Who makes the best Alaskan rifle today?

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Northern Shooter

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I have an itch to check off the "Alaskan/All Weather" rifle box and have started to look into my options.
A few attributes that I believe are universal on these rifles:

* Synthetic or Laminate stocks
* Stainless steel barrel/action or some form of weatherproofing ie cerakote.
* Controlled round feed action (preference for bolt actions)
* Equipped with iron sights
* Caliber choice - hard hitting, 30cal and on up.
* Medium weight - 8-10lbs range.

Who is still making this style of rifle today and which ones stand out above the rest?

A few examples that I've been browsing:

Winchester - Model 70 Extreme Weather SS, although I don't think it comes with sights (funny enough their Alaskan model is wood stock and blued steel).

Ruger - Guide Gun and Alaskan

Marlin - 1895 SBL (same concept but in a lever)
 
i will say make by a custom what you instead of trying to get factory ... first some will be hard to find second they may not fit your request as you wish ...

pf are not that bad and a lot are used in yukon and alaska do not limit yourself ...
 
Mik123 said:
Buy an extreme weather and have sights fitted. Easy. Full custom is pricey and you be lucky to recoup 50% f your cost if you decide to sell.
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I'll likely go with one of the major manufacturers vs custom, not looking to spend big money. I wish Winchester would offer something along the all weather with irons. I see a stainless Alaskan on the website but it's discontinued.
 
Northern Shooter said:
Neat idea, hadn't concerned those before. I'll have to look into the ballistics of each. Do they provide significantly more oomph than a 45-70?
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Hand load hornadys 300gr FTX to 2250FPS with over 2600 ft lbs of energy at 50lbs

Or shoot their factory loads at almost 2100 fps Out of an 8” barrel.
 
I have a Ruger Guide gun in 338win and if I ever traveled to Alaska it would be my choice. It was purchased for moose hunting in the NWT when I lived there.
 
4fifty8 said:
Got .416 Ruger Alaskan, .375 Ruger heaviest caliber currently listed. https://www.ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAlaskan/models.html

Rugged & equipped with nice iron sights continues to be a great rifle downed more than a few Moose with it. https://i.imgur.com/goC4BHL.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/T1Gzo0t.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/K9QY4aR.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/lCKelho.jpg
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I've been in recent contact with Ruger as well as several distributers and retailers here who have all confirmed the 416 Ruger Guide Guns/Alaskans have been put on hold while they sort out the supply chain backlog of more popular models.

If I didn't already own a 375 I'd probably jump on that 375 Ruger. I am considering those rifles in 338Win Mag if they ever show up.
 
Build your own

DA5-A9-C6-F-9-D3-D-49-B9-9-EBC-C26590-C0-FEC7.jpg
 
The reason I want iron sights on a rifle like the Ruger guide gun is two fold... one is to act as back up sites in a pinch if the scope is damaged. Two, and the main reason, is that I can remove the scope when packing out meat or other situations when I'm expecting to need the rifle as a defensive weapon. I don't want to try and shoot a charging bear at short range with a high power scope. I don't scope my bear defense 12ga for the same reason, if I need it it will be at very close range and happening fast.
 
Hmm "north" as a location could mean a lot of different things depending on the region but I don't think it includes the GTA
 
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