New Rifle Purchase

[lgall]

My wife just started a new job and she gets a decent discount on firearms.  I need a new rifle for all around use here in Alaska.  The problem that I have is that I was looking at a Remington 700 CDL SF in 30-06 limited for around $830.  I really like this rifle, but since it is a limited edition I was unsure about using it as an all around gun, especially with a walnut stock.  The problem is with my wife's discount at the store they do not carry Remington, but only Ruger.  They have both the stainless/laminated $460 and the stainless/synthetic $430.  They have the laminated in .338 and 30-06 and the synthetic in 30-06, .300win and .338.  I would probably replace the stock eventually on either as that is one of the drawbacks that I have about either.  I am not sure if the Remington is really worth the additional cost.  If I do decide to get the ruger I am debating over the 30-06 in laminated or the .300win in synthetic.  I would replace the stock with a bell and carlson camo finished synthetic stock <$200.  As for caliber I will be hunting moose, caribou, black bear, and brown bear.  As for scope I will be putting a Leopold VXII 3-9x40 matte.  I was also looking at possibly putting a Timmeny Trigger on the Ruger.  Even with all the additional costs of the aftermarket parts it is still less then the Remington.  Please give me your input on Rifle/Caliber choice.

[justsaymoe]

Congrats on your wife's new job!!   I would go for the Stainless/synthetic in 338.  no question

[Aardvark]

  I would definitely go with the 300 mag if I were in Alaska and I would go with a synthetic stock in that climate...Wood is nice to look at but composite is much better in extreme conditions...As fo the bigger animals, definitely go with the magnum.

[daddywpb]

I would get stainless/synthetic because of the harsh conditions, and .338 or better yet, .350 Rem Mag. You've got some big bears up there!

[jvs]

I dont normally recommend a Magnum, but in your case in Alaska, I figure it is better to have too much gun and not need it that to need more gun and not have it.

I would definitely go with the .338.  That should put a wallop on just about anything you might run into.

A .350 Mag or .35 Whelen would work too.  A .444 Lever Gun would fit the bill for up close and personal.

[safetysheriff]

i'd definitely go with the Ruger All-Weather.    i wouldn't think twice about that.   

i'd buy the .30-06 if you have a bad time with recoil.   otherwise i'd buy the .338 Winchester.

i wouldn't replace the stock, for my use.    i'd just buy some good ammo' with relatively-heavy-for-caliber bullets for this hunt.    Rem' Core-Lokts, or Core-Lokt Ultra's would be a good start, along with   Hornady Spire Points or Interbonds i'd expect.    BUT......i haven't hunted brownies as of yet.

take care,

ss'   

[Catfish]

If Brown Bears is on the list, definitely the .338. I would also recommend the All-Weather stock. They are butt ugly, but no matter how much you bang them or scratch them they don`t look any worse. I like nice wood, but have several of those ugly plastic one on guns that get beat around, and the weather don`t effect them either.

[deltecs]

Go with the .338 Win. and Ruger with synthetic stock.  The climate here varies as much as the game you've chosen.  It would be terrible if you lost a nice bear or moose because the stocked was warped or broken in a fall.  It is hard enough at most times to get to good hunting areas that one likes to minimize Murphy and his immutable laws.  You can always handload at reduced velocity with the heavier bullets and lesser recoil when after non DG.  It would also reduce the SAAMI pressure standards of the .338 Win, which are quite a bit higher by comparison with 06 parent cartridges.  It wouldn't hurt the .338 Win to operate in the 50,000 psi range or slightly below and not really effect trajectory or killing power.  I've lived and hunted here for over 35 years and the .338 Win would make a fine one rifle for everything.  There are better for big bears and there are better for sheep.  But this one will hadle them all very good. 
Greg

[Coyote Hunter]

Alaska?  I always felt f I was going to hunt Alaska it would be a good reason to get a .338 - not because I have a hankering to hunt bears (I don't but moose is high on my list), but rather because they might decide to hunt me.

Nothing wrong with Ruger, in fact they are my favorite.  I'd go with the stainless/synthetic.  It would get the trigger polished and the barrel floated and that would be it.

[tanoose]

Another vote for the SS  338