I am thinking about building/buying an over .40 cal rifle for the big bears and moose. How is the ammo availability in Alaska for:

.416 Remington
.416 Rigby
.416 Wby.
.458 Lott (I'm guessing .458 Win. ammo is everwhere and would be available as backup)
.460 Wby.

Is any one of the above more common than the others, or are they all pretty hard to find ammo for in Alaska? While .460 is probably the most absurd, are there a lot of gunshops up North that stock it just for show (there certainly are in PA)? Obviously I would bring my own ammo; I'm thinking of a worst case scenario where I would have to scrounge up some ammo at a gun shop.

Also, I am leaning towards either buying a Ruger RSM in .416 Rigby, having it teflon-coated and getting a McMillan synthetic stock, or doing the same for a Ruger RSM .458 Lott that I already own. For an occasional "visitor" to Alaska (I will be living in the lower 48 for the foreseeable future), do you think this is fine in terms of weather-proofing? Or would I be better off getting a Montana Rifleman stainless barreled action in .416 Rem. Mag. or .458 Lott? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Without trying to sound like a total jacka**, please no suggestions for Win Model 70 classic stainless .375H&H. While the .375 has obviously served countless hunters very well on all game for a very long time, I am not a big fan. A couple years back, I heart shot an eland with it from about 40 yards with 300 gr Swift A-Frames. The Eland didn't seem to mind and went about 150-200 yards before piling up very dead. While the .375 did its job in the end and this was probably a fluke, I would like something that kills with a bit more authority for the big bears in the thick stuff. To each his own.

I would suggest either the 416rem or 458lott, because like you said you could always find 458 win mag. The gun shop in town i have never seen any of these except the 416rem and 458 win mag..Although there is no wallmart or sportsman warehouse here either. From what i here there are some coatings out there that will be more weatherproof than stainless so i would just treat your ruger to that unless you want a new rifle then i would get a montana 1999 stainless 416..hope this helps

As for ammo, I've seen 416rem and Lott ammo pretty regularly, but I've been out of the big bore for a few years since I sold my Lott. I'm sure a few of the others can charm in about that alot better.

As for weatherproofing, its all in the eyes of the beholder. I've had "STAINLESS" rifles rust in a weekend (kimber) and my spraypainted 338 withstands the elements just fine. Just take care of it.

If you havent bought the rifle yet, go with what you want and bring up a good cleaning kit.

To me IMO, stainless isnt all its cracked up to be. Most people think that if you buy stainless your good to go. I have 1 stainless rifle in the safe and all the rest are blued, parkerized, or spray painted.

That reminds me, its time "refinish" my 338. I hope I can find my Krylon

see the 416 rem mag alot more than the others.the 458 is kinda dying out.without winchester it is about gone.The 416 rem mag is way more versital.You can shoot out to about 350 yards with handloads.its about as flat as the 30-06 with barnes x bullets.They quit making the best one the 325 gr x bullet.

I have two remington Big game rifles in 416 rem mag I use in the thickets and as a tent gun.I mostly use my 338-378 weatherbys and if its thick woods thake my 416.I use my 416 about 10% of the time.

So rebarrel a classic stainless to 416 Rem and teflon coat it. Probably cheaper than a RSM where you are paying for the wood. Does McMillan even make a synthetic stock for a RSM that fits without a lot of work?

myoderru03

Any of the calibers you mentioned would be avaialable in Anchorage. Once you get out in the bush you might not find any of them.

If you are stuck on a rifle over 40 cal. the 416 Remington makes the most sence. It packs more than enough punch and can be had in a normal size rifle. The big Ruger is a good rifle but you have to consider that you'll be carrying it a lot as well as a pack and if your lucky moose quarters. I just think it is too big, bulky and heavy to be practical. Also the Lott is a specailaized tool and not a 300 yard moose rifle. It will work but other chamberings might serve you better.

Mark

Mikelravy:
You're right, to get the McMillan stock I would have to pay an arm and a leg to get a custom installation for the RSM (roughly $725). Thus, to "weatherproof" a Ruger .416 Rigby, I would be at roughly $900. But to get a Model 70 action and re-barrel or get a MRC M1999 stainless barreled action, I would be at about $900 as well. Until I would get it tefloned, get sights/bases on it, and get a stock on it, a .416 Rem. is looking like $1500+. Thus, I could have a Ruger in .416 Rigby for $2200, or a MRC M1999 .416 Rem. for $1600. The plus with the Ruger is that I would obviously still keep the wood stock if I were to ever go to Africa.

Mark:
Is your concern with the "big, bulky and heavy" Ruger more about the weight, or the action size? I would shoot for an empty weight of 8.5-9.0 lbs with a McMillan stock. The "newer" ones have a 23" barrel that is much lighter contour than the first ones that came out. Is the concern with practicality just how thick the action is?

Thanks to everyone for your help.

I sort of assumed from your first post that you still had a 375 H&H that you were not satisfied with. If so rebarreling would be the cheapest option. I like the looks of the Ruger RSM enough that I would be reluctant to convert it to an all weather rifle. If you don't reload the 416 remington is quite a bit cheaper to shoot as well, if that is a factor.

I have two 22" barrel Remington big game rifles in 416 Rem, mag .The have H-S stocks are have kinda parkarised stocks.They are 7.5 pounds but dont kick as much as my wood stocked 24" winchester 416.I want the remington stainless 416 with Kevlar stock.Thats the p[erfict Alaskan brush rifle.I hardly hunt with my 416 about 10% of time if I hunt woods or thickets.

Alaska hunting wopuld Ruin one of those pretty Ruger rsm rifles.I like them too but Alaska would beat and scratch the heck of it.It you want swelled wood get wood same with pretty bluing it will rust up here.That finish on my 416s holds up pretty good.

Mikelravy,
Unfortunately, I sold the .375 before thinking how useful the action would be to re-barrel, which would be the easiest thing. Thus, if I want a .416, I will have to go buy/build one.

dgr416,
If I were to go with the Ruger RSM, I would get a McMillan synthetic stock and get a teflon, armor-tuff, serekote, etc. finish on the rifle. Wood swell and rust would not be a problem. The question is whether it is worth it to ugly up a pretty gun like the Ruger.

The benefits to going with an uglified Ruger are (1) rugged, integral mounts for the scope (2) easily replaced parts (versus going with a Montana Rifleman M1999), (3) good sights (4) cheaper factory ammo for practive (Hornady is about to start loading .416 Rigby ammo, which lists for about $60/box at Midway), and (5) more oomph and thus range (for moose) with reloads. It shouldn't be too hard to crank out 350 gr Barnes TSX to 2700 fps out of a Rigby, which makes it flatter shooting than any .375H&H or .416 Rem.

It does seem somehow "wrong" to take a beautiful African rifle rifle and cartridge like a Ruger RSM in .416 Rigby and uglify it though. Maybe I should just get one and have it re-chambered to .416 Wby., which would be far more suited to an ugly rifle.

But back to my original question, I take it .416 Rem. ammo is much easier to find than .416 Rigby/Wby. ammo?

I'd agree with 416 rem mag and 458 win mag and somewhat 458 lott would be the most common of the big stuff, ie be able to find it somewhere other than GNG or Mountain View in Anchorage.

I would disagree that blued wood guns won't hold up here, though the caveat is that wood stocks need to be sealed with epoxy, then they'll be movement free in the wettest environments, though I did take a chunk out of my stock bouncing along in a zodiac this fall.

myodderru03

To me personally the RSM is just more gun than is necessary. I find it just too big in my hands and not at all handy. I'm much happier with a gun that weighs the 8.5-9 pounds you spoke of with the scope.

If the 416 Rigby talks to you the RSM is probably the way to go but to me it has some drawbacks that hamper its practicality.

Mark

I just got another 416 rem mag a Sako for a good price.Its hard to find a 416 rem mag anymore for under $1000.I wish Remington would make one again without the custom shop.I am excited to find this one.I was going to get a Winchester model 70 or a Ruger.I will still get a Ruger but it will be a 338 lapula if I can convert it to a 338-378 weatherby.

I very seldom see much Rigby or 460 Wby ammo around
As far as the rifle consider:
Stainless barrled action from MRC for $900
McMillan stock for $435.
Add $200 if you want iron sights added.

If you get Mcmillan to restock your RSM, let us know how they do it and how it turns out. The RSM does not have a traditional mkII recoil lug but only a tiny tit/boss that mates into a hole in a flat steel recoil plat that is screwed into the forend. I haven't weighed one, but I'd guess that chunk of steel is easily a half pound. I can't see how you can go w/out some sort of plate bedded into a fiberglass stock; but I would think if done correctly, you could shave off more weight in addition to the lighter stock. This should bring an RSM closer to the weight of a CZ but not as light as an M70 or a MarkX.

I do like the iron sites and ruger rings of the rsm.I think Ruger should make an alaskan model.There is a 458 old model ruger 77 on gunsamerica with a fiberglass stock that looks good with a scope for $900.That aint a bad price.Look for one of the remington big game rifles in 416 rem mag.They made 2500 I think.I love the two I have they have hs stocks and are tough little guns.I paid $600 for both of mine 8 years ago.Its light with a good dourible finish with an awesome stock and iron sites.They are very accurate.Ruger needs to make the rsm stainless with a good fiberglass stock.

dgr, i agree with you,that ruger needs to make the RAM (ruger alaskan magnum) in 375hh 416rem mag, and 458lott. All stainless with a fiberglass stock with express sights and barrel band swivel for about $1300 would be nice and they would sell a ton. i would buy atleast 3...

It kind of depends on where you're going as well. I lived in Kodiak for 13 years before getting stationed here in Japan and the prices were pretty steep on some of the calibers you've listed. I haven't seen any .416 Rigby, Weatherby or .460 Weatherby rounds in that town as well. Stick with that .458 Lott you own.

GaryVA,
I called McMillan today, and they told me that while they used to make a stock for the RSM, they no longer do and none of the stocks they make now will work. I thought from the website that they did custom work, but the Lady I talked to today said that they don't (or at least wouldn't be willing to make a custom stock for the RSM). Too bad.

They do make one for the CZ 550, however. I may just end up getting a CZ in .458 Lott and sending it to AHR for a 3-position safety, a new trigger, and gunkote. I may go with the Rigby instead, but from the sound of the replies to my original post, .458 Lott (or at least Win.) ammo is much easier to come across in a pinch than .416 Rigby.