Gun Models and Calibres for Artic Conditions

well never hunted the arctic, but have hunted down to -25 C with my remington 700 30.06... now i have never shot at a polar bear, but have stopped a chargeing black bear in its tracks with a 30.06, so i would say 30.06 will definately fit the bill as a multi purpose gun... now if i was looking for a gun more for survivial up there, i would say something fast shooting, and reliable in the cold, like as you said a lever gun, but as others have said something with ammunition available... so maybe a browning blr in say 30.06. would stray away from semi's and pumps...

300 win mag. Bolt, iron sights. Easy!

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Originally Posted by grog

It probably doesn't matter what you use. The conditions in the arctic are not very much different then what you can see in much of the country at some point during the winter.

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uhhhh....ok

The arctic isnt much different then the rest of the country. OK. Right.

Thanks for the help and great stories! I was talking to a police officer who lived up there for 9 years and he said if he could do it again, he would get a stainless bolt action 30-06. With the salt water and often use of kayaks to get to places for hunting and the changes in hot to cold when going in and out, stainless is a must. I guess I will be saving for a bit!

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Originally Posted by blasted_saber

uhhhh....ok

The arctic isnt much different then the rest of the country. OK. Right.

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I would agree with him, -40C is found in most places in Canada at some point, just not for as long a period as in the arctic.
The worst thing for metal is the temperature changes, hot to cold and cold to hot causes a lot of condensation.

Being able to properly disassemble and clean whatever gun you choose will be your best bet, but I do like your idea for SS, it can only help you.

Small wonder that the Inuit's have been able to survive at all with their rusty old Lee Enfield's and lack of modern stainless...:rolleyes:

Everyone that I knew while living in whitehorse. Ran a bolt of some sort , pick a maker ? My abolt worked flawless up there and did manage a couple caribou hunt's at the arctic circle in Jan/Feb. The most popular calibre's what I saw in no particular order were .300 win mag ( mine ) 7mm , .338 win mag , .300 weatherby with the 30/06 as a distant 5th. A good low temp lube goe's along way. One thing you will find is it takes thing's a lot longer to develop rust ( being so dry ) just ask the bare metal in my truck bed, wouldn't rust move back to southern ontario in the summer and it took 2 week's to form a red haze on it. Have fun , good luck !!

On Adpost.com,FOR SALE: Remington 7400 (30.06) Must Sell (semi), been looking at it for 4 months....might take a deal http://www.adpost.com/ca/sports_games/6654/

Surprised KiloCharlie has not chimed in, he is in Yukon and is very knowledgable on guns for up north.

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Originally Posted by line052

On Adpost.com,FOR SALE: Remington 7400 (30.06) Must Sell (semi), been looking at it for 4 months....might take a deal http://www.adpost.com/ca/sports_games/6654/

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I hear those were jam-o-matics, but my uncle has one in 308 Win and it seems to be fine.