Hunting In Alaska: Selecting Bullets & Rifle For Big Games
When it comes to choosing a handgun and ammo, there are no easy solutions. The accuracy with which you fire is significantly more crucial than the weapon, cartridge, and bullet you use. Alaska is home to several very big game animals, including mature bull moose weighing 1600 pounds and coastal brown bears at 1500 pounds.
A moose or brown bear shot in the gut with a high calibre magnum rifle, such as the popular .17 hmr ammo, is injured but just as likely to survive as if shot with a small calibre rifle, such as the.243 Winchester. When it comes to accurate bullet placement in the crucial cardiac area, barrel size, cartridge weight, and velocity are minor considerations.
You might also like
The hunter must have a complete understanding of animal anatomy, the capacity to judge distance correctly, the concentration to take only gunshots that can be done with confidence, and the ability to fire successfully from lying, sitting, and standing positions. From shooting positions at the ranges you intend to fire, you should be able to accurately deliver a shot in the animal’s heart/lung area. Hunters kill animals efficiently and humanely with accurate bullet placement as long as the calibre is suitable and a reliable bullet is chosen.
The Quality of Bullet Is Important
You could be a good Alaska hunter if you have a rifle designed for the.270 Winchester, 7mm-08,.308 Winchester, or.30-06 and can aim all of your gunshots in an 8-inch small circle within 180 metres from a seated or standing posture. To be as successful as possible, these ammunition should be filled with high quality bullets designed to thoroughly pass a large game animal if hit in the cardiac area.
Heavier The Rifle, Lesser The Recoil
Instead of relying on a pistol grip to minimise recoil, choose a rifle that is heavy enough to do it. You may take a 9- to 11-pound rifle with a telescopic if you anticipate carrying out moose flesh. With a lot of work, a rifle of this weight in.300 or.338 magnum could be handled. You can prefer to avoid using a pistol grip by choosing an ammunition that you can fire smoothly and that you enjoy shooting while training on a regular basis. The.30-06 or 7mm Remington is the max limit of recoil for most hunters. The majority of hunters prefer.308 or .270 calibre rifles.
Firearm Selection For Hunting In Alaska
If you want to go hunting in Alaska, you should definitely consider a sophisticated bolt action rifle built of stainless steel and set in a polymer stock. A bolt action is preferred because it is technically simple, can be partially detached outdoors for maintenance, and is the most dependable action in adverse weather. Because it resists rust induced by rain or snow, stainless steel is ideal for Alaska hunting. However, because stainless steel rusts with time, it must be cleaned each day after outdoor usage.
Choosing A Cartridge For Hunting In Alaska
Alaska’s big wildlife ranges from the relatively small (deer, goats) to the continent’s biggest animals (brown bears, moose). Generally, hunters should use a higher calibre while hunting huge wildlife. The type of cover should also be considered while choosing a cartridge. Sheep and goats are usually always hunted on the mountains, where long-distance visibility reigns supreme. A compact, flat-shooting cartridge could be ideal in this situation. Deer in Southeast Alaska’s coastal woods are frequently shot at less than 20 yards.
Bullet Quality And Shape
The shape of the bullet is less significant than the caliber of the bullet and how successfully your weapon will fire a specific bullet. Some guns fire precisely with a pointed bullet, while others shoot effectively with a round-nosed bullet. You should experiment with high-quality rounds of both types to determine which load and shape delivers the best accuracy in your rifle.
To reach crucial organs, a bullet must be “hard” enough to enter skin, muscle, and even bone. It must also be “soft” enough to stretch and interfere with the function of these critical organs. This has been a constant challenge throughout the history of bullet manufacturing—finding the right balance between “soft” and “tough.”
Bottom Line
Alaska’s climate is challenging and conditions might get worse within a second. Therefore, hunters need to make all the arrangements to tackle such tough conditions and must choose the weapons and cartridges they are comfortable with. Moreover, it is recommended to keep backup or alternatives because your weapon might fail because of rusting due to water or ice. There are high chances that you have multiple misfires due to moisture in bullets.
Meta Title – All You Should Know About Big Game Hunting In Alaska
Description – Alaska is home to many wild animals and a favourite destination for hunters across the world. This post contains things you should consider while hunting here.
