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First Dall Sheep Hunt (8/25) - 30.06 or _____? Thanks!

South Nahanni August 2-10. You?
Just realized you said S. Nahanni
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Best of luck. Take whatever is the most "bomb-proof" setup you have, preferably not more than 8# or so, and lighter is better. Rock solid stock bedding and scope mounting are paramount. Depending on your mounting setup, a 2nd scope in rings that's sighted in and ready as a backup isn't a bad plan and in most cases adds less than 2# to your gear list.

On most of my rifles I use a torque driver for re-assembly. Assuming I've done things properly and have stress-free bedding and scope mounting, I can take things apart, torque them back together and maintain zero. When everything fits properly, you should be able to start a group @ your zero range, take it apart, put it back together and continue shooting within the same group.

I don't even like to change slings or flipper lens caps within a week or two of a hunt, but, I do want to know and have an available plug and play solution if something goes sideways.

I'd put Flitz gun and knife wax on everything that sits inside the inletting of the stock, it's an excellent waterproofing product.
 
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Yup! I've never hunted sheep, but I trust my dependable and accurate 30-06 rifle. I've taken elk at just over 400 yards with it, using just a 6x Leupold scope. Plenty of power and accuracy at that range.

Hmm, another elk at 340, a muley at 350, a black bear at 325.... I reflected back on that for a moment and thought "I've made a number of 300+ yard shots with this simple setup."

Regards, Guy
 
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The longest shot I have taken on sheep is 450. Everything else has been in the 35 to 300 range with the majority less than 250. I used a .270 REM 700 with a 3x9 Leupold VXll for most. They don't need fancy stuff but make sure everything is solid and tight. Guns can take some dings up there. My last sheep was shot with a 6.5 PRC at a whopping 125 yards.
 
Envious! Never hunted any sheep nor goats. Lots of Colorado preference points, but at 77 yo not likely to happen. Oh well, in my next life! LOL!
Excited for you! There's nothing the old school 30-06 can't ethically do using the right bullets put in the right spot.
Looking forward to reading about your adventure!
 
I've had the good fortune of being on lots of sheep hunts. My advice is to take a rifle you know well and is able to reach out accurately to 500 yds if necessary. While it's not the norm, a long shot might be your only opportunity and if you are limited by your rifle, you just made your hunting adventure into a really expensive hiking trip. I hunted the NWT for my Dall and shot him at 360 yds with a 300WSM. I was practiced out to 600 yds.
The other thing to be aware of is the weather. If you have a blued barrel it's likely it will rust before the hunt is over, especially if it has any pits in it. It can rain every day in that country so make sure you take that into consideration. On a Stone sheep hunt my trigger rusted and it started to hang fire. I know that because we had a Grizzly show up in camp and I tried to scare him away. You might want to take a little vile of gun oil with you.
Sheep hunting is the best. Do everything you can to be ready, be in shape, be able to shoot straight (and long) and go have the time of your life!
 

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Your 30/06 will work, but not knowing your experience level. Its hard to say
Your biggest challenge with the 30/06 is going to be wind. It can really blow on the top of those mountains.
With the price of sheep hunts now and them only going up, a new rifle isnt that big of a pill to swallow.
Im setting a camp rifle up for my buddys concession in the yukon
Its going to be a 8lb 7 prc that will work for all animals and be light recoiling

I would add a caribou if you can afford it
 
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