If you are like most in the frozen notth, you get to the lower 48 every year or so. Next time down go see George Caswell in Enid OK, or just call and talk with him (Champlin Firearms), plus you can talk about cartridges and the whatfor and whyfors of the various decisions. If you get to his place handle a bunch of rifles. Based upon his reputation...he will guide you right and not simply sell you a rifle. If I had the $$, I would be talking to him about a Johann Michelitsch .458 Win. Magnum (Austrian, 1957 vintage), and having them rechamber and re-regulate it to the .450 3 1/4 NE for you. That way you can use .458 bullets you can buy pretty much anyplace. If you shoot it as much as you should prior to your trip, the cost difference between +/- $70 for a box of 50 vs. $30 will add up PDQ. He has had this rifle on his site for a while and I suspect he would treat you well on that kind of purchase. Your chances of losing much money on that kind of deal wouldn't be terribly large, plus you would have a nice rifle for the alders in AK.

Second choice would be to join SCI and attend their annual convention the end of Jan. in Reno, NV. At that convention you will be able to handle and fondle, and ...every kind of double rifle imaginable, including double bolt guns, $300,000+ DR's, $10,000 DR's, and everything in between. Most (*but not all) of the larger DR dealers attend that convention and you can talk to them face to face. With one exception, I found them quite nice to talk to and interested in helping you to make a good choice for you, not necessarily them. FWIW.....Pilgrim