Foster shotgun slug for Moose?

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So a buddy at work who is a new hunter and only has a .22 and a 12ga shotgun wants to put in for our states moose lottery. He could borrow a 308 or 30-06 from family and even from myself but is really interested in doing it with what he has, specifically foster slugs out of a field barrel. I know this setup can work very well for deer within the appropriate distance but moose?

There are plenty of recommended (7mm, .270, 308, 30-06) and not recommended calibers (.243, 30-30, etc) but I can't really find any good answer searching the web to give him about shotgun slugs other than if you keep the shot close (>50-60 yards) and the usual talk of proper shot placement.

What's everyone's thoughts? or even better experiences? Could a given distance restrictions he reliably take a moose or should I really pressure him to borrow a more traditional CXP3 gun.
 
He would be fine with a shot less than, say, 90 feet or so (within 30 yards). Since SHOT-PLACEMENT is really everything, he could take a moose humanely with a 12 gauge slug - PROPERLY-PLACED!
 
and not recommended calibers (.243, 30-30, etc)

I'd be taking that .30/30 off the NOT recommended list. The venerable old girl has downed more Moose than any other cartridge.

Now as far as your question, I'd tell your friend to kick his curiosity and chest thumping to the curb. A field barrel/foster slug is by far NOT a good combination to hunt a Moose. Would it do the job? Sure at 30 yards or so. Is it in any way a good choice? Not in the least. Now maybe if he had a good shooting rifled barrel with an accurate slug then MAYBE it would be an OK combo but it wouldn't be anywhere but the absolute bottom of my list. I'd tell him to borrow a .30/06 early enough to get proficient with it and get some high quality 200 grain ammo.
 
You put a foster slug in the boiler room of a moose at even 75 yards, and you will have a dead swamp donkey!

DM
 
I'd be taking that .30/30 off the NOT recommended list. The venerable old girl has downed more Moose than any other cartridge.
The cartridge recommendations come out of the "guide" put out by the state, it is legal to hunt moose with pretty mich anything except .22 and shotgun "shot".

I would agree that historically the 30-30 has probably taken more moose than any other caliber. Given some of the loads today (hornady leverevolution comes to mind) I wouldn't hesitate to use the venerable thurty thurty.
 
I killed a few good sized Ohio whitetail bucks in the eighties with Winchesters' Super-X 1 oz."foster" slugs.
Killed a few running running towards me at distances varying from 20 to about 80 yards.
A couple of the slugs I recovered were in the rear hams, two were stuck in the lower digestive system, and one or more exited the "back half".
I'd think that should deal with a broadside moose?
But, then again, I've never killed a moose.
 
Moose slug?

Living in southern Michigan,our main whitetail season is slug gun only.(with exceptions).I've killed quite a few whitetails with a slug.Close to 400 grains,doing 1500 fps or more,i wouldnt hesitate on a moose, even though they are alot heavier than a whitetail.i probably would spring for a premium slug if it shot to point of aim.
The people ive met that have shot moose say they go down easier than a whitetail,nothing tougher than an adrenelin filled whitetail ..MTCW.
 
OK guys, lets use a little reasoning here and use our collective knowledge to educate this person.

1- This is a person who is NEW to hunting.

2- Anyone that has ever fired a SMOOTH BORE 12 gauge with a slug knows they are NOT very accurate at all. Especially with someone NEW on the gun. Lets remember the guy said his friend has a SMOOTH BORE not a rifled barrel.

3- Moose are huge and can be extremely dangerous so would you really want to advise a beginner hunter to use a weapon that, a) isn't known for good accuracy, b) would have to get within 30 to 40 yards to be in a moderately accurate zone, c) more than likely be eating a coveted moose tag because he didn't use a proper firearm for the hunt?

Most Moose are taken between 75 and 150 yards because of the typical thick habitat they are in. Use a proper firearm for the task at hand.
 
3- Moose are huge and can be extremely dangerous so would you really want to advise a beginner hunter to use a weapon that,
If my life depended on "gettin" that moose before it "got" me,(we are talking very close range?) I'd take my 870 smoothbore with good foster slugs ahead of my bolt action 7 mag.
 
12 ga slugs would put the lights out on a moose. I suppose I have taken 2 dozen whitetails with foster slugs.
...Sorry RC but with all due respect...the Brennekke were the worst performer in my home range test. Remington and Federal were best in my 1100 smoothbore.
Unless hunting a slash.....most of my moose hunting was inside 100yds.
 
I hunt moose with a group of guys that each have done so longer than I have been alive. A smooth bore 12 ga works just fine but it is not a long distance gun. I would say 75 yards is the max - not based on accuracy since you have 18 inches to shoot, but based on wind and down range energy. The federal slugs are fast. If we could get Brenneke up here in Canada I would use those due to improved penetration at greater distance. Yes I do own 30 cal guns which are needed for the days when you are hunting clear cuts and might need 400 yard shots.
 
Slugs

I shot a feral 350 lb boar with a Foster slug. He was running away from me. I got down on one knee and put a slug in his left ham at about 40 yards. It ranged all the way through him and knocked his under jaw off, about 4 foot of penetration. By the way, the entrance hole was not round. It split the ham about 6 inches like you had cut it with a knife.
 
I have not been arguing that a 12 gauge isn't a very deadly and potent choice. What I have been saying is that it would NOT be a good choice for someone that is new to hunting. Every one of you guys thats towing the "it's fine for moose" line also has a lot of experience in the woods. This guy is not only new to Moose hunting, but new to hunting period. And you guys saying that 75 yards is a good range for a smooth bore field barrel firing a slug, come on down to my range with your field barrels and fosters and I'll make all kinds of money betting against you shooting from field positions off hand. Love to see your "accuracy" using a bead site at 75 yards.
 
It seems pretty simple - have him try to hit a 12 inch paper target consistently at 25 yards. If he can move to 50 yards and then 75. You might have to try a few different brands to see if there is any preference. The vitals are very large on a moose - 18 inch diameter.
If he can't hit paper at a range he considers acceptable, then he should get a rifle like you suggest.
Maybe after 20-30 rounds of target practive he (or his shoulder) will be asking you if he can just get a rifle.
By the way, hitting an 18 inch target at 75 yards is no big deal with a good smooth bore that you have practiced with.
 
I made a white tail neck shot with Federals and didnt pass through, the slug stopped just under the skin at the back of the neck on an adams apple shot. The slug was pancaked to about 1/4 thick and silver dollar sized. Obviously it dumped all its energy and the deer didnt know what hit it but we are talking about 12-14 inches of penetration. From experience a smooth bore is a 50 yard gun with a nasty trigger. Rifles are hands down a better option, ask any hunter from a shotgun only zone if they would lobby for rifle use. If all else fails take him to the range for 50 rounds of practice and see if he still wants to use it come opening day.
 
oh wow...a 12 ga slug will drop near about anything on the planet at 75 yards and under. im sure someone will have some super scientific data to show this to be false but i feel there is a simple reason our guides in africa carried ithica pumps with 000 buck and slugs.
 
Doesn't matter what a NEW hunter hunts with, they STILL have to try the gun out. They STILL have to see what range they can keep their shots in the "kill zone", and then make THAT the furthest they will shoot at an animal!.

Moose hunting experience has nothing to do with any of the above! They are either responsible hunters or they aren't.

DM
 
A mature bull is many times bigger than a deer. Plus you might get a 30 yard shot but you may have to shoot across a swamp or clear cut. A 30-06 better than a slug of any kind due to lack of cavitation with the slug. Yes a shotgun wil kill a moose at close range, but I wouldn't waste my tag that way. Pass or miss on a once in a lifetime shot or take a chance on a lost animal. They live in dense swampy areas. Hard to find dead or alive.
 
We hunt for fun. If he will have more fun trying with his 12 ga shotgun, then let have an enjoyable hunt with it.

It wouldn't be my 1st chioce, or 20th for that matter. But I'm not the one going hunting.
 
My first question is What choke is the 12 ga barrel? A mod. bbl is what should work the best with a smooth bore slug gun. At Least it is a good all-round choke for slugs/buck shot/ bird shot. That being said i would opt for a 30.06, if for no other reason. It would be easier on the wallet and the shoulder practicing with the 06. Bench resting slugs tend to hurt more.
 
If he`s a "new hunter", forget the 12 ga. Do it right. Got him a rifle, say a 30-06 or something along that line.
 
Foster slug? I'd pass. Brenneke Black Magic would have no problem. There's a pissed off bear on the box, so you know it works ;)

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk
 
I don't know how many of you have actually "shot" a moose, but from the answers here, i'd say not many!

I assure you, there's been one heck of a lot of moose killed with a 12ga. shotgun and foster slugs!

DM
 
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