rifle choice for Alaska hunts.

[KINGSNAKE]

I'm in the process of trying to decide on a rifle for am up coming Ak hunt. I'm going with a 300 wsm. I already have all the reloading components. I just need a rifle. I'm trying to decide between a Winchester 70 extreme weather. Savage 16 weather warrior, Kimber montana or possibly a Browning x bolt. I'm pretty sure I don't want the remington xcr ii because of the bad press Remington has been getting. I'm wanting a very accurate rifle that will be very weather resistant. Thanks.

 

[luke moffat]

Of the ones listed I would go with the Winchester EW if set on that caliber....but thats just me. If going with a 308 or 30-06 case platform then I'd say Kimber Montana. But I don't think the Kimbers are that light or svelt due to it being on the 8400 action instead of the 84L or 84M platform.

 

[Stid2677]

I have had good luck with a couple Winchester EWs, I have a 325WSM and a 270WSM, both have served me well. Also have a couple Kimbers and both of them are great rifles too,, dealers choice.

Here is a thread on the 325WSM...

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com...Winchester-Model-70-Extreme-Weather-SS-325WSM

 

[KINGSNAKE]

How did the finish hold up on the bear hunt in salt water?

 

[Stid2677]

How did the finish hold up on the bear hunt in salt water?

Better than most "so called stainless" I have not found anything that is not coated with some sort of high speed coating to not rust around the salt. The Extreme Weather has been the best of the lot in my experience.

 

[Screamrider]

I have a 300 WSM x-bolt stainless stalker and absolutely love it. Once in a while I get the bug for a nice custom rifle, but then I go to the range and see it shoot 0.5 MOA groups with factory ammo, and give my head a shake. I can't say a bad thing about it.

I just had a brake installed so I can enjoy shooting it even more. Recoil really wasn't an issue, but it was impossible to spot shots with the muzzle jump due to the light weight.

 

[Kay9Cop]

What about the Montana Rifle Co XWR?

 

[AK Troutbum]

My vote would go to the Kimber Montana but that's probably just due to the fact that that's currently my favorite go to rifle. Oh, it's also in .300 wsm.

 

[Rucker61]

I bought a plain jane Tikka T3 on sale, and with the difference between the stainless Superlight price and what I paid I was able to get a Mini Mag Muscle brake installed, and have the barrel and action cerakoted. It's plenty accurate, too.

 

[KINGSNAKE]

I'm done with muzzle brakes on my hunting rifles. I forgot too many time to put my ear plugs in during the heat of the moment and I really believe I lost hearing at age 30. I know they shoot smooth but I guess putting in ear plugs on a hunt is too hard for me.

 

[bergnp]

I'm done with muzzle brakes on my hunting rifles. I forgot too many time to put my ear plugs in during the heat of the moment and I really believe I lost hearing at age 30. I know they shoot smooth but I guess putting in ear plugs on a hunt is too hard for me.

Muzzle brakes are great for snipers. For hunting and general bench shooting, they're horrible. If a person needs a brake, they need a smaller cartridge rifle. Or to man up. Granted the biggest rifle I've ever shot is only a 460 weatherby, but I've never felt hard recoil yet.

I just bought a tikka t3 lite stainless in 300 wsm and its lights out accurate and a real pleasure to shoot.

 

[GKPrice]

Of the ones listed I would go with the Winchester EW if set on that caliber....but thats just me. If going with a 308 or 30-06 case platform then I'd say Kimber Montana. But I don't think the Kimbers are that light or svelt due to it being on the 8400 action instead of the 84L or 84M platform.

the 8400 Montana definitely is not an 84L or 84M but still a reasonably svelte rifle in the hands, right at the 6lb 3oz or so mark - If an "Alaska" rifle why not a 325 WSM ? the world is your oyster on good rifles these days and Stid2677 is correct on "Stainless", it WILL rust if not coated and it won't take long

 

[Brandon Pattison]

No 338s?

 

[GKPrice]

Muzzle brakes are great for snipers. For hunting and general bench shooting, they're horrible. If a person needs a brake, they need a smaller cartridge rifle. Or to man up. Granted the biggest rifle I've ever shot is only a 460 weatherby, but I've never felt hard recoil yet.

I just bought a tikka t3 lite stainless in 300 wsm and its lights out accurate and a real pleasure to shoot.

I know I've mentioned this on other threads so I'll be quick about it ... there is a gunsmith here in Eugene OR who patented a muzzle brake design, several models actually, they are no more expensive than any other "good" brake EXCEPT that the blast is really no worse than a non-braked rifle - I've had quite a few on rifles of mine and I've guided many a friend or customer to him and they've all been more than happy with his product, service and price - Richard Buss 541 349 1290

 

[GKPrice]

No 338s?

JUST what I was thinking ...... a Kimber Montana 84L 338-06 would make a mighty fine "Alaska hunter"

 

[tstowater]

I'm with Brandon. I took my 300WSM in a Model 70 Classic SS on my sheep hunt. It will rust if you don't care of it, period. Next time, I would probably take the 338 especially if moose or bears on the target list. Its in a Model 70 Classic SS also. Just my .02.

 

[AXEL]

I have never hunted in AK, just drank American beer (bleh) and bourbon (yeah!) in Hyder, more than 40 years ago. Great times, really nice people and a friendly, family pub, as we call taverns, hope to return some day.....

However, I have spent much time, alone in the mountains hard by the BC-AK border, from 1972 to 2009 and I have a LOT of rifles/cartridges to choose from.

My first, second, third choice is a tested, tuned, CRF .338WM-250 premium bullets pushing 2800 fps-mv. I would prefer two, one of my Dakota 76s and my custom Classic STS-70 with Talley QDs, ghost and post irons and Micky handle, the Dakota I would take is equipped much the same. I prefer Leupy 1.75x6 MHD scopes for my .338s.

If, I did not have my .338s, (ghastly thot!), I would use one or two of my Brno ZG-47 rifles in 9.3x62 and am building one on one of these superb actions with a STS barrel to carry instead of my custom carbine P-64-.375H&H.

After 50+ years packing rifles in some very remote Grizzly country and often alone with no assistance in case of injury, I really prefer a "bigger hammer", YMMV.

 

[VernAK]

stainLESS ........not stainFREE.......nor stainPROOF........"less" being the key word here.

Having had several of the rifles mentioned, I'd opt for the Kimber also.....my 8400 300 WSM was an early one and it has been absolutely reliable and accurate with no tuning or pampering. It gets loaned out a couple times a year and has accounted for numerous moose, caribou, bears and a dall sheep.....all with factory 180 TSX.

Having said that, I usually loan it out as I'm packing an 84M or 84L. Both of those are so nice to carry that I seldom install a sling.

 

[Yellowknife]

I never know what to think of these threads. On the one hand, the majority of reply's will nearly always be from people who have little or no experience hunting in Alaska..... on the other hand there isn't anything magical about being north of 60, and guns will function and shoot pretty much like they do in the L48.

Anyway, I'm sure that any one of those choices will work. Just like most of the western US, the average gun here is a Remington 700 in either .300 or 30-06, but virtually everything else is used too and most work fine. I'd probably pick the Winchester from those choices, and I'm not a Savage fan... but that is strictly personal preference. Better than a shiny new rifle is probably one that you have used for years and know works.

And since this thread has already drifted over to calibers (as all "Alaska Gun" threads do).... out of curiosity I recently reviewed my hunting logs going back to 2006, which was when I started writing stuff down. I've hunted with a pretty wide variety of partners in that time, and in several different corners of Alaska. I generally recorded the calibers that were actually used to take big game for each trip, and for what it's worth in the last 9 years:

12 ga..........1
45-70..........1
.270............1
7mm RM......3
.300 WM......3
.375 H&H.....4
30-06.........26!

I knew that the 30-06 was used quite a bit, but until I added it up, I didn't realize just how much. I know I carried 5 different rifles in those 9 seasons, 3 of which were magnums, but again the 30-06 has gotten the most play. I'm not pushing any caliber here at all since I like them all... but let's just say I think your .300 WSM should be fine for whatever you might be hunting.

Yk

 

[KINGSNAKE]

I currently own a 338 06 Cooper model 52. It has a blued action and stainless barrel. Im not sure i want to cerikot it. I just not sure how durable the coating will be and im hesitant to do that to a Cooper. The gun is at Cooper right now and they can Cerikote it for me, but at the expense I thought why not just buy another rifle. Regardless of weather I coat the Cooper, I am still committed to a 300 wsm. Why because you can never have too many rifles. There is no such thing.