Kernel
Member
The .358 Winchester or .338 Federal in a BLR or some kind of stainless bolt.
Moose hunting, recommended caliber
- Thread starter Gungnir
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tango2echo
Member
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- Dec 14, 2008
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Since this thread is a year old, I guess I will expand on my previous post.
I've talken over a dozen moose (14 to be exact) in parts of Canada, and although they tend not to be quite as large as their Alaskan cousins, any .30 cal should do the job with the right bullet and placement. All but two of mine were killed with a .300WM, the other two with a .270 and a .308. All but one was DRT. That one was a poor shot on my part and hit high. It required trailing and a coup de grace after 200 yards.
My favorite gun/load is a Pre-64 Winchester aforementioned in .300WM with the old Winchester 180gr "FailSafe" bullet. That's a Moose Knocker if there ever was...
Moose are not particularly hard to kill, although the vital zone is not much bigger than a large deer due to the size of the front shoulder. The ribs are as big around as a man's wrist, and the shoulder blade is stout. You want a big heavy bullet moving at good velocity. (.30 cal and up, 180grs and up, 2400fps and up) The .35 Whelen, .308, .30-06, .300, .338 all fill the bill. The higher powered .45-70 loads will do fine, and the 405gr Buffalo Bore load suggested above will wallop the biggest Bullwinkle on the planet.
Going back to your original post, as someone who has worked/hunted/lived/trapped/guided in the Northern bush, Canada not Alaska, you'll find a 12ga and a .22lr much more useful than the big bore. I spent 8 weeks on a winter trapline once with a 12ga, .22lr, and a .300WM. The .22lr saw daily use, but I can never remember taking the .300WM out of the case except to oil.
If you're serious about killing a moose, invest in a good pack board, chainsaw, 3 1/2lb axe, and a block-n-tackle. A gamesled is also helpful. Moose never die where it's "easy" and it is usually in the water/bog/swamp or in a gully/wash-out. Plan on packing 700+ pounds of meat for 3 or more miles. (That would be 14 trips on average, there and back, or 42 miles while packing a 60-70lb pack, 10lb rifle, in hip boots.........in the rain.....and the cold........with the windchill......)
Plenty of guys on here will spout nonsense about why one gun/caliber/mfg/ammo/bullet/etc is better than the next, and some are no-doubt knowledgable on the subject, but few can tell you from first hand experience how much hard darn work killing, cleaning, butchering, and packing a moose is.
Good luck and good shoot'n
t2e
I've talken over a dozen moose (14 to be exact) in parts of Canada, and although they tend not to be quite as large as their Alaskan cousins, any .30 cal should do the job with the right bullet and placement. All but two of mine were killed with a .300WM, the other two with a .270 and a .308. All but one was DRT. That one was a poor shot on my part and hit high. It required trailing and a coup de grace after 200 yards.
My favorite gun/load is a Pre-64 Winchester aforementioned in .300WM with the old Winchester 180gr "FailSafe" bullet. That's a Moose Knocker if there ever was...
Moose are not particularly hard to kill, although the vital zone is not much bigger than a large deer due to the size of the front shoulder. The ribs are as big around as a man's wrist, and the shoulder blade is stout. You want a big heavy bullet moving at good velocity. (.30 cal and up, 180grs and up, 2400fps and up) The .35 Whelen, .308, .30-06, .300, .338 all fill the bill. The higher powered .45-70 loads will do fine, and the 405gr Buffalo Bore load suggested above will wallop the biggest Bullwinkle on the planet.
Going back to your original post, as someone who has worked/hunted/lived/trapped/guided in the Northern bush, Canada not Alaska, you'll find a 12ga and a .22lr much more useful than the big bore. I spent 8 weeks on a winter trapline once with a 12ga, .22lr, and a .300WM. The .22lr saw daily use, but I can never remember taking the .300WM out of the case except to oil.
If you're serious about killing a moose, invest in a good pack board, chainsaw, 3 1/2lb axe, and a block-n-tackle. A gamesled is also helpful. Moose never die where it's "easy" and it is usually in the water/bog/swamp or in a gully/wash-out. Plan on packing 700+ pounds of meat for 3 or more miles. (That would be 14 trips on average, there and back, or 42 miles while packing a 60-70lb pack, 10lb rifle, in hip boots.........in the rain.....and the cold........with the windchill......)
Plenty of guys on here will spout nonsense about why one gun/caliber/mfg/ammo/bullet/etc is better than the next, and some are no-doubt knowledgable on the subject, but few can tell you from first hand experience how much hard darn work killing, cleaning, butchering, and packing a moose is.
Good luck and good shoot'n
t2e
during the years i lived in alaska, i owned a 270 win, 30-06, and a 7mmremmag (all ruger m77's). i used the 270 for several moose, without any problems. got so comfortable with the 270 that i traded the 30-06 and sold the 7mm. 270, 308, 30-06, 7mmremmag all work just fine. larger calibers also work. moose aren't that hard to kill imo.
Gungnir
Member
No, while I never hunted this year I saw plenty of dead moose. from 270, 308, 30-06 et.
Can we put this thread back in it's grave now...
Can we put this thread back in it's grave now...
Cosmoline
Member
Homesteading is a great adventure/potential nightmare. You should keep in mind that there are two different kinds of "Alaska" hunting rifles. There's the rifle a hunter brings for a once-in-a-season (or lifetime) big game hunt and there's the rifle used for the meat bag subsistence hunts. The former rifles tend to be .338 magnums or bigger. Heavy, sure killers with a lot of power up close or at range. The latter rifles tend emphasize portability and practicality over power. They also need to kill a wider range of game. The .30'06 or even 7.62x39 or .223 fill this role for many.
FWIW, in my own time off grid north of Willow, I found that I spent way too much time and money questing for the perfect big game rifle. The overwhelming majority of my hunting time was spent after small game using the CZ 452.
EDIT: sorry didn't see this was another zombie.
FWIW, in my own time off grid north of Willow, I found that I spent way too much time and money questing for the perfect big game rifle. The overwhelming majority of my hunting time was spent after small game using the CZ 452.
EDIT: sorry didn't see this was another zombie.
I use a 358 Norma Magnum and 250 grain bullets as a classic choice. I want the moose to die quickly in a place of my choosing and reasoned that 4000 ft pounds would help me get it done. Processing moose is a lot of work and having maximum influence over were the moose falls down can be important.
Unfortunately, I have noticed that moose hit through the lungs with the 358 die about as quickly as those hit with friends 270's, 308's and 303's. There is often a bit of lag time and then they pile up. In fact my first 358 moose nearly freaked me out as I fired a bullet through him and he never even flinched as he headed for the Alders. I was very rattled as I was sure he would react to the hit. He didn't. He died after about 10-20 seconds but
should no reaction until he keeled over at the Alder line.
The holes through the ribs with my 358 Norma are more impressive however so I'll keep using it. Not sure it makes much difference to the moose however.
Unfortunately, I have noticed that moose hit through the lungs with the 358 die about as quickly as those hit with friends 270's, 308's and 303's. There is often a bit of lag time and then they pile up. In fact my first 358 moose nearly freaked me out as I fired a bullet through him and he never even flinched as he headed for the Alders. I was very rattled as I was sure he would react to the hit. He didn't. He died after about 10-20 seconds but
should no reaction until he keeled over at the Alder line.
The holes through the ribs with my 358 Norma are more impressive however so I'll keep using it. Not sure it makes much difference to the moose however.
mewachee
Member
With moose, the size of the hole isn't always the greatest factor. I got a moose a couple of years ago with a bow. I was inside 30 yards, probably 20. I double lunged the creature half way up. I knew where it went, so I found my buddy and had some cocoa. I gave it an hour. I came back, to find it bedded down and alive. The 3 arrow was a little back, got the liver. That is what finally put it down.
I have had bear and dear go less than 50 yards and die. Moose must have an amazing capability to breath with a double lung shot.
I have had bear and dear go less than 50 yards and die. Moose must have an amazing capability to breath with a double lung shot.
tango2echo
Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2008
- Messages
- 811
Exactly. Anyone who has ever hunted Moose should understand this.
t2e
Arkel23
Member
Go big or go home 
.340 Weatherby!
.340 Weatherby!Cosmoline
Member
They always seem to take a minute to contemplate their demise. Funny critters.
T.R.
Member
I'm not an expert since I've only taken one bull moose. That was many years ago on a hunt in Saskatchewan with a Cree guide. Two shots from my .308 rifle and the animal stumbled, toppled over. Distance was about 150 yards or so. I hunted with 180 grain Remington core-lockt ammo.
In contrast, my guide's hunting rifle was an antique Remington auto-loader in 35 Remington. He has taken dozens of moose and hundreds of caribou with this oldy-but-goody. He stated that two quick shots into the chest organs with just about any good rifle will down a moose. Many hunters in his village are successful with 30-30 carbines. No kidding!
The Jesuit Priest that I met owned a semi-sporterized 303 Enfield rifle with military open sights. He had no trouble downing moose with it.
This is an early autumn photo from Ontario.
My advise: 30-06 for the simple reason that ammo purchase or trade should be easy to arrange. Those 180 grain bullets do not bounce off despite what Boddington, the magnum-only-writer, has to say.
TR
In contrast, my guide's hunting rifle was an antique Remington auto-loader in 35 Remington. He has taken dozens of moose and hundreds of caribou with this oldy-but-goody. He stated that two quick shots into the chest organs with just about any good rifle will down a moose. Many hunters in his village are successful with 30-30 carbines. No kidding!
The Jesuit Priest that I met owned a semi-sporterized 303 Enfield rifle with military open sights. He had no trouble downing moose with it.
This is an early autumn photo from Ontario.
My advise: 30-06 for the simple reason that ammo purchase or trade should be easy to arrange. Those 180 grain bullets do not bounce off despite what Boddington, the magnum-only-writer, has to say.
TR
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