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Are these rifles very popular in Alaska?
2 b 1 ask 1 !
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Campfire Regular
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I have 3 of them, that I replaced the stocks on shortly after buying them, when they were in production. I have another that I bought a year or two ago, that still has the Zytel stock. I would say the stainless barrel and action are definitely popular. The stock itself, some liked and some not. My biggest issue was that, there seemed no eye pleasing method for reducing the LOP and maintaining a decent recoil pad. No doubt the stocks are tough. I am sure there are still plenty in use, as issued.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,737 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,737 Likes: 1 |
I like mine, would love to find another. Tough setup.
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
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Are they really worth $1,100-$1,200 up there? In what calibers?
2 b 1 ask 1 !
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Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 372 Likes: 4
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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I had one in 300 win mag, when I lived in Alaska. Had a store in Valdez and fairbanks(the prospector apparel and sport goods, little plug there). We sold as many of them as all the other SS long guns available at that time combined. They seemed to be well liked but everybody bitched about how ugly they were. They are. a very durable control feed action, and by in larger accurate. If I remember right ruger started making their own barrels in The late 90’s, greatly improving the overall accuracy of their firearms. My 300 shot fabulously? really liked nosler partitions which suited me to a T. Killed my largest brownie on Kodiak island fall of 93. Sold it ,regrettably, to a good buddy when I retired in 98 and moved back to home state of Wyoming, Eished I’d kept it, though I had a kimber of Oregon in same cal, that shot just as good , but was to pretty to hunt with in Alaska.
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Posts: 372 Likes: 4
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Correction I misspoke when I said ruger started making their own barrels in the late 90’s , actually it was the early 90’s.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 56
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2007
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Love my boat paddle in 30-06. Would be a buyer if anyone is selling in any caliber.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,946 Likes: 25
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have been given, and purchased, a number of the old Zytel “ boat paddle” stocks and have them on most of my Rugers. Including my 375 and 416 Rugers. It’s no problem adding a thicker recoiled pad if desired, but here in Alaska one typically has on a few layers of clothing and their is nothing wrong with the hocky puck hard original pad.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Campfire Regular
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Love my boat paddle in 30-06. Would be a buyer if anyone is selling in any caliber. Bulletfarm in Soldotna has one for sale ....338 WM. There was also one in 300 WM for awhile, but it recently sold.
The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.
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Campfire Tracker
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I will ad that the term boat paddle stock is a misnomer. They make terrible paddles ! And damned poor wading staffs too. Moving water catches in the center of the I beam construction and disrupts the flow. A good wood stock makes a better paddle
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,111
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always wanted one in 30-06 with iron sights. they seem as rare as hens teeth, so I found a takeoff stock and plan to buy a guide gun to put in it someday.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 49
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2018
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always wanted one in 30-06 with iron sights. they seem as rare as hens teeth, so I found a takeoff stock and plan to buy a guide gun to put in it someday. Same, I missed a couple and I'm still kicking myself.
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New Member
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New Member
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I absolutely love my .308 ruger zytel boat paddle . on the bike ,in the boat ,on my back , just perfection to me .
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I will ad that the term boat paddle stock is a misnomer. They make terrible paddles ! And damned poor wading staffs too. Moving water catches in the center of the I beam construction and disrupts the flow. A good wood stock makes a better paddle I wonder if a hole saw with 2 or 3 holes through the thin spot of the stock would help?
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
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My old neighbor bought one to kill a Buffalo on Ted Turners ranch in New Mexico. He shot it (338) and the narrow pad hurt him. He gave it to me for $200. I didn't like the recoil either so i sold it to another buddy who also hates it. I have no idea what became of it . My buddy shot his Bison with his bow
NRA Benefactor Member
Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Limbsaver recoil pad makes a world of difference. There must be other brands that work.
2 b 1 ask 1 !
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Campfire Tracker
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Picked a 300 winny up when I lived in AK. Planned on a custom using the action. Moved back to MI and now I haven't done anything with it in the past 11 years.
I always thought they were ugly.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,211 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,211 Likes: 9 |
Yeah they a tad ugly. But those who love’em, love’em. They are tough.
I’m not a fan. Didn’t find them comfortable, even added a recoil pad. Never was able to warm up to them.
So, those stocks do sell well on eBay. One can recoup one’s investment pretty well.
I got a Boyd Classic, removed a bunch of material including the cheek piece, hollowed out the butt stock to get weight down. I like it much better.
And the boat paddle bought a lot more than the Boyd Classic cost. So win, win, at least for me.
DF
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I think everyone I’ve ran into here in AK with one, it was either .30-06 or .300 WM. There was a guy with one at the range 2 weeks ago that had the iron sights on it in .30-06. He said it was the first gun he ever bought and he said he thought he paid $800 for it new in the 90’s. He had a Leupold scope on it. So maybe he was talking total price with scope. I told him the .300 WM Hawkeye I got in 2018 was only $600 new.
They are a rifle that seemed to be loved or hated, depending on the area. I lived in MT for 3 years and they were pretty popular there as well at the time.
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Campfire Tracker
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Limbsaver recoil pad makes a world of difference. There must be other brands that work. Most any pad will fit, the only problem for some is that it makes the stock too long. I have cut the stock and built up the thinner inner I beam with Devcon and added a decelerator recoiled pad.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,211 Likes: 9 |
Limbsaver recoil pad makes a world of difference. There must be other brands that work. Most any pad will fit, the only problem for some is that it makes the stock too long. I have cut the stock and built up the thinner inner I beam with Devcon and added a decelerator recoiled pad. That was the issue with me. Instead of sticking with it like you did, solving the long LOP, I moved it. DF
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,316 Likes: 9
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,316 Likes: 9 |
A stiff stock stock without give, a narrow pad that has indeed become harder with age, makes my SS boat paddle 7-08 recoil feel like a 30-06.
I don’t want to molest it though, so at the range the sissy pad is used…..
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
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Campfire Tracker
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I was told that the zytel I beam stock was a personal favorite of Bill Ruger. They are amazingly tough, lightweight and well balanced. I do like them on my 416 and 375 Ruger stainless carbines, as well as on my MkII that Bill Atkinson converted from a .338 to the 375 H&H for Ruger quite a few years before they came out with their own 375. The canoe paddle stocks may give the Ruger rifles all the aesthetic charms of a chainsaw, but they make them just as useful ! They are light, lively and lethal.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
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New Member
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New Member
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The canoe paddle stocks may give the Ruger rifles all the aesthetic charms of a chainsaw, but they make them just as useful ! They are light, lively and lethal. I managed to get a hold of one for my .375 Ruger Alaskan some years ago and being a logger, the comment above is exactly how I think of mine.
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Campfire Tracker
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Have a couple, a 22LR and a 22Mag I'm thinking of selling. I know, should be sharing in the classifieds but there seems to be some fans here.
Eagles may soar, but a weasel never got sucked into a jet turbine!
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2 |
Just had the "pleasure" of verifying zero on a couple in 338WM a week or so ago. Had several larger rounds in wood stocked rifles to verify at the same time. The Rugers proved memorable...
A very low seat, set well forward produced a vertical presentation to recoil. It should have been nothing...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Posts: 1,125 Likes: 1
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Campfire Regular
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When these came out there was a stainless in 35 whelen. It sat for years in the gun store. I don't know why I didn't buy it Regrets
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,933 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,933 Likes: 5 |
Have had several 223, 22-350 and 308 they are truly an all weather setup, Alaska is not the only place that has crappy weather at times. Mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Posts: 175
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Campfire Member
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I've got two, both .22s, a .22WMR with sights and a .22 LR. I have an all weather .243 77 Mk. II which wears a plastic stock that's just a year or two post zytel. The zytel stocks are definitely tougher.
I always thought what made them ugly was the large "RUGER" with the logo on the side of the stock. If Ruger would've kept their name/logo small and on the pistol grip cap the design would've been a lot more attractive.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,211 Likes: 9 |
I always thought what made them ugly was the large "RUGER" with the logo on the side of the stock. If Ruger would've kept their name/logo small and on the pistol grip cap the design would've been a lot more attractive. Hey, if ya got it, may as well flaunt it... DF
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While I'm not in AK, never been to AK, probably won't get to AK.... I do like the M77 MK II stainless/zytel Rugers. Have had a bunch, from 223 Rem to 338 Win Mag. Sights, no sights... but the same trigger upgrade in all of them, a Timney. The ones I had with sights, though a good idea, I never had to use them. I sighted in with them, just never needed them. My moose gun for years was one in 338 Win Mag. Very minute of moose with my Barnes TSX 250gr handloads, 200 yard zero. Killed a bunch of WT deer and antelope with one in 243 Win. To me, they're a very nice all weather hunting rig. Down to just one now, a 30-06 stainless plain barrel. Like em, don't like em, use them, don't use them, all personal preference.
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
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My issue is that when I purchased my first Ruger boat paddle (260), I liked it so much I went and bought a long action (270), put it in the safe and there it has been 18-20 years later. All I need is a 6.5 caliber. I will put it in the classifieds as soon as the value raises again.
I like testing the waters in Alaska where a rifle is a tool and not furniture.
2 b 1 ask 1 !
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