Well I want a rifle that I can start deer/Elk/Moose hunting with that can also pound the life out of any Bears that wanna start a fight. I carry a FABARM 12g while fishing for that reason. Now that I am gonna get into proper hunting and I can't carry a sidearm I figure a Ruger 375 Alaskan is the go for me. I am in Gatehouse neck of the woods so this is a very serious consideration. I really like the irons on that rifle too.
Aside from jokes and screwing around can anyone provide me some guidence here? Bears are scared of Gatehouse so it would have to be a damn compelling reason for me not to purchase one over the winter.
It's terribly difficult for me
not to joke around, but I will try.
Most importantly- Any rifle that 95%of the hunters in BC are carrying will deal with an ornery bear in the very unlikely event that you get charged. As with everything, it's all about shot placement. I don't pick a rifle for hunting with the idea that I am going to have to fight off a bear, because the odds of it happening are just so low. I'm not completely oblivious to the idea, though, so I make sure I have adequate horsepower and a good bullet (Barnes, Nosler, etc)
So if you are just looking for a good general hunting rifle, there are probably better options out there for the
average hunter, and here is why:
The rifle is a little on the heavy side. With the Macmillan stock installed the rifle is about 8-8.5lbs with scope, about a pound heavier than my 300 or 7mmRM. Witht he Hogue stock on it, it weighed in over 9lbs with scope, IIRC. This may or may not be a consideration.
Recoil is heavier than your average 30-06/300/270/7RM. It is by no means uncontrollable or painful or uncomfortable for someone that has doen a bit of shooting, but it *is* higher than "normal" hunting rifles.
Factory ammunition is not cheap, it's about the price of Premium hunting ammo for a 300WM, but there is no cheap alternative like there is with a 30-06 or .308, etc. Ammo also isn't available at the Squamish CT at this time. None of this matters if you make your own ammo of course...
Heavy recoil + expensive ammo usually means that you dont' spend much trigger time with something, but that is for the individual. I shoot the NEW KING quite often, I shot a few hundred rounds just in 2009.
SO there are the negative points...Positive points for you are:
It will kill the hell out of any deer, moose, bear you point it at.
The trajectory is like a 30-06 witha 180gr hunting bullet, so it's easy to hit with inside 300 yards without thinking about it too much.
It's a short, handy rifle to stalk through our thick rainforest jungle with.
You can pop the scope off with a toonie and it is even more handy, so it's easy to pack for defense when on fishing trips in the spawning rivers. Actually, with no scope on, the Alaskan is just as handy as any lever action carbine.
There are certain places in BC I have been to and go to that is 100% sure to run into a grizzly bear, and it's comforting carrying around a big gun.
Bottom line is that I dont' think ANY of the .375's are the most practical rifle for the average hunter, but for those hunters that like guns, a .375 RUger is a great addition to the gun room.
Any time you want to meet in Whistler and fondle mine, let me know, it's not a problem.
. You could be in for more than expected...
