When you finally dream of chasing sheep, moose or grizzly bears in Alaska, which rifle will you carry? We bet it looks like one of them

Ron Spomer | posted December 13, 2021 5:10 PM

A rifle. This is all that Alaskan yeast needs. But not you. You need more. Because you are not there 365 days a year, waiting for moose, reindeer, rams or grizzly bears to pass by your cabin. As a hunter from under 48, you have invested time and a lot of money to find opportunities to hunt Alaska. You may wish to calculate by choosing the ideal rifle. 

However, unless you know what the job is, you cannot choose the right gun for the job. Large game hunting in Alaska may mean chasing Dal’s rams through windy mountain basins or tracking large brown bears up close (even if you are only fishing, you may need a rifle as a backup bear insurance). In addition, there are a wide variety of highland game birds, small prey mammals, and predators such as foxes, coyotes and wolves. I have traveled to Alaska 16 times on hunting trips, but I still feel that I just scratched the surface of the opportunities there. 

For decades, I have encountered (and carried) four main types of rifles in Alaska. Except for mini games, almost any Alaskan prey and environment can be dealt with with one of these four rifles. 

No matter where you hunt in Alaska and the type of game you are after, you can get wet-your rifle will get wet too. Maintaining a traditional walnut blue rifle can be difficult, so northern countries need stainless steel or protective metal finishes, such as Cera-kote, which is matched with a synthetic buttstock. Rifles need to be durable and reliable to thrive there. You will most likely hunt in dense bushes, rugged mountains, or tundra that grows to ankles. If you are particularly lucky, you may eventually contend with all three of these harsh environments in a hunt.  

The success of any large game hunt depends on your rifle being perfect at critical moments, but in the wilderness of Alaska, your life may also depend on it. You can bet on the batteries of these four rifles.

This is a sturdy and durable tool for smart girls and boys who give up liberal arts degrees to receive advanced education in outdoor adventure. The guided gun does not need to reach out to touch the reindeer bull or ram in the distance. It needs to stop 1,000 pounds of paws, teeth, and muscles. Such a rifle also needs to be put into action quickly. This means light and compact, but powerful. 

Use the correct 300 warheads, 0.375 H&H Mag. Produce 4,500 foot pounds of energy. .416 Rem. Marg. Use 400 particle bombs to increase the impact force by 500 foot pounds. But both are full-length magnums that require long bolts to be thrown. 

The old .45-70 government. certainly not. 

This is a framed cartridge, the only survivor of Custer under the command of the Little Bighorn. It is shorter than 0.308 Winchester and cycles smoothly and quickly through modern leverage. Combine it with the 18.5-inch short barrel, and you have a 7.75-pound Marlin 1895 Guide Gun. Of course I would choose the stainless steel version. Although the recoil is not light, it is reasonable. You should be able to fire without flinching and quickly recover for subsequent shots. 

Ruger, the new owner and manufacturer of Marlin guns, should start producing new rifles by the end of 2021.

This piece of equipment should shoot far and accurately, but it doesn't need great power-unless the Grizzlies charge. In my process of beating sheep and goats, not once. Even so, the controlled expansion bullet I used may be enough. Therefore, don't be afraid to pack a light, fast, flat cartridge in the .270 Winchester class.

Sheep hunters prefer light bolt action. Of course less than 6 pounds, I prefer 5 pounds. 

As early as 1988, Melvin Forbes (Melvin Forbes) firmly nailed this category with his Model 20. Short-action, 22-inch barrel, three-round magazine, synthetic stock, nitride-coated barrel, weighing less than 5 pounds. In .284 Winchester, I overturned the ram at 450 yards. The modern version is NULA's fantastic M20.

High BC bullets and tracking should keep you within close range. This means that a simple duplex reticle is sufficient, and shooting within a reasonable range can also minimize wind deflection. Use all-copper hollow points with pointed ends for bear insurance.

Considering the cost and time required to hunt brown bears, you need to be prepared for every opportunity, whether it's 20 yards or 200 yards. The injured bear is counted as a marker bear, so the guide insists on approaching first, then approaching again. The main guide Phil Shoemaker reports that there is almost no "significant difference" from .30/06 to 0.300 magnum. "They all work very well. Irreplaceable shooting position and sub-elasticity," he said. In 48 seasons, he saw more one-hit kills than using large-caliber cartridges (0.270 to 0.300 Win. Mag.). Don't be afraid to use your best rifle. My only chocolate cake collapsed from the 300 A frame thrown by 0.375 H&H, but I hit the high shoulders to remove the spine. 

The 22-inch barrel is convenient on airplanes and brushes, the 26-inch barrel can maximize speed and power, and the 24-inch barrel is an ideal compromise. I will use controlled feed bolt action. My choice is the relatively light Kimber Talkeetna because of its hard, thin synthetic material, stainless steel and balanced hand.

This is contrary to our ideal four-rifle battery, but an all-round rifle can indeed handle all large hunting activities in Alaska. I have to use a bolt type, stainless steel barrel, synthetic stock, 0.300 Win bore. Marg. My tolerance for recoil makes me inclined to use the Bergara Premier Mountain 2.0 rifle, which is a little over 6 pounds. This may be extravagant-many Alaskans carry affordable Ruger Americans when hunting-but it is also purpose-built.  

I will use 2.5X-8X scopes that do not require a turret dial, which is a burden in the current heat. The only time I missed a sheep was because of that mistake. Hunting in a difficult country sometimes requires a quick response when you are exhausted. The rifle fired effortlessly at the place you pointed won the victory.

Learn how to make the best venison jerky with sliced ​​meat or venison

The Mystery Ranch Women's Metcalf is a versatile hunting bag for women that can haul meat comfortably

Learn the valuable skill of sharpening a knife with a stone

Want more hunting and fishing stories?

Sign up to receive our emails.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide us with a way to earn money by linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites. Registering or using this website means accepting our terms of service.