Hunting & Fishing Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

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#1
I am looking to build a super accurate Alaskan hunting rig and need a little advice. I want something versatile enough to take wolf,caribou,elk,moose,black bear, and the kodiak bear. Also need something big enough to feel comfortable knowing that big bear is looking at me when I am skinning my moose or elk. :)

My only requirements are that I want to use an accurate bullet with a good BC and be able to shoot to a potential 750 yards or so at the random wolf.

I am thinking about a nosler accubond or something like that. Accurate hunting bullets with a fairly good BC. Thanks guys and happy holidays.

Jake
 
#2
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

With those requirements, I'd go 338 Win Mag or 338 Rum.

Some guys may tell you to choose something more exotic, but remember, luggage gets lost. Good luck finding some 338 Edge ammo in a pinch if the airline loses your bad with ammo in it.

375 would be great for bear and moose, but you're not getting to 750 with it. I wouldn't go into griz territory with a 300 unless I had to.
 
#6
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

of course there is elk in alaska. I think it is true that president roosevelt went hunting ever year in alaska for elk and they are now name the roosevelt elk herd. I think!!!I could use the gun for any hunting I will ever do. I just want to make sure it will work for alaska. If it will work up there I know it will work down here in the states.
 
#7
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Well I think, but will research it, but the Roosevelt elk are on vancouver island in Canada. Not in Alaska. Your right about if you can use it in Alaska you can use it in lower 48. I agree with Jasonk on the all around rifle to do that range of hunting is the 338 win. or 338rum., But! My alaska set up is a 300wsm, shooting 168gr barnes tip triple shock 66gr H4350. then if you are going to hunt brown bear take 375.
 
#8
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

I stand corrected there are Roosevelt elk in Alaska on Afognak Island. there are also elk on game ranches in alaska. Looks like I missed that one
 
#9
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Yeah I probably could have said somethng earlier but my uncle lives on kodiak island and has another home on the fog island and take Roosevelt almost every year. He has a 338 win mag so I might go with that. Or a RUM. The rum might allow kr to run a shorter barrel and get the same velocity as the WM
 
#10
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Go with the .338. Either win mag or Rum. A .375 is a fine round especially for backing up bear hunting clients but if you want to be able to stretch it out and have more versatility go with the .338. Yes, he is right. There are some elk in AK. Not up my way but they're here. Do you know what your going to build it on yet?
 
#11
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jcvibby</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am looking to build a super accurate Alaskan hunting rig and need a little advice. I want something versatile enough to take wolf,caribou,elk,moose,black bear, and the kodiak bear. Also need something big enough to feel comfortable knowing that big bear is looking at me when I am skinning my moose or elk. :)

My only requirements are that I want to use an accurate bullet with a good BC and be able to shoot to a potential 750 yards or so at the random wolf.

I am thinking about a nosler accubond or something like that. Accurate hunting bullets with a fairly good BC. Thanks guys and happy holidays.

Jake </div></div>

308 or 7mm.08 will do everything you ask to include bears. Natives in the bush have two rounds they use for everything but walrus and seals, 243win and 30.30win and they kill a lot of game. Not to start something but why are you taking 750 yard shots? When hungry and on the move, they can be called right up next to your truck. If they are not hungry and on the move, you will never see them.

A big ole coastal brownie is not all that tuff to fell if using a good bullet and hit in the kill spot. Saying that you do not want a wounded bear hunkered down in a thicket roaring and ripping shrubs out of the ground. Interior brownies commonly called grizzly are not that big on average.

338 would be a good choice though.

In the bush, you will find 06, 338win, 30.30win, 243win on the shelves.

Yes we do have elk. We also have turkeys.

Are you moving or just planning on hunting here?
 
#13
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

I came from Alaska, now in MT, get a good ole 300win which is more than enough gun for everything up in AK and ammo is available in a bind! JMO and what I would get if I were you! Good luck up there!
 
#14
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

I lived there for 6 years, a .300 win mag is all you need, 338 or 375 is ridiculous to have. I've even seen people taken moose with a .308

Imagine what a .338mag would do to the thin sknned caribou. LOL
 
#15
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Good points everyone. The long shot would happen on wolves. I was thinking about the 300 wm as well. I here about have say 300 and half say 338. The 338 seems to have good bullets and real good bc's.

Don't have an action yet. I am a lefty so wanted to make sure of everything before I start. Probably a rem 700 but I would really like a custom 700 clone like stiller or Lawton etc.

I have family in alaska
 
#16
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

for the rest a 270 or 30'06 weill do fine. Moose are relitavely easy to kill, I've killed 8 with a 4 in 357 using 158 grn SWC.

I dont know about 750 yards because I wouldnt consider shooting game at that range.

Big Bears, I'd go with a 375 H&H, the are extremely accurate and will shoot as far and flat as any '06 but with heavier bullets.

I spent 22 years in Alaska, I'd take the 375 when I went deer hunting for those little Sitka Blacktails. The bullets didn't open up enough on those little critters yet if I had a rifle capable of handling the situation if some Brownie disided to contest the owner ship.

JMHO
 
#17
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Not going to shoot wolves with it at 750 yards (why?) but a pretty good all around rifle for 300-400yds and in work is the .338-06 (180grn to 250gr bullets). I've been researching this round fanatically for the last month. Alaska fish and game website site says the .30-06 with partitions is big enough for everything up there and the big magnums are not needed. You just have to shoot what you have well.
 
#20
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

A buddy of mine just got back from a moose hunt in Alaska. He studied on the same topic before heading up. He used a Tikka in 300 WSM.
 
#21
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

I too am planning a build for Alaska (and the larger game elsewhere). While any of the 300s would probably be adequate, I have other rifles in 30 caliber and less, so have decided on the .338 win mag with a short stiff 20-inch barrel and handy stock (haven't decided which stock yet). I know many will say that I am hamstringing the .338wm with such a short barrel, and that is true. However, I dont plan on taking 750 yd shots. This build will be for close and mid range shots at large game, and should give me piece of mind when in big bear territory. The best custom barrels are faster than factory barrels and with the right bullet and powder combination I think I can milk as much velocity as possible out of the short barrel. Coupled with a BDC scope, rangefinder, and lots of practice with the set up, I dont think I will be hindered a great deal with the short barrel -- and oh how handy a compact rifle would be! Keep in mind that I am not going to build a super light rifle, just one with a short barrel,handy stock, and low profile scope. I am also a rather large man (6 feet and 250 lbs) and have no problem shooting a large caliber accurately. I am convinced this will work for me, but it may not be for everyone. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
#22
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

For consideration....

375 H&H: one rifle - one planet.

Modest velocites, high sectional densities, and large bullet selection. Minimum cartridge allowed for hunting DG in many African countries. Is a Bear as dangerous as a Leopard?... What if it is wounded/injured, or things go wrong?

But since you said 750 yards and 375 H&H will only reach to 700
wink.gif
, run a 375 WBY reamer in to get that last 50 yards?...

My first bolt gun was M70 243 Win (1977), the second was an M77RS in 338WM (~1989), and both got a lot of use. While I am still a big fan of 338WM, I think the 375 is better. With comparable weight/style bullets, it shoots right there with the 338WM on trajectory, and you have more options. 220 FPs for up to deer size and "plinking"; 250-300 gn "take your pick" for large game.

Were I to hunt AK (or Africa) I'd try to take both (2 is 1 and 1 is none), but the M77RS would stay in the case and the M70 375 H&H SS Classic would be in my hands. Same thing I did in CO a few years ago....

Cheers,

Bill
 
#23
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

I've been to Alaska once to hunt moose so I'm basing what I write on that one experience. Got a 61" (26 points) moose down around Pilot Point.

I was shooting a 338WM. Conditions there were a LOT worse than anything I'd ever seen - and for Alaska it was probably a mild day. The matte bluing on my Remington rusted instantly and has never recovered. Fortunately my bore did not suffer the same fate. My advice to you is be practiCOOL, not tactiCOOL. Travel as light as possible (even at 10lbs my rifle felt like a ton after humpin' around that terrain all day). And buy something where the ammo doesn't cost $150 a box. It's Alaska and Alaska is all about what works, not what's trendy.

I was within 40 yards of the moose and the brush was so high I had to do an offhand shot standing on my tiptoes. All I could really see was the hump over his shoulders and those big antlers. I was shooting factory Federal 250grs (can't remember the bullet manufacturer). Took three rounds to convince him to lay down although he was probably dead on his feet after the first round. I was able to recover one mushroomed bullet. We were close to water and the guide did NOT want him getting to the water, hence the two breakdown shots.

Also, in my experience, gore-tex did not work. I was wearing a 2nd generation ECWS shell with wool shirts and polarmax undies and that shell got saturated and man was I cold. It was just like having a wetsuit on. Plus, the shell wicked moisture (just like a canvas tent will do if you touch it when it's raining) so the wool got wet. I borrowed the guide's spare hellyhansen 3/4 length rubber raincoat the next day and was GTG.
 
#25
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Try the new .375 Ruger. It improves upon the H&H (more velocity I think, but less recoil. I don't know how but that's how it is). That round will pass right through deer, elk, wolf, sheep and caribou. The moose I shot with my .375 H&H went through and through, I used 300gr Nozler Partitions. I'll be using it this April on Kodiak. Just an FYI most Alaskan's consider .338 cal the ABSOLUTE MAX to be used on game up here. Most people go with a .30 cal variant. They're not that tough up here, just big. I personally use a .308 with a 20" barrel and I've taken everything up to moose including buffalo and elk.
 
#26
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Right on ArcticFun.
The 30 cals will do most anything you ask them to do. I like the 300 win mag shooting anything 180gr and up. I can't count the people that come up here and buy a 338 win mag and then only shoot them once a year 'cause it kicks the absolute dogshit out of them.
I run a 375 H&H that is a dream to shoot and if I bump into a Brownie I got lots of horsepower. You can stoke up a 235 gr Barnes TSX to 2900-3000 fps no problem.
No offense to anyone here but if someone gave me a 338 win mag I'd sell it and buy a 300 win mag. Much more versatile and ammo is easy to find if you don't reload.
 
#29
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

any of the bigger rounds are good. I like a 375 Rum. Using the accubond bullets the longer range shots are easy.
 
#30
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

A 30-06 bolt gun, with a 10-twist bbl and decent neck clearance should be all you need to meet the criteria of accuracy, versatility, shootability, ammo availablility, and power with the heavier bullets.

Why buy a rifle that's difficult to sight-in from a bench and a pain in the wallet and the shoulder if you shoot it more than once? The trouble with the magnums is that most people don't spend enough time behind them to get really good with them.
 
#32
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

The .300 is the best all around cartridge for Alaska with the exception of large coastal brown bears. Most bear outfitters would suggest .338 or .375. However, a .300 will stop a brownie and I can't see shooting a wolf with a .338, so go with the .300 and post some pics when you return.
 
#34
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Old, capable, perhaps the perfect implement for larger game, I don't own one but wish I did.

The .35 Whelen.

225gr Accu-Bond Spitzer

Technical Information

Muzzle Velocity:2800 fps
Muzzle Energy: 3917 ft. lbs

Greg
 
#36
Re: Advice on an Alaska Gun!! 338,300,375?????

Allow me to throw a monkey wrench into the works. Of course my recommendation is not one of the listed choices. Not that I have anything against them, they are all fine choices. The only draw back to my suggested cartridge is you either have to hand load, or pay through the nose to buy A-Square. This cartridge is the .358 Shooting Times Alaskan (.358 STA)I have a Remington 700 BDL with a 26" Lilja stainless barrel. Ihave shot consistantly under 1 MOA at 100 yards with my load of RL19 225 grain Nosler partittion MV is 3128 fps wiht a SD of 7.14. In my opinion it is a fantastic cartridge , that is more than capable of meeting your requirements. Barnes X-bullet 225 grainers have a BC of .405. With the proper scope a 750 yard shot should be quite reasonable. This is of course just my 2 cents. If anyone else has any experience with this cartridge , please chime in.

Mike
 
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