I'm heading to Alaska in August. Because of weight restrictions, I'm only taking one gun. We will be hunting caribou and black bear. I can't make up my mind between which Encore. Please give me a hand on picking. The choice is between my .260 shooting a 140 gr Partition @ 2500 fps, or my .35-06 JDJ with 225 gr partitions @ 2650fps. Thanks!

My inclination is to grab the bigger stick.

Another vote for the bigger stick, if you shoot as good with it .

More fps and half again more bullet...take the big hammer! Way overkill on the 'bou but there's no such thing as overkill on a bear!!

I agree with the first three, especially since bears can be stubborn about bleeding and dieing

Unless your VERY formilier with how the 35-06jdj shoots and all I'd be looking for more Ooomph. I used the 375jdj in a contender and was happy with it, but it can give you the willies if the bear don't drop fast.

Big country + big game + DANGEROIUS game = big gun.
JMO

Ed,

I've taken both a 454 Ruger SRH and a .338-06JDJ to Alaska several times and didn't have any problems. Your .358 would be my choice. Although, in 4 trips up there, I've yet to see any bears. I have had one of my caribou ate on, had griz in camp dragging off meat and have seen alot of bear sign, but have not laid eyes on one except from a bush plane. So you might think about packing a side arm of some sort, but for bou and blackies either would work.

Good luck this fall. This will be the first time in 4 straight years I will not be going up , so I'll be root'in for ya! Let us know how you do.

Rugernut

I'd vote for the big en' too. I took a 358 JDJ to AK and dropped a moose with two shots (one would have done it but we were in a swamp and I didn't want to chase after him). We kept a 338 mag in camp. A big Griz found our moose before we could pack it all out and I lost 3/4's of the meat. Even the 358 JDJ looked a bit small compared to the bear!

Bill in OR

a friend went up last year...had same problem ,put bigger cal on gun and sent extra bbl a head by ups....

Ed, I live and hunt in AK. Shots on caribou are likely to be long for a handgun. But given your two choices, I am guessing they are about the same in trajectory. Either choice would probably work if you choose your shots wisely, but the .35-06 would work better. I would take it.