Ladies and Gentlemen:

I plan to hunt in Alaska in two years, and with the current baggage weight limits would like to construct one rifle using an 1898 Mauser action for all game except sheep, including Brown Bear. Also, it appears that the combination hunts really drop the total cost, so a one rifle battery looks like it makes sense.

Presently, I am putting together a 7x57 AI with a Lilja #1 barrel on an 1898 Mauser action for the lower 48, and will probably use it on sheep hunts in Alaska, but obviously this it too light for brown bear.

With sheep as the exception, what all purpose cartridge has worked for your Alaskan hunts and which bullets performed well?

Yalie

The 1898 action is perfect for a 9.3 x 62 mm. Shoot a 286 grain bullet at 2450 fps which easily reaches 300 yards. Or shoot a 320 grain bullet at 2250 fps for bears or moose in the brush. Ballistically it is right on the heels of a 375 H&H but is an inexpensive conversion for a model 98. And it out-performs the 35 Whelen and 338-06 by a good margin.

500 Grains
I think You just love those African Cartridges.. Also, Another great photo.. Africa..
AK

another vote for the 9.3x62. i have one in a cz 550(my "texas express rifle") and love it. i don't have any experience with the 286 or 320 grn bullets but i can say that the 270 grn speer makes a good "varmint" load. good luck with your choice.

I would probably vote for the 338-06 or 338 Win Mag.

A 35 whelen. or 9.3x62 are both pretty hard to beat. All said though the 300 and 338 winnie will pretty much do it all also. I have a nice scout 9.3x62 and used it on moose last year, shot one at just under 280 yards, worked very well.

THe very best one gun for alaska is the 375 H$H. It can do it all from 260gr accubonds for long range to 300gr partitons for anything else. Especially if its a lightweight 7lbs or so.

The most popular cartridges in Alaska, and by a wide margin over all others are: .30-06, .300WM, and .338WM. However, when bears are mentioned relating to "all around cartridges," the .338WM with heavy-per-caliber bullets becomes choice number one.

Not only that, but should you lose your ammo in travel, ammo for these three can be found in any of the gun shops around Alaska. Not so for rare cartridges with metric-wrench numbers.

Yale,

The .375H&H is a pretty tempting suggestion and in all deference to this fantastic cartridge, my rifle and probably most others are pretty hefty to be doing alot of Alaska toting with it.

Like 500, budi & theBear, I'd suggest the 9.3x62 also. A Mauser, 286 gr. Nosler Partitions, a reasonably light rifle without jaw-busting recoil and plenty of power. A lot going for this one. Plus it went to Africa years ago as the All-Rounder and still claims that distinction today.

I also give credence to the logistics issues noted but in today's modern world consider this managable.

Have fun!

YOU COULD NEVER, EVER GO WRONG WITH THE 375. THERE IS -NOTHING - ON THIS EARTH IT CAN'T HANDLE, RECOIL IS LIGHT IN A PROPER WOOD STOCKED RIFLE AND YOU CAN GET AMMO FOR IT ANYWHERE. FORGET ABOUT ALL THOSE WEENIE CALIBERS - JUST GET A MANS CALIBER AND BE DONE WITH IT. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. AND USE THE HEAVIEST BULLET YOU CAN GET. IMPACT, NOT VELOCITY KILLS.

Yale:
This is easy. If you have to use only 1 rifle, I'd use a .338 Mag with a lower powered, variable scope. 1.5-5x Leupold is perfect, I think, using quick release mounts. Use a 225 gr. Northfork with about 73 grs. of Rldr-22 behind it. Two other comments -
1. I'd strongly advise that you have a set of open sights available should something happen to your scope, and,
2. While hunting, make sure you put some electrical tape (or something similar) over the muzzle. This to avoid the chance of something accidentally getting into the muzzle such as a twig. This has protected me at least once that I know of.
If you could take 2 rifles, I'd use your 7mm with no problems on both sheep & caribou. A great caliber for those purposes.
Good luck & enjoy. Later, Bear

Yale, your guide is your backup in most cases and if you like what has been said about the 9.3 then by all means do it. If on the other hand when all metal work has been done then you would be hard pressed in beating the .338mag. from the likes of the 180 Barnes on up to 275 Swifts or the Woodleigh 300grnrs. for your medium belted mag. You can take this caliber anywheres for anything as it has the up close and yonder capabilities. I have 2 in my home here in Ak. and have used them with the Swifts and Woodleighs and Partitions and bought some of them NorthForks but have not succcessfully used them on anything but targets.

QR lever with good irons for back up. Somewhere down the road I too will have a rifle built up with the 9.3 but with my 33 calibers and 37's I just don't have no real need other than wanting too.

regards,

338 WM, 230 grain Winchester Fail Safes.

To all participants:

Thank you for your well reasoned advice.

It looks like the 338 Winchester Magnum, 9.3x62 Mauser and 375 H&H (I'd build the shorter 375 Taylor version probably) are the real contenders. Time for a three sided coin to toss.

As for the taped muzzle idea, I've been doing that in the Pennsylvania woods for years with box tape.

Sincerely,

Yalie

the little finger tip condoms from first aid kits work well as muzzle protectors too. Also if your not afraid of a wildcat check out the new 375 Ruger, more power and just as short as the taylor.

WHO SAYS a .375 has to be heavy?
Mine, weighs in just a hair over 7 pounds.
A Model 70 with a shorter bbl and a kevlar stock and a GREAT muzzle brake.

Before you toss that coin,and maybe get a 375T,you could avoid that Wildcatfuss and get d 9.3x64B, A balance of many great things. http://www.accuratereloading.com/9364.html

Bet you guide would appreciate you showin up with a well used 30-06. A 180gr partition in the right place has stopped lots of beating hearts (and charges). Besides, when their are bears on the menu, your guide will have the big heat.

Yale ----- I have hunted Alaska and took my Brown Bear and Caribou with a .300 Winny, my Moose with a .340 Wby. My choice now will always be my .358 STA with a 270 grain North Fork at 2900 fps or a 250 grain North Fork at 3000 fps. The more I hunted there the more respect I got for the big Bears. Good shooting.

quote:

The most popular cartridges in Alaska, and by a wide margin over all others are: .30-06, .300WM, and .338WM. However, when bears are mentioned relating to "all around cartridges," the .338WM with heavy-per-caliber bullets becomes choice number one.

Not only that, but should you lose your ammo in travel, ammo for these three can be found in any of the gun shops around Alaska. Not so for rare cartridges with metric-wrench numbers.

This is my opinion also. I would pick a 180 premium for the 30-06 a 180 or 200 for the 300 mags and a 225 or 250 for the 338.

These rounds also work well on sheep . Shot my first sheep when I was 16 with a .338 and 250 noslers.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
Before you toss that coin,and maybe get a 375T,you could avoid that Wildcatfuss and get d 9.3x64B, A balance of many great things. http://www.accuratereloading.com/9364.html

I'll second that!

Its easy, 35 Whelen, with a 270gr North Fork or 280gr Swift A-Frame. Use a 1 in 12" twist and it will spit out the 270gr at 2,450fps and the Swift should be able to get 2,300fps.

Surely NOT much less than the 9.3X62, some could even argue that it would penetrate more, with a lesser frontal than the 9.3X62. There are tons of pistol bullets for small game and practicing, as well as many cast bullets, 06 brass is everywhere and you can even go up to the 310gr Woodleigh, i would also use a 24" tube. What a great round, its a shame so many cant see its potential, but in this age of magnumitis its no surprise.

THe whelen is definatly no slouch. I used one for a few years and would have probably stayed with it execpt for some reliability issues with the rifle. It is the caliber I chose to have made for my dad when he came up here hunting. There is very little that a 250gr 35 caliber bullet can't do at 2400-2500fps.

quote:

Originally posted by Yale:
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I plan to hunt in Alaska in two years, and with the current baggage weight limits would like to construct one rifle using an 1898 Mauser action for all game except sheep, including Brown Bear. Also, it appears that the combination hunts really drop the total cost, so a one rifle battery looks like it makes sense.

Presently, I am putting together a 7x57 AI with a Lilja #1 barrel on an 1898 Mauser action for the lower 48, and will probably use it on sheep hunts in Alaska, but obviously this it too light for brown bear.

With sheep as the exception, what all purpose cartridge has worked for your Alaskan hunts and which bullets performed well?

Yalie

376 Steyr 300g @ 2450fps or 270g @ 2650fps verry easy mayser 98 conversion

Wow, lots of great ideas. Thank you.

Actually, after some more research and using your advice, I've settled on a 358 Norma Magnum. 225 grain bullets at 2900 fps for Caribou, etc. and 275-280's at 2700 fps for moose and bear; should cover everything in Alaska.

Also, I have a 1908 Mauser already opened up to handle short magnums.

Yalie

the 358 norma is hard to beat. Good luck on your hunt

quote:

I've settled on a 358 Norma Magnum.

With all other calibers with readily available ammunition over the counter- I envy your decision. You are going up against alot of other proven and popular choices with munitions available in most remote spots in Ak., not saying anything at all against your decision. post a pic when you are done with your rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by grizz007:

quote:

I've settled on a 358 Norma Magnum.

With all other calibers with readily available ammunition over the counter- I envy your decision. You are going up against alot of other proven and popular choices with munitions available in most remote spots in Ak., not saying anything at all against your decision. post a pic when you are done with your rifle.

Good points Grzz007. It seems that he didn't hear what Alaskans tried to tell him.

Dear Ray:

As far as a commonsense answer you are correct in your estimation in choosing a 338 Win. Mag. or something else similar for hunting in Alaska. I just think that 358 Norma is cool, and pretty close to the original 35 Newton.

Actually, what I might do early next year is grab some of the new 375 Ruger brass, neck it to .358 caliber, ask Dave Kiff to make me a reamer, and Redding to make me dies. Then I'll have a Newton copy, and be supremely happy.

If I screw up and lose my ammo, I'll buy you the best steak dinner in Anchorage, and buy myself a Model 70 down the street in 338 WM or 375 H&H.

Yalie

.358 Norma with 225gr or 250gr Partitions sounds like a perfect all-around rifle for your needs.

quote:

Originally posted by Yale:
Dear Ray:

As far as a commonsense answer you are correct in your estimation in choosing a 338 Win. Mag. or something else similar for hunting in Alaska. I just think that 358 Norma is cool, and pretty close to the original 35 Newton.

Actually, what I might do early next year is grab some of the new 375 Ruger brass, neck it to .358 caliber, ask Dave Kiff to make me a reamer, and Redding to make me dies. Then I'll have a Newton copy, and be supremely happy.

If I screw up and lose my ammo, I'll buy you the best steak dinner in Anchorage, and buy myself a Model 70 down the street in 338 WM or 375 H&H.

Yalie

In reality there is nothing wrong with the 358 Norma. I have seen at least one along the dies for it at a gun show a year ago. Besides, since you are coming to Alaska to hunt instead of moving to Alaska, whichever caliber you choose should be fine.

In a standard action, I'm a big fan of the 9.3x62. I also think the .338 Win Mag would be an excellent choice, especially if you consider ammo availability.

If you don't mind a wildcat, you might look at the 375 Hawk/Scovill. I have one and like it a lot. Ed Stevenson at Sheep River has several in his camp. He says it's the best round he's ever used in Alaska, and he's been guiding there over 40 years.

Out of my barrel, I get 2360 fps with a 300 grain North Fork, 2450 fps with the 270 gr NF and 2640 fps with the 250 gr NF. All at .30-06 pressures.

quote:

Originally posted by Yale:
Dear Ray:

As far as a commonsense answer you are correct in your estimation in choosing a 338 Win. Mag. or something else similar for hunting in Alaska. I just think that 358 Norma is cool, and pretty close to the original 35 Newton.

Actually, what I might do early next year is grab some of the new 375 Ruger brass, neck it to .358 caliber, ask Dave Kiff to make me a reamer, and Redding to make me dies. Then I'll have a Newton copy, and be supremely happy.

If I screw up and lose my ammo, I'll buy you the best steak dinner in Anchorage, and buy myself a Model 70 down the street in 338 WM or 375 H&H.

Yalie

http://www.z-hat.com

My 2 cents vote for the 338 WM for a one rifle do all for AK. 200 grainers loaded in the 3000 FPS for long range and 250 grainers for the "Man in the Brown Suit"

My experience is the 338 WM is the most popular caliber in Ak for a one all around gun. Ammo can be found just about anywhere. Go looking for some 9.3 caliber ammo and you might receive
some puzzled looks, especially in Alaska.

Lots of good advice here. I too use the 375 Hawk/Scovill (aka 9.5x62) and the 9.3x62 and they work superbly even on big bears. So do the 358 Norma and the 9.3x64. Still, if I had to pick just one I personally would favor the 338 Win due to it's avaliability, proven record and bullet selection.

I have and shoot a .338 WM, a 9,3x62 and a couple of .375 H&Hs.

The .338 WM is set up as an inclement weather rifle ... pre-64 M70 with a Krieger ss bbl and a Gun Kote finish on a McMillan stock. One of the .375s is a Weatherby Weathermark Alaskan. The other is an M70 SS Classic on an HS Precision stock. The 9,3x62 is a CZ 550 American with a wood stock.

All of the calibers in this range (and the .358 Norma Mag and the .376 Steyr) will do a dandy job for you. Range may be just a little limited with the 9,3x62 as opposed to the others ... but at 250 - 300 yards of less, it'll also work beautifully on all game there.

The conditions you hunt in should guide how you appoint the rifle. The choice of sights, finish, and stock can make the "one rifle" a real joy. I think weather hardiness of a rifle for Alaska is important and so would recommend the toughest, most corrosion resistant possible finish on a McMillan or HS precision stock.

In tall country in cold, wet weather I use the .338 WM or the .375 H&H Weatherby Weathermark. Good balance of weight versus power and almost impervious to the weather.

I'd go along with the .338 WM for an off the shelf rifle, but as this one will be custom built and loaded I'd take a more imaginative approach and move up to a 35 caliber cartridge. The 340 WBY and 9.3x62 would work too, but you would have better bullet choices in 35 caliber.

I shoot the 35 Whelen, but would want a bit more range for an "all purpose" rifle. I think either a .350 RM, .358 Norma, or .358 STA would fit the need. For your mauser action I think you made the right choice with the Norma. There is no reason to put a short action cartridge (.350 RM) into that action and if you went with the STA you would have to be sure that your smith really understood how to work with H&H length cartridges in that action. I have a .375 H&H in a Mark X mauser action and it has been explained to me by people I trust why I probably want to keep pressures lower than I could in an action that was designed for H&H length cartridges.

Yale,

The 338 Win. Mag. will do it all quite easily. I used it extensively when I lived in Alaska and have shot quite a few African animals with it. Mine shot the 210 and 250 Nosler Partitions equally well and left nothing lacking on deer, sheep, moose or caribou hunts. I didn't use it for the big bears because I had a 375 but I have no doubt it would have worked perfectly. I think because of the wide choice of excellent premium bullets and great factory ammo it is a better choice than the 358 Norma or the 9.3X62 and it can fit your M98 with a minimum of tinkering.

Mark

yale;
there is lots of good advice here from our highly experienced cast of zoo residents, ray, b.i.f., phil, mark and et al.

first off, you have to take your hard sided gun case and it will take 2 guns, even if you only put one in it. so a second gun is an option if you are going after more than one animal, safari style. bear in that in mind...

i would go with a .338 w.m. with 250 gr. n.p. bullets and sleep with peace of mind. top it off with either a 1.75-6x , 2.5-8x or 3-10x scope. if you gave more info' on what may be on your hit list, we could offer more specific advice. this general set up will work for anything that walks in ak. as per the info' you did give. i would go stainless and synthetic and possibly have the stainless coated.

you can now get 300 gr. woodleigh bullets for this set up if you handload.

other similiar options would be .340 wthby, .358 s.t.a. or norma. other bullet choices would be barnes t.s.x., A Frame, north fork, kodiak, i would stay away from the t.b.b.c..

you asked what has worked for us:
nosler partition has worked well on everything for me, so with your old school/classic action it should work for you too. i have taken most of the ak. animals with either .340 wthby with 250 n.p.(moose, brwn bear) and .300 w.m. 180 gr. n.p. for everything else.

Besides the 300 gr Woodlegh bullets, Swift and Kodiak make stout 275 gr 338 bullets. All three of these elevate the 338 to the relm of the 375 as a big bear stopper.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
All three of these elevate the 338 to the relm of the 375 as a big bear stopper.

correct, we agree. for guys who handload the extra 50 grs. that the new bullets provide are well worth using and should provide deeper penetration.