{"id":130456,"date":"2020-08-31T17:25:18","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T21:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=130456"},"modified":"2025-11-04T03:53:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T09:53:54","slug":"hunt365-assembling-an-alaskan-hunting-rifle-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-assembling-an-alaskan-hunting-rifle-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Assembling an Alaskan Hunting Rifle: Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Assembling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a Scope, Ammo, and Accessories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In Part One, I explained why I chose the rifle and caliber I did for the several hunts I\u2019m lucky enough to have on the books for the fall. I have a brief window to go seek out my own caribou and moose if the hunt schedules line up accordingly for the outfit I work for. After speaking with some friends in the outdoor industry and running it by my wife, I landed on a Winchester Model 70<\/a> Extreme Weather SS in .300 Winchester Magnum. The chief reason behind the decision was familiarity as I\u2018ve shot a Model 70 most of my life, and availability of ammo for the Win Mag. Practically speaking, I\u2019ll be able to hunt most of Alaska\u2019s game with this rifle as time and life permits given the vast amount of available loads and bullet weights for the caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scope<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With rifle and caliber chosen, I switched my attention\nto finding a good piece of glass to mount atop the Model 70. My intent when\nchoosing a scope was not to have a system for shooting game at long distances,\npreferring my shots several hundred yards or less, but to have the capability\nfor a longer follow-up shot if needed. While several species of Alaskan game\nmay avail themselves to longer shot situations like Dall sheep or mountain\ngoats where topography can limit one\u2019s approach distance, most big game animals\nin the North Country are quite hearty and one-shot kills aren\u2019t always the rule.\nA rutted up bull moose can take a vital hit, disappear into the alders and show\nhimself moments later getting out of Dodge. While the shot placement and bullet\nperformance may be ideal, there\u2019s simply a lot of mass to slow down and I\u2019d\nrather hedge my bets and have the ability to seal the deal in a quick, humane\nway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Assembling
The VX-5HD is married to the rifle with lightweight Talley mounts and rings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the anticipated use, I wanted a variable power\nscope with a wide range of magnification, capable of close-up work in the\nbrush, yet with the option of cranking it up for a longer shot if the situation\nrequired. After talking to several knowledgeable folks whose opinions I hold in\nhigh regard, I landed on a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15×44. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the generous magnification range, and equipped with Leupold\u2019s Custom Dial System, the choice wasn\u2019t a difficult one. For those who aren\u2019t familiar, the Custom Dial System lets you quickly dial your elevation adjustment for different ranges, it can also be upgraded to a custom dial that\u2019s laser-etched with your own ballistic information, making it that much easier to customize to your particular set up. If you purchase a scope equipped with CDS, Leupold will build one custom-etched dial to your specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Assembling
The Custom Dial System of the Leupold VX-5HD sports a return-to-zero dial that locks in place, ensuring no unwanted movement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Specifications for the Leupold VX-5HD 3-15×44 CDS-ZL2\nare below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight (oz)     19.7                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linear FOV (ft\/100 yd) – Low            38.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linear FOV (ft\/100 yd) – High           7.9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linear FOV (m\/100 m) – Low            12.76<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length (in)      13.53<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linear FOV (m\/100 m) – High           2.62<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length (cm)     34.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye Relief (in) – Low 3.70<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye Relief (in) – High 3.82<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye Relief (mm) – Low          94<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye Relief (mm) – High          97<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objective Diameter (in)          1.7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight (g)       558<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elevation Adjustment Range (MOA) 75<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elevation Adjustment Range (MIL)   21.8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windage Adjustment Range (MOA)  75<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windage Adjustment Range (MIL)    21.8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exit Pupil (mm) – High           2.9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSRP $1234.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scope\nMounts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

My big purchases had been made, now it was time to get down to the smaller but no less important details to complete the rifle. I married the scope to my Model 70 with a set of Talley lightweight scope mounts, made of a sturdy alloy that doesn\u2019t have a joint between the scope and rifle, there\u2019s one less moving part and saves weight in comparison to steel rings. Initially, I was curious to see how the lightweight rings would perform under the heavier recoil of larger .30 caliber loads, but after several boxes shot, they\u2019re in great shape and I haven\u2019t had any issues with losing zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Due to the rather large niche my new rifle is going to be required to fill, I wanted to shoot a variety of ammo<\/a> through it to see how it performed with various manufacturers’ products and bullet weights. Per Winchester\u2019s website, \u201cWith quality optics, premium ammunition, and good shooting conditions, 1 MOA accuracy can be expected — if you, your ammo and your optics are up to it.\u201d I was, so I headed to the range with a bag full of rounds and expectations. After several hours of bench shooting, my consensus was that of Winchester, the rifle was holding around a 1 to 1.5 MOA average with just about everything I closed the bolt on. Two loads, a Black Hills Ammo 165 gr. Hornady GMX and Norma\u2019s 170 gr. Tip Strike averaged sub-MOA. All of the loads tested have a proven history of performance and given the size of game being hunted, would work well at reasonable ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Assembling
High quality, proven ammo is vitally important for tough northern game. (L to R, Hornady 180gr GMX, Black Hills 200gr ELD-X, Black Hills 165gr GMX, Norma 170gr Tip Strike, Norma 180gr Bond Strike)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>Group 1<\/td>Group 2<\/td>Group 3<\/td>Average<\/td><\/tr>
Norma 170gr<\/td>.7<\/td>1<\/td>.9<\/td>.87<\/td><\/tr>
Norma 180gr<\/td>1.6<\/td>1.4<\/td>1.2<\/td>1.4<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 165gr<\/td>.8<\/td>.9<\/td>1<\/td>.9<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 200gr<\/td>1.6<\/td>1.3<\/td>1.7<\/td>1.53<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 180gr<\/td>1.1<\/td>.9<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Assembling
100 yard 3 shot group, Norma 170gr Tip Strike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Accessories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Given that the rifle is going to be spending most of its field days in Alaska, I wanted a good scope cover and sling to protect my investment. Flip-up style scope caps have their place in the hunting world but I opted to go with a whole cover style, wading through alders and brush can be hard on glass and I wanted a maximum amount of protection. I chose the Scope Slicker from Alpine. It’s weatherproof and comes with a built-in microfiber lens cleaners on either end as well as a secure mounting system that allows you to flip up either end yet keep it attached to the scope<\/a>. It checked all of the boxes I wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the time of year and game being pursued, a hunter can find themselves spending every waking hour out of the tent in their raingear. Few things are as frustrating and take your mind out of the game than constantly fighting your rifle sling on a wet rain jacket all day. For this reason, I chose a Butler Creek Comfort Stretch sling with non-slip grippers on the back. If my rifle\u2019s not in my hands, I want it out of the way so I can focus on the task at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Assembling
Alaskan moose camp, it’s hard to beat the views in mid-September.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While I gathered information and advice from different people throughout the last several months, from lifelong Alaskan residents to gun writers, I tried to follow the old adage: Get the best you can afford. There\u2019s not a one-size-fits-all in any realm of the firearm industry, certainly when it comes to the vastness of hunting opportunity in Alaska, from blacktail on Kodiak to giant brown bear on the Peninsula, Dall sheep in the Chugach to caribou on the Aleutian Chain. I covered as many bases as I could and believe this setup will serve me well for years to come. Many people do it for a lot less money and some a lot more. I believe the most important thing is familiarity with one\u2019s specific rifle. Familiarity translates to accuracy and accuracy to more epic days in the field which is what hunting Alaska is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n