I asked this on the Africa thread but am also interested in what Alaska outfitters have to say.
I am trying to make a decision whether to get a double rifle. I already have a pre-war model 70 I can use.
Just interested in knowing if Alaska hunters often use double rifles or is the DR group somewhat elite and small in number (1 in 10 or less).

In 31 years guiding in AK I don't remember ever having a client show up with a double rifle.

I have two double rifles and have taken moose, caribou,blackbear and brown bear with them.

We have a pritty good local chapter of D.R.S.S. here but as far as hunters comeing to AK and bringing double rifles as the rifle of choice, Alaska dos'nt really conger up the same ideas of the double rife being the perfect DG gun as it dose in Africa.

Oh ya I forgot to post this photo.

I know an outfitter that relayed a story to me about a European client who brought his beautiful double on a brown bear hunt. Let's just say the guy wasn't prepared for the physical hardship and had a harsh dose of Alaskan reality! A friend and I are talking about eventually taking doubles and one bolt for back up to the penninsula for brown bear. We'll see. I would take a double rifle to hunt Alaska because I'm crazy about doubles. I would NOT take a double rifle to Alaska because I wanted the best tool for the job. If I was a brown bear guide I'd consider a (perish the thought ) stainless steel double in on of the classic .458 NE cartridges.

Brett

Just another thought. wouldn't a double be easier to clean and keep clean with it's less moving parts and less tight, weird, grooves to try and get clean.

I would think a double would be horrible to clean when the salt water got in side the action If you didn't take the butt stock off you would have a hard time getting it out.

I have many double shot guns and one double rifle the barrels are easier to clean just take them off the action and have at it. To get at the inside of the action the stock must come off.

I well take a good stainless syt bolt gun any day in harsh weather.

Now if some one would make a good syt stock stainless ti double then one would have a good harsh weather gun. Unless one is coming back to a nice heated base camp every nice where you can dry your guns out and cleam them well give me a syt stainless bolt gun.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I would think a double would be horrible to clean......inside the action

There's the problem!

Brett

For moose, bring it. If you are hunting brownies on the coast and you value how your rifle looks I would pass on the double. If you don't mind a few battle scars on your rifle then by all means use it on anything up here.

Shot my last couple of moose with my Chapuis and finally put the first scratch in the stock

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I would think a double would be horrible to clean......inside the action


There's the problem!

That's what they make detachable sidelocks for!

Bob

I am a big fan of double rifles.

I have taken 2 caribou with my 450/400 3 1/4" in AK.

I hunted brown bear with it too but did not get a shot. I have used doubles in Canada, Montana, and Idaho for black bear.

I have taken several deer, wild pigs, turkey, coyotes, and bobcats with doubles.

In Africa I have taken most all my plains game as well as giraffes, cape buffs, lion, and elephants with doubles.

So I would say get a double.

A Heym 450/400 3" with a scope in claw mounts is one of the best hunting doubles on the planet.

If I was buying a new made double today, that would be my pick.

I have hunted with my doubles in hot dusty weather, freezing weather, and torrential rain storms with no problems...

Any wood stocked blued rifle for that matter but especially a nice double use a good paste wax on the wood and a good automotive car wax on the metal and have at it. I realize salt air is salt air but I would still hunt with my double and do a total clean when I got home.
I just picked up a beautiful Heym 88B in 375 H&H with claw mounts and weighing in at 8.5 pounds with scope that's going to see Alaska very soon.

I used Johnson's paste wax on wood and metal before a Southeast brown bear hunt this past spring. It held up remarkably well. Didn't find one big enuf, but hunting with the DR was kinda fun. I promise sneaking into the alders it was much comfort.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:
I just picked up a beautiful Heym 88B in 375 H&H with claw mounts and weighing in at 8.5 pounds with scope that's going to see Alaska very soon.

When are you coming up?

Brett

He siad the 'rifle' is coming up... Maybe he's going to send it to us ?