Thanks all - I'll answer what I can/know...
Blaster will be an SAOD 20" "Hunter" upper pared with with a Rainier lower (MOE grip, VLTOR IMOD, Timmney 4lb drop-in). As for glass I have an IOR 2-12X32 on the way which will be mounted in a Bobro 35mm mount - Andy is amazing and I'll post more when it all gets put together.
Teaser: L->R Sabre M4, LMT MWS and the Grendel...
Ammo - right now I'm limited to Hornady factory 123GR A-Max but will have a local shop help me work up some loads with my new (arrived today) Hornady LnL-AP using Barnes 100 and 120 grain TSX.
I have no intention of engaging beyond 400 meters until I'm good enough beyond that with the ammo/optic/rifle.
I'm still working on a rangefinder but it will be either a Leica 7x24 CRF 1600-B or Zeiss 8x26 Victory Rangefinder. It all depends if I can sell my TA01NSN ;-)
Climate: I p/u a Bibler 2-man 4 season tent today and have a a Kifaru pack and sleep system on order. Regarding fitness, this stuff is featherlight compared to issue gear. Humping an M4 wearing full kit/combat load up to 8K feet where my profile pic was taken was a grueling eye opener....
Alaska... there are no words to accurately or appropriately describe this place. If relocating here isn't an option, at the very least plan a vacation. The terrain/topography killed any desire I had to visit New Zealand. Today in the Mat-Su Valley it was a blistering 73 degrees. The culture is a bit odd: mix between foolish granola eating sandal wearers (Tim Treadwell) and the rustic, self sufficient folks we Southerner's believe we are. I was sitting in the Carl's Jr' parking lot a few hours ago in downtown Anchorage an a 300lb heart attack waiting to happen climbed out of his Dodge Ram with a hand-cannon strapped to his chest and waddled inside w/o a care in the world...