Thanks to everyone about to read my post! I am currently in the process of booking a 22 day Dall Sheep, Moose, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Caribou and incidental wolf hunt in Alaska for 2023. Truely a dream come true, once in my lifetime event that I hope is everything I have made it out to be. With that said my dilemma is yes the hunt is a few years out but Im buying a new rifle now for comfort with it hunting for a few years and to be frank just cause I like guns! I live in Colorado and have been hunting all big game here for 21 years now, 8 of which with my current 300 RUM in Sendero. Its a bit heavy for my liking but when I bought it it didnt matter to me and I have made due with carrying it for miles each year. My fear is its going to be just too heavy for a 22 day hunt in Alaska and the extremes of that environment moving with it on my pack and in hand.
I think the 300 RUM, if im not mistaken, is a quality round for the game Im after but Im having a hard time finding a less than 5 pound version with a barrel of 26 in as basically required for the ballistics of the round. Which brings me to ask this question of you all. I recently fondled two rifles at my local Cabelas.....A Kimber Mountain Ascent in 280AI and a Howa 1500 in 375 Ruger. Both of these rifles are meeting my weight restrictions (The Howa is close so Ill have to double check exacts). Im usually a fan of Weatherby rounds and prior to my 300 RUM thats all I liked but the rifles are heavy so I eliminated that route (I Think).
Do you all think a 280AI is a good round for this hunt? Is a 375 Ruger good for a reasonable and responsible 500 yard shot on Caribu/Sheep/possible moose? The bears I know I gotta get close, but I dont wanna give up distance on some of the game Im chasing with a larger round like 375 Ruger?
Anyone have any other input I should be considering?
I think the 300 RUM, if im not mistaken, is a quality round for the game Im after but Im having a hard time finding a less than 5 pound version with a barrel of 26 in as basically required for the ballistics of the round. Which brings me to ask this question of you all. I recently fondled two rifles at my local Cabelas.....A Kimber Mountain Ascent in 280AI and a Howa 1500 in 375 Ruger. Both of these rifles are meeting my weight restrictions (The Howa is close so Ill have to double check exacts). Im usually a fan of Weatherby rounds and prior to my 300 RUM thats all I liked but the rifles are heavy so I eliminated that route (I Think).
Do you all think a 280AI is a good round for this hunt? Is a 375 Ruger good for a reasonable and responsible 500 yard shot on Caribu/Sheep/possible moose? The bears I know I gotta get close, but I dont wanna give up distance on some of the game Im chasing with a larger round like 375 Ruger?
Anyone have any other input I should be considering?