Hi James,

Last time we lived in Alaska among the other rifles I owned and hunted with I had a 760 Carbine in .30-06 and a newer 7600 Rifle chambered for .35 Whelen. Frequently the 760 Carbine stayed in the truck rack. And it was stoked with either the 200 Nosler Partitions or at times factory Remington 220 Corelokts. (I grew up reading both Jack and Elmer and respected both of them for their accomplishments. But I figured the 760 Carbine was not what I would choose for really long shots anyhow....so I might as well have the guaranteed penetration " up close" with the increased sectional density of the longer bullets. The .35 Whelen might have the 250 Corelokts but was much more likely to be loaded with a 250 Nosler Partition. I carried it semi-frequently, but only on " walk-in" hunts, (couldn' t bring myself to put any of my wood and blue steel guns in an ATV gun boot when I had a SS synthetic Ruger 77 in .338 Win. Mag. There were a number of other rifles I carried at different times...depending on conditions....game hunted.....and probably most importantly - my mood! I never had any concerns with either of the pumps, though in all honesty, there was a time or two in really heavy cover I wished for something heavier than the .30-06. I know that .30-06' s with good 220 grain solids have been used quite successfully for elephant culling. But with the admission by the user' s that though it was more than adequate for culling when very precise bullet placement was possible......IT WAS NOT by any stretch of the imagination a " Stopper" . With wounded and or extremely agitated dangerous big game there is little substitute for caliber size, bullet weight, good sectional density....in addition to good shot placement. But under 90% of the conditions I hunted in Alaska...I felt just fine with those rifles in my hand. (Particularly for close to medium range Moose hunting. And not to " undergunned" in the event of bear problems.) Frequently I hunted with either a friend or family member...and you could count of the fact at least one of us was carrying a " good medium" or a stout packing gun. (Like a 12 guage with Brenneke' s or a carbine in heavy caliber, my favorite being a SAKO Mannlicher chambered for .375 H&H.)

P.S. I can' t wait to get back...feel like a kid the night before Christmas!