Hunting rifle

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seanystrangle

Joined
Oct 1, 2009
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Sorry this maybe way off topic if so just close it and sorry.
But I'm looking for a light weight hunting rifle to take hunting in Alaska I'd be hunting like moose being the biggest but I'd also want it to help with oh shit bear encounters I was thinking 45-70 or 30-06 what can you all recommend?
Thanks in advance
 
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If there is a chance for bear encounters, then I would go no lighter than 300 Win Mag or 338. Do not forget to put a 44 mag on your hip as well.
 
Out of the two you mentioned, I would think you can't go wrong with the .45-70. For stuff that big you will need good penetrating rounds. I would look into Buffalo Bore ammo. They make some good stuff for the .45-70.


mlrs
 
I have a couple of uncles who guide in Alaska and they always tell me the same thing. Unless you can consistently hit a bouncing basketball coming at you quickly, you're better off with bear spray.

I'd recommend which ever rifle you're comfortable shooting. I use my 30.06 for everything from white tail to elk and one black bear.

Good luck on your trip.

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MHill said:
I have a couple of uncles who guide in Alaska and they always tell me the same thing. Unless you can consistently hit a bouncing basketball coming at you quickly, you're better off with bear spray.
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Walked into a gun store up in Wyoming, and asked the guy what he thought the best firearm, regardless of size, weight, or price, he would recommend for emergency defense against a bear attack.

He reached under the counter and pulled out a canister of bear spray.

Said that with a gun, unless your first shot is a direct kill shot, you're dead. But apparently bear spray has a very good real-use track record of just getting the bear the hell away from you.
 
Yep! I'd say bear spray as well. Studies have shown that a bear can be hunted and shot while its eating or distracted, but once they charge they don't seem to feel the pain or mind the noise from a rifle/gun shot, of course unless you're lucky to get a kill shot.
Mace/spray in other hand affects their visibility and sense of smell immediately no matter how pissed they are.
Just think of it this way, thats how skunks have been saving their ass for years. literately!
The way I see it, it would suck to miss or not kill it. Then he'll be close enough to slap you with one of these!:eek:

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Oh yeah!
And rifle wise, a Remington 700 in 30-06 with Leupold scope is what I use.
 
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fwiw ive heard for hunting in ak the smallest you should go is 300 mag or 338 lapua
as for sidearm nothing smaller then a 44 mag loaded with 310 grain garrett hammerheads(also ive heard this round will stop a charging brown bear in its track and go all the way to its hips from a head shot i think it said that in the faq ) also most guides carry bear spray . again this is what ive heard so take it with a grain of salt

frank
 
Wow that puts a few thoughts about Mr. Grizz in perspective. I am glad we do not deal with those where I live!
 
I agree with the spray recommendations. That being said, the nice thing about a 45/70 is that you can get it in a lever action. There short, light, easy to carry, reliable, and offer a quick second shot. I prefer a lever for hunting whitetails. This is after i tried bolts and the rest.
 
Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70 stuffed with hard cast bullets from Garrett Cartridge. These loads are made specifically for Brown Bear. Just remember it will depend on the determination of the bear nothing is a 100% stopper.Here is a photo from their Trophy page on their web page.
(Unless you maybe use a .50 BMG)
 

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Barrett .50 cal with a thermal scope, recoil reducing buttstock, barrel veil, and adjustable bipod.
 
Lever action! Faster than bolt. Most bear encounters are as close as u dont want to be. Um lever action can't really say anything more.
 
Blaser rifle in 300 WM with professional stock, a little more stoping power than 30-06. Flatter trajectory also. Short and light. Very fast second shot. Faster than lever action!

Bears have thin skin, no problem with penetration. As for a charging bear, don't know if even 45-70 have enough stoping power to do the trick. One of my friends shot 2 bullets from the shotgun and than used the Taurus in 454 Casull to kill The King.
 
Kimber Montana maybe?

You say the biggest you'd be hunting is moose, what will it be used for most? Also, what ranges do you typically shoot. If you regularly shoot over 200 yards, I'd be straying away from the .45-70. If most of your shots are closer, it's a good choice.

If it will primarily be used on anything larger than deer, I'd be looking in to .300 Win Mag or maybe 7mm Rem Mag. I'm not a fan of magnum calibers overall because here in MO, whitetails are the largest game we have to hunt so they're not needed. If I were somewhere up north where I would regularly be taking larger game and possibly shooting longer ranges, I'd start making that transition to magnums. .30-06 and .270 Win will kill every big game species on North America, it's just a question of whether or not it's the best choice for your application.
 
I would have to say the 45-70 marlin, I would want to throw the biggest piece of lead i can at him and Fast.
 
Thank you everyone looks like I'll be getting bear spray for bears thank you so much
adaman04 said:
Kimber Montana maybe?
You say the biggest you'd be hunting is moose, what will it be used for most? Also, what ranges do you typically shoot. If you regularly shoot over 200 yards, I'd be straying away from the .45-70. If most of your shots are closer, it's a good choice.
If it will primarily be used on anything larger than deer, I'd be looking in to .300 Win Mag or maybe 7mm Rem Mag. I'm not a fan of magnum calibers overall because here in MO, whitetails are the largest game we have to hunt so they're not needed. If I were somewhere up north where I would regularly be taking larger game and possibly shooting longer ranges, I'd start making that transition to magnums. .30-06 and .270 Win will kill every big game species on North America, it's just a question of whether or not it's the best choice for your application.
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I'd be hunting caribou the most and within 100 yards from what iv been told sorry and thank you
 
For bear defense, a 12ga shotgun is your best bet, a Remington 870 Marine Magnum with a folding stock, (I use a Winchester Defender), this can be loaded with various types of deterents (bangers/screamers/plastic sabots), and also a big 3.5" slug when it's time to put one down.

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(stock photo)

When on the offensive, I have a Sako 75 in .30-06 with a Zeiss 3-9x42, I use this for bear, moose, caribou, deer; it's a pretty decent all-around calibre and not too expensive to shoot.

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(stock photo)

While bear spray is not a bad idea, I find it really seems to give those that carry it a false sense of security. It's not very effective unless you can hit the bear directly in the mouth/nose/eyes, which means you need to be close, and nine times out of ten you'll get just as much on you as the bear. Any time I have used it on a bear it's not worked all that great (not nearly as good as 12ga plastic sabots - but plastic has been known to get lodged in the barrell which could be disasterous, so its always good to have another shotgun handy only loaded with slugs if deterents are required (as in required by law)).

If I had a choice, I would never use bear spray as my primary defense while at work or play in bear country (but I do usually carry it, even if I do have the shotgun).
 
adam and mckrob are on the right tracks! For shooting, its not about calibers, actions, stocks etc, its all about shot placement. You can own a tac ops 51 with hendsolt scope, atlas bipod, and if you dont know how to shoot, your just pissing in the wind. Whatever your going to hunt with, for godsake, get out and shoot the shit out of it. Get in A LOT of trigger time, know whats the max range of you and the rifle/caliber. I wouldnt hesitate 750yds with my 308 on a deer broadside standing (if I had a good read on the wind). But I wouldnt take a shot with a 300winmag on a moose at 50yds if I wasnt 100% confident with my shot placement.

On that note, 300wsm is a hell of a round, I had one for a couple years, put a 200gr nosler accubond through a 30"diameter downed tree and that was at 300yds.
 
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