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NitroXAdministrator
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Four rifles for Alaska
      #359220 - 15/12/21 08:25 AM

https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/rifles-for-hunting-alaska/

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #359222 - 15/12/21 08:48 AM

Ironic..I read that article last night..

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Rod4861
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359224 - 15/12/21 09:46 AM

Blaser R8 Professional ......

If you're a magnum man get barrels in 375 H&H and 300 Winchester Magnum. If you're a practical type of man then get barrels in 9.3x62 Mauser and 30/06 Springfield.

Hard working Alaskan Red Necks will only need one barrel......308 Winchester. Or....an AR15 ....naturally in 223.

Anything with a timber stock......will be a pain in the arse.

Cheers
Rod

Edited by Rod4861 (15/12/21 09:50 AM)


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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Rod4861]
      #359225 - 15/12/21 09:59 AM

I think the article is another infovertisenent. To sell rifles.

Never hunted Alaska. Have hunted Norway and Sweden. With borrowed rifles. ErikD loaned me his 7x64 Mauser M03 Extreme model. Plastic stock. Sville loaned me his double rifle in 9.3x74R. Maybe I carried his Blaster .308 once as well?

For Alaska, I would choose my Mauser M03 Extreme in 8x68S and .404 barrels. Maybe take the walnut stock Alpine model M03 as well if two rifles were needed.

I would love to use a .375 Flanged double rifle there. Don't have one. Yet.

Have to work on the .404 one-day with lighter pointed bullets to see what sort of ranges it could handle for medium game. I have some 257 grain projectiles I have never used.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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szihn
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Reged: 24/06/07
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359226 - 15/12/21 10:16 AM

My sister lives in Alaska and their whole family hunts. All their friends hunt too. I have met and talked to about 30 of them myself.

There are 2 classes of hunters in Alaska (as with everywhere else too, I guess) Residents and non-residents.

My sister uses a 308 in a Winchester M88 lever action. My Brother in Law used a Mauser in 30-06. My nephew and Niece both use a 30-06 one Mauser and one older Mossberg. A few of their friends shoot other rifle calibers more, but most shoot 30-06, 270 and 375.


The most popular rifle calibers used by residents are:
#1st place 30-06. In front of other calibers in sales of ammo, by over 30%. (Note of interest. MOST factory 220 grain 30-06 loads are shipped to Alaska as compared to the other 49 states)
#2nd place 308 Win, 223 and 270 Win, ( a 3 way tie)
#3rd place 300 Win Mag, and 375H&H (another tie) Some years the 375 ranks in the 2nd place line.

22 LR and 12 gauge are also big sellers, and 44 mag is a big seller in handgun ammo.


That's according to ammo sales in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. My nephew worked at the gun counter in both Anchorage and Fairbanks and inventoried the ammo, so he was responsible for the re-orders. They sell some of about every caliber, but most non-residents bring guns and ammo with them, so the sales of other caliber are quite small compared to those I just listed.

He finds the articles like that one a bit amusing when the "experts" write so much about the latest's and greatest, but by far the largest majority of those that live there and hunt dismiss it as a sales pitch, for those getting paid to write such things.

I'll ask him what he thinks about a 284 as his next rifle......but I bet I know what he'll say when he's done laughing. It would be interesting to see how much 270 ammo they sell in a week compared to 284 Win in a decade. (A caliber designed to try to duplicative a 270 but in a modern lever action.)

According to the Alaska Fish and Game department, the caliber that is used to kill the largest percentage of Moose and Grizzlies is the old 30-06 by resident hunters. But that fact doesn't sell a lot of new stuff if it were printed in articles, so we don't read that very often.

Guides mostly carry big powerful rifles when working because they only shoot when things go bad, but nearly all of them also carry one of the gun/calibers above when not guiding. One of my B.I.Ls buddies (who died last year) had been a guide for 50+ years, and he carried a 375H&H and sometimes a 45-70 when guiding, but for his own hunting he preferred his old Winchester M70 in 270. He said he didn't know how many moose he's killed with that 270 since he was young and told me he's killed 12 grizzlies with it too.

Gear is great and fun to buy, use and discuss, but it's the man doing the shooting that is the most important part. Not the gun or caliber he's using. The new magazine articles don't motivate many residents in Alaska.
(or Wyoming, for that matter)
My bet is that it's the same in Oz, and also the African countries, where residents can still own guns and hunt.

Edited by szihn (15/12/21 10:28 AM)


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Hunter4752001
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: szihn]
      #359240 - 15/12/21 04:17 PM

I've long given up buying gun magazines. Got sick of them containing nothing but paid advertising dressed up as articles. Have come to the opinion that gun writers should put a red light on their articles just to highlight their true occupation!

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Ripp
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Reged: 19/02/07
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Hunter4752001]
      #359261 - 16/12/21 02:02 AM

Quote:

I've long given up buying gun magazines. Got sick of them containing nothing but paid advertising dressed up as articles. Have come to the opinion that gun writers should put a red light on their articles just to highlight their true occupation!






Wish you could be more direct and clear on your true feelings..

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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #359262 - 16/12/21 02:06 AM

Quote:

I think the article is another infovertisenent. To sell rifles.

Never hunted Alaska. Have hunted Norway and Sweden. With borrowed rifles. ErikD loaned me his 7x64 Mauser M03 Extreme model. Plastic stock. Sville loaned me his double rifle in 9.3x74R. Maybe I carried his Blaster .308 once as well?

For Alaska, I would choose my Mauser M03 Extreme in 8x68S and .404 barrels. Maybe take the walnut stock Alpine model M03 as well if two rifles were needed.

I would love to use a .375 Flanged double rifle there. Don't have one. Yet.

Have to work on the .404 one-day with lighter pointed bullets to see what sort of ranges it could handle for medium game. I have some 257 grain projectiles I have never used.




I have been fortunate enough to have hunted AK a few times.. have never felt the need for a .416 or a 45/70...

The author of this article in particular seems to embelish stories more than many.. self appointed expert on all things .. I frequently disagree with much of his info.. think of it as entertainment vs information I will use.. but, that's just me..

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85lc
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359271 - 16/12/21 03:52 AM

Gun magazines in the 1960s were great but they went downhill and the articles became more infomercials - after all, manufacturers buy ads in those magazines that mention their products and magazines need the money.

There are plenty of existing great cartridges and guns. I doubt anyone's hunt was ruined just because they used a cartridge (like 30/06) or gun (Savage 99) developed 100 years ago.

Only thing I am disappointed in is that I am not invited on one of those all expense paid hunting trios to shoot 2 - 3 monster deer with some wizbang gun and cartridge.

Of course, the writers do have a hard time. They are not highly paid and need to write something positive about a new cartridge that is 50 fps faster or drop a couple inches less at 500 yds than the 100 year old 30/06.

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RB


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260rem
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 85lc]
      #359296 - 16/12/21 01:16 PM

I'd be happy with my K95 in 30-06 big gsme and the 22 hornet barrel for small game, pretty much the same as I find here in Australia.
If I still had a 9.3 then it might get used, but honestly the 30-06 kills everything just as well, I don't even load it hot, just a mild 2800fps with a 150gn Ttsx from a 19" barrel.
I would use the 06 here on buff, but I wouldn't want to try and stop one with it if it wanted a piece of me. I'd load the 240gn Woodleigh for that, or a 180gn TTSX.
Although with the 9.3's I'd use the 286gn partition for everything, no need to change loads that's worked for me on everything from small pigs to buff.

I think there's too much reinventing the wheel these days, the same old rounds used 100 years ago still do the job just fine as they always have.
New rounds especially the magnums can give you much more range but more range is no substitute for being able to stalk and hunt.
But then most people spend more time at the range trying to shoot groups at various ranges or hitting gongs then they do learning to read the wind and walk quietly.
I'd imagine that's as true in Alaska as it is here, but a visiting hunter might feel that something with more legs might give them an edge if they can't get close, and if it's a once in a lifetime hunt then that might be to their advantage.
But you are always going to be better off with a gun and load that your familiar with then something bought just for one hunt, and gun shops are usually full of like new magnums that their original owners just couldn't shoot or found too uncomfortable.


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Rod4861
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #359343 - 17/12/21 07:44 PM

Quote:

I'd be happy with my K95 in 30-06 big gsme and the 22 hornet barrel for small game, pretty much the same as I find here in Australia.
If I still had a 9.3 then it might get used, but honestly the 30-06 kills everything just as well, I don't even load it hot, just a mild 2800fps with a 150gn Ttsx from a 19" barrel.
I would use the 06 here on buff, but I wouldn't want to try and stop one with it if it wanted a piece of me. I'd load the 240gn Woodleigh for that, or a 180gn TTSX.
Although with the 9.3's I'd use the 286gn partition for everything, no need to change loads that's worked for me on everything from small pigs to buff.

I think there's too much reinventing the wheel these days, the same old rounds used 100 years ago still do the job just fine as they always have.
New rounds especially the magnums can give you much more range but more range is no substitute for being able to stalk and hunt.
But then most people spend more time at the range trying to shoot groups at various ranges or hitting gongs then they do learning to read the wind and walk quietly.
I'd imagine that's as true in Alaska as it is here, but a visiting hunter might feel that something with more legs might give them an edge if they can't get close, and if it's a once in a lifetime hunt then that might be to their advantage.
But you are always going to be better off with a gun and load that your familiar with then something bought just for one hunt, and gun shops are usually full of like new magnums that their original owners just couldn't shoot or found too uncomfortable.




Yep Speedy, pretty much agree with most of that….just so long as you’re not chasing Brown bears up close and personal with a single shot. But then again, as a non resident alien, you will not be on your own and the guide will be well armed…..or wearing running shoes…,,,,or maybe both.

Rod


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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Rod4861]
      #359360 - 18/12/21 04:08 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I'd be happy with my K95 in 30-06 big gsme and the 22 hornet barrel for small game, pretty much the same as I find here in Australia.
If I still had a 9.3 then it might get used, but honestly the 30-06 kills everything just as well, I don't even load it hot, just a mild 2800fps with a 150gn Ttsx from a 19" barrel.
I would use the 06 here on buff, but I wouldn't want to try and stop one with it if it wanted a piece of me. I'd load the 240gn Woodleigh for that, or a 180gn TTSX.
Although with the 9.3's I'd use the 286gn partition for everything, no need to change loads that's worked for me on everything from small pigs to buff.

I think there's too much reinventing the wheel these days, the same old rounds used 100 years ago still do the job just fine as they always have.
New rounds especially the magnums can give you much more range but more range is no substitute for being able to stalk and hunt.
But then most people spend more time at the range trying to shoot groups at various ranges or hitting gongs then they do learning to read the wind and walk quietly.
I'd imagine that's as true in Alaska as it is here, but a visiting hunter might feel that something with more legs might give them an edge if they can't get close, and if it's a once in a lifetime hunt then that might be to their advantage.
But you are always going to be better off with a gun and load that your familiar with then something bought just for one hunt, and gun shops are usually full of like new magnums that their original owners just couldn't shoot or found too uncomfortable.




Yep Speedy, pretty much agree with most of that….just so long as you’re not chasing Brown bears up close and personal with a single shot. But then again, as a non resident alien, you will not be on your own and the guide will be well armed…..or wearing running shoes…,,,,or maybe both.

Rod





Probably running shoes..


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DarylS
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359361 - 18/12/21 04:16 AM

I would not feel under gunned with my M70 in '06, nor with my Pedersoli 1886/71 in .45/70. That one seems to like 450gr. FN Bullet Barn hard cast at 1,700fps. Either would work for everything.
Of course, the 9.3x62's would as well.
-24 this AM at 9:15..

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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260rem
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359378 - 18/12/21 09:19 AM

I'd rather a 9mm,not for the bear but for the guide.
I can't out run crap, so putting one in the guides leg would probably give me all the advantage I need. :-}

I was once working under water putting up a tide measuring pole, it involved banging star pickets under water.
One of the guys I worked with knew I had a thing about sharks and said be careful as banging under water like that attracts sharks.
I told him that's why I had a pointed knife unlike the pry bar tipped knives everyone else was using.
He laughed and said you think that will save you from a shark?
I told him no, but if I stabbed him in the leg the shark would soon forget all about me.
He stopped laughing after that.


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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #359381 - 18/12/21 11:04 AM

Quote:

I'd rather a 9mm,not for the bear but for the guide.
I can't out run crap, so putting one in the guides leg would probably give me all the advantage I need. :-}

I was once working under water putting up a tide measuring pole, it involved banging star pickets under water.
One of the guys I worked with knew I had a thing about sharks and said be careful as banging under water like that attracts sharks.
I told him that's why I had a pointed knife unlike the pry bar tipped knives everyone else was using.
He laughed and said you think that will save you from a shark?
I told him no, but if I stabbed him in the leg the shark would soon forget all about me.
He stopped laughing after that.




You reminded me of when I lived in town and the year was 1999... I was shoveling snow in my driveway from an overnight snow storm.. my neighbor who was very definitely a lefty come over and asked why I was not stock piling wood in case the Y2K scare hit and we were all without power and heat.. I asked him how many guns he owned.. He proudly told me he would NEVER own a gun.. I told him that's the beauty of it Clark... I told him I have dozens of guns, therefore if he has wood, I have wood..

He gave me a very nervous smile ..and walked back to his house.. didnt seem him until after New Years...

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DarylS
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359382 - 18/12/21 12:27 PM

Now THAT'S funny. Almost as good as an NRA sign with an arrow pointing to next door saying, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN FIREARMS FOR HOME PROTECTION, I DO.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: DarylS]
      #359391 - 19/12/21 03:50 AM

Quote:

Now THAT'S funny. Almost as good as an NRA sign with an arrow pointing to next door saying, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN FIREARMS FOR HOME PROTECTION, I DO.




I like the new sign.. "Due to ammo shortage, there will no longer be warning shots"...

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Hunter4752001
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359402 - 19/12/21 09:10 AM

Ripp. I like the humour. But I wonder if, in the event something actually happened, would a malevolent prosecutor would try and twist it into being a sign of premeditation?

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260rem
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Hunter4752001]
      #359405 - 19/12/21 10:13 AM

I'd rather a chainsaw for home protection here, if you use a gun, even if it's unloaded then your going to face prosecution.
But if it's 2am and someone is breaking into your house and they hear a shotgun rack, they think "oh I could die here, but start up a chainsaw and they think" christ, what kind of psycho lives her, I'm getting the F out of here.

An electric saw doesn't have quite the same fear factor, but you can just grab it and it's ready to rock.

This is a bit far from a 4 gun choice now :-)

If I had one gun then I'd go for something that's light, very weather resistant and would work on small game and large stuff, if I bought a gun just for that type of hunting then I'd get a drilling and a synthetic stock for it.

I'd probably choose a 9.3x74R barrel over a couple of 12ga or 20ga barrels.
That way you have the ability to hunt small game, two slugs for bear defence and a rifle that will kill any game at any range I'm comfortable shooting at.
Although it would be a bit heavy.
Although I would be just as happy from a pure hunting stand point if I could put a synthetic stock on my K95, unfortunately it's a Stutzen so nobody makes one for it.
But I would still be plenty happy with it, a 30/06 in the vitals will kill anything and its not too big if a boot in a light gun that you have to worry about recoil.
You will ALWAYS be better off with a gun that your comfortable with and accurate with then something bigger that you bought just for a few hunting situations.
I think that the 06 is so popular there for reasons like that, it's mild to shoot, can handle heavy or light pills, it's flat out to 500m (load dependant) and it's got the comfort of being a proven performer for obmver 100 years.
Many people that think they need a bigger gun, just need to be a better shot, size dies not make up for poor aim.
That's true no matter where or what you hunt.


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DarylS
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359413 - 19/12/21 11:26 AM

Quote:


I like the new sign.. "Due to ammo shortage, there will no longer be warning shots"...




Unfortunately, that is the sign on the shop door's window of the Ontario gun smith who was shot by police in his shop.
I expect this will definitely come out in the trial of the cop who shot him - if it even goes to trial, that is.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Hunter4752001]
      #359420 - 19/12/21 02:55 PM

Quote:

Ripp. I like the humour. But I wonder if, in the event something actually happened, would a malevolent prosecutor would try and twist it into being a sign of premeditation?




No Doubt..in todays world, anything and everything will be used against you in a court of law.. however.. as was proven with the very recent RIDDENHOUSE court case..you can still defend yourself here in the US with a weapon ..be it an AR-15 as was the case in this one.. or a handgun, shotgun, crowbar, hammer, doesn't matter.. IF you are in fear for your life, its go time..in most circumstances.. Which frankly, is why crime is generally so low in the western states. Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, etc.. EVERYONE has a gun.. either on them, in their house, car, motorcycle, ,whatever.. so you decide to screw with someone, that is a very real possibility..

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Ripp
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #359421 - 19/12/21 03:03 PM

Quote:

I'd rather a chainsaw for home protection here, if you use a gun, even if it's unloaded then your going to face prosecution.
But if it's 2am and someone is breaking into your house and they hear a shotgun rack, they think "oh I could die here, but start up a chainsaw and they think" christ, what kind of psycho lives her, I'm getting the F out of here.

An electric saw doesn't have quite the same fear factor, but you can just grab it and it's ready to rock.

This is a bit far from a 4 gun choice now :-)

If I had one gun then I'd go for something that's light, very weather resistant and would work on small game and large stuff, if I bought a gun just for that type of hunting then I'd get a drilling and a synthetic stock for it.

I'd probably choose a 9.3x74R barrel over a couple of 12ga or 20ga barrels.
That way you have the ability to hunt small game, two slugs for bear defence and a rifle that will kill any game at any range I'm comfortable shooting at.
Although it would be a bit heavy.
Although I would be just as happy from a pure hunting stand point if I could put a synthetic stock on my K95, unfortunately it's a Stutzen so nobody makes one for it.
But I would still be plenty happy with it, a 30/06 in the vitals will kill anything and its not too big if a boot in a light gun that you have to worry about recoil.
You will ALWAYS be better off with a gun that your comfortable with and accurate with then something bigger that you bought just for a few hunting situations.
I think that the 06 is so popular there for reasons like that, it's mild to shoot, can handle heavy or light pills, it's flat out to 500m (load dependant) and it's got the comfort of being a proven performer for obmver 100 years.
Many people that think they need a bigger gun, just need to be a better shot, size dies not make up for poor aim.
That's true no matter where or what you hunt.




Think you have been watching too many episodes of the movie series "TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE"..

Believe you are 100% correct, criminals that hear a 12 pump being racked certainly take notice..big deterrent.. have 2 sitting in corners at the ranch house.. one out each entrance..

Also agree with your choice of the 30-06..ammo for that all over the world.. similar reason I took a 375 to Cameroon..They are notorious for your gun or ammo not showing up..and mine didn't.. glad I took what I did..

30-06 will kill anything over there in the correct circumstances, bullet type and as you state, shot placement.. however have been in a few predicaments there where the .416 felt mighty fine to have in the hands..

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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260rem
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359424 - 19/12/21 03:54 PM

I used to hunt everything with the 375H&H, if I was a one gun big game hunter that also hunted dangerous game then that would the calibre I still use.
What, well it has the trajectory of a 30/06 but with a hell of a lot more stopping power and still is very manageable to shoot.

I'm not in that situation and the biggest game I hunt now are Sambar so the 30-06 is plenty for my needs. In Alaska the only animal I'd be hesitant to stand in front of with one would be a big brown bear but then I wouldn't want to be up close in a stand-off with one if I was holding a 375H&H either.
But at a distance I'd hunt one with a 30-06 no problem. With modern bullets and the sheer variety of them that one calibre can do all but the dangerous game.
I've loaded mine with trailboss and 110gn HP's for small game, even with 110gn semi jacketed pills and that's accurate enough to head shoot small game out to 100m, or won't do excessive damage with a chest shot so it's great for camp meat.
I've got a 130gn woodleigh load that's great out to 500m, although not much past that as the SD starts to take its toll.
I use a 150gn TTSX at a moderate 2800fps for deer and camels along with a 168gn TTSX load I'd be comfortable using on Buff if they weren't coming at me.
I've got a 220gn RN load that's great for close country hunting, it really does it all.

The secret to making it all work is accurate return to zero scope mounts, with the options we have these days you really can be a one gun hunter if you have the right scope and load for whatever type of hunting you might want to do.

So for Alaska if I Waa taking one gun and doing multiple hunts I'd take the 30-06 and use say athe 130gn load in probably a nosler BT with a 5-15x scope for goat or sheep then switch to a 2-7x36 and the 150gn Ttsx for deer/caribou/moose or black bear and load up either the 220gn RN or 168gn TTSX and a 1-4x scope for grizzly, I might even take a 2-7 or fixed 6x with the trail boss loads for grouse or beaver.

That's the versatility of a modern hunting rifle and scope, beyond that it really doesn't matter if you have a 300WSM, 270win or a 7mm rem MAG, you can taylor just about any calibre to hunt like that.

--------------------
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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Hunter4752001]
      #359430 - 19/12/21 07:00 PM

Quote:

Ripp. I like the humour. But I wonder if, in the event something actually happened, would a malevolent prosecutor would try and twist it into being a sign of premeditation?




As previously stated..for now..not uncommon for this to happen here..in the more populated areas..we r still allowed to protect ourselves..hence the 8 MILLION new gun owners in the last 3 years..

https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A...clleA1WUW4DHx0I

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39066
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359451 - 20/12/21 03:10 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Ripp. I like the humour. But I wonder if, in the event something actually happened, would a malevolent prosecutor would try and twist it into being a sign of premeditation?




As previously stated..for now..not uncommon for this to happen here..in the more populated areas..we r still allowed to protect ourselves..hence the 8 MILLION new gun owners in the last 3 years..

https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A...clleA1WUW4DHx0I




As far as I know, self protection is still legal in defence here in South Aust. It is not legal to own a firearm for this purpose as ridiculous as that is. But if a person feels in danger, a firearm may be used if they personally feel they are in danger. Last time I saw it tested in court at least.


Putting up a sticker "Protected by Smith and Wesson" or similar would be very stupid. Legally it would be construed as an admission of intent. And also an advertisement to crims to steal your firearms.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #359453 - 20/12/21 03:18 PM

Quote:

With modern bullets and the sheer variety of them that one calibre can do all but the dangerous game.
I've loaded mine with trailboss and 110gn HP's for small game, even with 110gn semi jacketed pills and that's accurate enough to head shoot small game out to 100m, or won't do excessive damage with a chest shot so it's great for camp meat.
I've got a 130gn woodleigh load that's great out to 500m, although not much past that as the SD starts to take its toll.
I use a 150gn TTSX at a moderate 2800fps for deer and camels along with a 168gn TTSX load I'd be comfortable using on Buff if they weren't coming at me.
I've got a 220gn RN load that's great for close country hunting, it really does it all.

The secret to making it all work is accurate return to zero scope mounts, with the options we have these days you really can be a one gun hunter if you have the right scope and load for whatever type of hunting you might want to do.

So for Alaska if I Waa taking one gun and doing multiple hunts I'd take the 30-06 and use say athe 130gn load in probably a nosler BT with a 5-15x scope for goat or sheep then switch to a 2-7x36 and the 150gn Ttsx for deer/caribou/moose or black bear and load up either the 220gn RN or 168gn TTSX and a 1-4x scope for grizzly, I might even take a 2-7 or fixed 6x with the trail boss loads for grouse or beaver.




How many scopes do you have for this one rifle? Out of interest. What brand scopes? What qd mounts? Thanks.

Might get confusing.

I always try to double check my Mauser M03 when changing barrels and scopes. Just in Saturday put on the .222 barrel and its scope. Test shot it, ok at 25 mm high at 60 paces. Fine for brain shooting at fallow bucks in the paddocks.

Larger calibres and bigger targets, maybe less precise return to aim needed.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26414
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #359464 - 20/12/21 04:03 PM

With the .375's I've had, every one of them has put different bullet weights into the same basic group at 100yards, or meters.
My old Oberndorf 9.3x62 does the same, and so did the 9.3x57.
The .30/06 doesn't do this, nor does my 6.5x55. Close, but not as close as the larger bores.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Rod4861
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Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 243
Loc: Queensland, Australia
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #359465 - 20/12/21 04:09 PM

Quote:

Quote:

With modern bullets and the sheer variety of them that one calibre can do all but the dangerous game.
I've loaded mine with trailboss and 110gn HP's for small game, even with 110gn semi jacketed pills and that's accurate enough to head shoot small game out to 100m, or won't do excessive damage with a chest shot so it's great for camp meat.
I've got a 130gn woodleigh load that's great out to 500m, although not much past that as the SD starts to take its toll.
I use a 150gn TTSX at a moderate 2800fps for deer and camels along with a 168gn TTSX load I'd be comfortable using on Buff if they weren't coming at me.
I've got a 220gn RN load that's great for close country hunting, it really does it all.

The secret to making it all work is accurate return to zero scope mounts, with the options we have these days you really can be a one gun hunter if you have the right scope and load for whatever type of hunting you might want to do.

So for Alaska if I Waa taking one gun and doing multiple hunts I'd take the 30-06 and use say athe 130gn load in probably a nosler BT with a 5-15x scope for goat or sheep then switch to a 2-7x36 and the 150gn Ttsx for deer/caribou/moose or black bear and load up either the 220gn RN or 168gn TTSX and a 1-4x scope for grizzly, I might even take a 2-7 or fixed 6x with the trail boss loads for grouse or beaver.




How many scopes do you have for this one rifle? Out of interest. What brand scopes? What qd mounts? Thanks.

Might get confusing.

I always try to double check my Mauser M03 when changing barrels and scopes. Just in Saturday put on the .222 barrel and its scope. Test shot it, ok at 25 mm high at 60 paces. Fine for brain shooting at fallow bucks in the paddocks.

Larger calibres and bigger targets, maybe less precise return to aim needed.




Absolute return to zero after barrel and or scope changes is a Blaser thing…….so I guess you’ll never understand it.


Rod

Cheesy grin icon needed


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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #359474 - 21/12/21 12:21 AM

Quote:

Quote:

With modern bullets and the sheer variety of them that one calibre can do all but the dangerous game.
I've loaded mine with trailboss and 110gn HP's for small game, even with 110gn semi jacketed pills and that's accurate enough to head shoot small game out to 100m, or won't do excessive damage with a chest shot so it's great for camp meat.
I've got a 130gn woodleigh load that's great out to 500m, although not much past that as the SD starts to take its toll.
I use a 150gn TTSX at a moderate 2800fps for deer and camels along with a 168gn TTSX load I'd be comfortable using on Buff if they weren't coming at me.
I've got a 220gn RN load that's great for close country hunting, it really does it all.

The secret to making it all work is accurate return to zero scope mounts, with the options we have these days you really can be a one gun hunter if you have the right scope and load for whatever type of hunting you might want to do.

So for Alaska if I Waa taking one gun and doing multiple hunts I'd take the 30-06 and use say athe 130gn load in probably a nosler BT with a 5-15x scope for goat or sheep then switch to a 2-7x36 and the 150gn Ttsx for deer/caribou/moose or black bear and load up either the 220gn RN or 168gn TTSX and a 1-4x scope for grizzly, I might even take a 2-7 or fixed 6x with the trail boss loads for grouse or beaver.




How many scopes do you have for this one rifle? Out of interest. What brand scopes? What qd mounts? Thanks.

Might get confusing.

I always try to double check my Mauser M03 when changing barrels and scopes. Just in Saturday put on the .222 barrel and its scope. Test shot it, ok at 25 mm high at 60 paces. Fine for brain shooting at fallow bucks in the paddocks.

Larger calibres and bigger targets, maybe less precise return to aim needed.




Blaser QD mounts, 100% return to zero every time.
I've got 2 barrels for that gun and so far 5 scopes, but that's only because two lots of mounts I ordered from the states ended up getting refund due to covid delays.
The 30-06 currently has two 2-7x36 Kahles scopes and a 1-4 Leupold Spot hog. Ones zeroed for the 150gn TTSX and the 130gn Woodleigh shoots just under a half inch higher. One is zeroed for nothing atm as I pulled the trail boss loads now I've got the 2nd barrel but will be used as a back up or pulled so I can get a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40mm for it when I'm in more open country.
The 1-4 spot hog is zeroed for the 220gn sierra for close country hunts and pig country.
The other barrel is a 22 hornet that has 2-7x36 Kahles for stalking and a 6-24x Japanese Tasco (for nostalgic reasons) as a spotlighting scope but that will probably get replaced as some nostalgia is best remembered and not relived.
And I have another 2-7x36 Kahles for it, an older one I've had for years that I've developed some trailboss loads for, one at 1450fps and one at 1030fps that makes a great quiet load for bunnies ect around camp.
Interestingly even the 1450fps load sounds a bit quieter to me then even a subsonic 22lr so it's a great plinking load too.

I also have plans for either a NV or thermal scope down the track.

Thats flexibility and now that I write it all down, possibly overkill.


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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #359477 - 21/12/21 03:52 AM

I have hunted here in MT and around the planet a lot..using a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14---for the better part of 30 years.. sneaking through the woods hunting elk, hunting sheep in the badlands, shooting leopard in Africa and ibex in Kygzstan.. Have never felt the need for a diff scope than what I was using..

I also have a 3-10 Swaro on my .375H&H --all I ever need.. The miliary used a max of 10X scopes for years shooting out to 1000 yards..

I personally feel there is a thing as too much scope.. When at long range schools or in my back yard.. even out ot 1000+ I seldom use anything over 17X... each to their own, just how I do it..



--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Ripp]
      #359495 - 21/12/21 09:03 AM

I've definitely got a fondness for not over scoping a rifle, I learnt long ago that lack of field of vew and over scope a rifle causes more missed opportunities on game then lack of magnification does.
Spotlighting is the only exception to that rule, and wide open country where shots always exceed 300m.
I find the 2-7 absolutely perfect, even medium sized fame is easy enough to hit at 300m with that power, but in close 2x or even open sights are my preference.
Even when I shot LR goats out to 800m a lot my s ope of choice was a 3.5-10x leupold Mark IV. I tried a 6-20x Mark IV but it was too big when stalking and too much power when shooting at multiple animals.


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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #359507 - 21/12/21 01:57 PM

I will say--for long range--I personally like this scope above all others at this point. I am sure in this ever evolving world someone has a better mousetrap.. but today, this is my fav.. in particular the reticle with the center dot..

https://www.kahles.at/us/sport/riflescopes/k525i-5-25x56i

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #360619 - 18/01/22 02:26 AM

1) .30-06
2) .375 HH
3) .30-06
4) .375 HH


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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26414
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: rigbymauser]
      #360620 - 18/01/22 05:25 AM

Quote:

1) .30-06
2) .375 HH
3) .30-06
4) .375 HH




I quite agree, except a well loaded 9.3x62 could be subbed for the .375 quite nicely.

"When chasing the spotted buck, be prepared to meet a tiger"

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: DarylS]
      #360624 - 18/01/22 07:10 AM

Quote:

Quote:

1) .30-06
2) .375 HH
3) .30-06
4) .375 HH




I quite agree, except a well loaded 9.3x62 could be subbed for the .375 quite nicely.

"When chasing the spotted buck, be prepared to meet a tiger"




Yep..9,3mm will be good. Once a 300grain goes +2300 ft/sec something starts to happen regardless if its a 9,3mm or a 9,5mm.


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: Rod4861]
      #360961 - 24/01/22 12:45 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

With modern bullets and the sheer variety of them that one calibre can do all but the dangerous game.
I've loaded mine with trailboss and 110gn HP's for small game, even with 110gn semi jacketed pills and that's accurate enough to head shoot small game out to 100m, or won't do excessive damage with a chest shot so it's great for camp meat.
I've got a 130gn woodleigh load that's great out to 500m, although not much past that as the SD starts to take its toll.
I use a 150gn TTSX at a moderate 2800fps for deer and camels along with a 168gn TTSX load I'd be comfortable using on Buff if they weren't coming at me.
I've got a 220gn RN load that's great for close country hunting, it really does it all.

The secret to making it all work is accurate return to zero scope mounts, with the options we have these days you really can be a one gun hunter if you have the right scope and load for whatever type of hunting you might want to do.

So for Alaska if I Waa taking one gun and doing multiple hunts I'd take the 30-06 and use say athe 130gn load in probably a nosler BT with a 5-15x scope for goat or sheep then switch to a 2-7x36 and the 150gn Ttsx for deer/caribou/moose or black bear and load up either the 220gn RN or 168gn TTSX and a 1-4x scope for grizzly, I might even take a 2-7 or fixed 6x with the trail boss loads for grouse or beaver.




How many scopes do you have for this one rifle? Out of interest. What brand scopes? What qd mounts? Thanks.

Might get confusing.

I always try to double check my Mauser M03 when changing barrels and scopes. Just in Saturday put on the .222 barrel and its scope. Test shot it, ok at 25 mm high at 60 paces. Fine for brain shooting at fallow bucks in the paddocks.

Larger calibres and bigger targets, maybe less precise return to aim needed.




Absolute return to zero after barrel and or scope changes is a Blaser thing…….so I guess you’ll never understand it.


Rod

Cheesy grin icon needed




Mauser M03 is probably the same. Except for my .222 I demand precise results. Brain shooting deer. Head shots on rabbits, hares, foxes. Assuming after a barrel and qd scope change it is spot on is not on. I check. Maybe a half inch or not. I do rough checks only sometimes with a rough rest.

Hunting medium game with normal shots never a problem.

The mounts are probably made in the same place anyway.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39066
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Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: 260rem]
      #360963 - 24/01/22 12:54 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

With modern bullets and the sheer variety of them that one calibre can do all but the dangerous game.
I've loaded mine with trailboss and 110gn HP's for small game, even with 110gn semi jacketed pills and that's accurate enough to head shoot small game out to 100m, or won't do excessive damage with a chest shot so it's great for camp meat.
I've got a 130gn woodleigh load that's great out to 500m, although not much past that as the SD starts to take its toll.
I use a 150gn TTSX at a moderate 2800fps for deer and camels along with a 168gn TTSX load I'd be comfortable using on Buff if they weren't coming at me.
I've got a 220gn RN load that's great for close country hunting, it really does it all.

The secret to making it all work is accurate return to zero scope mounts, with the options we have these days you really can be a one gun hunter if you have the right scope and load for whatever type of hunting you might want to do.

So for Alaska if I Waa taking one gun and doing multiple hunts I'd take the 30-06 and use say athe 130gn load in probably a nosler BT with a 5-15x scope for goat or sheep then switch to a 2-7x36 and the 150gn Ttsx for deer/caribou/moose or black bear and load up either the 220gn RN or 168gn TTSX and a 1-4x scope for grizzly, I might even take a 2-7 or fixed 6x with the trail boss loads for grouse or beaver.




How many scopes do you have for this one rifle? Out of interest. What brand scopes? What qd mounts? Thanks.

Might get confusing.

I always try to double check my Mauser M03 when changing barrels and scopes. Just in Saturday put on the .222 barrel and its scope. Test shot it, ok at 25 mm high at 60 paces. Fine for brain shooting at fallow bucks in the paddocks.

Larger calibres and bigger targets, maybe less precise return to aim needed.




Blaser QD mounts, 100% return to zero every time.
I've got 2 barrels for that gun and so far 5 scopes, but that's only because two lots of mounts I ordered from the states ended up getting refund due to covid delays.
The 30-06 currently has two 2-7x36 Kahles scopes and a 1-4 Leupold Spot hog. Ones zeroed for the 150gn TTSX and the 130gn Woodleigh shoots just under a half inch higher. One is zeroed for nothing atm as I pulled the trail boss loads now I've got the 2nd barrel but will be used as a back up or pulled so I can get a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40mm for it when I'm in more open country.
The 1-4 spot hog is zeroed for the 220gn sierra for close country hunts and pig country.
The other barrel is a 22 hornet that has 2-7x36 Kahles for stalking and a 6-24x Japanese Tasco (for nostalgic reasons) as a spotlighting scope but that will probably get replaced as some nostalgia is best remembered and not relived.
And I have another 2-7x36 Kahles for it, an older one I've had for years that I've developed some trailboss loads for, one at 1450fps and one at 1030fps that makes a great quiet load for bunnies ect around camp.
Interestingly even the 1450fps load sounds a bit quieter to me then even a subsonic 22lr so it's a great plinking load too.

I also have plans for either a NV or thermal scope down the track.

Thats flexibility and now that I write it all down, possibly overkill.




Interesting idea, multiple qd rings and scopes for different loads. Except many hundreds for the rings and thousands for the scopes.

I have found many times rifles will shoot reasonably with different loads. My Rem 788 .222 was like that. And my Parker Hale M98 .30-06 the same. No need to re-zero.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Re: Four rifles for Alaska [Re: NitroX]
      #361003 - 24/01/22 11:48 PM

Yes I've got many loads that shoot the same, in the hornet my Vmax load shoots .2 at 50m and the 40gn spear SP shoots, dead on at 50m, but my subsonic and 1500fps loads shoot way lower so it makes sence to have a second scope just for them.
Then with the 30-06 my stalking sxope is a 2-7x36 Kahles, Ut if I want to hunt on open country with long shots then having say a 3.5-18x Swarovski with custom turrets might be the go.
Or if you also want a thermal or NV scope for that rifle as well.

But the number 1 reason I like to have multiple scopes in qd rings on my rifles is if something happens to a scope when away on a trip, I can just swap them over in a second and I ready to go one.
I actually need to find a 1" blaser saddle mount to put my last spare 2-7x36 Kahles in as a backup scope for either the 30-06 or 22 hornet.


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