Who here hunts alaska!?

[Tristan]

Alaska hunter myself what rifle calibers are your fave for what Alaskan animals and when might you have wished you brought something different?

I am currently building an ultra lite 7mm-08 for alpine and sheep hunting, and a couple Oldschool Mausers with super modern materials for some guides, what are you guys up to?

 

[Swamplord]

300 RUM with Barnes 190 gr LRX bullets

June 8, 2022 11:30 pm
this mooseling muncher had his last fight

....

 

[hodgeman]

I've done most of my Alaska hunts with a 300WSM or 300WM and it never left me wanting something different. A little caribou hunting with a .308/7-08/6.5CM in lightweights that worked great.

I've had a slew of big boomers but did relatively little with them in the field.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

375HH

 

[Theringworm]

.28 Nosler and .375 H&H…….. I wouldn’t bring anything different

 

[AkMtnRunner]

375 Ruger with 250 ttsx or 300 A frame, 308 with 130 ttsx, and the 338 wm with 225 ttsx. In the process of putting a 33 Nosler together.

I've come to like a 338 for open vegetation areas such as GMU 13, and the 375 for 14, or the 308 for an ultralight system. All perform well in short to medium length barrels.

 

[ldmay375]

I only hunt moose, and it is in areas where the shots will be 225 yards maximum and usually much closer.
I have used the 338 Winchester with 225 grain TSX, 375 Ruger with 270 grain TSX, and 416 Ruger with 350 grain TSX. No complaints nor regrets. This year, I hope to use my 458 Lott with 404 grain Hammer Bullets Shock Hammer.
The 338 Winchester would be my pick of the do-all-cartridge. Most likely loaded with a Barnes 225 grain TTSX.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

375 Ruger with 270 grain TSX, and 416 Ruger with 350 grain TSX

I'd like to hear your thoughts how these two compare for moose. Is that 416 with the 350 meaningfully more effective?

 

[z987k]

I'm putting together a 338, and we'll see how I actually like hunting with it. Traditionally I'll use a 264 or 308 cal rifle depending on the animal and how much I have to carry the rifle.
Normally I prize lightweight, light recoil, very accurate rifles over brute power.

I think what'll ultimately happen is an ultra light short barrel 7mm somewhere around the 7wsm/saum/280ai velocities/recoil for everything and if I don't have to hike anywhere, the 338 can come.

 

[MaraviaDave]

375 H&H - moose, brown bear
300 PRC - everything else

 

[ldmay375]

I'd like to hear your thoughts how these two compare for moose. Is that 416 with the 350 meaningfully more effective?

I am really not sure if it is more effective. I do think the visuals of bullet impact is a bit more with the 416 350 grain. My previous load was only 2360 fps in the 20" 416 Ruger. A mild but very accurate load. I am switching to the 350 TTSX merely for the extra 100 fps retained at 200 yards. I have chronographed the 350 TTSX at 2550 fps from the same rifle, different powder.

The 375 Ruger 270 TSX load was one grain under Barnes's maximum book load with H380. Again a very accurate load in more than one 375 Ruger. I have yet to chronograph it. But, from same 20" barrel rifle, the 270 LRX is averaging about 2720 fps.

The 375 Ruger and the 270 TSX was impressive to me. Penetration and wound channel was excellent. The 416 may give a bit more wound channel. Sometimes the forensic investigation is cut short due to darkness and rain.

I like trying different cartridges / rifles.
I have still never had a moose drop any faster or deader than one that I shot with a 338 Winchester & 225 TSX at about 150 yards. A chest shot, and instant down and lights out for him.

I absolutely luv the 20" 375 & 416 Rugers. I do think the 416 gives slightly more impressive visuals on the impact, in my limited observations. But, 6 for one and a half dozen for the other to me for anything in Alaska. I have only had / seen one moose fail to collapse at the shot with the 375 Ruger.
I hit him a bit lower in the chest than I intended. Distance was about 180 yards, depending on where I ranged a tree after the fact. He walked about 3 moose lengths, but I shot him twice more with steep to very steep angling shots. Penetration impressed me.

I guess if I were shooting over 200 yards the 375 Ruger would be my choice.
200 and under either or, I usually carry the 416. Real or imagined, I think it gives a slight advantage to the in-your-face encounters.

 

[z987k]

I am really not sure if it is more effective. I do think the visuals of bullet impact is a bit more with the 416 350 grain. My previous load was only 2360 fps in the 20" 416 Ruger. A mild but very accurate load. I am switching to the 350 TTSX merely for the extra 100 fps retained at 200 yards. I have chronographed the 350 TTSX at 2550 fps from the same rifle, different powder.

The 375 Ruger 270 TSX load was one grain under Barnes's maximum book load with H380. Again a very accurate load in more than one 375 Ruger. I have yet to chronograph it. But, from same 20" barrel rifle, the 270 LRX is averaging about 2720 fps.

The 375 Ruger and the 270 TSX was impressive to me. Penetration and wound channel was excellent. The 416 may give a bit more wound channel. Sometimes the forensic investigation is cut short due to darkness and rain.

I like trying different cartridges / rifles.
I have still never had a moose drop any faster or deader than one that I shot with a 338 Winchester & 225 TSX at about 150 yards. A chest shot, and instant down and lights out for him.

I absolutely luv the 20" 375 & 416 Rugers. I do think the 416 gives slightly more impressive visuals on the impact, in my limited observations. But, 6 for one and a half dozen for the other to me for anything in Alaska. I have only had / seen one moose fail to collapse at the shot with the 375 Ruger.
I hit him a bit lower in the chest than I intended. Distance was about 180 yards, depending on where I ranged a tree after the fact. He walked about 3 moose lengths, but I shot him twice more with steep to very steep angling shots. Penetration impressed me.

I guess if I were shooting over 200 yards the 375 Ruger would be my choice.
200 and under either or, I usually carry the 416. Real or imagined, I think it gives a slight advantage to the in-your-face encounters.

Where do you get brass for 375 Ruger? Haven't seen it anywhere.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

Thanks, Idmay375. I do like the 375 . . . my best experiences have been with the 250 ttsx from the muzzle at around 2800. But now that I am into the 338 game, I am looking at diversifying to the 416 for areas that would definitely be less than 200 yard shots.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Where do you get brass for 375 Ruger? Haven't seen it anywhere.

There’s only like one company making it. Awhile back there was a custom ammo outfit that would make it, you might look around and see if you can find who that is.

 

[AkRyan]

30cal magnums, 7mm-08, .308.
I've hunted with guys shooting the ultras and they tend to miss there target more than any others. I plan on using my .308 for moose and bear this year. Just have to "hunt" them and not spot them.

 

[ldmay375]

Where do you get brass for 375 Ruger? Haven't seen it anywhere.

As to the brass. I have not ordered any in a long time. I occasionally pick up a box or two locally. I ordered a substantial amount years ago.
Cyclic production and the demand for the highly popular smaller bore stuff probably is the cause for the lull in availability. I have experienced the same with 375 H&H, 416 Remington, and 458 Winchester, 458 Lott, etc in past years.

 

[wyosam]

280ai, 155AH at 3175.


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[ldmay375]

Alaska hunter myself what rifle calibers are your fave for what Alaskan animals and when might you have wished you brought something different?

I am currently building an ultra lite 7mm-08 for alpine and sheep hunting, and a couple Oldschool Mausers with super modern materials for some guides, what are you guys up to?

As to the up to portion :
I am trying to finish up some rifle and revolver projects.
Recently resumed another New Haven classic stainless 325 WSM. Sending it to the shop for a barrel trim to 22-1/2" ish. To get rid of the shark gill ports.
Have a Kimber Montana 325 WSM that I got back with a barrel trim to 22-1/4". Need to re-sight in.
Having the barrel on a Kimber Montana 338 Winchester trimmed to 23.5 / 23.25" range.
Have plans on re-boring / re-chambering a 30-06 to 35 Whelen. And a 375 H&H to 458 Lott.

Prior to my no-kill moose season:
I had been playing around with my current 458 Lotts with the Hammer Bullets 404 grain Shock Hammer and several other bullets in the 325 through 400 grain range. Time for the same with the 458 Winchesters.

I have quite a bit of hand loading to do for various rifle cartridges. Hopefully the winter cooperates for range time.