Seeking some opinions for moose-capable Alaskan big game rifle.

[buck460XVR]

I think at this point I'm leaning toward getting a new, LH .30-06. Trading in Dad's rifle will take the sting out of the price of a new gun, but I'll have to have a talk with him about it first.

Sounds like the best plan to me. As has been said the ought-six is more than enough for moose or any of the other Alaskan game and would be an intelligent investment for many years(and hunts) to come. The cost and the readily availability of 30-06 ammo is a major consideration if one does not reload. Seems there is also more platforms/models available in this caliber(other than the ARs) than any other centerfire. This means, that the odds of getting a nice, lightly used model, for a good price is high.

 

[CraigC]

Please stop spreading this. The 375 is not going to vaporize lesser sized big game. In fact it has been shown to do less meat damage than the other mags like 300 and 338 while being equally as capable at taking big game. And sometimes better equipped to do so. The recoil on the 375 is easily manageable and not nearly as harsh or snappy as the 300 or 338. This has been shown by members here on time and time again on game as small as white tail deer.

Op, a 30-06 loaded with heavy bullets would be just fine for what you want to do. 375H&H or 375 Ruger will give you aittle more range, a lot more umph and the ability to put a heavier bullet on target. The Ruger does pretty much everything the H&H will do but in a standard length action.

Bingo!

Personally, I want something bigger than the .30-06.

 

[BLRguy]

I would go for a new 06. Find a 180 or 200 grain load it likes and never look back. If you rebarrel the Savage, maybe .358 Winchester with a 225 grain partition or tsx. Either way, you're good to go.

 

[zb338]

Get a .300 Magnum doesn't matter which they are all pretty
close or a .338. If they kick too much have a gunsmith put a
muzzle break on the one you choose and you will have powerful
rifle capable of killing anything Alaska has to offer.

Zeke

 

[Rodman579]

my buddy has gone to Alaska for a moose hunt the past 5 years and he always uses his 338-06. he has always come back with one and goes on a guided hunt on horseback. last year he took one at just over 230 yards put it through both shoulders. I unfortunately don't remember the load he used but I know he loads them to the upper spectrum. he also told me one of the other hunter with him used a 300WM and harvested an animal as well but the bullet did not exit. but I don't recall which type of ammo he told me it was but I know it seemed light to me for moose, I think a 150gr bullet.

 

[DM~]

I've killed decent sized bull moose with a 44 magnum revolver, a properly loaded 30-06 is MORE than enough gun for any moose!

In fact, I have and would again, have no problem hunting EVERYTHING in Alaska with a LH Remington 700 chambered in 30-06.

I always kept mine loaded with 200 grain Nosler Partitions and had no problem putting any big game animal down, with that cartridge and NP's...

DM

 

[CraigC]

I've killed decent sized bull moose with a 44 magnum revolver, a properly loaded 30-06 is MORE than enough gun for any moose!

Apples and oranges. A properly loaded .44Mag is viable for dangerous game. A .30-06, is not.

If a .30-06 is "more than enough", I'd be afraid to ask what you thought was the minimum.

 

[buck460XVR]

Here's a good read on the subject.......http://www.all-about-moose.com/moose-hunting-rifle.html

A short except from the linked site...




Moose Hunting Rifle Survey Results

The results of the vote for your favorite moose hunting rifle caliber are in constant change.

As of September 17, 2015: 1506 respondents.

30-06 (23.0%) chose as their favorite moose rifle.
.308 (10.0%)
300 Win Mag (9.1%)
7mm Rem Mag (9.1%)
.270 (6.5 %)

The Other category was chosen by 296 respondents.

Recommendations

The Moose Hunting Tips eBook - The Ultimate Guide to Moose Hunting

I recommend that you look at the .30-06 Winchester or the Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) in .300 caliber as possible choices for a moose hunting rifle.

These rifle calibers offer a large choice in bullet weights to suit the demands of the modern day hunter. You should be able to find a cartridge that is fitting for moose sized game.

For the average hunter these are high performance hunting rifle calibers that give magnum velocities without the massive recoil. Most rifle manufacturers make entry level to premium grade rifles. You should be able to find one to fit your budget.

Stick with the well-known brands and calibers for a moose hunting rifle, this way parts and ammunition will be readily available no matter where you travel.

Oh, I almost forgot... stay away from semi-automatic rifles, they just do not have the accuracy potential of the always reliable bolt action rifle.

 

[Float Pilot]

There is a saying up here in Alaska.
" The closer you get to a big city gun shop, the larger the caliber of rifles you find. "

 

[BigBore44]

CraigC,
What do you believe is the minimum rifle cartridge for moose? And what is your reason for that choice?

 

[papaairbear]

There is a saying up here in Alaska.
" The closer you get to a big city gun shop, the larger the caliber of rifles you find. "

We Idahoans must have picked that one up from you Alaskans.

 

[DM~]

Apples and oranges. A properly loaded .44Mag is viable for dangerous game. A .30-06, is not.

If a .30-06 is "more than enough", I'd be afraid to ask what you thought was the minimum.

And YOU know this from experience????

I hunted brown bear for many years, (and shot a few) a properly loaded 30-06 has no problem flattening even big bears... Been There Done That...

I figure a brown bear is dangerous game....

BTW, I've also shot 25 moose over the years... in both Alaska and Canada...

DM

 

[Skoghund]

I've shot a moose or three. I've allways used my .308 and shoot 180Grn homeloaded Norma Oryx. I use the same bullet for wild boar and its great for driven boar.
The leader of our hunting team breeds and works Norsk Gråhunds for moose hunting and as the dog handler on many moose hunting days must shoot at least 20 moose a year. He shoots a 30.06.
For their size moose arn't hard to kill. In Sweden there is a cull of European brown bear every year and most are shot with .30 cal rifles and even the 6.5x55 is used. The 6.5x55 is still quite popular for moose hunting.

Picture of a moose cow out the back of my house last Thursday morning

 

[DM~]

There is a saying up here in Alaska.
" The closer you get to a big city gun shop, the larger the caliber of rifles you find. "

Well, my experience has been the same as Phil Shoemakers, (Phil is a VERY well respected bear guide) here's what Phil has to say on this subject,



I'm no longer hunting brown bear, but I bet they haven't got any tougher since I quit... lol

SR

 

[CraigC]

What do you believe is the minimum rifle cartridge for moose? And what is your reason for that choice?

Many here have probably figured out that I am not a fan of the .30-06. I think there's a disconnect between popular perception and reality. Particularly when it comes to what is often touted as "versatility". IMHO, it is a jack of all trades and master of none. There are far better smaller, short action cartridges for deer sized game and far better larger, more capable cartridges for larger game. So I will admit my bias and say that I'm always going to think there is a better choice for any application than the `06. I don't care for hunting with minimal cartridges and like to have more options than having to wait for that perfect broadside shot. In this case, I want a bigger hammer than any .30cal rifle, for what may be a 1500lb critter. For the eastern woods, give me a big bore levergun in .356Win, .375Win, .405Win, .444 or .45-70. For a boltgun, one of the various 8mm's, .338's or .35's are far better vehicles for +200gr bullets than the `06.

I'm not saying that anything less doesn't work. I'm not judging anyone's choice or saying they're wrong for choosing it. All I'm saying is that I want more cartridge than that for critters of that size.

I figure a brown bear is dangerous game....

Try getting permits for the Big 5 with only a .30-06.

 

[BigBore44]

Craig,
While I respect your choice in big bore guns (see my handle), you would have to agree that "jack of all but master of none" applies to so many cartridges. Including big bore lever guns. It's my understanding that even the 45-70 is incapable of being used in Africa for the Big 5 as it doesn't meet the energy requirements.

Also, I would sure consider brown bears dangerous game. But comparing a brown bear to a rhino, Duggas, or elephant is, to borrow a phrase from you, comparing apples to oranges. More like apples to giant pineapples. Lions and Leopards, sure, fair comparison. But not the other 3.

 

[CraigC]

While I respect your choice in big bore guns (see my handle), you would have to agree that "jack of all but master of none" applies to so many cartridges.

Perhaps but none are so obvious as the `06.

The .45-70 has been used to take all the Big 5, as has the .44Mag.

I didn't say the brown bear wasn't dangerous game but let's be honest, it doesn't take a .500NE to kill a 400-800lb bear. Although I have watched one soak up four .416's before going down.

 

[CB900F]

MrCleanOK;

I'm not an Alaskan, just a Montanan, and a left hand shootin' one at that. We also have moose, and bear. We're not allowed at this time to hunt grizzlies, but they have been known to dispute possession of an elk carcass with the hunter.

I've got a couple of LH .30-06's, one a Tikka, and t'other a Winchester model 70 Classic stainless. That's a USRAC gun, and they absolutely did make some left hand model 70's. I also have a Tikka lefty in .338 Winchester magnum. Keep in mind that the .338 is pretty much a magnum in name only. I don't know of a reloading manual that suggests you can get to, much less over, 3000 fps with a 225 grain bullet. Furthermore, there's no need to try & get there either. A 225 launched in the 2700 fps range will put the smack on any big game animal at any reasonable range. Let's say 500 yards maximum, though most moose are taken quite a bit closer.

If a good deal came up on a LH .338, don't automatically turn your nose up at it. If you reload you can tailor the round to what your recoil tolerance is. Also keep in mind that a .30-06 with 220 grain bullets at something in the 2500 fps range is going to let you know about it everytime you trip the trigger. The .338 will have much better ballistics, is larger, and slightly faster. Not really as much difference though as you might think.

Oh, the Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10X mil-dot scope is pretty hard to beat for hunting IMHO.

900F

 

[DM~]

The .45-70 has been used to take all the Big 5, as has the .44Mag.

As has the 7x57 mauser, 7.62x39 and MANY others, including the 30-06! (MANY times over) AND it means absolutely nothing!

Anyone who thinks a 44 mag. is "bigger dangerous game medicine" than a 30-06 loaded with 200 NP's has absolutely NO experience with BOTH rounds on bigger big game!

DM

 

[CraigC]

And some folks overestimate the penetrative abilities of their favorite rifle cartridge.

 

[DM~]

That's true...

I use to design/swage/test bullets, and I have tested every bullet that I promote and thousands of others...

I have a "switch bbl." rifle with bbls chambered in different cartridges to test bullets with, so I'm NOT an arm chair deer hunter with lot's of opinions.

I have tested and used hundreds of NP's, so I know exactly what they will do and that's why I push them as EXCELLENT big game bullets...

A 200NP at 2,500 will have no problem putting down the biggest bear, even with a frontal shot, you don't have to wait for a side rib shot...

Of course, if you've not had that experience, I guess you wouldn't know that.

DM

 

[CraigC]

A 200NP at 2,500 will have no problem putting down the biggest bear, even with a frontal shot, you don't have to wait for a side rib shot...

I never said it wouldn't.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I've shot a moose or three. I've allways used my .308 and shoot 180Grn homeloaded Norma Oryx. I use the same bullet for wild boar and its great for driven boar.
The leader of our hunting team breeds and works Norsk Gråhunds for moose hunting and as the dog handler on many moose hunting days must shoot at least 20 moose a year. He shoots a 30.06.
For their size moose arn't hard to kill. In Sweden there is a cull of European brown bear every year and most are shot with .30 cal rifles and even the 6.5x55 is used. The 6.5x55 is still quite popular for moose hunting.

Picture of a moose cow out the back of my house last Thursday morning

You hunt moose with dogs?

 

[GooseGestapo]

My older brother spent a number of years in Alaska courtesy of Uncle Sam. He once put down a traffic casualty moose with a .38spl w/130gr FMJ.

He said you could tell where someone was from by what ammo they bought at the old Oshmans sporting good store in Anchorage.
Residents bought .30/30, .30/06, .308, or as he told it, one asked for tree oh tree shells... The clerk asked "which one"? (Savage or Enfield) crusty old timer went out and came back with a badly rusted SMLE Mk5 carbine...
Tourist buy .300, .338, .375 MAGNUMS. (Except for outfitters guiding tourists). They "NEED" a magnum in case a tourist "pisses off Yogi or Bullwinkle" with a badly placed shot.

An Inuit native once told my brother (OSI agent, USAF) that he thought the Mosin Nagant w/Russian 196gr bullet to be THE BEST rifle there was for Alaska. It worked, as he put it; rain, snow or ice.
I believe Caribou would agree (member here).

A .30/06 with 200gr or 220gr Nosler Partition will be almost indistinguishable from a .375, with a well placed shot. (Got both, killed game with both, and THREE .338's).

Get a LH '06, and shoot it! Ammo is 1/2 to 1/3 cost. Available most anywhere.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

My older brother spent a number of years in Alaska courtesy of Uncle Sam. He once put down a traffic casualty moose with a .38spl w/130gr FMJ.

He said you could tell where someone was from by what ammo they bought at the old Oshmans sporting good store in Anchorage.
Residents bought .30/30, .30/06, .308, or as he told it, one asked for tree oh tree shells... The clerk asked "which one"? (Savage or Enfield) crusty old timer went out and came back with a badly rusted SMLE Mk5 carbine...
Tourist buy .300, .338, .375 MAGNUMS. (Except for outfitters guiding tourists). They "NEED" a magnum in case a tourist "pisses off Yogi or Bullwinkle" with a badly placed shot.

An Inuit native once told my brother (OSI agent, USAF) that he thought the Mosin Nagant w/Russian 196gr bullet to be THE BEST rifle there was for Alaska. It worked, as he put it; rain, snow or ice.
I believe Caribou would agree (member here).

A .30/06 with 200gr or 220gr Nosler Partition will be almost indistinguishable from a .375, with a well placed shot. (Got both, killed game with both, and THREE .338's).

Get a LH '06, and shoot it! Ammo is 1/2 to 1/3 cost. Available most anywhere.

The old Oshmans store? Never heard of it. When was this 1960?
I know many life long Alaskans they all shoot the best from .500 S&W to .375
Natives shoot [and drink] whatever is cheap.
Doesn't mean I'm going to copy them.