What did you build it on? caliber? barrel length?
Who makes the best Alaskan rifle today?
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
What did you build it on? caliber? barrel length?
todays offerings I would wait and see what the Montana Rifle Co comes out with in their new MRC2022 action
Or have what Phil Shoemaker is carrying
https://grizzlyskinsofalaska.com/about-us/
He is legendary, refered to often on Alaska Outdoors as a reference to special bear rifles, he has been building leverguns for years
Or have what Phil Shoemaker is carrying
https://grizzlyskinsofalaska.com/about-us/
He is legendary, refered to often on Alaska Outdoors as a reference to special bear rifles, he has been building leverguns for years
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Those look really nice...
voting ruger guide gun
as I've sort of had similar thoughts I'm over the barrel band sling swivel and the irons and 20" barrels, not into 24" barrels on the long actions either, also not a big bore fan, if this is to have increased versatility it would be 30-06 and it would be the Hawkeye hunter wearing a holosun 407c green dot with rail mount, likely ditch the full length factory rail for a single front lower profile rail for that green dot, decent shell holder on butt stock and easy 0-400 yard, or...the low mag scope in the ruger stainless rings, likely low rings, the leupold fixed 2.5 comes to mind at 6.5 oz and long eye relief and do a hybrid more functional set up that can still go chase downed stuff with stout heavy for cal loads, maybe qd rings on factory rail for the leupold low power scope and then the holosun as the back up irons should scope go down somehow, it is the 21st century, one can figure out more ways with available options and rifles now to take best parts of the older knowns with the newer stuff too...that's my story
if you can shoot something like the holosun at distance etc. compared to irons...you'll maybe also see that irons are dead, two eyes open dot you can see completely around the target area...they irons are essential dead in defensive pistol world too, I wager a guess that a shoemaker now would also find this out and a modern version of old ugly would not be wearing a scope, or irons, a reflex pistol sight powered by solar, and there's so many great light laser options now, rechargeable, quick detach, all you need is a simple single slot take off rail mounted to front tip of stock and you're all set for night time set up...there's more options now to think this out
a Kimber would be one to look at too I suppose, something a little less 'tank' which the 22" Hawkeye and kimbers would offer, in 30-06, not sure the walnut would worry me
as I've sort of had similar thoughts I'm over the barrel band sling swivel and the irons and 20" barrels, not into 24" barrels on the long actions either, also not a big bore fan, if this is to have increased versatility it would be 30-06 and it would be the Hawkeye hunter wearing a holosun 407c green dot with rail mount, likely ditch the full length factory rail for a single front lower profile rail for that green dot, decent shell holder on butt stock and easy 0-400 yard, or...the low mag scope in the ruger stainless rings, likely low rings, the leupold fixed 2.5 comes to mind at 6.5 oz and long eye relief and do a hybrid more functional set up that can still go chase downed stuff with stout heavy for cal loads, maybe qd rings on factory rail for the leupold low power scope and then the holosun as the back up irons should scope go down somehow, it is the 21st century, one can figure out more ways with available options and rifles now to take best parts of the older knowns with the newer stuff too...that's my story
if you can shoot something like the holosun at distance etc. compared to irons...you'll maybe also see that irons are dead, two eyes open dot you can see completely around the target area...they irons are essential dead in defensive pistol world too, I wager a guess that a shoemaker now would also find this out and a modern version of old ugly would not be wearing a scope, or irons, a reflex pistol sight powered by solar, and there's so many great light laser options now, rechargeable, quick detach, all you need is a simple single slot take off rail mounted to front tip of stock and you're all set for night time set up...there's more options now to think this out
a Kimber would be one to look at too I suppose, something a little less 'tank' which the 22" Hawkeye and kimbers would offer, in 30-06, not sure the walnut would worry me
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In looking at the rifles most Alaskan Guides are carrying...
Many are synthetic/stainless CRF actions with open sights in cartridges such as 338 Win Mag and on up. But not all.
But a close look will reveal that many carry push feed actions and have never had any issues. (How many need to cycle their action when upside down? LOL)
And then there are a lot of those that load their trusty PF 30-06 with 220 gr RN ammo...
And don't overlook some great, milder mannered cartridges using heavier for caliber bullets, such as the 35 Whelen, 9.3 x62, 376 Steyr, etc. as a well placed bullet on any dangerous animal (including other than grizzly/brown bears, such as a mad cow moose or a rut crazed bull moose) will always be more effective than a bullet from a large thumper that wounds the animal in a non-vital area.
And if you cannot find the rifle you are thinking of with open sights, then you can have a gunsmith install them for you. A number of options here to consider:
- NECG banded front sights and open or peep rear sights (I have the NECG peep with integral Ruger mounts for Model 77 rifles in 376 Steyr and 416 Taylor)
- Factory options by some makers are available (original Sako peep sights for rifles such as my Model 85 in 9.3x62)
- Fibre optic sights and tritium sights also available from a variety of manufacturers
In the end, having the rifle that you envision will meet all your criteria, in a cartridge that you can handle and shoot well under any circumstance, will be the right choice for you.
Many are synthetic/stainless CRF actions with open sights in cartridges such as 338 Win Mag and on up. But not all.
But a close look will reveal that many carry push feed actions and have never had any issues. (How many need to cycle their action when upside down? LOL)
And then there are a lot of those that load their trusty PF 30-06 with 220 gr RN ammo...
And don't overlook some great, milder mannered cartridges using heavier for caliber bullets, such as the 35 Whelen, 9.3 x62, 376 Steyr, etc. as a well placed bullet on any dangerous animal (including other than grizzly/brown bears, such as a mad cow moose or a rut crazed bull moose) will always be more effective than a bullet from a large thumper that wounds the animal in a non-vital area.
And if you cannot find the rifle you are thinking of with open sights, then you can have a gunsmith install them for you. A number of options here to consider:
- NECG banded front sights and open or peep rear sights (I have the NECG peep with integral Ruger mounts for Model 77 rifles in 376 Steyr and 416 Taylor)
- Factory options by some makers are available (original Sako peep sights for rifles such as my Model 85 in 9.3x62)
- Fibre optic sights and tritium sights also available from a variety of manufacturers
In the end, having the rifle that you envision will meet all your criteria, in a cartridge that you can handle and shoot well under any circumstance, will be the right choice for you.
yes it is.
Alaskans tend to he brutal with their rifles. Salt water immersion on a new rifle is a real thing. Ownership of a soft case is viewed as a charature flaw. You cab always tell an Alaskan; but you can’t tell him very much.
Absolutely
I have a 'Plain-Jane' Remington M700, started life as a BDL model.
Has been upgraded with a Wildcat Composite stock which was glass/bedded installed eons ago by K&S Arms in Edmonton.
And is in the correct .338WM cartridge, for any N.A. big game.
The scope of course is also 'proper', a Leopold VX-III in 1.5-6x, without any silly turrets.
This is he in the original BDL stock.
And her he is in the Wildcat Composite stock.
Has been upgraded with a Wildcat Composite stock which was glass/bedded installed eons ago by K&S Arms in Edmonton.
And is in the correct .338WM cartridge, for any N.A. big game.
The scope of course is also 'proper', a Leopold VX-III in 1.5-6x, without any silly turrets.
This is he in the original BDL stock.
And her he is in the Wildcat Composite stock.
