Just want to get some ideas for this combo coming up in Alaska this fall. I would clearly bring my .270Win for the sheep but if the oppportunity arrises for the bear, its a might light. I don't want to carry a 300WM or 338WM due to the weight. I am wondering aloud here if the 30-06 with a couple of different bullets wouldn't be an adequate compromise?
Say 165 BT's for sheep and 180TSX's for the bear? This will be a typical rugged Chugach Mt. hunt. The sheep is my primary goal and the bear would be incidental.
What are your thoughts out there?

If you already have an '06, why not use the 180TSX for both? I don't get the point of swapping bullets based on the target...

You can't kill a sheep with a 180TSX?

I'd love to do that hunt with a Kimber Montana in 300wsm...

I agree with DavidAk311.The 180 grain Barnes TSX should work great from the 06.Myself i perfer a bullet with a bit more diameter for the big bears but each to there own.

Dave,
I picked two bullets as the sheep may be "out there" while the bear is less than 200 yards. Maybe the 180TSX is a good compromise.
7STW,
I too would want more frontal diameter but this is primarily a sheep hunt so I think my .338WM will stay home.

Just trying to solicit some feedback here - not trying to start any fires or get anyones shorts in a bundle. Two rifles are not an option.

I'd go with the 180's as an all around round. My wife nailed her caribou at over 200yards with her 180gr failsafes and I wouldnt hesitate to use these rounds for the big bear.

Biz,

I took a .270 with 140g Btips and A-Frames for that exact hunt last time. Next year I am taking a .300WSM with 168g TSXs with the bears in mind.

If you have the 06 allready take it with the 180 tsx, if your planning on buying something I would have to agree with the rest 300 wsm or shamu with 168 or 180 gr tsx. Best of both worlds good long range trajectory and enough thump . The way the tsx penetrate you'll be fine with either.

I would take the lightest rifle; the 270, 30-06, whatever is lightest. A TSX from a 270 will work just fine on a bear, particularly with a back-up...

Art, so if I was in Bizzy's shoes with the same kind of hunt...I could get by with 300RUM and 180 TSX's...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

bizymocha,

I have taken a Weatherby Mark V 270(6 1/2lbs , a 7mm Tikka (6 1/2lbs) and this year I am taking a Tikka T3 Lite in 300Wm (6 1/2 lbs). Any of the calibers listed will work fine. I am now using the 300 WM because it will reach out farther with equal ballistics with a larger bullet than a 270 or 7mm and also has the appropriate knockdown power. I have run into numerous bears in close quarters while sheep hunting and have never had a bad situation develop, give the bears the space needed and they will most likely do the same. If they dont , dont stop shooting whatever youv'e got!

Let me know when, maybe I'll let you shoot it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Is that a Taurus Titanium?

Carrying two loads is a recipe for having the wrong bullet in the gun at the wrong time, or confusing the trajectories of the loads. Know the trajectory of the load by shooting it at all ranges.

Also sheep can be tough mofo's, so a 180 tsx is not too much bullet, though a bt might be too little bullet.

Sweet Kimber Matt. PM sent.

Two sheep killed in the Chugach (37" and 39") with 30'06 165 BTs one at 90 yards and one at 225, Rem 700 Mt 6X42 Mil Dot. But carried 220 Noslers until on a sheep stalk, and especially after. Since you are traveling from Minnisota I would guess a guide/next of kin will have a big gun, correct?

No, 34oz. stainless tracker.

Biz,

DO listen to Art and take a light rifle. The .270 I humped over what seemed like half of the Yukon was over 10 lbs, too much over. I think it might have been a week after I got back I started working on putting together the .300--it is just a shade over 7lbs.

Thanks so far to all with their input. Ironbender has a similar topic going up in the big game section - I think.
What I now plan to do is to purchase another Kimber Montana in 300WSM. I should give the 168gr TSX's a handloading workout. If they aren't accurate enough, than I think I'll go to 180gr. Partitons. I understand the possible confusion with two bullet weights. This will be my 4th trip to the greatest State in the US and yes the guide will be armed. I'll put a 2.5-8x36 Leupy on it and carry it in my Eberlestock back pack.
I will be putting a couple of nearly new Rugers on the Classified Section to add a few bucks to the checkbook. Kimbers aren't cheap. That combo will be 7#'s even.
I welcome more input as it is fun to see what people are thinking.

IMO, the Montana 300wsm flingin' 168's will be kickass........

Bizy, PM me 'bout these aforementioned Rugers.....

You have been PM'd.

Have you guy's had any problem with feeding in the Montana?
Just picked up one in 300wsm,and it doesn't feed worth a darn.Sent it back to Kimber,see what happens.Will be toppin her with a Mark 4 4.5x14x40 and shooting either Kodiak 180's
or Scirocco 180's,both have excellent coefficiancy and better in the wind.COUES

Since the bear is incidental only I would stay with the 270 and load it as hot as possible with a premium bullet like the TSX. Why compromise, carry more weight and not have the ideal gun for either situation? The 270 will work on a bear and you will have a guide. I would not even think twice about choosing the 270 when it fits your primary function to a T and you may not even see a bear.

I'm going on a caribou/grizzly hunt this Fall, with the griz being incidental. I'm also trying to decide what to take, among my collections of 300 magnums, but the rifle that I have grown the fondest of is the NULA in .30-06 with it's penchant for sub MOA groups with the Federal loading of the 180gr Barnes Triple Shock. I have some work to do with the 300's (have two .300 win mags, and one .300 RUM) as far as load development, before I decide; but that 6.5lb .30-06 with the Leupy with B&C reticle has my confidence.
Don

For me the '06 is about where my fondness for lite weight mountain rifles peaks. Plus I think it's the ideal all around caliber due to the vast bullet weight it will handle well.
If anyone comes across a SUCKS KS MTN rifle in 30-06 Please drop me a pm.

When I hunted Alaska for sheep and grizzly, I carried a 8.5 lb. 300 Win. Mag. loaded with 180 gr. Nosler Partitions, and it worked very well, but it was a bit too heavy to carry strapped to a backpack and carried day-in and day-out.

Today, I'd certainly go with a lighter rifle, and I really don't think you could do much better than a Kimber 8400 Montana in 300 WSM. Load 180 Partition spitzers or similar, and you've got the best of everything in one package. Perfect from sheep and grizzly, although the same rifle in 325 WSM certainly deserves a hard look as well.........

AD

I can't argue with the Kimber Montana, but if you only want to sell one Ruger and have a very lightweight stainless synthetic tack driver, you might consider a Tikka T3. I can't say enough about mine in 270 Win that I shot all last season, and the 223 I picked up the other day shot 55 grain Ultramax SP reman's under an inch during break in and sight in yesterday. I had four shots well under .5 moa, and think the other was me, and this was with the first ten rounds through her. Just a thought on another option for a really good shooting rifle, especially for the money.

Only downside off the top of my head on the Tikka is that if you go 300 WSM, you will have the same length action as a 300 Win Mag since Tikka uses the same length on their long and short action cartidges. This was actually a plus for me in my 223 since I wanted it identical to my 270 for practice and familiarity.

DJ

Boy, if that Kimber was ever offered in LH, I'd have an excuse to buy another rifle.
DB

I can't even find a listing for a kimber Montana in 300 WSM on the kimber web site. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

It is such a killing machine Kimber is madated to keep it secret in the name of game conservation. You must apply direct to the factory and undergo an extensive application before they will consider you for adoption of such a rifle. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

from my experience hunting grizzly, it would take a 338 or larger to do the job... I shot a 6 1/2 foot black bear in the fall of 04 with 300 ultra mag... which was plenty of gun!!!! I am going to alaska for Grizzly in May and for sheep in Aug. I am taking a 338 ultra mag for the grizzly and a 270 whetherby mag for sheep. Hope this helps!!!!!

Stetson, they are Model 8400s. Try Jays or Cabelas.

Threads like this are tough on my Visa card...I just ordered the Montana in 300wsm....

Couldn't resist....<grin>

I found a couple on GA yesterday. Average seems about $1100. One nice feature over the SUCKS is the safety and they are about the same price. If only it came in a long action. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I figured you'd break pretty easy...