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Caliber? #7144665
01/19/21 01:36 PM
01/19/21 01:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 348
NW Pennsylvania & North Maine
Coulter Offline OP
trapper
Coulter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 348
NW Pennsylvania & North Maine
Question for all of you big game hunters out there? I put this here mostly because it is Alaska related (to me anyway).

My dad has a few guns he has built over the years he's looking to part with. I have my eyes on his .375 H&H and the 45-70; both built on a PO14 Enfield actions. Mostly just because I've always wanted one of each. He also knows I want to hunt in Alaska at some point, and figured these to be good guns for that. That's why he built them in the first place; so he could hunt Alaska (which he never did).

He also has a 300 Winchester Magnum on the same action, and a 300 Ackley Magnum Improved built on a 1917 Remington action.

So I guess this isn't really a question as much as it is open for comments...so thoughts? And yes, I'm fully aware of the premise of being able to shoot the guns. If they can't be shot accurately they're worthless for hunting purposes. I get that...that's not the intent behind this post. I also haven't really picked a target animal to go after. I know that matters...moose, griz are certainly not out of the question here.

Last edited by Coulter; 01/19/21 01:38 PM.
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7144672
01/19/21 01:40 PM
01/19/21 01:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,583
The Panhandle of Alaska
M
mad_mike Offline
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mad_mike  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,583
The Panhandle of Alaska
All you listed should get the job done on all Alaska big game.
I do tend to pick favorites though. If I had to choose one caliber from those mentioned it would hands down be the .375H&H. From deer to the biggest bears, it just works.


Advice? Wise men don't need it. Fools won't heed it.
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7144786
01/19/21 03:11 PM
01/19/21 03:11 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 765
Anchorage, Alaska
broncoformudv Offline
trapper
broncoformudv  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 765
Anchorage, Alaska
All of those calibers are great Alaskan choices. Have to agree with mad_mike and say the 375 H&H is the most versatile out of the bunch and fairly easy to find ammo for across Alaska. Personally I use a 300 win mag and a 375 H&H for everything.

Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7144979
01/19/21 05:34 PM
01/19/21 05:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,154
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
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waggler  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,154
Alaska and Washington State
You can shoot anything on the planet with the 375 H&H, and even on deer it won't ruin nearly as much meat as many of the fast smaller calibers.
The 300WM is a great round too, get your hands on both of them if you can.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7145076
01/19/21 07:15 PM
01/19/21 07:15 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 981
Alaska Northwestern
That Fool Offline
trapper
That Fool  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 981
Alaska Northwestern
we usually use 7 mm, 270, 30-06 or 308s around here for moose, bears, and whales

Re: Caliber? [Re: waggler] #7145109
01/19/21 07:28 PM
01/19/21 07:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,583
The Panhandle of Alaska
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mad_mike Offline
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mad_mike  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,583
The Panhandle of Alaska
Originally Posted by waggler
You can shoot anything on the planet with the 375 H&H, and even on deer it won't ruin nearly as much meat as many of the fast smaller calibers.
The 300WM is a great round too, get your hands on both of them if you can.

Ha! More than a few have told me that the 375H&H is too much rifle to shoot deer with. I dunno, it works better than anything else, for me. It smashes the big animals and is somewhat gentle on our smallish Sitka Blacktails.
That 300 Ackley would be my second choice of the bunch. Any of the 300’s are good to go, WSM,WinMag, Ackley Improved, and H&H are hard hitting and fast 30 calibers. Ammo availability becomes a bit of a challenge though, especially as of late.


Advice? Wise men don't need it. Fools won't heed it.
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7145287
01/19/21 08:57 PM
01/19/21 08:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,154
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
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waggler  Offline
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Alaska and Washington State
^^^^
My exact same experience with blacktails.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7145342
01/19/21 09:23 PM
01/19/21 09:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,420
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
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bearcat2  Offline
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Posts: 2,420
Idaho
Any are good calibers, I love the 45-70 for black bear here, but I have it in a Guide Gun so only 36" long and easy to pack, especially in the brush. It is a short range caliber though, if you are planning on taking shots at a distance I would go with the 375 and one of the 300s for longer range yet.

Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7145680
01/20/21 12:50 AM
01/20/21 12:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 811
Interior Alaska
3
30/06 Offline
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30/06  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 811
Interior Alaska
I'd choose the .300WM for the same reason I shoot a 7mm Mag: it works at short range, it works at long range, and it works if I hit something that runs over a hill and I have to spray and pray. I'll freely admit the .375 would be a better option for big bears, though.

Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7145696
01/20/21 01:14 AM
01/20/21 01:14 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
A
Allan Minear Offline
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Allan Minear  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
I'm also a fan of the .375 H & H it's a tack driver and good for anything you want to hunt .

The Ackley improved .300 sounds like it could be fun as well what would worry me is available ammo if the rifle and ammo both didn't arrive together or at the same time .
The .300 Winchester mag is also a good round that is a capable round to do a good job on any big game animal.

For sure the .375 H & H and depending on how much trouble it is to get brass made to use in the Ackley improved .300 over the .300 Winchester mag .


Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7146070
01/20/21 10:00 AM
01/20/21 10:00 AM
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 433
ontario canada
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Knappett Offline
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Knappett  Offline
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Posts: 433
ontario canada
Go .375 h&h solid round and very versatile. Lots of bullet weights for different purposes.

Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7146194
01/20/21 11:14 AM
01/20/21 11:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 348
NW Pennsylvania & North Maine
Coulter Offline OP
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Coulter  Offline OP
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Posts: 348
NW Pennsylvania & North Maine
Great points everybody! Thanks fort the input. I'm sold on the .375 for sure. The ammo availability has me putting that at the top of the list. It seems to have a heck of a reputation for a great all around gun as well. The 45-70...well, as much as I want one. I think I may eyeball the .300 Ackley or Win Mag instead. Mostly because I really wanted that gun to be a lever action like the Guide Gun Bearcat mentioned.

Funny thing about ammo. My Dad is also offloading all of his reloading equipment. He doesn't hunt or shoot anymore at all. So he figures its time to go. So ammo around home won't be an issue...it's just when traveling if the ammo and gun don't arrive together...yep, I'm screwed.

I love the fact that you can shoot anything from Sitka blacktail to buffalo with that .375...man talk about versatile!!

Last edited by Coulter; 01/20/21 11:14 AM.
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7146267
01/20/21 12:32 PM
01/20/21 12:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,330
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
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Pete in Frbks  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,330
Fairbanks, Alaska
I too would go with the .375H&H or the .300WM.

The only drawback with any of them is taking out a mortgage to allow you to buy ammo. Get Dad to gift you the reloading stuff too and you will be all set!

Pete

Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7146291
01/20/21 12:51 PM
01/20/21 12:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
Originally Posted by Coulter
Great points everybody! Thanks fort the input. I'm sold on the .375 for sure. The ammo availability has me putting that at the top of the list. It seems to have a heck of a reputation for a great all around gun as well. The 45-70...well, as much as I want one. I think I may eyeball the .300 Ackley or Win Mag instead. Mostly because I really wanted that gun to be a lever action like the Guide Gun Bearcat mentioned.

Funny thing about ammo. My Dad is also offloading all of his reloading equipment. He doesn't hunt or shoot anymore at all. So he figures its time to go. So ammo around home won't be an issue...it's just when traveling if the ammo and gun don't arrive together...yep, I'm screwed.

I love the fact that you can shoot anything from Sitka blacktail to buffalo with that .375...man talk about versatile!!


As long as you pack the ammo with the gun there shouldn't be an issue.

Sounds like you are plagued with some high quality decisions !! laugh


Mean As Nails
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7147833
01/21/21 11:07 AM
01/21/21 11:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 348
NW Pennsylvania & North Maine
Coulter Offline OP
trapper
Coulter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 348
NW Pennsylvania & North Maine
That's what I'm hoping for Pete!!

White...I wish all of my daily life decisions were simply which caliber. That would be so nice.

Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7174447
02/08/21 09:07 PM
02/08/21 09:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 5
TX
T
takeit Offline
trapper
takeit  Offline
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T

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 5
TX
the 45-70 would definitely be out for me. I'd rather carry a 12 ga, with slugs, buck and bird shot, so that I'd have some versatility. The 45-70 is way too short ranged for me. It drops like a stone beyond 150m and drifts in the wind like a balloon. I"d take an 06, myself in an autoloader like a Rem 748, An animal can take a step just as you fire, or an unseen twig can defelct the bullet enough to get only a crippling hit. You might want to take out a wolf pack or a bunch of coyotes or even have to deal with crazy people. You dont want a bolt action for any of that or even a lever or pump action. You'll have all you can do to focus on sights, trigger and recoil recovery., without adding the complication of working an action. The gas op auto also softens felt recoil. Make sure the length of pull is correct, after you've added a shotgun recoil pad. This will enable you to shoot more, without developing a flinch. Those calibers you speak of really belt you.

Last edited by takeit; 02/08/21 09:10 PM.
Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7174517
02/08/21 09:56 PM
02/08/21 09:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
You couldn't pay me to use and autoloader in this climate. Especially on dangerous game.


Mean As Nails
Re: Caliber? [Re: white17] #7174594
02/08/21 10:37 PM
02/08/21 10:37 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
AKHowler Offline
trapper
AKHowler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
Definitely with white17 on the autoloaders.... Negative all the way. Had several hunters over years with big failures. My most hated rifle I've ever encounter is the Browning BAR .338 Safari. Could go on for days about it...My ol Win. Model 70 got a lot of shooting in when the hunters had problems with their BAR's. Most was in the error of the handlers though..


Alaskan #9 Trap Company
JR Pederson
PO BOX 58226
Fairbanks AK 99711
cell# 907-378-7291
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Re: Caliber? [Re: Coulter] #7174750
02/09/21 12:41 AM
02/09/21 12:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 625
AK / ND
A
aknome Offline
trapper
aknome  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 625
AK / ND
300 Win. & 375 H&H.
Autos are OK for rabbit guns, not for something that might eat you.
I've even seen bolt guns not fire up here because of lube freezing firing pins.

Re: Caliber? [Re: takeit] #7175163
02/09/21 01:01 PM
02/09/21 01:01 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 765
Anchorage, Alaska
broncoformudv Offline
trapper
broncoformudv  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 765
Anchorage, Alaska
Originally Posted by takeit
the 45-70 would definitely be out for me. I'd rather carry a 12 ga, with slugs, buck and bird shot, so that I'd have some versatility. The 45-70 is way too short ranged for me. It drops like a stone beyond 150m and drifts in the wind like a balloon. I"d take an 06, myself in an autoloader like a Rem 748, An animal can take a step just as you fire, or an unseen twig can defelct the bullet enough to get only a crippling hit. You might want to take out a wolf pack or a bunch of coyotes or even have to deal with crazy people. You dont want a bolt action for any of that or even a lever or pump action. You'll have all you can do to focus on sights, trigger and recoil recovery., without adding the complication of working an action. The gas op auto also softens felt recoil. Make sure the length of pull is correct, after you've added a shotgun recoil pad. This will enable you to shoot more, without developing a flinch. Those calibers you speak of really belt you.



Wow I think you would be in the minority on this train of thought....

Most shots up here are 200 yards or less not to mention 45-70's and 375 H&H's don't have that bad of a recoil compared to some of the belted magnums. We all dream of getting to shoot a pack of wolves or coyotes but that just isn't the case and most of us can cycle a bolt pretty darn quick if the need arises.

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