SS M-70 Classic in .375 H&H with Zeiss Victory 1.5-6x42, QD's and NECG irons.
I just sold a very nice FN Mauser 336-06 which would work. But, the old .375 H&H is a time proven classic, so many ways you can load it and you'll never come up short.
This one's a keeper.
DF
Bingo! We have a winner! Dirtfarmer….isn’t it ironic that two Louisiana boys just happen to know the best rifle for the job! 😉
However, the Sako Talkeetna would be a great one to consider….. it’s quite a bit lighter than the Winchester. It’s pretty much the Winchester in a lighter package!
Run a chamber reamer into either making an AI or a Weatherby……and you have a near ultimate Alaskan hunting rifle! 😉 memtb
Last edited by memtb; 09/20/22.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
I never wished for more velocity on the H&H, and in fact it is one chambering that I don't load to its limits. Still seems to kill stuff pretty well. I do agree that it's a good single chambering for all of AK, but I think I would be fine with most anything 280 rem and up.
I never wished for more velocity on the H&H, and in fact it is one chambering that I don't load to its limits. Still seems to kill stuff pretty well. I do agree that it's a good single chambering for all of AK, but I think I would be fine with most anything 280 rem and up.
Quit making sense, chw2
"You've been here longer than the State of Alaska is old!" *** my Grandaughters
Agree with just one rifle being a depressing concept, but if I was in AK, had to pick just one, I'd go with this SS M-70 Classic in .375 H&H with Zeiss Victory 1.5-6x42, QD's and NECG irons.
I just sold a very nice FN Mauser 336-06 which would work. But, the old .375 H&H is a time proven classic, so many ways you can load it and you'll never come up short.
This one's a keeper.
DF
Bingo! We have a winner! Dirtfarmer….isn’t it ironic that two Louisiana boys just happen to know the best rifle for the job! 😉
However, the Sako Talkeetna would be a great one to consider….. it’s quite a bit lighter than the Winchester. It’s pretty much the Winchester in a lighter package!
Run a chamber reamer into either making an AI or a Weatherby……and you have a near ultimate Alaskan hunting rifle! 😉 memtb
I haven’t seen a kimber talkeetna in years… the stainless model 70’s pop occasionally.. standard 375 with RL15 and 300gr tsx is all you need.
Originally Posted by Bricktop
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego.
Don’t know how many 458 Lotts there are, but I know of two .416 Taylors.
One of those two has become a safe queen at this point, Mike. The old girl is decisive on anything it's aimed at, make no mistake. The Sako 375 w/20"" bbl, mickey stock and trg package seems to kill just as much... but not the shoulder so much Carries easier and shoots little tiny groups close to the .338. It is still reserved more for the Ursus crowd, though the moose brothers go down without much fanfare. To the OP: What chw2 said. . .
"You've been here longer than the State of Alaska is old!" *** my Grandaughters
Depends where you live and hunt, if in the states 30-06 will do with bullets ranging from 150 grain to 220 grain, if in Africa of course something like 375 H&H. We're spoiled today, in the old days they only had one gun and one caliber and all the game was killed with that one rifle, but since they only had that one rifle and were dependent on it for food and survival they were proficient with it, unlike many today that have multiple rifles in multiple calibers and are mediocre marksmen. Sometimes I think of the old timers and wonder if I shouldn't just settle on one rifle and one caliber and use it for all my hunting, but then the voice inside says "perish the thought and enjoy all your rifles and calibers".
I never wished for more velocity on the H&H, and in fact it is one chambering that I don't load to its limits. Still seems to kill stuff pretty well. I do agree that it's a good single chambering for all of AK, but I think I would be fine with most anything 280 rem and up.
But some lightweights are just too heavy...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
Back for resupply. Been too warm. Fking blackflies everywhere, low moose population.
Lotta gibberish in this here thread so pay attention: 375 h&h is a piss-poor do-all for Alaska.
Most are too long and heavy for hunting in the mountains. Winter caribou by dog team, too bulky. Too much recoil for extended shooting sessions, sharpening your skills for the longish, treeless alaska shots. Not ideal hoofing mountains.
A 9.3x62 would be much better "all-rounder". But very limited choices for lighter bullets for extended range practice. Still too heavy for the Mountains. In light guns, too much recoil. Still too much bullet for 30 mph winds/treeless alaska winter caribou.
.338 calibers: About ideal one-gun. Scores of high bc 225 grainers that buck winds very well. Low enough recoil that you can get decent practice in light-weight guns.
Anchoring shots on moose, where the big bulls need to be on the dry bank, not seconds later in a muskeg swamp or in the river, to be blasted into a wood pile up, lots of good 250 grainers. I run the 275 grain a-frames, which are a great moose bullet for big bulls called to the river.
308/30-06. Very few available 220 grainers like the .338's. At 225 grains, the 338's are just getting warmed up.
For anchoring big bulls on the dry bank and bear protection in spring/summer:
I have a massive pile of 30 caliber 220 grain partitions, and those fkn things costed more than 300 grain 9.3 a-frames, or 250 grain a-frames, or 275 grain a-frames. Currently, there are none in stock, anywhere.
180 grainers: good for extended range practice with tolerable recoil, great for mountains, winter caribou, spring bear, calling in wolves etc.
For youth guns and mountain rifles, the 308 winchester edges out the 30-06.
With lever revolution powder, the 308 winchester gives an easy 2700 fps with 180 grainers, 2600 fps with 200 grainers, and 2480 fps from 220 grain partitions. All with minimal recoil from a 6 lb. mountain rifle.
Below 308 winchester/30-06: no fkn thank you. Not really an "all-rounder"
Lightweight 338 win mag, 338-06, 338 rcm or 338 rpm (that new weatherby), about the most ideal Alaskan calibers ever made.
What's usually kicking round my dog sled or canoe as general purpose stuff:
Lotta gibberish in this here thread so pay attention: 375 h&h is a piss-poor do-all for Alaska.
Most are too long and heavy for hunting in the mountains. Winter caribou by dog team, too bulky. Too much recoil for extended shooting sessions, sharpening your skills for the longish, treeless alaska shots. Not ideal hoofing mountains.
A .375 H&H doesn’t have to be long, heavy or bulky. I think it is perfectly adequate as an all around AK round. Sheep are about the only species I think that keeps it from being near the best and that is only because they’re often shot at ranges that I wouldn’t consider the .375 H&H with normal bullets good for. It is fine on deer and caribou sized critters though a sometimes caribou can be out there a ways too.
I carried my .375 H&H into sheep country a few times this year and didn’t find it too terribly heavy. I was after bear though and didn’t expect to have to take longer shots. The two days I was specifically after sheep I carried an even heavier rifle that that.
Like most anywhere else, I think the best all around rifle for AK is a 22” barreled .264, .284 or .308 cal of some flavor with a 6x scope, simply so it can reach out a bit easier but is also good for up close stuff.
Ok, here we go again, and here is what I've been packin since 1995, I have this and a Custom 06 built in 1985 that I still Hunt with..... LJ in Alaska....
Back for resupply. Been too warm. Fking blackflies everywhere, low moose population.
Lotta gibberish in this here thread so pay attention: 375 h&h is a piss-poor do-all for Alaska.
Most are too long and heavy for hunting in the mountains. Winter caribou by dog team, too bulky. Too much recoil for extended shooting sessions, sharpening your skills for the longish, treeless alaska shots. Not ideal hoofing mountains.
A 9.3x62 would be much better "all-rounder". But very limited choices for lighter bullets for extended range practice. Still too heavy for the Mountains. In light guns, too much recoil. Still too much bullet for 30 mph winds/treeless alaska winter caribou.
.338 calibers: About ideal one-gun. Scores of high bc 225 grainers that buck winds very well. Low enough recoil that you can get decent practice in light-weight guns.
Anchoring shots on moose, where the big bulls need to be on the dry bank, not seconds later in a muskeg swamp or in the river, to be blasted into a wood pile up, lots of good 250 grainers. I run the 275 grain a-frames, which are a great moose bullet for big bulls called to the river.
308/30-06. Very few available 220 grainers like the .338's. At 225 grains, the 338's are just getting warmed up.
For anchoring big bulls on the dry bank and bear protection in spring/summer:
I have a massive pile of 30 caliber 220 grain partitions, and those fkn things costed more than 300 grain 9.3 a-frames, or 250 grain a-frames, or 275 grain a-frames. Currently, there are none in stock, anywhere.
180 grainers: good for extended range practice with tolerable recoil, great for mountains, winter caribou, spring bear, calling in wolves etc.
For youth guns and mountain rifles, the 308 winchester edges out the 30-06.
With lever revolution powder, the 308 winchester gives an easy 2700 fps with 180 grainers, 2600 fps with 200 grainers, and 2480 fps from 220 grain partitions. All with minimal recoil from a 6 lb. mountain rifle.
Below 308 winchester/30-06: no fkn thank you. Not really an "all-rounder"
Lightweight 338 win mag, 338-06, 338 rcm or 338 rpm (that new weatherby), about the most ideal Alaskan calibers ever made.
What's usually kicking round my dog sled or canoe as general purpose stuff:
I’m certainly glad that my .375 doesn’t fall into the too long, too heavy group!
Yes, my rifle barrel could be a bit shorter than 24”…..but, unless all of your hunting is done in Alder Thickets, 24” is quite practical!
However, the 24” barrel on my 9 pound AI makes it a pretty decent long (er) range rifle for caribou and or sheep. A 270 grain LRX @ 3000+ makes for a prettt decent “all around” package! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
My only other exception for a bush gun is a K98, 8x57 with a short barrel.
kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR. American conservative. Never trust a white liberal. Malcom X Current NRA member.
Agree with just one rifle being a depressing concept, but if I was in AK, had to pick just one, I'd go with this SS M-70 Classic in .375 H&H with Zeiss Victory 1.5-6x42, QD's and NECG irons.
I just sold a very nice FN Mauser 336-06 which would work. But, the old .375 H&H is a time proven classic, so many ways you can load it and you'll never come up short.
This one's a keeper.
DF
Bingo! We have a winner! Dirtfarmer….isn’t it ironic that two Louisiana boys just happen to know the best rifle for the job! 😉
However, the Sako Talkeetna would be a great one to consider….. it’s quite a bit lighter than the Winchester. It’s pretty much the Winchester in a lighter package!
Run a chamber reamer into either making an AI or a Weatherby……and you have a near ultimate Alaskan hunting rifle! 😉 memtb
I'd worry about scratching up a nice rifle. Not this one. It's strictly utilitarian.
With the fluted 21" tube, not overly heavy. I didn't like it much with the heavy OEM 24" barrel, this version mo better, IMO.
Sitka, not to mention, where the fk could you put the dmn thing on a snow machine or dog sled??
After rolling a widetrak lx on an icy ravine, I bent a 24" barreled pump shotgun beyond repair, years ago.
I ended up never bringing another long gun except an over/under shotgun/rifle that folded in half. I stowed it safely in the under-seat storage.
When I switched to dogs and freight sleds, it was so bad (space wise), could only store rifle inside a gutted caribou carcass in the freight sled. The ONLY safe place where a gun will survive a crash, is vertical scabbard, UNDER the handle bar.
Before I built my custom freight sled, I was desperate enough to consider bullpup rifles.
With my new freightsled: 40 inches, max length on rifles.
24hourcampfire, where lower-48 do nothing pipe-dreamers school Alaskans, everyday.
In southeast, the best all around rifle I’ve found is a 9.3x62 with a 20” barrel. A 300 yard shot is rare, and either the 250s or 286s witless do that. If I lived in the interior I’d be tempted to use a .300 win/wsm with a 22” barre because bears seem to be less of a concern and it seems like everything is at least 300 yards away.
Don’t know how many 458 Lotts there are, but I know of two .416 Taylors.
One of those two has become a safe queen at this point, Mike. The old girl is decisive on anything it's aimed at, make no mistake. The Sako 375 w/20"" bbl, mickey stock and trg package seems to kill just as much... but not the shoulder so much Carries easier and shoots little tiny groups close to the .338. It is still reserved more for the Ursus crowd, though the moose brothers go down without much fanfare. To the OP: What chw2 said. . .
Sadly, the other .416 that was beerhuntr-inspired is now an orphan.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
Until you have gone into a real alder thicket with a 24" barrel you have no idea how ridiculously long it is...
Isn’t that the damn truth!
I couldn’t agree more! One of my first moose hunts I was toting my .300 WM through an alder thicket with lots of brown bear sign. I haven’t hunted that particular area since then, but a 20” 9.3x62 would be about perfect for it.
After reading Walter Bell's "Small bores versus big bores", I think I would take good 308 and become proficient with it as he was with his rifles, the man killed 1011 elephants and countless lions and buffalo's and other game with 7mm Mauser. He also used 256 Gibbs with which he killed all sorts of game for over 100 natives to eat daily.
Back for resupply. Been too warm. Fking blackflies everywhere, low moose population.
Lotta gibberish in this here thread so pay attention: 375 h&h is a piss-poor do-all for Alaska.
Most are too long and heavy for hunting in the mountains. Winter caribou by dog team, too bulky. Too much recoil for extended shooting sessions, sharpening your skills for the longish, treeless alaska shots. Not ideal hoofing mountains.
A 9.3x62 would be much better "all-rounder". But very limited choices for lighter bullets for extended range practice. Still too heavy for the Mountains. In light guns, too much recoil. Still too much bullet for 30 mph winds/treeless alaska winter caribou.
.338 calibers: About ideal one-gun. Scores of high bc 225 grainers that buck winds very well. Low enough recoil that you can get decent practice in light-weight guns.
Anchoring shots on moose, where the big bulls need to be on the dry bank, not seconds later in a muskeg swamp or in the river, to be blasted into a wood pile up, lots of good 250 grainers. I run the 275 grain a-frames, which are a great moose bullet for big bulls called to the river.
308/30-06. Very few available 220 grainers like the .338's. At 225 grains, the 338's are just getting warmed up.
For anchoring big bulls on the dry bank and bear protection in spring/summer:
I have a massive pile of 30 caliber 220 grain partitions, and those fkn things costed more than 300 grain 9.3 a-frames, or 250 grain a-frames, or 275 grain a-frames. Currently, there are none in stock, anywhere.
180 grainers: good for extended range practice with tolerable recoil, great for mountains, winter caribou, spring bear, calling in wolves etc.
For youth guns and mountain rifles, the 308 winchester edges out the 30-06.
With lever revolution powder, the 308 winchester gives an easy 2700 fps with 180 grainers, 2600 fps with 200 grainers, and 2480 fps from 220 grain partitions. All with minimal recoil from a 6 lb. mountain rifle.
Below 308 winchester/30-06: no fkn thank you. Not really an "all-rounder"
Lightweight 338 win mag, 338-06, 338 rcm or 338 rpm (that new weatherby), about the most ideal Alaskan calibers ever made.
What's usually kicking round my dog sled or canoe as general purpose stuff:
I don't know about an 375h&h in that part of the world but indo have an nice handy 375 Ruger but again it's not exactly light.
Your aware I also have the Ruger compact 338RCM and it is perhaps the best hunting rifle I have had. It's just about perfect in size and weight, has iron sights and mine has an optic and and now an Aimpoint 9000 in QD mounts. It's like an tiny express rifle. Like you mentioned it's fast enough for longer shots yet can throw fairly heavy lead and the package is not oversized. Mine gets used for elk and carry in grizzly areas in the northern rockies. Ironically the most dangerous or formidable thing I've used in Alaska is an chainsaw. My time there was for work only and no other pursuits.
Olepine, You, gunner500 and beretz know your sht. I've always been impressed with the three of you.
Yah, for a lefty, you should be on cloud 9 to be toting that 338 rcm "micro-dangerous game" gun. Ruger treated you good! Left handed shooters only ever got meat n taters, common deer hunting cartridges.
Man thats cool you did some saw work up here. Dang are there some impressive chainsaw scars up here on some old fellers n woodsman back before good chain brakes and safety chain.
But don't worry, these new-age no-torque beta-male stihl-born saws couldn't cut their way out of a brown paper bag.
Im Selling one now, going back to pre-chain brake muscle saw for milling:
Until you have gone into a real alder thicket with a 24" barrel you have no idea how ridiculously long it is...
Isn’t that the damn truth!
I couldn’t agree more! One of my first moose hunts I was toting my .300 WM through an alder thicket with lots of brown bear sign. I haven’t hunted that particular area since then, but a 20” 9.3x62 would be about perfect for it.
The Original post:
If you were to have just one caliber ? To cover most of the bigger animals in alaska what caliber would you choose?
So now my question to you fellas…… Are Alder Thickets the only place that game is found in Alaska? So….do your sheep, mt. goats, and caribou reside there as well? 😉 memtb
Last edited by memtb; 09/24/22.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
So now my question to you fellas…… Are Alder Thickets the only place that game is found in Alaska? So….do your sheep, mt. goats, and caribou reside there as well? 😉 memtb
Well … sometimes (oftentimes?) you need to go through said alders to get up to where the sheep/goats/‘bou reside. 😉
During my 3yr stint in AK in the early 90s, I carried a Ruger 77 Tanger in 338WM that I purchased at Long Drug on C St. Never felt under gunned. I did however wish I had stainless/synthetic rifle, but at the time stainless/synthetic rifles were pretty much unheard of, and certainly not seen in the gun shops I visited in Anchorage or the valley.
After the first season of hunting I sent the barrel action to the lower 48 and had it Teflon coated - Cerakote and Dura-cote weren't heard of at the time. Even finding a place to Teflon coat was a little trying.
During the same off-season I but a Brown Precision stock on it - my first synthetic stock. It was a lot of work finishing up the Brown blank with the mold lines still showing. Bedding it was easy by comparison!
Got plenty of strange looks when carrying that gun with the 'plastic stock'. But look at where we're at today!
I never thought I'd grow up to be a grumpy old man, but I did, and I'm killin' it.
So now my question to you fellas…… Are Alder Thickets the only place that game is found in Alaska? So….do your sheep, mt. goats, and caribou reside there as well? 😉 memtb
No there’s also Devilsclub thickets as well. 😁
It’s not so much as everything lives in the alder thickets as much as WHAT lives in the alder thickets. You usually gotta go through the thickets at the lower elevations to get to the sheep and goats at higher elevations. In many places in Alaska alder thickets and devilsclub are just a fact of life that you have to deal with.
It’s better to plan around the worst conditions you know for a fact you’ll face then it is to plan around the best conditions hoped for.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
So now my question to you fellas…… Are Alder Thickets the only place that game is found in Alaska? So….do your sheep, mt. goats, and caribou reside there as well? 😉 memtb
Well … sometimes (oftentimes?) you need to go through said alders to get up to where the sheep/goats/‘bou reside. 😉
Missed this reply but it’s the TRUTH!
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
Back for resupply. Been too warm. Fking blackflies everywhere, low moose population.
Lotta gibberish in this here thread so pay attention: 375 h&h is a piss-poor do-all for Alaska.
Most are too long and heavy for hunting in the mountains. Winter caribou by dog team, too bulky. Too much recoil for extended shooting sessions, sharpening your skills for the longish, treeless alaska shots. Not ideal hoofing mountains.
A 9.3x62 would be much better "all-rounder". But very limited choices for lighter bullets for extended range practice. Still too heavy for the Mountains. In light guns, too much recoil. Still too much bullet for 30 mph winds/treeless alaska winter caribou.
.338 calibers: About ideal one-gun. Scores of high bc 225 grainers that buck winds very well. Low enough recoil that you can get decent practice in light-weight guns.
Anchoring shots on moose, where the big bulls need to be on the dry bank, not seconds later in a muskeg swamp or in the river, to be blasted into a wood pile up, lots of good 250 grainers. I run the 275 grain a-frames, which are a great moose bullet for big bulls called to the river.
308/30-06. Very few available 220 grainers like the .338's. At 225 grains, the 338's are just getting warmed up.
For anchoring big bulls on the dry bank and bear protection in spring/summer:
I have a massive pile of 30 caliber 220 grain partitions, and those fkn things costed more than 300 grain 9.3 a-frames, or 250 grain a-frames, or 275 grain a-frames. Currently, there are none in stock, anywhere.
180 grainers: good for extended range practice with tolerable recoil, great for mountains, winter caribou, spring bear, calling in wolves etc.
For youth guns and mountain rifles, the 308 winchester edges out the 30-06.
With lever revolution powder, the 308 winchester gives an easy 2700 fps with 180 grainers, 2600 fps with 200 grainers, and 2480 fps from 220 grain partitions. All with minimal recoil from a 6 lb. mountain rifle.
Below 308 winchester/30-06: no fkn thank you. Not really an "all-rounder"
Lightweight 338 win mag, 338-06, 338 rcm or 338 rpm (that new weatherby), about the most ideal Alaskan calibers ever made.
What's usually kicking round my dog sled or canoe as general purpose stuff:
So now my question to you fellas…… Are Alder Thickets the only place that game is found in Alaska? So….do your sheep, mt. goats, and caribou reside there as well? 😉 memtb
Well … sometimes (oftentimes?) you need to go through said alders to get up to where the sheep/goats/‘bou reside. 😉
I carried a longbow through some alder thickets on two caribou hunts, and trudged around the SE AK rainforests with a 23" rifle. You really need to experience it to understand.
Originally Posted by duke61
After reading Walter Bell's "Small bores versus big bores", I think I would take good 308 and become proficient with it as he was with his rifles, the man killed 1011 elephants and countless lions and buffalo's and other game with 7mm Mauser. He also used 256 Gibbs with which he killed all sorts of game for over 100 natives to eat daily.
Apples and oranges, Heavy for caliber solids vs modern expanding bullets. Now if had said 338 Federal.....
For my original post, I went with what I had in my safe.
A 338RCM would be good too. I was already deep into 338-06's before it came out. Sourcing ammo is the same trouble as a 338-06 at this point. From a truly practical standpoint a 338WM would get the nod.
I would prefer a lightweight 375 H&H to an 06, but that is just me. Have never been enamored with 30 caliber anything. But then I do not have a lot of experience with the 30's either. The experience I do have, they worked, but nothing earth shattering.
Phil (.458Win) writes that his daughter uses her .416 Rem for everything, including caribou. Works for her and doubt she ever comes up short. Of course, she can shoot it.
Phil (.458Win) writes that his daughter uses her .416 Rem for everything, including caribou. Works for her and doubt she ever comes up short. Of course, she can shoot it.
DF
Yep, but she also has to sort things out when a client screws up.
I am more than a little enamored with my 416 at the moment. Trying to figure out a way back to Africa for some buffalo as a matter of fact. Would work as a one gun do it all in AK, but mine is longer and heavier package. Me thinks my 338-06 is a better all rounder from gun safes.
Your 375 would fit the bill too. In fact, should ever decide to part ways with that one.... Do not advertise it, just PM me. Dead serious
Phil (.458Win) writes that his daughter uses her .416 Rem for everything, including caribou. Works for her and doubt she ever comes up short. Of course, she can shoot it.
DF
Yep, but she also has to sort things out when a client screws up.
I am more than a little enamored with my 416 at the moment. Trying to figure out a way back to Africa for some buffalo as a matter of fact. Would work as a one gun do it all in AK, but mine is longer and heavier package. Me thinks my 338-06 is a better all rounder from gun safes.
Your 375 would fit the bill too. In fact, should ever decide to part ways with that one.... Do not advertise it, just PM me. Dead serious
That .375 has more than a few followers. So, you’d have to take a number.
Phil (.458Win) writes that his daughter uses her .416 Rem for everything, including caribou. Works for her and doubt she ever comes up short. Of course, she can shoot it.
DF
Yep, but she also has to sort things out when a client screws up.
I am more than a little enamored with my 416 at the moment. Trying to figure out a way back to Africa for some buffalo as a matter of fact. Would work as a one gun do it all in AK, but mine is longer and heavier package. Me thinks my 338-06 is a better all rounder from gun safes.
Your 375 would fit the bill too. In fact, should ever decide to part ways with that one.... Do not advertise it, just PM me. Dead serious
That .375 has more than a few followers. So, you’d have to take a number.
It’s not hard to set one up like that.
DF
That is probably best.... I had one and was going to give it the same treatment. Decided to sell it and go 416 Remington for my biggest rifle. Yours would just be too easy of a button to push..
Oh man... I didn't read the whole thread but I'm guessing you got ridiculed on your cartridge choices and was given suggestions for about every other round out there. Probably was even told to buy better gear instead of a new rifle...
"We hear from guides on here that the worst outcome is a client showing up with a newly purchased ubermag"
I ended up going with the 300RUM and the moose don't seem to like it
Great thread - only been to Alaska twice flyfishing so can’t comment personally on what I’d personally use & what works for others.
If I’m tossing out an under-informed opinion - a versatile .30 with good bullets doesn’t sound like a bad starting point after being across a river from grizzlies several times.
Fun to dream and commiserate about the perfect one caliber. Truth is dead is forever and plenty of folks have filled their caches with 270s and even 243s. Definitely not bear guns. Most people filling their larder and only have one gun are not hunting bears, they are hunting what the bears hunt.
So bear calibers are a mute point, people that can only own one gun, do not have wheelers and rvs and riverboats and snowgos and super cubs. If so guaran ffing Teed that can afford several firearms. People that cant own all the "stuff" are not hunting multiple species, moose & caribou are where its at, and a occasional berry black bear, which can typically be taken with a smaller caliber.
Coastal bears are for mostly wall hangers not meat, so meat hunters typically do not hunt the big brownies or blacks, if they are eating fish they are not fit for consumption.
Bear protection is best done with a shotgun, which can be used for fowl that can be eaten and is at times, plentiful.
I always figured guys who bought 338s couldn't hit jack schit and just hope they hit some part of the animal and make a big enough hole to f it up.
Ought six, is all you need if yer a meat hunter, ok, a 308 would make sense as well if ya gots to have two and only two.
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
Fun to dream and commiserate about the perfect one caliber. Truth is dead is forever and plenty of folks have filled their caches with 270s and even 243s. Definitely not bear guns. Most people filling their larder and only have one gun are not hunting bears, they are hunting what the bears hunt.
So bear calibers are a mute point, people that can only own one gun, do not have wheelers and rvs and riverboats and snowgos and super cubs. If so guaran ffing Teed that can afford several firearms. People that cant own all the "stuff" are not hunting multiple species, moose & caribou are where its at, and a occasional berry black bear, which can typically be taken with a smaller caliber.
Coastal bears are for mostly wall hangers not meat, so meat hunters typically do not hunt the big brownies or blacks, if they are eating fish they are not fit for consumption.
Bear protection is best done with a shotgun, which can be used for fowl that can be eaten and is at times, plentiful.
I always figured guys who bought 338s couldn't hit jack schit and just hope they hit some part of the animal and make a big enough hole to f it up.
Ought six, is all you need if yer a meat hunter, ok, a 308 would make sense as well if ya gots to have two and only two.
Cannot begin to count the bears I have seen killed very neatly with .243, 6mm, 257Roberts, 25-06...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
I’ve yet to kill anything with a 200gr partition, but I can testify that foster slugs are absolute garbage as a projectile to be used on brown bears. I maimed a grumpy one with 12ga fosters years ago. The fiasco involved a lot of roaring, shooting, and slide shucking until matters were properly settled by a .458 and a .375.
One of the best ways I know for a person to instantly demonstrate ignorance is if they use/recommend foster slugs or buckshot for bear defense.
I’ve yet to kill anything with a 200gr partition, but I can testify that foster slugs are absolute garbage as a projectile to be used on brown bears. I maimed a grumpy one with 12ga fosters years ago. The fiasco involved a lot of roaring, shooting, and slide shucking until matters were properly settled by a .458 and a .375.
One of the best ways I know for a person to instantly demonstrate ignorance is if they use/recommend foster slugs or buckshot for bear defense.
Well, sure. But the smart way to go is to alternate slugs and buckshot. (/sarc)
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
Ok, I'll add this to the conversation about using a Shot Gun, and Yea, the Foster Slugs are for Deer or the like in the lower-48, the ONLY Ammo I use here in Alaska in my Shot Gun is Brenneke's 12ga 3"mag Black Magic Slugs, that's a 602gr Slug @ 1502 fps => 3,014 ft/lbs of ME.... That's what Allen Gilliland (Katmai Parks Pilot) used to Kill the Bear that Killed and Ate Timmy Treadwell, and his Girl friend in 2003, I know of what I speak, as I was there..... LJ in Alaska....
Last edited by AK375DGR; 09/28/22. Reason: added info.....
I’ve yet to kill anything with a 200gr partition, but I can testify that foster slugs are absolute garbage as a projectile to be used on brown bears. I maimed a grumpy one with 12ga fosters years ago. The fiasco involved a lot of roaring, shooting, and slide shucking until matters were properly settled by a .458 and a .375.
Did the bear make any noise ?
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL.
The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world.
I’ve yet to kill anything with a 200gr partition, but I can testify that foster slugs are absolute garbage as a projectile to be used on brown bears. I maimed a grumpy one with 12ga fosters years ago. The fiasco involved a lot of roaring, shooting, and slide shucking until matters were properly settled by a .458 and a .375.
One of the best ways I know for a person to instantly demonstrate ignorance is if they use/recommend foster slugs or buckshot for bear defense.
Well, sure. But the smart way to go is to alternate slugs and buckshot. (/sarc)
I agree, could never decide on slug first or double ought first....
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
Yeah, I expect a few sniggers and some outright skepticism. That's OK.
I favor lever actions. I particularly like Marlins. I bought my MXLR 11 years ago because it was purported the .338 ME had more long range pop. It has become my go-to rifle.
Thus far I've killed 25 critters, to include a bunch a of moose and caribou (include a 50" bull moose this year), and a number of African game species such as kudu, wildebeest, impala, wart hog, blesbok, and springbok. Everything I have shot it at, it's killed, without exception. I know for some of you that's a small sample size, but I am happy with how it's performed.
I use factory ammo because it's really accurate, but if the factory ammo every dries up, I have enough brass to last several lifetimes. (I handload)
I’ve yet to kill anything with a 200gr partition, but I can testify that foster slugs are absolute garbage as a projectile to be used on brown bears. I maimed a grumpy one with 12ga fosters years ago. The fiasco involved a lot of roaring, shooting, and slide shucking until matters were properly settled by a .458 and a .375.
One of the best ways I know for a person to instantly demonstrate ignorance is if they use/recommend foster slugs or buckshot for bear defense.
👍! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
A perfect caliber for everything is just about as silly as a perfect boat for all over the state.
IMO….There is no such thing as anything being “perfect” for any one specific purpose. There are always other options that will work as well. It generally “boils down” to personal preference! Perhaps if you could perfectly script every scenario….one could have the “perfect (?) cartridge/firearm for each of these scenarios! I for one would love to know how to script, without variance, any hunting scenario!
There are however, a few cartridges/firearms that will check most of the boxes. Probably not “perfect” for any specific one…..but, will work quite well!
In the “real world” everything is a bit of a compromise! memtb
Last edited by memtb; 10/01/22.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
I live "downstairs" and won't pretend to know the answer to this one.
I think many living down here forget just how vast Alaska is. Which means highly varied conditions and topography. Not to mention greater variance in game size and temperament.
I would guess that like here, many (most?) hunters stay fairly local, hunt what is there and arm themselves appropriately.
Is that fair or even accurate?
Bore size is no substitute for shot placement and Power is no substitute for bullet performance. 458WIN
I live "downstairs" and won't pretend to know the answer to this one.
I think many living down here forget just how vast Alaska is. Which means highly varied conditions and topography. Not to mention greater variance in game size and temperament.
I would guess that like here, many (most?) hunters stay fairly local, hunt what is there and arm themselves appropriately.
Is that fair or even accurate?
Pretty darn accurate assessment! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
From my current rifles, it would be my Model 70 Classic stainless cerakoted in a Mcmillan Edge stock chambered in 338-06. Top one in the photo. Love the looks of the 338-06.
Nice Rifles! Is the Weatherby also a 338-06?
These would be my go-to rifles for Alaska:
My go-to if I only had 1 would be this BSA Sporterized P17, that was sporterized between 1949 and 1953 by BSA and was further sporterized by my father Keith E. Smith with hand carved Ferlach Austrian style stock. The BSA love Winchester Super X in 180 gr. so shells are readily available. Super accurate and everything I have shot with it has basically dropped in its tracks.
The second if I could have 2 choices would be this Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight .300 Win Mag. I replaced the barrel with a Wilson Match Grade, then glass bedded the barrel so it is free floating and now shoots sub-MOA <.25 @ 100 yards. I would use it if I knew that I would be taking longer range shots.
If I only had 1 caliber, I would go with my 30-06.
I think AK is one of the few places where you can realistically say that the 30-06 is truly versatile. In the lower 48 it is overkill, but there are lots of big critters in AK
30-06 is hardly overkill in the lower 48, especially here in the Rockies where you can kill a big elk or moose, then have its ownership contested by a griz.
Nor is it overkill where the shots can be extended due to environmental factors that tend to occur in the late season, such as when the elk move down into the open sagebrush hills.
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL.
The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world.
I think AK is one of the few places where you can realistically say that the 30-06 is truly versatile. In the lower 48 it is overkill, but there are lots of big critters in AK
Any shoulder fired firearm, that is easily carried on a hunt……is hardly overkill. There is no such thing as “overkill”…….except in Disney movies! 😉 memtb
Last edited by memtb; 10/02/22.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
What cartridge did you select to take a 70" bull, 800 yards away, 2 hours before sunset?
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
So what cartridge did you select to take a 70" bull, 800 yards away, 2 hours before sunset?
300 Remington Ultra Magnum ....
and later the 338 EDGE .....
moose stoned dead on their feet out past 1200 yards & working on 1 mile with newer faster more powerful wildcats ....
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
Kinda depends on several factors, main one being ammo availability. If I am rolling my own it’d be my 358 Norma Magnum. 158 grain 357 bullets to shoot small game, and 250gr Hornady RN for the bigger stuff. If ammo is a concern, then 338 WM or 3006. You can pretty much pick up ammo for those any place.
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
What cartridge did you select to take a 70" bull, 800 yards away, 2 hours before sunset?
22LR, you can do anything when yer dreaming
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
So what cartridge did you select to take a 70" bull, 800 yards away, 2 hours before sunset?
300 Remington Ultra Magnum ....
and later the 338 EDGE .....
moose stoned dead on their feet out past 1200 yards & working on 1 mile with newer faster more powerful wildcats ....
Next you are going to tell us you were scuba diver in Okinawa.
Originally Posted by Bricktop
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego.
30-06 is hardly overkill in the lower 48, especially here in the Rockies where you can kill a big elk or moose, then have its ownership contested by a griz.
Nor is it overkill where the shots can be extended due to environmental factors that tend to occur in the late season, such as when the elk move down into the open sagebrush hills.
I started my mediocre Alaska hunting career in 1966. All I have ever used in Alaska is a 30-06 and a .338 Win. Mag. and both cartridges work great, especially with a Barnes TTSX bullet put in the right place at the right impact velocity.
If only one it would be my lightly customized pre-64 Mod. 70 Win. "Featherweight" 30-06 made in 1958. Those wonderful 168 grain Barnes TTSX bullets can do it all, if I put them in the right place.
For about six years I ran a informal survey on the Alaska Outdoors Forum. I asked the responding rifle hunters how far away from the big game animal they were when they fired their all important first shot.
The average shot distance given was about 160 yards.
No reason to shoot 800 yards on a moose. Get closer, do some actual hunting
Some of you Fudds need to learn how to shoot
Fudds are guys that think the 2nd amendment is about hunting rights and no one should own a AR15.. in short Mary Peltola voters..
how stupid does one have to be to vote for a skeemo, thinking that some indiginass Democrat libtard kcunt is right for Alaska ? just because it's a native ? SMH
about as stupid as the ones who voted for that homo kneegoer for president, just because he was black... twice FFS !
Some white mfkrs have lost their minds and turned traitor to their own kind
aside from that...
guys that can't shoot for sh it will always need a target the size of a bus within 100 yards, so when they shrink back in terror of recoil as they yank on the trigger, they still have hopes of blowing a knee off the moose and slowing it down so they can try shooting at it again .... Alaska is full of these Fudds, just hang out at the gun counter and listen to the stupid that comes through, lmao !
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
No reason to shoot 800 yards on a moose. Get closer, do some actual hunting
Some of you Fudds need to learn how to shoot
Fudds are guys that think the 2nd amendment is about hunting rights and no one should own a AR15.. in short Mary Peltola voters..
how stupid does one have to be to vote for a skeemo, thinking that some indiginass Democrat libtard kcunt is right for Alaska ? just because it's a native ? SMH
about as stupid as the ones who voted for that homo kneegoer for president, just because he was black... twice FFS !
Some white mfkrs have lost their minds and turned traitor to their own kind
aside from that...
guys that can't shoot for sh it will always need a target the size of a bus within 100 yards, so when they shrink back in terror of recoil as they yank on the trigger, they still have hopes of blowing a knee off the moose and slowing it down so they can try shooting at it again .... Alaska is full of these Fudds, just hang out at the gun counter and listen to the stupid that comes through, lmao !
Me you get along just fine in person everything you said is true. My buddy shoots long distance for moose etc. but he shoots all the time. I spot for him at talkeetna, he’s shot 1000yd mstches to see what his gun is doing on moa targets at 1000yds. Most guys talking only shoot 100yds are as you say fudds. I invite folks to come out 600yd matches bring your hunting rifle. Do they come 99% of the time they don’t. 600yds is not that hard, with a decent rifle. The last 1000td match I did it with a 223 lol.
Originally Posted by Bricktop
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego.
I started my mediocre Alaska hunting career in 1966. All I have ever used in Alaska is a 30-06 and a .338 Win. Mag. and both cartridges work great, especially with a Barnes TTSX bullet put in the right place at the right impact velocity.
If only one it would be my lightly customized pre-64 Mod. 70 Win. "Featherweight" 30-06 made in 1958. Those wonderful 168 grain Barnes TTSX bullets can do it all, if I put them in the right place.
For about six years I ran a informal survey on the Alaska Outdoors Forum. I asked the responding rifle hunters how far away from the big game animal they were when they fired their all important first shot.
The average shot distance given was about 160 yards.
Agree. Many people go through the ultra magnum teen learning experience. That 120 grains of powder will end the hunt when lessor calibers will fall by the wayside. After 10-20 rifles over 40 years. I have several pre-64 model 70 .308s and .30-06s and Kimber .308 and .30-06s thrown in for back-ups. If that magical animal is 800 yards away and I can't get a shot off. There is always another day of hunting tomorrow.
From my current rifles, it would be my Model 70 Classic stainless cerakoted in a Mcmillan Edge stock chambered in 338-06. Top one in the photo. Love the looks of the 338-06.
Nice Rifles! Is the Weatherby also a 338-06?
These would be my go-to rifles for Alaska:
My go-to if I only had 1 would be this BSA Sporterized P17, that was sporterized between 1949 and 1953 by BSA and was further sporterized by my father Keith E. Smith with hand carved Ferlach Austrian style stock. The BSA love Winchester Super X in 180 gr. so shells are readily available. Super accurate and everything I have shot with it has basically dropped in its tracks.
The second if I could have 2 choices would be this Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight .300 Win Mag. I replaced the barrel with a Wilson Match Grade, then glass bedded the barrel so it is free floating and now shoots sub-MOA <.25 @ 100 yards. I would use it if I knew that I would be taking longer range shots.
If I only had 1 caliber, I would go with my 30-06.
I have exactly one Alaska hunt under my belt so my personal experience might as well be zero...however, I have been in the alders with a 20" .35 Whelen and it certainly didn't feel too short. I would not have complained if it was 18" while we were following a piss poor blood trail of a wounded bear.
My Whelen is a cut down Ruger 77 rebore with the standard sporter .30-06 contour. It is a handy setup that is light enough for a sheep hunt and snorty enough for a big brown (I would think). With todays powder options it can get a 225-250 class bullet moving fast enough to do some serious work near and far. Mine is setup with a scope but I also have front irons installed and an NECG ghost ring that lives in my hunting pack that works with the integral receiver mounts. If you have time to remove the scope, you have time to install the irons and it seems to hold zero just fine.
I think the medium bores offer a lot because their favorable expansion ratios minimize velocity loss with shorter tubes. Anything over 22" would be disqualified for me as a "one and done" AK rifle (not that I wouldn't happily carry my 24" .300 WM on an open ground caribou hunt).
I have a pile of niche rifles for future AK hunts but if I am honest I could sell them all and be pretty well setup with just the Whelen.
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
What cartridge did you select to take a 70" bull, 800 yards away, 2 hours before sunset?
22LR, you can do anything when yer dreaming
Some have the ability. Some don't. The ones that do have it also know when to shoot and when not to.
If I had that client this year we'd have had a 70 plus inch bull. As it was it was too close to dark and the stalk took too long even though we walked up to his bed. He'd gone wandering in the middle of the long stalk.
That said one caliber for the stuff thats around in AK starts at least 375 caliber in my books.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
guys will shoot animals with a cartridge that expends most of it's lethality at about 200 yards, they shoot pie plate 3 shot groups at 50 paces a couple times a year then shoot an animal from at or under 100 yards, two, three shots before they hit it right, if not... a guide or buddy blasts it = proud "ethical hunters"
we shoot cartridges that have more lethality at 800 yards than yours at 100 yards, we shoot tiny little 5 shot groups at 200 yards you can cover with a dime and have fired thousands of rounds and practiced at ranges out to 1000+ yards in increments and have our data memorized, most if not all long range hunters are DIY in rough mountain country, no guides, no backup shooters, no meat packers, no feed plots or watering holes or fences sounds like we do a lot more that's real huning
How many of you go hiking into the mountains solo ?Spend time setting up properly and "paying attention to the wind" that part is most important and could force you to move location multiple times, meaning more hiking/climbing etc, moving camp & gear, more days of glassing and selecting your game and waiting for the right moment for the shot, y'know ... real hunting stuff
unlike the slob hunters that jump out of a vehicle and open fire on an animal on the other side of the ditch or from a SXS or 4 Wheeler off a trail or edge of a swamp, nice & "ehical" tracking & getting in close = real hunting, lol !
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
As the old saying goes, " it's the Indian, not the arrow"
I now shoot most everything using .243 Winchester with FMJ solids.
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).
30-06 is neat until you see a 70" class bull from the top of a hill out at 800-900 yards with absolutely no other shot or way to get closer because of terrain & brush with 2 hrs of light left on the last day of your hunt .....
I sold my '06 and vowed to never, ever be hampered and screwed by some fabled cartridge that didn't have the balls to deliver when it was needed most
What cartridge did you select to take a 70" bull, 800 yards away, 2 hours before sunset?
22LR, you can do anything when yer dreaming
Some have the ability. Some don't. The ones that do have it also know when to shoot and when not to.
If I had that client this year we'd have had a 70 plus inch bull. As it was it was too close to dark and the stalk took too long even though we walked up to his bed. He'd gone wandering in the middle of the long stalk.
That said one caliber for the stuff thats around in AK starts at least 375 caliber in my books.
Most of my hunting has been with a 300 H&H, gets a bit heavy on sheep hunts, however there was a time when that was the only CF rifle I owned. It shot well and still does. I know have a 375 that gathers dust, nothing in the interior that I need that for unless I get a bison permit (they should have open season on the plains buffler), even then the 300 would do the job. I inherited the 375 and a buff would be fitting. If I was hunting coastal brownies it would be my choice. Still, a ought 6 would hands down do it all. Knowing your capabilities is key, no shot is ever a "sure thing"...
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
we shoot cartridges that have more lethality at 800 yards than yours at 100 yards, (bla, blah, blah)...we shoot tiny little 5 shot groups at 200 yards... !!l ![/quote] Seen plenty of guys flinch and miss shooting canons, run what you bring and buys lotsa ammo, practice, practice...if ya cant kill it with a ought 6, you missed.
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
Hunters today are in an endless search for the perfect cartridge/firearm to compensate for their "LACK" of time afield, hunting skills, and inability to shoot "off-hand". They are skilled paper shooters off of a bench but are lacking in the skill to shoot "off-hand". So called hunters today were not born and raised on ranches or farms, but in some level of urban or suburban environment.
A person today who thinks of themselves as a hunter, are primarily skilled in internet searching to compensate for living decades harmoniously with the species they aspire to harvest. They desire to know where the desired species lives in abundance, the cheapest way to get there, what qualities about that species makes it a trophy in the eyes of their friends, and fellow internet so-called highly skilled hunters. The endless quest for approval of others and in an endless search for being accepted by theme self as achieving manhood.
For far too long society has lacked an acknowledged "right-of-passage" for males to social acceptance of "manhood".
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).
As the old saying goes, " it's the Indian, not the arrow"
I now shoot most everything using .243 Winchester with FMJ solids.
FMJ?…Frank Glaser loved the .220 Swift for his meat rifle and especially for sheep but he had nothing good to say about FMJ’s even from his 30-06. He almost got ate by the bear that wasn’t impressed with his 147gr FMJ.
Can’t use FMJ here even if I wanted to….which I don’t. 😉
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
Every time the "long range hunting" conversation comes up, theres always going to be some out of shape fat Fudd who has zero experience nor has anything that can be used for LR hunting making the most noise, not sure where the tantrums come from but can guess that ..... 1. Doesn't have a clue how to shoot past 200 yards, then neither should you 2. Can't afford the gear, you shouldn't be doing it 3. Only his way of hunting works, you can't do anything else
Well guess what ? Long range hunting is not illegal and if we choose to set up for a hunt that will present shots from 100 - 1000 yards, it means we have done our homework and are ready ... our rifles, scopes & cartridges aren't the same as yours
your sub par crap equipment is chosen for the type of hunting you do and definitely will not work for us ... And all LR hunters can do your rock throwing distance hunting with ease .... but a very small percentage of you guys can pull off shots beyond 500 yards and there's nothing wrong with that, stick to what you know and don't bash what you have no experience in, that's just pure ignorant ranting .... not our fault you suck at shooting, learn how to shoot .... period !
We shoot one n done, wether it's 100 or 1000 yards, our chosen cartridges have more energy at 500-600 yards than what yours have at the muzzle ..... our scopes have 120 moa of adjustments and sit on 20 moa rails, we can dial in beyond 2000 yards, most of you have 2x7 or 3x9 crap scopes that are like looking through a dirty coke bottle & what I've seen is guys unloading their guns into an animal then trailing it for a lengthy time then shooting again multiple times then walking up for an execution shot ..... that's a LOT more shooting at one animal than we do...
I suppose you think you're "hunting and stalking" it to death with multiple shots ....
your personal lack of proper equipment, training & shooting ability limits you to close in "off hand" shots but doesn't automatically make you an "ethical" hunter .... your self proclaimed "ethics" don't extend beyond the halo you think you have
modern firearms, cartridges & optics are capable of so much more than what you are ....
LEARN HOW TO SHOOT !
and quit bashing other hunters, some of you are worse than anti-hunters
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
Every time the "long range hunting" conversation comes up, theres always going to be some out of shape fat Fudd who has zero experience nor has anything that can be used for LR hunting making the most noise, not sure where the tantrums come from but can guess that ..... 1. Doesn't have a clue how to shoot past 200 yards, then neither should you 2. Can't afford the gear, you shouldn't be doing it 3. Only his way of hunting works, you can't do anything else
Well guess what ? Long range hunting is not illegal and if we choose to set up for a hunt that will present shots from 100 - 1000 yards, it means we have done our homework and are ready ... our rifles, scopes & cartridges aren't the same as yours
your sub par crap equipment is chosen for the type of hunting you do and definitely will not work for us ... And all LR hunters can do your rock throwing distance hunting with ease .... but a very small percentage of you guys can pull off shots beyond 500 yards and there's nothing wrong with that, stick to what you know and don't bash what you have no experience in, that's just pure ignorant ranting .... not our fault you suck at shooting, learn how to shoot .... period !
We shoot one n done, wether it's 100 or 1000 yards, our chosen cartridges have more energy at 500-600 yards than what yours have at the muzzle ..... our scopes have 120 moa of adjustments and sit on 20 moa rails, we can dial in beyond 2000 yards, most of you have 2x7 or 3x9 crap scopes that are like looking through a dirty coke bottle & what I've seen is guys unloading their guns into an animal then trailing it for a lengthy time then shooting again multiple times then walking up for an execution shot ..... that's a LOT more shooting at one animal than we do...
I suppose you think you're "hunting and stalking" it to death with multiple shots ....
your personal lack of proper equipment, training & shooting ability limits you to close in "off hand" shots but doesn't automatically make you an "ethical" hunter .... your self proclaimed "ethics" don't extend beyond the halo you think you have
modern firearms, cartridges & optics are capable of so much more than what you are ....
LEARN HOW TO SHOOT !
and quit bashing other hunters, some of you are worse than anti-hunters
It has zero to do with "ethics", the way you talk you'd think everyone should be a long range hunter. Maybe some of us don't prefer that method and would rather spend a little time trying to actually "hunt" whatever it is we're after, doesn't mean their a bad shot or a so called "fudd" as you like to call them.
And here you are complaining about bashing hunters while at the same time, bashing hunters and yes, some of you are worse than the anti-hunters.
As the old saying goes, " it's the Indian, not the arrow"
I now shoot most everything using .243 Winchester with FMJ solids.
FMJ?…Frank Glaser loved the .220 Swift for his meat rifle and especially for sheep but he had nothing good to say about FMJ’s even from his 30-06. He almost got ate by the bear that wasn’t impressed with his 147gr FMJ.
Can’t use FMJ here even if I wanted to….which I don’t. 😉
I have shot 14 Alaska Mountain Goats using 55 gr. FMJ 5.56X45 using 16" AR-15. I've shot 7 or 8 other Mt. Goats with a .338 Win. Mag. 210 gr. Nosler. In my experience the effective result was the same. Time between being hit and being dead was as near as I could assess the same.
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).
Every time the "long range hunting" conversation comes up, theres always going to be some out of shape fat Fudd who has zero experience nor has anything that can be used for LR hunting making the most noise, not sure where the tantrums come from but can guess that ..... 1. Doesn't have a clue how to shoot past 200 yards, then neither should you 2. Can't afford the gear, you shouldn't be doing it 3. Only his way of hunting works, you can't do anything else
Well guess what ? Long range hunting is not illegal and if we choose to set up for a hunt that will present shots from 100 - 1000 yards, it means we have done our homework and are ready ... our rifles, scopes & cartridges aren't the same as yours
your sub par crap equipment is chosen for the type of hunting you do and definitely will not work for us ... And all LR hunters can do your rock throwing distance hunting with ease .... but a very small percentage of you guys can pull off shots beyond 500 yards and there's nothing wrong with that, stick to what you know and don't bash what you have no experience in, that's just pure ignorant ranting .... not our fault you suck at shooting, learn how to shoot .... period !
We shoot one n done, wether it's 100 or 1000 yards, our chosen cartridges have more energy at 500-600 yards than what yours have at the muzzle ..... our scopes have 120 moa of adjustments and sit on 20 moa rails, we can dial in beyond 2000 yards, most of you have 2x7 or 3x9 crap scopes that are like looking through a dirty coke bottle & what I've seen is guys unloading their guns into an animal then trailing it for a lengthy time then shooting again multiple times then walking up for an execution shot ..... that's a LOT more shooting at one animal than we do...
I suppose you think you're "hunting and stalking" it to death with multiple shots ....
your personal lack of proper equipment, training & shooting ability limits you to close in "off hand" shots but doesn't automatically make you an "ethical" hunter .... your self proclaimed "ethics" don't extend beyond the halo you think you have
modern firearms, cartridges & optics are capable of so much more than what you are ....
LEARN HOW TO SHOOT !
and quit bashing other hunters, some of you are worse than anti-hunters
Apparently this thread is all about you and your buddies "supposed" accomplishments. Who T F cares? So you "claim" you make this incredible shots from unimaginable distances. Quit bragging and beating your chest, no one gives a schit and your making yourself look damn stupid.
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
Hunters today are in an endless search for the perfect cartridge/firearm to compensate for their "LACK" of time afield, hunting skills, and inability to shoot "off-hand". They are skilled paper shooters off of a bench but are lacking in the skill to shoot "off-hand". So called hunters today were not born and raised on ranches or farms, but in some level of urban or suburban environment.
A person today who thinks of themselves as a hunter, are primarily skilled in internet searching to compensate for living decades harmoniously with the species they aspire to harvest. They desire to know where the desired species lives in abundance, the cheapest way to get there, what qualities about that species makes it a trophy in the eyes of their friends, and fellow internet so-called highly skilled hunters. The endless quest for approval of others and in an endless search for being accepted by theme self as achieving manhood.
For far too long society has lacked an acknowledged "right-of-passage" for males to social acceptance of "manhood".
This is the stupidest fkn post I've read on 24 Hr Campfire in a long, long time, I mean... Lil Stick posts stupid sh it all the time but at least he's amusing .. in a dumb kind of way ... but still funny & the guy knows guns & can shoot .. unlike you
Were you in a bowel movement as you wrote this sh it ? Because it is SH IT & just reading this drivel gives a fella the runs ....
Your attempt at trying to write a Freudian piece is laughable and total bulls hit !
Simply put .... Try again ... SMFH
It's always these fkn guys ..... every time, lol !
.....
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
I have exactly one Alaska hunt under my belt so my personal experience might as well be zero...however, I have been in the alders with a 20" .35 Whelen and it certainly didn't feel too short. I would not have complained if it was 18" while we were following a piss poor blood trail of a wounded bear.
My Whelen is a cut down Ruger 77 rebore with the standard sporter .30-06 contour. It is a handy setup that is light enough for a sheep hunt and snorty enough for a big brown (I would think). With todays powder options it can get a 225-250 class bullet moving fast enough to do some serious work near and far. Mine is setup with a scope but I also have front irons installed and an NECG ghost ring that lives in my hunting pack that works with the integral receiver mounts. If you have time to remove the scope, you have time to install the irons and it seems to hold zero just fine.
I think the medium bores offer a lot because their favorable expansion ratios minimize velocity loss with shorter tubes. Anything over 22" would be disqualified for me as a "one and done" AK rifle (not that I wouldn't happily carry my 24" .300 WM on an open ground caribou hunt).
I have a pile of niche rifles for future AK hunts but if I am honest I could sell them all and be pretty well setup with just the Whelen.
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
I guess I wasn’t all that clear.
But I have enjoyed everyone’s input. Thank You all.
I hear ya bud... I saw this coming from a mile away.... the Gents of 24hrcf just can't help themselves to show you how much smarter they are then the next guy.
They don't want to hear the words, RUM, PRC or SAUM.... "30-06/270 or bust!" HAHA
I Started a post similar about 5 years ago about comparing moose cartridges and I was given answers to questions I never even asked. Then was pretty much called a snot nosed kid who should be saving their money... it was quite comical. I ended up making it to AK twice now and have had VERY successful hunts and wait for it...... I used a freshly built 300RUM (GASP) I know crazy right... I hope I still have street cred with the local guides LOL
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
I guess I wasn’t all that clear.
But I have enjoyed everyone’s input. Thank You all.
I ended up making it to AK twice now and have had VERY successful hunts and wait for it...... I used a freshly built 300RUM (GASP) I know crazy right... I hope I still have street cred with the local guides LOL
This is a forum. An eclectic forum. I read everyone's opinion and support their right to have an opinion. Still, I must give substantial weight to the sheer volume and massive amount of experience in the Alaska field between the respondents. It is one thing to have a few Alaska hunts under one's belt but compare that to those who spent 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 decades spending three and half to four months per year guiding ten and sometimes twenty or more hunters per year, and remember we used to do four species 10-day guided hunts, for Grizzly, Caribou, Black Bear and Moose with near 100% success. Those people viewed the results of hundreds and thousands of harvests, with wide range of cartridges.
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).
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
I guess I wasn’t all that clear.
But I have enjoyed everyone’s input. Thank You all.
I hear ya bud... I saw this coming from a mile away.... the Gents of 24hrcf just can't help themselves to show you how much smarter they are then the next guy.
They don't want to hear the words, RUM, PRC or SAUM.... "30-06/270 or bust!" HAHA
I Started a post similar about 5 years ago about comparing moose cartridges and I was given answers to questions I never even asked. Then was pretty much called a snot nosed kid who should be saving their money... it was quite comical. I ended up making it to AK twice now and have had VERY successful hunts and wait for it...... I used a freshly built 300RUM (GASP) I know crazy right... I hope I still have street cred with the local guides LOL
I heard from one member about his 300 Rum he loves it. I like mine as well. I was looking at the 375 Ruger but brass is non existent right now. I’ll keep looking,keep reading, and enjoying.
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
Hunters today are in an endless search for the perfect cartridge/firearm to compensate for their "LACK" of time afield, hunting skills, and inability to shoot "off-hand". They are skilled paper shooters off of a bench but are lacking in the skill to shoot "off-hand". So called hunters today were not born and raised on ranches or farms, but in some level of urban or suburban environment.
A person today who thinks of themselves as a hunter, are primarily skilled in internet searching to compensate for living decades harmoniously with the species they aspire to harvest. They desire to know where the desired species lives in abundance, the cheapest way to get there, what qualities about that species makes it a trophy in the eyes of their friends, and fellow internet so-called highly skilled hunters. The endless quest for approval of others and in an endless search for being accepted by theme self as achieving manhood.
For far too long society has lacked an acknowledged "right-of-passage" for males to social acceptance of "manhood".
This is the stupidest fkn post I've read on 24 Hr Campfire in a long, long time, I mean... Lil Stick posts stupid sh it all the time but at least he's amusing .. in a dumb kind of way ... but still funny & the guy knows guns & can shoot .. unlike you
Were you in a bowel movement as you wrote this sh it ? Because it is SH IT & just reading this drivel gives a fella the runs ....
Your attempt at trying to write a Freudian piece is laughable and total bulls hit !
Simply put .... Try again ... SMFH
It's always these fkn guys ..... every time, lol !
.....
That is an outstanding reference of pictures. Thought I was looking in the mirror last year, not now though. Lost that fatty fatty.
Would it actually be safe to say that the 30-06 is an really good choice because of availability? Logistics from someone traveling there, living there on a shorter term of a few years, or even budget constraints could dictate what tool is chosen. In those terms is the 30-06 tips in the field despite its limitations?
As cool as the massive huge 338 and 375 ultra capacity cartridges are there's still weight limitations, component issues at current times, and some folks are truly just better off getting an 30-06 and putting the real money in better optics and shooting more ammo on their budgets.
How does an 30-06 or other choice fit and work with those parameters? Seriously.
There are some of us hunters that strive to get close and make clean one shot kills. I have killed moose, elk, bear, deer, at less than 20 yards. It is what drives me. Getting close is my thing. I would rather not fill my tag, than to shoot an animal at long range. You, on the other hand enjoy the the challenge of LR shooting.
Last weekend called a bull elk in to 40 yards for a friend, one and done. The interaction with the herd was incredible, could feel the bugles and experience the rutting chaos.
So you like to call short range slob hunters Fudds.
But what do you call slob long range hunters? Another question, does a long range hunter need to wear camo?
I have done a bit of long range shooting. A good friend had a mile range for awhile, and I can get to about 975 yards on our place. Great fun when banging plates, just not my thing when it comes to hunting.
I thrive on the challenge of getting close! You thrive on making long range kills.
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
Hunters today are in an endless search for the perfect cartridge/firearm to compensate for their "LACK" of time afield, hunting skills, and inability to shoot "off-hand". They are skilled paper shooters off of a bench but are lacking in the skill to shoot "off-hand". So called hunters today were not born and raised on ranches or farms, but in some level of urban or suburban environment.
A person today who thinks of themselves as a hunter, are primarily skilled in internet searching to compensate for living decades harmoniously with the species they aspire to harvest. They desire to know where the desired species lives in abundance, the cheapest way to get there, what qualities about that species makes it a trophy in the eyes of their friends, and fellow internet so-called highly skilled hunters. The endless quest for approval of others and in an endless search for being accepted by theme self as achieving manhood.
For far too long society has lacked an acknowledged "right-of-passage" for males to social acceptance of "manhood".
This is the stupidest fkn post I've read on 24 Hr Campfire in a long, long time, I mean... Lil Stick posts stupid sh it all the time but at least he's amusing .. in a dumb kind of way ... but still funny & the guy knows guns & can shoot .. unlike you
Were you in a bowel movement as you wrote this sh it ? Because it is SH IT & just reading this drivel gives a fella the runs ....
Your attempt at trying to write a Freudian piece is laughable and total bulls hit !
Simply put .... Try again ... SMFH
It's always these fkn guys ..... every time, lol !
.....
Laughing, this post pretty much proves you are the dumbass you profess to be. Which of the pics is a selfie.... ? Pretty apparent you are out to prove something. Usally the guy with the biggest mouth is also the biggest liar.
This was about one caliber that can do it all, you have taken it to a whole new level of bashing other hunters and stroking your ego to try to prove something. Trying to push some caliber that is not readily available because you do not know how to walk, stalk and call.. Thats what hunting is, not taking hail mary pot shots from 800 yards. WTFU
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
When I started this post I was thinking more along the lines of the best caliber/cartridge to cover what Alaska has to offer!
Something that could handle a big moose or bear, survive the weather and ocean etc.
Hunters today are in an endless search for the perfect cartridge/firearm to compensate for their "LACK" of time afield, hunting skills, and inability to shoot "off-hand". They are skilled paper shooters off of a bench but are lacking in the skill to shoot "off-hand". So called hunters today were not born and raised on ranches or farms, but in some level of urban or suburban environment.
A person today who thinks of themselves as a hunter, are primarily skilled in internet searching to compensate for living decades harmoniously with the species they aspire to harvest. They desire to know where the desired species lives in abundance, the cheapest way to get there, what qualities about that species makes it a trophy in the eyes of their friends, and fellow internet so-called highly skilled hunters. The endless quest for approval of others and in an endless search for being accepted by theme self as achieving manhood.
For far too long society has lacked an acknowledged "right-of-passage" for males to social acceptance of "manhood".
This is the stupidest fkn post I've read on 24 Hr Campfire in a long, long time, I mean... Lil Stick posts stupid sh it all the time but at least he's amusing .. in a dumb kind of way ... but still funny & the guy knows guns & can shoot .. unlike you
Were you in a bowel movement as you wrote this sh it ? Because it is SH IT & just reading this drivel gives a fella the runs ....
Your attempt at trying to write a Freudian piece is laughable and total bulls hit !
Simply put .... Try again ... SMFH
It's always these fkn guys ..... every time, lol !
.....
Laughing, this post pretty much proves you are the dumbass you profess to be. Which of the pics is a selfie.... ? Pretty apparent you are out to prove something. Usally the guy with the biggest mouth is also the biggest liar.
This was about one caliber that can do it all, you have taken it to a whole new level of bashing other hunters and stroking your ego to try to prove something. Trying to push some caliber that is not readily available because you do not know how to walk, stalk and call.. Thats what hunting is, not taking hail mary pot shots from 800 yards. WTFU
Correct ... This was about one caliber that can "do it all" y'all chose 30'06 ... for YOUR style of hunting .. I chose the 300 RUM for mine ... both 30 caliber .. so why are you having anal pains? SMF, I bet you call ammunition "bullets" don't you ..
You jumped my sh it first & now y'all crying ! lmao
Does your opinion carry more weight ? Every other opinion different than yours is subject to your rage because you can't shoot worth a sh it beyond a couple hundred yards ?
What you don't get is that we intentionally & strategically set up for long range shots ..... nobody is taking "pot shots" at 800 yards .. It's all calculated and 100% confirmed before the shot, besides, 800 aint't that fkn far... in your mind it is because you have no clue how it's done ....
Stay in your lane, bro ....
or learn how to shoot !
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
Swamprat, regarding 06 vs 300 rum, 06 still wins as a one caliber rifle in AK. The rum may be the end all be all caliber with a 308 "bullet" for a jackass. It isn't for everyone.
Requires magnum action.... heavier rifle Muzzle blast.....horrible Throat erosion...... shorter barrel life Ammo cost....... EXPENSIVE Ammo availability....... poor Recoil...... about twice as a 06
Recoil that heavy is unmanageable for some people, all other issues aside, recoil affects accuracy.
I would not advise a new hunter to take game at 800 yards.... maybe you would...?
I assume, perhaps incorrectly the hunters objective is to put meat on the table, if so why tote a heavier rifle that shoots expensive ammo, wears out faster and kicks like a mule?
If your goal is to take animal's from the next borough, so be it, IMO it's not ethical hunting and I would not advise someone to fill their freezer in that way.
There are only a couple, mainly one game animal that could necessitate a long shot, everything else can typically be taken in less than 200 yards. This bs about the only shot on a moose was 800 yards is all in your mind. Do some hunting your own damn self.
You brag about your LR skill.... kudos, quit bragging, it's not becoming, it's degrading as [bleep]. Quit degrading other's you don't know.
Is the 06 the best one caliber for AK, doubtful, there are other good choices, but it would be a good choice and for damn sure it wouldn't be a rum.
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
I have exactly one Alaska hunt under my belt so my personal experience might as well be zero...however, I have been in the alders with a 20" .35 Whelen and it certainly didn't feel too short. I would not have complained if it was 18" while we were following a piss poor blood trail of a wounded bear.
My Whelen is a cut down Ruger 77 rebore with the standard sporter .30-06 contour. It is a handy setup that is light enough for a sheep hunt and snorty enough for a big brown (I would think). With todays powder options it can get a 225-250 class bullet moving fast enough to do some serious work near and far. Mine is setup with a scope but I also have front irons installed and an NECG ghost ring that lives in my hunting pack that works with the integral receiver mounts. If you have time to remove the scope, you have time to install the irons and it seems to hold zero just fine.
I think the medium bores offer a lot because their favorable expansion ratios minimize velocity loss with shorter tubes. Anything over 22" would be disqualified for me as a "one and done" AK rifle (not that I wouldn't happily carry my 24" .300 WM on an open ground caribou hunt).
I have a pile of niche rifles for future AK hunts but if I am honest I could sell them all and be pretty well setup with just the Whelen.
I agree. Thinking that would be a solid Alaskan rig. It reminds me of pabucktail's .416 Taylor Project.
Swamprat, regarding 06 vs 300 rum, 06 still wins as a one caliber rifle in AK. The rum may be the end all be all caliber with a 308 "bullet" for a jackass. It isn't for everyone.
Requires magnum action.... heavier rifle Muzzle blast.....horrible Throat erosion...... shorter barrel life Ammo cost....... EXPENSIVE Ammo availability....... poor Recoil...... about twice as a 06
Recoil that heavy is unmanageable for some people, all other issues aside, recoil affects accuracy.
I would not advise a new hunter to take game at 800 yards.... maybe you would...?
I assume, perhaps incorrectly the hunters objective is to put meat on the table, if so why tote a heavier rifle that shoots expensive ammo, wears out faster and kicks like a mule?
If your goal is to take animal's from the next borough, so be it, IMO it's not ethical hunting and I would not advise someone to fill their freezer in that way.
There are only a couple, mainly one game animal that could necessitate a long shot, everything else can typically be taken in less than 200 yards. This bs about the only shot on a moose was 800 yards is all in your mind. Do some hunting your own damn self.
You brag about your LR skill.... kudos, quit bragging, it's not becoming, it's degrading as [bleep]. Quit degrading other's you don't know.
Is the 06 the best one caliber for AK, doubtful, there are other good choices, but it would be a good choice and for damn sure it wouldn't be a rum.
A lot of great points Johnn!
I had a .300 wsm, Browning Mountain Ti, loved it but I sold it, why? Because I could not find the ammo it liked for it. It was a colossal pain in the azz.
OK, I’ll play. Sometimes the rifle makes the cartridge or the cartridge makes the rifle. If I were forced to pick just one it would be my lefty Ruger in 338 RCM. My reasoning is: The rifle is built with a stock with a slightly smaller LOP than standard. Comes with a 20 inch barrel with factory iron sights Control round feed if that is important to you. The shorter barrel and LOP makes it easier/faster to shoulder in the thick stuff. I never shot an animal beyond 300 yards in my life so the shorter barrel wouldn’t be a concern to me ballistic wise.
Plenty of rifles on the market could be made to emulate the Ruger. My decision takes into consideration it is a factory rifle.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
Have to toss in a good story. Met an old sourdougher in Fairbanks back in the middle 1970’s. He owned a pre 64 Winchester 70 and I believe it was chambered in 300 H&H. Rifle had iron sights. He said he bought the rifle new 16–17 years before and one box of factory ammo. There were 4 rounds left in the box. He told me he killed 16 moose with it.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
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