quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Ruger Alaskan in 375 and a leupold vx3 3.5-10. Stainless steel and laminate wood.

I had this thing in the rain for 6 days. I fell down and it rolled down a hill for 200 plus ft in the soft spongy Alaskan brush. No impact. Shot a moose with it after the drop and the rain soaking.

The gun looks brand new.

The gun cost $699 on clearance. Best value for the money.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Fourtyonesix:

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Ruger Alaskan in 375 and a leupold vx3 3.5-10. Stainless steel and laminate wood.

I had this thing in the rain for 6 days. I fell down and it rolled down a hill for 200 plus ft in the soft spongy Alaskan brush. No impact. Shot a moose with it after the drop and the rain soaking.

The gun looks brand new.

The gun cost $699 on clearance. Best value for the money.

Mike

My 416 ruger guide gun laminated stock started to peel
The finish off after about a month in the field, exposing the wood. I got a different stock built for it after that.

quote:

Originally posted by mlfguns:
I don't live in AK. but hunted there a few. Here's my 2 cents worth.

People hunted in bad weather areas with blued steel and walnut before any stainless steel and tupperware stocks became the fad.
Wet inclement conditions demand maintenance, no way around it.
You have to keep all metal surfaces PROPERLY cleaned and lubed. Taking into account the extreme freezing weather and what will freeze your moving metal parts.
Stainless Steel does rust, it just takes longer than Carbon Steel. With Ceracoating and similar coatings, made it much easier to maintain. They have been tested against salt water immersion etc... and have been proven superior. With coatings, metal material are equal.
Make sure to have ALL the metal coated to limit the problems.
If your rifle takes a special tool to disassemble the bolt. Get it. take it with you to use in camp and most important, learn how to use it quickly and effiecently. Take the proper allen wrenches or screw driver to disasseble the barreled action for maintenance or to check scope bases and ring screws.
The metal that is not visible to the naked eye is the hardest to asses and maintain. The bore can rust easily or have obstruction. Keep in camp a cleaning rod and bore snake. Run a patch through the bore and check for color and lightly oil and wipe off. The bore cleaning can throw your first cold shot lightly. You are not hunting praire dogs, whatever minute changes are worth it.

Walnut stocks that are PROPERLY sealed everywhere including the bedding areas are not a disadvantage. A wood factory stock that has a quick cheap coat on the exterior surface is.

Wood is quieter and does not resonate like hollow plastic. It is much easier to tolerate in extreme weather on your extremities. It cannot become brittle or soft in hot weather. IF the stock get some character, big deal.

Scopes is another disputed subject. I prefer Leupold low fixed power scopes. I don't need 30 or 34mm. 1" is plenty and light weight aluminum tubing handles the weather and recoil much better than the hubble telescopes. No extra parralax adjustment dials/water funnels needed. My favorite as of late is the Leupold M8 4x28mm long tube. Fits all the actions and various LOP's. About $150. Save the difference and put it into binoculars and Helly Hansens Impertech rain gear.

We are all bombarded by successful marketers for the newest and greatest. Let reason be your guide and don't let equipment choice stop you from going hunting.