Moose/Elk/Caribou/Brown Bear Custom Rifle

[WesternWisconsin]

I'm looking to invest in a good custom gun. Given the amount of money I know it will cost I want the best all-around cartridge I can find. I'm looking to have it custom-built or customized. I've been looking at customizing a Weatherby, or Seekins Precision, or Lane Precision. Curious if anyone has any feedback on any of these? Also, if you'd recommend one cartridge to fit my needs, what would it be?

I already have a .338 lapua but the ammo is expensive and I just sent the gun back for repairs today. I'm likely going to sell it when I get back as I've lost my trust in it. I wouldn't mind getting a .338 again, but I'm curious about other cartridges as I know there are a lot of new ones out there. Definitely not stuck on .338.

 

[TradLife406]

6 UM, 22 Creed, 6 creed in that order.

Tikka

 

[a_noob_hunter]

Idc what ppl say im not taking a 6um for a brown bear hunt. I had a gun built last year for basically the exact same hunt, Alaskan moose/bear. .300 rum, Manners, bartlein steel, r700. Not the lightest and its not a t3x but im not going into brown bear country without it. Topped with an nx8 it ran me $4200.

 

[Sled]

Take the 338 to Alaska and get a flat shooting low recoil cartridge for everything else. I keep coming back to my lighter recoiling rifles with less expensive ammo in a Tikka action. Just a preference but I like the functionality of them and having more money for glass and ammo.

 

[338edge]

I have a LRKM in the 338 Terminator for bears etc and extreme long range. 7mmstw for everything else.

Corey

 

[z987k]

I'm looking to invest in a good custom gun. Given the amount of money I know it will cost I want the best all-around cartridge I can find. I'm looking to have it custom-built or customized. I've been looking at customizing a Weatherby, or Seekins Precision, or Lane Precision. Curious if anyone has any feedback on any of these? Also, if you'd recommend one cartridge to fit my needs, what would it be? I already have a .338 lapua but the ammo is expensive. I wouldn't mind getting a .338 again, but I'm curious about other cartridges as I know there are a lot of new ones out there.

If you're stuck on 338, get a 338 federal in a Kimber Montana and call it a day. Maybe thread for a suppressor if you like. Or if you really hate spotting your shots, the newish 338 RPM in a Backcountry Ti 2.0.
Otherwise, idk, 280ai is cool. So is 300 Ham'r in a gas gun.

If you really want one gun to fit all of your needs, it's boring, but it's a 308win shooting 150gr or so bullets does everything on your list just fine to all reasonalbe hunting distances.

 

[handwerk]

I'd buy a model 70 CRF donor rifle and then figure out the chambering and barrel you like and pick a good synthetic stock that fits you. Have a good smith do the work and you'll have the tool you need.

 

[eamyrick]

I'd buy a model 70 CRF donor rifle and then figure out the chambering and barrel you like and pick a good synthetic stock that fits you. Have a good smith do the work and you'll have the tool you need.

This. Brown Precision is building me a 30-06 right now off a 90s CRF Winchester Action, #2 Hart Barrel. I wouldn’t hesitate to take that rifle anywhere in the world.

 

[WesternWisconsin]

Idc what ppl say im not taking a 6um for a brown bear hunt. I had a gun built last year for basically the exact same hunt, Alaskan moose/bear. .300 rum, Manners, bartlein steel, r700. Not the lightest and its not a t3x but im not going into brown bear country without it. Topped with an nx8 it ran me $4200.View attachment 980439

Good looking gun. Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KU_Geo]

i’d grab either a 7mm PRC or 300WM, factory or custom as you see fit. For more “traditional” sporter, I prefer Win 70 or LAW 704 actions, steel barrel, and stock of choice. If your interested in more of a long range gun optimized for shooting prone, take your pick of modern actions and slap on your stock of choice. I’m really likely Peak 44 stocks currently.

 

[omicron1792]

Idc what ppl say im not taking a 6um for a brown bear hunt. I had a gun built last year for basically the exact same hunt, Alaskan moose/bear. .300 rum, Manners, bartlein steel, r700. Not the lightest and its not a t3x but im not going into brown bear country without it. Topped with an nx8 it ran me $4200.View attachment 980439

That’s the longest barrel I’ve ever seen with a suppressor. Well done.

 

[KHntr]

Idc what ppl say im not taking a 6um for a brown bear hunt. I had a gun built last year for basically the exact same hunt, Alaskan moose/bear. .300 rum, Manners, bartlein steel, r700. Not the lightest and its not a t3x but im not going into brown bear country without it. Topped with an nx8 it ran me $4200.View attachment 980439

I’ll say it….

That is the LAST thing I would wade into the alders with after a bear.

I 300 RUM’d a lotta critters. My latest grizzly rifle is a Kimber Montana 22 Creed with 88’s.

Bullets matter. Pick the bullet and impact velocity , then choose a cartridge that will achieve that.

 

[a_noob_hunter]

I’ll say it….

That is the LAST thing I would wade into the alders with after a bear.

I 300 RUM’d a lotta critters. My latest grizzly rifle is a Kimber Montana 22 Creed with 88’s.

Bullets matter. Pick the bullet and impact velocity , then choose a cartridge that will achieve that.

I don't disagree with you that bullets matter. Bullets are extremely important but I want something that if a bear is charging I'm not concerned about penetration. A 6um or 22 creed with a dtac would get the job done with a good shot opportunity but I wouldn't want one for if a bear is charging. Neither is a rum with match grade bullets great for shorter range.

To the op, find a bullet that performs how you want and then select a caliber from there. I went with a rum because they're things about it that I wanted. They're no shortage of options and opinions about what works.

 

[casey36]

I am a huge fan of big .338 cartridges. I use a left hand stainless Winchester M70 in .338 Jarrett. I dont feel that the Lapua does anything better than the Jarrett or the 340 Weatherby. Both can be had on a std. magnum length action with a mag bolt face. Brass is easy to come bye for the Weatherby, Jarrett has their own brass but you can make it from 8mm mag brass very easily. I have a 26" barrel and get 3128fps with a 225gr TTSX. The 338 RUM would als be a good choice for you. I would feel comfortable with my rifle and load on any game in North America.

 

[Luke S]

I can't imagine dragging a super long rifle with a suppresor around as a "do it all" rifle. It makes about as much sense as a 45-70 carbine, both are niche guns.

If you want a do it all rifle skip the exotic ammo, it's just a headache. If you want "bigger" than a 308 based cartridge I would get a 30-06. A handloaded 200 grain bullet will punch through a lot of bear if that is a concern. If you can shoot farther than a 6.5 CM, 308 or 30-06 will carry you are getting out of "do it all" into niche long range. If you think a 30-06 won't kill anything on this continent you should look at the 223 thread. My 308s have dropped 3 grizzlies to date all with 168 gr ELDMs and exits. A 30-06 with a heavy bullet will do that and more.

If I was spending custom rifle money I'd look for a 16 inch barrel, a suppresor and a bomb proof mid sized scope. I'd make it reasonably light so I could carry it easily. Mine would be a 308 or 6.5 Creedmore. That package will work fine for whitetail and anything including Alaska game and you'll actually use it. It might be a bit "boring" but your everyday 308 or 30-06 with a 3-9 scope is popular because it works.

Spend the custom money on a suppressor and making sure your "boring" rifle is accurate, totally reliable shootable. If you do it all right you'll have a rifle you can carry easily, shoot a lot, and that you'll be totally comfortable with. Don't try to re-invent the wheel.

Basically I just recreated my Ruger M77II except "better." Mostly a custom gun would be a bit lighter and maybe more accurate. I keep coming back to that because it just works.

 

[keystone112]

The heaviest I would go is a 300 PRC.

If your in Elk county more of the time, I’d probably look at the 280AI, 7mm PRC and the good old 30-06.

 

[rickyw]

Many good non custom options, but since part of all this is the fun of it, I’d look at a Semi custom model 70 or ruger m77 built around the 190tmk, 200eldx or 208 eldm. You could even put the Alaska arms extra capacity hinged floor plate on the ruger, holds 6 down. Sometimes those grizzlies take some shots to go down.

338-06 would also be cool

 

[Quandary]

You have a 338 for Brown Bear. The others on your list can be handle by a much loer recoiling caliber. You should look into 6.5PRC, 280AI, 7PRC. If you want to go custom give Travis Stevens at TS Customs a call. He is in Miller SD. Great young guy who has built a great shop with modern CNC machines. He will get you into something really nice.