Gun Models and Calibres for Artic Conditions

Hello!
I hope everyone had a successful turkey hunt and a great fishing season!
I have a question for the knowledgeable and northern hunting members.

I recently accepted a job in a northern community and there should be opportunities to hunt a wide variety of large game. I am looking for a versatile gun model that could take down anything from a wolf to a bear. I am thinking a 30-06 is the way to go. The real question though is what model is a good "artic" gun? I am going to be up quite far north, with lots of heavy winds and snow close to 9 months of the year.

One model that I saw on another forum was the Marlin lever 45/70, but I think that is overkill.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

FYI,

Canadian Rangers are issued the .303 British calibre Lee Enfield No 4 rifle, with each user being provided with 200 rounds of ammunition every year.
While the bolt action Lee-Enfield has been out of general service in the Canadian military since the 1950s, it has proven to be reliable in the Arctic environment. Canadian Rangers carry the weapon primarily for subsistence and protection against predators rather than with the expectation of engaging an enemy force.
Rifle replacement[edit]

Owing to the decreasing availability of spare parts, the replacement of the Lee-Enfield rifle had long been expected and in August 2011 after user requirements had been determined,^[1] the Canadian Forces officially issued a tender request for a bolt-action rifle compatible with 7.62 NATO and .308 Winchester. Approximately 10,000 rifles were to be bought giving the system a service life of about 30 years. The new rifles were to be manufactured under licence by Colt Canada and to be in service by 2015.^[2]

Thanks guys! Another option in another forum was a bolt action stainless steel 338. Apparently better for protection against large predators than the 30-06. I guess more stopping power. But I think the 30-06 is probably more economical as far as ammo is concerned, right? I heard the leupolds have the best warranty on the market!

For a really practical gun get either a 303 Lee Enfield or Old Rem 700 in 270 or 30-06. Peep sights .....

I would suggest you also contact people up there and ask what calibers are easy to obtain up there.

If you pick something non-standard you better pack ammo too.

I would suggest a pump 12ga, that is what my buddy used while in the north. They had a pistol grip stock on it with a full length magazine ready for any polar bears that may have decided they were a meal.

On a lot of the forums guys are saying the 30-06 is best bet for versatility. These guys have lived up there, so it sounds like they know what they are talking about. Was just looking at the Winchester M70 Alaskan Bolt Rifle. Looks pretty nice! Not sure if it would hold up in the arctic though!

Its one thing to have a rifle for a ten day trip to the north, its another to have one for behind the front door, truck seat or skidoo cowling...

Waxied.

With respect your Savage Axis XP in camo that you're selling loaded with 180 grain partitions will also fit the bill.

But if you're dead set on buying a new gun, the Winchester M70 Alaskan in 30-06 is a nice one.

An older Remington 7600 in 30-06 caliber.....good to go

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

Waxied.

With respect your Savage Axis XP in camo that you're selling loaded with 180 grain partitions will also fit the bill.

But if you're dead set on buying a new gun, the Winchester M70 Alaskan in 30-06 is a nice one.

---

Thanks Blue. I have thought about that but I can only bring two guns in my luggage according to the airline rules. I am bringing up my 22 and 12 gauge. I am pretty dead set on getting a new gun that I can have shipped up there. I got it stuck in my head that a stainless steel is a gun that will last up there (especially with the salt water and temperature changes). If I don't sell it my buddy will store it for me, or maybe ship it up to me once I get up there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bdog

An older Remington 7600 in 30-06 caliber.....good to go

---

Is that a pump?

Good luck with the new job and move, Kieran!

Have you thought about a simple single shot action such as the Thompson/Center Encore? Not a lot of moving parts and you can buy interchangeable barrels to handle everything from gophers to bison. Plus shotgun and muzzle loader barrels.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by waxied

Is that a pump?

---

Yep, it's a pump, mag fed, very reliable and accurate, you can find them with a carbine barrel (18in.)also

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoldenLakePete

Good luck with the new job and move, Kieran!

Have you thought about a simple single shot action such as the Thompson/Center Encore? Not a lot of moving parts and you can buy interchangeable barrels to handle everything from gophers to bison. Plus shotgun and muzzle loader barrels.

---

Thanks Pete! I hope all is well with you!
Haven't thought about a single shot, in some of the articles I read hunters advised against it just in case there is a polar bear charging ahahhaha. Doubt much could save me anyway if that was to happen! I will take a look at those options though!

Take a look at a Ruger guide gun stainless,laminate stock with a 20" barrel with iron sights.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bdog

An older Remington 7600 in 30-06 caliber.....good to go

---

Im not sure I;d want a pump rifle in the arctic. Too may moving parts and finely machined pieces to get gummed up by freezing oil and gunk.

Theres a reason the Rangers use Lee Enfields. They're robustly made and a simple design. I'd opt for either the tried and true Lee Enfield or a Mauser style action bolt rifle.

If I was heading up there I would try and find out what calibers the Stores carry regularly. I suspect the most popular will be the 303, 30-06 and maybe the 270.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blasted_saber

Im not sure I;d want a pump rifle in the arctic. Too may moving parts and finely machined pieces to get gummed up by freezing oil and gunk.

Theres a reason the Rangers use Lee Enfields. They're robustly made and a simple design. I'd opt for either the tried and true Lee Enfield or a Mauser style action bolt rifle.

---

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.

when i worked in Inuvik we had "wildlife monitors" w/ 303 enfield, they were held together w/ baleing wire but were accurate to 100+ yds, the owners of these guns were my new best friends when we were in the field. I was amazed at how old the guns were, theri condition but they were accurate, one inuit that I worked w/ reguarly hunted w/ his, when I was there he shot seals and he gave me some muk tuk, its an acquired taste..... Lots of ammo for it up tehre - good luck on your adventure, bring whatever you can w/ you from teh south the prices in the north are amazing

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!

Quote:

---

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.

---

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!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blasted_saber

uhhhh....ok

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

---

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.

Quote:

---

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/

---

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fox

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

---

When not maintained properly you are correct otherwise they work fine.Having said that would I trust my life to one against a polar bear in -30 weather? prolly not. I would prefer a bolt in any of the calibers already suggested.Or a 12 guage pump with slugs.

An old reliable bolt action is what I would take and in 30-06.
Condensation is your enemy in the North. Once your rifle is cold keep it that way.

HA

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by line052

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

---

He can't type...he's using both hands to keep the skeeters and blacklies away.

A good Browning XBolt or Abolt in 7mm mag, 300mag or WSM and up.
A Stainless Stalker would be a great partner up there or anywhere!

I like 45/70.

Buy yourself a good bolt action 30.06 or .308. I would stay away from anything that is plastic. Like trigger guards, Bolt strouds, cheap stocks.



I would lean towards a nice Ruger MKII, Remington M700, Winchester M70 etc. Mostly the older guns, Stainless would be a good idea as well.



I seen a thread on another forum, Two local guys from Nunavut going Polar bear hunting, One has a .243 and other a .270 LOL

Harpoon.

G'day, my first post but figured I could relate since I lived In Iqaluit for three years.
In regards to what folks used for hunting two things surprised me.
First was how guns were cared for , in general they are not. I've witnessed the locals crawling into their boat which was left on the beach (winter storage) root around in the cargo hold and pull out a shotgun and when they worked the action an empty case flew out , lol. It's just a different mind set up there. It's nothing to see a what was a nice Rem 700 just bouncing around in the back of a kamatic, jammed in or tied onto a snowmobile running board, etc etc
Second thing was the use of light calibers, .223's .222's and .22-250 are common and used on pretty much everything. The only time the locals told me they needed something larger like a .338 etc was when they were shooting Narwhal.

Anyway in my opinion a good pump 12gauge and a bolt action in .308, .30-06 etc and you're good to go.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alleycat

G'day, my first post but figured I could relate since I lived In Iqaluit for three years.
In regards to what folks used for hunting two things surprised me.
First was how guns were cared for , in general they are not. I've witnessed the locals crawling into their boat which was left on the beach (winter storage) root around in the cargo hold and pull out a shotgun and when they worked the action an empty case flew out , lol. It's just a different mind set up there. It's nothing to see a what was a nice Rem 700 just bouncing around in the back of a kamatic, jammed in or tied onto a snowmobile running board, etc etc
Second thing was the use of light calibers, .223's .222's and .22-250 are common and used on pretty much everything. The only time the locals told me they needed something larger like a .338 etc was when they were shooting Narwhal.

Anyway in my opinion a good pump 12gauge and a bolt action in .308, .30-06 etc and you're good to go.

---

I read that too, .223 for caribou, I guess cheaper ammo and less weight is big up there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fox

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

---

There were a number of years Remington made them, that if you got the longer caliber ( 30-06, 270) if the gun got even slightly fouled, it restricted the gas port, and they didn't get enough pressure coming back to cycle the extra length, ( which in the shorter calibers like .308, wasn't needed).

What you want is a stainless steel and synthetic stocked bolt action 3006. Something with controlled round feeding is also desirable. The Ruger is a good choice with it's integral scope bases ( one less thing to fail worry about) Buy one that has iron sights also as if ever the scope fails you can remove the scope and still use the rifle. As for scopes a 2x7 Leupold VX2 is the way to go. Keep it simple and use proven and reliable stuff. The Arctic is not the place to bring hard to source ammo or cheap scopes that can fail.

A bolt action for cold weather and a versatile caliber with good ballistics. Im liking .280 rem more and more. Cant go wrong with a 7mm mag !!! Both good for long distance big game. .243 for smaller game but still good abd flat along with 22-250. Happy hunting

I'd go minimum .30-06 with 180-grainers given that the only bear common in the Arctic is the polar bear. I travel the arctic extensively, especially the Eastern Arctic (Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet, etc) and .30-06 is available EVERYWHERE. So is .303 British and .223 Remington, which are the three cartridges most used for polar bears. (Yes, the .223 Remington. Not a typo, lol!) I have seen lots of other cartridges for sale up there, but often it's because of an error on an ammo order and air-freighting returns is pricey. I have seen scads of .375 Winchester, .44-40, .257 Roberts, in white Winchester boxes. I just scored five boxes of .250 Savage 100-gr Silvertips in white boxes from the mid-eighties in Taloyoak. But those are anomalies. I have been in towns where they have no .30-30 or .270 or .308 Winchester, but they had .30-06, .303 British and .223 Rem.

I don't know if I replied to this post in 2014 or not, lol!

Seeing as Kilo is up in Yellow knife and there only seems to be 30-06, 303 and 223. I think I would go with the 30-06 or the 303 British. The 223 is really a tad bit under power for Polar bears and seeing the Polar bears are really the only animal that will hunt a human I would want something with a bit of bite to it.

Crap didn't realize this was from 2014. Why did you reply to it?? Happy New Years Kilo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kilo Charlie

I'd go minimum .30-06 with 180-grainers given that the only bear common in the Arctic is the polar bear. I travel the arctic extensively, especially the Eastern Arctic (Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet, etc) and .30-06 is available EVERYWHERE. So is .303 British and .223 Remington, which are the three cartridges most used for polar bears. (Yes, the .223 Remington. Not a typo, lol!) I have seen lots of other cartridges for sale up there, but often it's because of an error on an ammo order and air-freighting returns is pricey. I have seen scads of .375 Winchester, .44-40, .257 Roberts, in white Winchester boxes. I just scored five boxes of .250 Savage 100-gr Silvertips in white boxes from the mid-eighties in Taloyoak. But those are anomalies. I have been in towns where they have no .30-30 or .270 or .308 Winchester, but they had .30-06, .303 British and .223 Rem.

I don't know if I replied to this post in 2014 or not, lol!

---

Happy New Year, GW!
I didn't realize until later that it was old. Newer member Coady replying to old posts after using the search function is my guess. It does happen a lot, lol! At least he only resurrected that one old post! Imagine if he were looking up .270 Winchester for Moose!
Kevin

The OP hasn't been on-line since Nov 2015. I hope the Polar Bears didn't get him LOL

What is nice to know, from a retail perspective if your considering a rifle for the north, is that the SAKO T3 .308 Winchester passed the extensive military specification testing as the replacement rifle for the Ranger's old .303 Enfield.

That alone would seal the deal :)

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...e-temperatures