|
7MM's in Alaska
Any one from way up north tell me how well does the 7MM mag due up there. Always wanted to go up there (and some day I will) just wanted to know if I had the right rifle.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
By far you have enough rifle, just remember to get the correct ammo for the game you will be hunting.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
ORIGINAL: devil dog By far you have enough rifle, just remember to get the correct ammo for the game you will be hunting. |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
I once read a book about 2 brothers in Alaska using the 7mmmag and could not believe the killing power on grizzlys. I guess it depends on where you hunt but NEVER hunt alone up there..If your buddies are using 30cal or bigger it would be OK to use your 7mm...
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Except for the big bears, I don't see why it wouldn't be a great choice!
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
In the 25 years i lived in and hunted all over Alaska, i never felt undergunned with a 7mm Rem. Mag. loaded with 175NP's in my hands. There's not a brown bear alive, or anything else in Alaska that icouldn't drop with it...
I can't imagine someone thinking that you need a 30 cal gun to backup a properly loaded 7 mag... as the 7 mag. on a big bear will easily do anything the 30 will.... Includeing penetrate just as deeply to break a bear down... DM |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
ORIGINAL: rem 700 Except for the big bears, I don't see why it wouldn't be a great choice! |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
The 7 Mag has plenty of punch for moderate range on large game and long range on deer sized game. Choose your ammunition to fit the game and situation you will be hunting. 175 gr. partitions or other heavy jacketed bullets will do the job nicely. Shot placement is the key though. Be patient and wait on a good shot.
Personally, I would prefer my Browning .338 A-Bolt, but the 7 mag will do great things also. |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
im gonna have to give you some food for thought.if your going to hunt brown bears and spend over 10 thousand dollars for that hunt why bring a gun that may have question to it.i know shot placement and bullet selection will get the job done but i would at least move up to a 338 win mag. if you going up there to hunt other game then i would just stay with the 7mm with the right ammo. i would choose nosler partions or barnes x bullets and the heaviest bullets.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
160-175gr bullets work very well for moose, carabou, and bears. I don't see why 175gr bullet in the 7mm isn't enough but a 180 in 30/06 is? They are ballisticly identical. I know a couple people who hunt moose with thier 7mm and 162gr hornady and 160 accubond come pretty highly recomended. The 175gr bullets work fine for most bears, even the large coastal bears will die readily enough with a premium bullet thru the vitals.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Like the 30-06, it will take all NA big game if you can do your part. They have both done it many times.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
deleted
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
caribou are considered thin skinned animals. moose are killed easily with smaller calibers too but you cant get those animals confused with heavy boned dangerous game. its more than just the size of the animal. things can happen at the moment of truth and then there are those un-expected close encounters.i would rather have a 250 grain 338 than a 165 gr. 7mm. i know many are passionate about the caliber they use but i would let the type game choose the better caliber. i dont like any room for error.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Interesting that there seem to be a bunch of guys here saying that the 7mm Mag is plenty for big bears. In the Big Game section a week or so ago, there was a lengthy thread on whether the .300 RUM was enough for Browns and Grizzlies, or whether the .338 WM should be considered the absolute minimum...
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Interesting that there seem to be a bunch of guys here saying that the 7mm Mag is plenty for big bears. In the Big Game section a week or so ago, there was a lengthy thread on whether the .300 RUM was enough for Browns and Grizzlies, or whether the .338 WM should be considered the absolute minimum... It's fear that drives those same puter bear "experts" to proclaim you have to havethis or thatto kill a bear... Anything i say about big bears, is from experience, and not what i read someplace else... Maybe things have changed since i shot my last one?? DM |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Maybe it's evolution at work.... You've thinned out all the weak ones, and the new bears are harder to kill. Soon, nothing short of a .416 Rigby will work on them. ;)
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
hat's pretty funny about it all is.... How many of those "expert" opinions here, are from folks that have "actually hunted big bears"???? How many of those folks have even seen a big bear in the bush???? It's pretty funny when they sit there and argue there point too, as they just know there right!! It's fear that drives those same puter bear "experts" to proclaim you have to have this or that to kill a bear... Anything i say about big bears, is from experience, and not what i read someplace else... Maybe things have changed since i shot my last one?? ORIGINAL: ipscshooter there was a show on a while back where the hunter shot a couple cape buffalo with a 338 win mag and they dropped with no problems when the minimum recommended is 375h&h. his next couple didnt go down as easy as that. i guess if you want to roll the dice go ahead. every outfitter ive looked at recommends bigger than .284 caliber so its gotta be for a reason.there are also big differences between coastal browns and interior bears. dont have to be a seasoned brown bear hunter to figure bigger lead means business. Maybe it's evolution at work.... You've thinned out all the weak ones, and the new bears are harder to kill. Soon, nothing short of a .416 Rigby will work on them. ;) |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Maybe it's evolution at work.... You've thinned out all the weak ones, and the new bears are harder to kill. Soon, nothing short of a .416 Rigby will work on them.  DM |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
 |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Digg,
I agree with some of the other replies concerning using a cartridge with a larger frontal area such as the .338. Don't know if this is a once in a lifetime trip for you, or will become a habit, this factors into the decision. Unless you do a lot of elk hunting down there in Arizona, you probably don't need any rifle larger than a 7 Win Mag. If this is a once in a lifetime experience just load up the 7 Mag with premium 160's or 175's whatever shoots most accurately in your gun, and go for it. Otherwise add a rifle to your collection that is much more designed for this type of hunting, .325, .338, .375 etc. Like everything else, just depends on need vs. want, and how many pesos you have to spend. Anyway you look at it, your going hunting in Alaska, how can you go wrong? |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
I know that the bears are bigger in Alaska but a couple of years ago I harvested a big black bear that was around 500 lb. with my 7mm mag using a 175 grain bullet. Shot him at 40 yards and he didn't go far before he pilled up. If you are used to your 7mm mag then why not use it. Isn't it shot placement more important or am I way off here?
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
ORIGINAL: whitetaildreamer I know that the bears are bigger in Alaska but a couple of years ago I harvested a big black bear that was around 500 lb. with my 7mm mag using a 175 grain bullet. Shot him at 40 yards and he didn't go far before he pilled up. If you are used to your 7mm mag then why not use it. Isn't it shot placement more important or am I way off here? If shot placement were everything, we would be hunting deer with .22 Short, but we don't, because shot placement WILL take you far, just not so far as many claim it will. I would agree with using a .338 or .300 Win Mag if hunting the big bears (not black bear), so that you get better shoulder bone destruction, I hear 150-grain .300 Win. Mag. is great for expansion, and ruins lots of deer meat, but would probably fill the ticket for brown or grizzly bear, or generally if you fund a good grain, since many might say 150 grain is way too small, and a 220 grain 338 is called for or something, and that'sfine. |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
I would pay attention to followers post because it sounds like he's talking directly to you and your situation overall. Get the 7 Mag and use 160 to 175 grain bullets. And as always, pack some mace and at least a .45 caliber pistol along with a buddy who is carrying at least a shotgun.
Have fun - You're a brave soul. |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
I hear 150-grain .300 Win. Mag. is great for expansion, and ruins lots of deer meat, but would probably fill the ticket for brown or grizzly bear, or generally if you fund a good grain, since many might say 150 grain is way too small, DM |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
LOL sounds like a good way to piss a bear off and get used for a chew toy...:D
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
MAN is that the truth... And if you can handle the little extra recoil of the 338 WIN mag it is some bad news for ALL ANIMALS !!! The extra diameter and bullet weightreally is a benefit, when close encounters occur with nasty animals that can put a real hurt on you happen.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Bullet choice is most important. If yor are interested, there is a book written entirely about rifle bullets called "Rifle Bullets for the Hunter. A Definitive Study". It is a recent and the best book I have ever read on rifle hunting bullets.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
I forgot to add that shot placement is also one of the most important issues no matter what rifle you use. Although I would personally not take a 7mm mag to Alaska (I currently hunt Elk every year) I would rather someone had a caliber that they could hit something with and the right bullet than a huge caliber that they could hit anything with.
|
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
ORIGINAL: jcalabrese I forgot to add that shot placement is also one of the most important issues no matter what rifle you use. Although I would personally not take a 7mm mag to Alaska (I currently hunt Elk every year) I would rather someone had a caliber that they could hit something with and the right bullet than a huge caliber that they could hit anything with. |
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Well, since you are so amazed by my comment I will recommend a great source. There are several theories of stopping power for which I am sure you are already well versed. So this post is really for the folks that are not at your level of expertise. Some of the main theories regarding cartridge choice, shot placement, and killing power are purported by well know authors in our industry that a have more expertise in the field that I do (which is currently 37 years of continuous hunting experience).
I would suggest that anyone interested in learning more about the subjects of bullet choice, shot placement, cartridge choice etc… subjects examine a great book “Rifle Bullets for the Hunter” by John Barsness, Craig Boddingtion, John Haviland, Richard Mann, Ron Spomer and Bryce Towsley. It is a great read for the techies in the crowd. A top notch read. Now that we have been formally introduced it is nice to meet you pig_dog_02 |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:00 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.