Which gun to take?

[Lars]

I what some input from you guys. I'm heading back to Alaska this fall for what will hopefully be second moose and first dall sheep. I need advice on what gun I should take. Both guns shoot extremely well. I have taken animals with both rifles. Now to break it down, my choices are to take my old (80's model) Remington 700 in 7mm rem. mag or my weatherby MKv in 30-378 Weatherby. I killed my last moose with the dirty .30 and am very comfortable shooting it. However it weighs in at about 9 lbs. with scope. The 7mm weighs in at 7 1/2 lbs. the hunt is a back pack hunt. (Every thing you need for about five days on your back) the 7mm will drop a moose just fine but I have a grizz tag in my pocket as well. I know it's about shot placement and the saying "shoot what you are comfortable with" but I shoot both well and like both rifles. Just want to hear the votes. Also considering selling my Weatherny MKV Deluxe and buying a Sako A7 and having it chambered to .300 Weatherby. Let's hear it.

[rondog]

Seems like that would be a personal decision you'd need to make for yourself. But, since you asked..... If the 7mm is powerful enough for the jobs, and lighter than the Weatherby, I'd probably consider that one. JMHO, I'm not a moose or grizzly hunter, nor a backpacker. I'd just assume lighter is better.

[bczandm]

Take 1.5 pounds out of the backpack, get a high quality sling for the 30-378 that really helps manage the load of the rifle and take it. Easy for me to say but given it's Alaska I think it's the way to go. Easy for me to say :)
As always post pictures when you get back and good luck, I wish I was going with ya!

[J]

Moose, 7RM is great. But I think I would want more if I happened upon a grizzly all of a sudden. Especially if you have to leave your moose kill hung overnight because you shoot near dusk. I'd want a BFG as I was walking back up to it in case mama-grizzly found it. There are at least a few outfitters in the Yukon that privately mandate a 300WM minimum for grizzly hunts, and prefer at least a 325WSM or bigger.

For me, I'd like a 338WM, 338LM, 340WBY or similar if I was out LOOKING for a big bear. I think all that steam behind the 30-378 with a heavy bullet will be just fine though. I personally think the 7RM is too small if you think you have a good chance of coming upon a grizzly at any sort of close distance.

[Lars]

Thanks for the opinions. It's a good thing that I have until August to decide. I met a guy that was from a village in the western part of Alaska and when we started talking about what caliber for Alaska he would say that he only used his big gun for bear and used his .243 for everything else. I asked him what his big gun was, his reply was a 7mm. I thought it was a little small for bear, but he says it always did the job.

[ray1970]

I've killed stuff with my 7 mag. I'd trust it to take down a large bear about as well as anything else.

I'd go with it because it's lighter.

(Just a little info, I always shoot the heavy bullets in my 7mm.)

[Lars]

Another option is my 7mm STW. Velocity gain over the 7mm and weight is right between the other two rifles.

[kidicarus13]

Another option is my 7mm STW. Velocity gain over the 7mm and weight is right between the other two rifles.

7mm STW- don't see those to often. Nice, hot caliber.