300 RUM for Alaska??
12-05-2002, 06:26 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SE WI USA
Posts: 147
300 RUM for Alaska??
I am moving to Alaska in a month. I picked up a 300 RUM for some big game hunting up there. I don't reload, so I like to shoot 180 gr. Nosler partitions (rem factory ammo). I am wondering if this bullet and caliber is alright for everything in Alaska. Should I use the 200 gr. factory ammo (Nosler Part.)? Should I get a bigger caliber like a 338 Win Mag or 338 RUM? Or, is my 300 RUM with 180 Nosler Partitions adequate. I am planning to hunt everything I can, including Moose and Grizzlies. Let me know what you all think about what I am currently using, and whether or not I need a heavier bullet or a bigger caliber.
I also have a 7mm STW that I would like to use for the same purpose...what do you think about that? Again, I don't reload, so what factory ammo should I use (if any) for big Alaskan game?
Thanks,
Rob
I also have a 7mm STW that I would like to use for the same purpose...what do you think about that? Again, I don't reload, so what factory ammo should I use (if any) for big Alaskan game?
Thanks,
Rob
12-05-2002, 08:31 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 1,665
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
Rob, congrants on the move! I hope you enjoy it up here. Where abouts are you going to reside?
I have personally used a 30-06 on moose, and seen several taken with it resulting in one shot kills. The 300 should do just fine on everything in Alaska, but that is considered usually the minimum caliber from big brownies in south east. It will be adequate for interior grizzlies. I picked up 200 grain bullets for my 300 win mag, but have yet to chase anything with it, just practiced some at the range with it, and the 200 grains seemed to group better at 200 yards than the 180's. I haven't been in the gun seen for a while though, but I know enough for a basic answer at least.
The 7mm you have will be adequate for moose as well, many Alaskans use them regularly on them.
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's
I have personally used a 30-06 on moose, and seen several taken with it resulting in one shot kills. The 300 should do just fine on everything in Alaska, but that is considered usually the minimum caliber from big brownies in south east. It will be adequate for interior grizzlies. I picked up 200 grain bullets for my 300 win mag, but have yet to chase anything with it, just practiced some at the range with it, and the 200 grains seemed to group better at 200 yards than the 180's. I haven't been in the gun seen for a while though, but I know enough for a basic answer at least.
The 7mm you have will be adequate for moose as well, many Alaskans use them regularly on them.
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's
12-05-2002, 09:52 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 3,516
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
I would use the 200gr. Nosler Partition for the 300 RUM, and a 160gr. Nosler Partition, Fail Safe or a 150gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. You might want to get into handloading you will have a wider choice of bullets.
I own a 340 Wby. Mag., and I love it's preformance. One day I would like to use it for brown bear. Good luck
I own a 340 Wby. Mag., and I love it's preformance. One day I would like to use it for brown bear. Good luck
12-06-2002, 01:08 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SE WI USA
Posts: 147
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
ArcticBowman,
Thanks for the help. I am being stationed at Fort Wainwright up there by Fairbanks. I have never been to Alaska, so I begged the army to send me there. Luckily they decided to do what I asked. I am really looking forward to it, and I cannot wait to get out and see the country up there. Do you have any tips or advice for me before I arrive?
Rob
Thanks for the help. I am being stationed at Fort Wainwright up there by Fairbanks. I have never been to Alaska, so I begged the army to send me there. Luckily they decided to do what I asked. I am really looking forward to it, and I cannot wait to get out and see the country up there. Do you have any tips or advice for me before I arrive?
Rob
12-06-2002, 11:07 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 1,665
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
Rob, being that you are moving here during our coldest months, make sure to bring some decent cold weather gear. Don't get discouraged about the weather right away, give it at least 6 months so you can see that it does get light out, it does get warm out and you don't have to keep driving 20mph in a 55mph zone because the zambonie is smoothing out the ice in front of you on the Richardson Highway.
My advice here might not be very politically correct, but it is unfortunately true. Military in Alaska constitutes 15-20% of the licensed hunters, but create around 75% of the hunting violations. This stemming from older and more recent reports. That being said, I'd be careful on who you choose to go hunting with. I have been lucky and ran into the majority of military hunters that are legal and ethical, but unfortunately those numbers don't lie.
Good luck with the move!
My advice here might not be very politically correct, but it is unfortunately true. Military in Alaska constitutes 15-20% of the licensed hunters, but create around 75% of the hunting violations. This stemming from older and more recent reports. That being said, I'd be careful on who you choose to go hunting with. I have been lucky and ran into the majority of military hunters that are legal and ethical, but unfortunately those numbers don't lie.
Good luck with the move!
12-06-2002, 01:40 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SE WI USA
Posts: 147
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
ArcticBowman,
Thanks for the tip. I will do my best to stay away from troublemakers up there. I definitely don't want to be involved in anything unethical or illegal. And I certainly do not want to contribute to giving the military a bad name there or anywhere else for that matter. And I will also do my best to get my fellow soldiers to do a better job and respect your great state a little better. I am bracing myself for cold and darkness, but I think it will still be a bit of a shock. I will be there for the next 3-5 years, so I look forward to seeing the summer months as well.
Take care,
Rob
Thanks for the tip. I will do my best to stay away from troublemakers up there. I definitely don't want to be involved in anything unethical or illegal. And I certainly do not want to contribute to giving the military a bad name there or anywhere else for that matter. And I will also do my best to get my fellow soldiers to do a better job and respect your great state a little better. I am bracing myself for cold and darkness, but I think it will still be a bit of a shock. I will be there for the next 3-5 years, so I look forward to seeing the summer months as well.
Take care,
Rob
12-07-2002, 03:46 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: egypt
Posts: 1,994
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
Rob,
Just got out from WW. What ABM says is true! Some of the things you are going to see/hear (even witness) is going to be interesting to say the least! Disgusting after you have seen it for awhile if you havent already! If ya need some help let me know, I do have plenty of contacts still on WW as I just ETS'ed from uncle sams army. I can tell you stay away from Larry Bartlets float hunting Alaska book, you can get all this info from fish and game for FREE!
Make a game plan, (specifics, not everything) what you really really want to hunt, everything else is a bonus! (ie moose hunt, with a caribou tag in your pocket) Spend your 1st year in prep, but dont forget you can hunt military land with only a hunting lisc for 85 bucks, free tag (unsure on grizz but think its still the mandatory 1 yr as the rest of the state)! I can point ya in the right direction for that also. You have a SHORT time here, as it takes 1 yr to become a resident for hunting purposes, which puts you with 2 hunting seasons to make the most of unless of course you get an IPCOT. That will buy you more time to learn the land, make your game plans and get in a few more hunts.
Its NOT cold right now, just icy <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>! I am not sure where you are coming from but this winter is UNREAL! Stay off the ice if you get here and the weather stays the way it is....from what I hear BC is in the minus double digits right now, I figure we should start seeing some real Alaskan weather here soon. (I hope).
growing up in Mn the darkness is different, hopefully you have a family coming with you (and they are sponsered to keep you from loosing all your hair hehe), and you have some hobbies like planing and gear selection to get you ready for the up and coming spring and fall....not to mention unreal summer fishing!
be prepped to spend a ton of time on the road, on the phone, interenet, and talking to people to get information and go on hunts/fishing trips! like other things, the more you put into here, the more you get out of it, more so here then in other areas!
a 300 is plenty big for everything here, heck I use a hunk of wood and fiberglass and have killed almost everything in the state in my time here! careful on the 7mm, a perfect sheep and bou rifle, a lil light on moose, and definatly light on the big bears, JMHO!
Let me know when you get here, I am sure ABM and I being neighbors can show you enough to get you through a winter in photos (being we are neighbors) and cook up something wild, be it moose, caribou, salmon halibut, what have you!
btw Jerry, herd of another Army guy getting nabbed this year. Was going to use the same taxidermist my sheep is at. He lied on his time in Ak to hunt Brown/grizz and got nabbed!
Like ABM said, watch who you use as partners! They are likely to have spent as much time here as you have with little-very little knowledge!
When you get here, call the Alaska Outdoor Council and start showing up to there meetings and what have you. Also any other groups will get you exposed....learn the regs INSIDE AND OUT, and find a good partner and have fun!
Dan
aka Lilhunter
(some 2002 hunt photos)
http://community.webshots.com/user/lilhunter007
Just got out from WW. What ABM says is true! Some of the things you are going to see/hear (even witness) is going to be interesting to say the least! Disgusting after you have seen it for awhile if you havent already! If ya need some help let me know, I do have plenty of contacts still on WW as I just ETS'ed from uncle sams army. I can tell you stay away from Larry Bartlets float hunting Alaska book, you can get all this info from fish and game for FREE!
Make a game plan, (specifics, not everything) what you really really want to hunt, everything else is a bonus! (ie moose hunt, with a caribou tag in your pocket) Spend your 1st year in prep, but dont forget you can hunt military land with only a hunting lisc for 85 bucks, free tag (unsure on grizz but think its still the mandatory 1 yr as the rest of the state)! I can point ya in the right direction for that also. You have a SHORT time here, as it takes 1 yr to become a resident for hunting purposes, which puts you with 2 hunting seasons to make the most of unless of course you get an IPCOT. That will buy you more time to learn the land, make your game plans and get in a few more hunts.
Its NOT cold right now, just icy <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>! I am not sure where you are coming from but this winter is UNREAL! Stay off the ice if you get here and the weather stays the way it is....from what I hear BC is in the minus double digits right now, I figure we should start seeing some real Alaskan weather here soon. (I hope).
growing up in Mn the darkness is different, hopefully you have a family coming with you (and they are sponsered to keep you from loosing all your hair hehe), and you have some hobbies like planing and gear selection to get you ready for the up and coming spring and fall....not to mention unreal summer fishing!
be prepped to spend a ton of time on the road, on the phone, interenet, and talking to people to get information and go on hunts/fishing trips! like other things, the more you put into here, the more you get out of it, more so here then in other areas!
a 300 is plenty big for everything here, heck I use a hunk of wood and fiberglass and have killed almost everything in the state in my time here! careful on the 7mm, a perfect sheep and bou rifle, a lil light on moose, and definatly light on the big bears, JMHO!
Let me know when you get here, I am sure ABM and I being neighbors can show you enough to get you through a winter in photos (being we are neighbors) and cook up something wild, be it moose, caribou, salmon halibut, what have you!
btw Jerry, herd of another Army guy getting nabbed this year. Was going to use the same taxidermist my sheep is at. He lied on his time in Ak to hunt Brown/grizz and got nabbed!
Like ABM said, watch who you use as partners! They are likely to have spent as much time here as you have with little-very little knowledge!
When you get here, call the Alaska Outdoor Council and start showing up to there meetings and what have you. Also any other groups will get you exposed....learn the regs INSIDE AND OUT, and find a good partner and have fun!
Dan
aka Lilhunter
(some 2002 hunt photos)
http://community.webshots.com/user/lilhunter007
12-07-2002, 07:54 AM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SE WI USA
Posts: 147
RE: 300 RUM for Alaska??
ABM and lilhunter:
Gentlemen, thanks for all your help and advice. I am from WI, so I know a little bit about snow and cold weather, but probably not Alaska style cold weather. Unfortunately, I am not taking a family with me (I don't have one), and I don't know ANYBODY up there. If you don't mind, it would be great to exchange email addresses so I can get in contact with you once I get there. I land in Fairbanks on 30 Dec. I am 22 and brand new to the army, so it will all be an interesting adjustment. I am not brand new to hunting, however, as I have been hunting deer and everything else in WI since I was 13. The weapons I am bringing to AK with me are my 30-06, 300 RUM, 7mm-08, 7mm STW, and 12 gauge. I bowhunted deer in WI for 5 years, but when I went off to school, I didn't have time, so I sold my bow. I love bowhunting more than anything, and I would also like to get back into that. I will have to buy a bow and everything when I get up there I guess. Anyways...enough rambling...I am excited to get up there, and I could definitely use a little help/advice getting into the hunting scene up there. I hope we can all stay in touch!
Rob
Gentlemen, thanks for all your help and advice. I am from WI, so I know a little bit about snow and cold weather, but probably not Alaska style cold weather. Unfortunately, I am not taking a family with me (I don't have one), and I don't know ANYBODY up there. If you don't mind, it would be great to exchange email addresses so I can get in contact with you once I get there. I land in Fairbanks on 30 Dec. I am 22 and brand new to the army, so it will all be an interesting adjustment. I am not brand new to hunting, however, as I have been hunting deer and everything else in WI since I was 13. The weapons I am bringing to AK with me are my 30-06, 300 RUM, 7mm-08, 7mm STW, and 12 gauge. I bowhunted deer in WI for 5 years, but when I went off to school, I didn't have time, so I sold my bow. I love bowhunting more than anything, and I would also like to get back into that. I will have to buy a bow and everything when I get up there I guess. Anyways...enough rambling...I am excited to get up there, and I could definitely use a little help/advice getting into the hunting scene up there. I hope we can all stay in touch!
Rob