Moving Again - What to Take and What to Store?

Which rifle(s) should I take to Kugluktuk? 2 Max.

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BigUglyMan

BigUglyMan

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So I'm faced with another weight-restricted move in the North. Only this time there is a wife and kids to think about not just a single gun nut with nothing but a safe full of goodies. So I'm faced with the decision of what hunting rifle(s) to take with me. It's already a given that I will take my 870 (with 12.5" and 28" barrels) and my 10/22. But what big game rifles? The Arctic coast does present some good hunting opportunities...musk ox, caribou, grizzly and polar, so which one or two, of my eclectic mix, to take with me?

From smallest to largest:

Custom A-Bolt 25-06 with 3-9x Burris
Pre-64 M70 257 Wby with 1.5-5x Leupold
Savage LE2B 308 with 3.5-15x NXS
Stevens 200 30-06 with 3-9x Burris
Pre-64 M70 300 H&H with 2-7x Burris
ATRS M70 300 WM with 5.5-22x NXS
Husqvarna M98 9.3x62 Irons Only
Ruger RSM 416 Rigby with 1.5-5x Leupold
Marlin 1895 CB 45-70 with irons
Browning High Wall 45-70 with irons/carbine ladder sight
Ruger #1H 458 Win Irons Only
Merkel 470 NE Irons Only (duh!)

I initially thought to go with the Stevens 30-06 only and take the LE2B for LR playing but now I wonder how much time I'll have to do that and how inclined I'll be to go out and freeze my pouch off in February while shooting at some rock on a hillside. So maybe take the 9.3 as well in case I get up close and personal? 416 is lots of rifle but is it too much for what I'll have on the go up there - say a bear wanders in and needs clobbering? Gnarly single shots are fun too but do you want to be fumbling cold cartridges with frozen fingers? Drag my double around on a quad or sled for 2 years? Then I think about keeping it classic - the 300 H&H and the 9.3.

The remainder will be stored at my parents' farm down South for semi-annual fondling.:D

Decisions, decisions.

So 'Nutz, thoughts?
 
Without a doubt I'd take the .300 H&H - what a classic to have in such an exotic setting. I'd load up some 220gr Partitions at 2700-2750 fps. Or maybe 200gr Partitions at around 2900 fps.

It will do everything you need.
 
The pre-64 H&H is the one I'd want. In fact, that is the one Model 70 that most interests me. And brass lasts a long time; as a handloader you don't have to worry about factory ammo supply, though I'm sure the Co-Op could get it. I can't imagine anything you couldn't hunt with it.

Or keep the .300 Win Mag and I'll drive over and get your H&H, LOL!

But seriously....your guns are bought and paid for and weigh just a hundred pounds or so. Just keep them. You know you wanna! Got a friend or family you can store them with? Hope you enjoy Kugluktuk!
 
If you have a good supply of ammo, go for the .257, .300, and the 9.3. If you're going to depend upon local purchase, it's the 25-06, 30-06, and 9.3, ..........facts of living in the North. Of course, some of us could load for you if you have the recipes you've been using, and we know how to get it to you.
 
I would go with the 30-06 and 308 for ease of ammunition purchase. Large calibres are not needed judging by what I read, exotic calibres are a pain plus moving those 2 rifles and rough handling wont bother you much with lower priced guns
 
If you have a limited number of tools to take to the jobsite I'd favor the biggest hammer you got, .416 or 470NE, then something smaller to tinker with.
 
Don't know what your wife is like but if you put her on a strict diet you might be able to sneak in another rifle. She can always gain it back when you settle in.
 
I said 416 Rigby and the 257 for anything you don't want to use the 416 on.

That being said in hindsight I didn't look at the scope your 257 had on it making me think the 308 would have been the better choice for longer range shooting.
 
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