what caliber for moose?
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josiewales
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300 Win. Mag. is used quite a bit, as well as .300 Weatherby Mag. I know a guy who uses 30-06.
frankenstein406
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I thought the 303 british was popular up there and many others.
but from a squirrel to a elephant I still recommend the 600 nitro express.
but from a squirrel to a elephant I still recommend the 600 nitro express.
30-06, 300, 338, 303, 375H&H just to name a few.
Hunterdad
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My buddy's dad shoots one every year with a .308.
kyhunter
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.30-06 and .300 win mag are the most popular by far.
Abel
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3o-o6
DanTheFarmer
Member
I'm in New Hampshire so I checked the NH Fish and Game website and Maine's as well. NH recommends a bullet 150 grain or larger with a muzzle energy of 2200 ft. lbs. minimum, 2600 ft. lbs. adequate, and 3200 optimal. Maine just says 130 grain and larger but also publishes a list of recommended and NOT recommended common chamberings. Check 'em out for all the details (and double check my fading memory!) but the short version is, here in the woods of Northern New England, 270 Win and above seems to be a good idea. Anything smaller/weaker (30-30 for example) should be double checked before heading out if you are one of the lucky ones to get a tag in the annual lottery.
By the way. I've just worked up a load for my 7mm-08 that meets the NH recommendations and my accuracy/safety requirements. 2760 fps with a Hornady 154 gr bullet, 3 shot group touched/covered by a quarter at 100 yards, no pressure signs. WooHoo.
Dan
By the way. I've just worked up a load for my 7mm-08 that meets the NH recommendations and my accuracy/safety requirements. 2760 fps with a Hornady 154 gr bullet, 3 shot group touched/covered by a quarter at 100 yards, no pressure signs. WooHoo.
Dan
Cosmoline
Member
I've seen them taken with as light a round as the 7.62x39. They have a huge heart/lung area and are not difficult to kill with reasonably good shot placement. The hard part comes after that, when you see how MUCH bigger they are than a lower 48 deer. So for moose, pack in as little as possible because you're going to be packing out a TON of meat. I found a good quality axe to be very helpful in breaking them down once the guts are out of the way. I've heard of some guys using chainsaws with olive oil in the bar oil compartment. Everything is heavy about them. And up here you better not waste any moose, because you'll get nailed for it.
Anything from 6.5X55 and up will kill one. It's more about bullet choice than caliber.
Never hunted moose, but I understand they aren't especially hard to kill. But many hunters like to use something a little more bigger than needed to put them down quicker. They apparently have a habit of wandering into swamps to die after being hit. Makes it hard to recover if they do.
Never hunted moose, but I understand they aren't especially hard to kill. But many hunters like to use something a little more bigger than needed to put them down quicker. They apparently have a habit of wandering into swamps to die after being hit. Makes it hard to recover if they do.
DM~
Member
I've shot more than 25 moose, any medium size or bigger round used for deer will work for rib shots on moose, as long as you use a good bullet like a Nosler Partition.
AND that's why i prefer NP's for hunting, as they are the BEST "all around" hunting bullet ever invented.
DM
AND that's why i prefer NP's for hunting, as they are the BEST "all around" hunting bullet ever invented.
DM
A critical factor is the use of a GOOD BULLET.
By that, I mean a Nosler partition, Barnes TSX, and similar-"premium" bullets.
Bullets such as these offer excellent penetration and weight retention, both of which are highly desirable for shooting moose.
In my decades of living and hunting in the far North, I never lost a moose or caribou. Mostly my Remington .30-06 with 200-grain Partitions served as my moose rifle, but a few were taken with the TSX in later years. The TSX actually retains MORE weight than the Partition, percentage-wise, but the older Nosler design is perfectly adequate.
Put a GOOD bullet in a vital spot with an adequate cartridge, and that moose is yours...
By that, I mean a Nosler partition, Barnes TSX, and similar-"premium" bullets.
Bullets such as these offer excellent penetration and weight retention, both of which are highly desirable for shooting moose.
In my decades of living and hunting in the far North, I never lost a moose or caribou. Mostly my Remington .30-06 with 200-grain Partitions served as my moose rifle, but a few were taken with the TSX in later years. The TSX actually retains MORE weight than the Partition, percentage-wise, but the older Nosler design is perfectly adequate.
Put a GOOD bullet in a vital spot with an adequate cartridge, and that moose is yours...
TheCracker
Member
If I were hunting in rough terrain I would use a 308 with a 180 grain bonded bullet.
a-sheepdog
Member
What do you currently own? Chances are that you have something in your arsenal that will work. I have a 9.3x62, 7mm Rem Mag, as well as a 300 and 338 Win Mag. Any of those three would be perfect for moose. Use a good bonded bullet.
Float Pilot
Member
I have lived up here in Alaska since Eisenhower was the president.
I have also harvested every game critter up here except Bison and Musk-oxen with a 7x57mm Mauser. I have also used a 6.5x55mm swede Mauser on all sorts of game critters.
I grew up in an area in which folks homesteaded, commercially fished and maybe did a little logging on the side. NOBODY had much money back then..
Most folks had $20 Mausers they bought from the ads in the back of the American Rifleman. Some folks who were better off had 1903 Springfields they had sporterized.
Most folks in the bush villages used 30-30 Winchester model 94 carbines for EVERYTHING.
A few old ranch owners I knew used Savage model 99s in 300 Savage...
Most people did not worry about Brown Bears, (Griz to outsiders) because they cannot be eaten and they can be avoided with common sense. If you had a problem with one, most folks carried 3 or 4 rounds of 220 grain round nose bullets for their 30-06...
During the 1970s the north slope oil boom brought thousands of new people and money.. along with crime, crooked politicians and problems...
Suddenly the big city of Anchorage (the center of all evil) had gun shops popping up all over and everyone thought they needed a 338 Win mag, 458win mag or larger...
A few years ago I did a poll amongst Alaskan hunters and the results showed that the majority ( like 75%) of folks actually use either a 30-06, 300 Win mag, or 338 Win mag...
375HH and 45-70 make up the next largest percentage.
I have all sorts of big magnum rifles, (most I built or got in trades) but when I actually go moose hunting I just toss my old Husqvarna 30-06 lightweight or my 6.5x55m Model 70 into the plane and off I go...
I have also harvested every game critter up here except Bison and Musk-oxen with a 7x57mm Mauser. I have also used a 6.5x55mm swede Mauser on all sorts of game critters.
I grew up in an area in which folks homesteaded, commercially fished and maybe did a little logging on the side. NOBODY had much money back then..
Most folks had $20 Mausers they bought from the ads in the back of the American Rifleman. Some folks who were better off had 1903 Springfields they had sporterized.
Most folks in the bush villages used 30-30 Winchester model 94 carbines for EVERYTHING.
A few old ranch owners I knew used Savage model 99s in 300 Savage...
Most people did not worry about Brown Bears, (Griz to outsiders) because they cannot be eaten and they can be avoided with common sense. If you had a problem with one, most folks carried 3 or 4 rounds of 220 grain round nose bullets for their 30-06...
During the 1970s the north slope oil boom brought thousands of new people and money.. along with crime, crooked politicians and problems...
Suddenly the big city of Anchorage (the center of all evil) had gun shops popping up all over and everyone thought they needed a 338 Win mag, 458win mag or larger...
A few years ago I did a poll amongst Alaskan hunters and the results showed that the majority ( like 75%) of folks actually use either a 30-06, 300 Win mag, or 338 Win mag...
375HH and 45-70 make up the next largest percentage.
I have all sorts of big magnum rifles, (most I built or got in trades) but when I actually go moose hunting I just toss my old Husqvarna 30-06 lightweight or my 6.5x55m Model 70 into the plane and off I go...
PlaneJain
Member
^ +1
Perfect Float Pilot.
(Soldotna sez 'Hello")
These animals can be stalked very easily if you know what you are doing, and they aren't taken in canyon shots like down in Idaho and Wyoming, etc
crappy picture, but they always present broadside shots:
Perfect Float Pilot.
(Soldotna sez 'Hello")
These animals can be stalked very easily if you know what you are doing, and they aren't taken in canyon shots like down in Idaho and Wyoming, etc
crappy picture, but they always present broadside shots:
I've seen a 10 year old girl drop a Moose with a 243 (YouTube) and read many times of people downing elk, moose and black bear with the Winchester 243.
Don't overly caught up in the ammo. 99% of hunting is shot placement . Bigger caliber just give more room for error.
Don't overly caught up in the ammo. 99% of hunting is shot placement . Bigger caliber just give more room for error.
Any .30 cal + I could put a 200+ grain bullet in.
I realize a LOT of moose have been talken by smaller lighter calibers. I just personally feel you need to be on the HIGH end of 'good for elk' and below 'you need an 'African Big Five' caliber.
I know the first time I saw a moose in the wild (while elk hunting) my thought was.. I'd need a bugger gun. Not so. Look at moose anatomy vs elk anatomy. Know WHERE to shoot, then pick rifle/caliber/bullet combo.
My choices:
.30-06 w/220 Hornady Interlock round nose.
8mm Mauser 196 gr bonded psp
.375 H&H 300gr x bullet
.45/70 405gr jsp
I have all 4 of these as choices, I'd have to hand roll the 220's but I have the bullets.
I realize a LOT of moose have been talken by smaller lighter calibers. I just personally feel you need to be on the HIGH end of 'good for elk' and below 'you need an 'African Big Five' caliber.
I know the first time I saw a moose in the wild (while elk hunting) my thought was.. I'd need a bugger gun. Not so. Look at moose anatomy vs elk anatomy. Know WHERE to shoot, then pick rifle/caliber/bullet combo.
My choices:
.30-06 w/220 Hornady Interlock round nose.
8mm Mauser 196 gr bonded psp
.375 H&H 300gr x bullet
.45/70 405gr jsp
I have all 4 of these as choices, I'd have to hand roll the 220's but I have the bullets.
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rainbowbob
Member
Float Pilot for the win (post #18). An amazing depth of imagery and history of a place and people and time - and technical information - concise and to the point. Great story...Bravo!
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Silverado6x6
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I use a .338WM if there is some range involved, but if very close a 12ga slug will do the job. Moose here in Alaska love to lick the road salt off your parked car or truck at night. Many times I have had to set off a round or two from whatever was handy like the .22 to run them off my driveway so the schoolbus can pick up the kids.
Their hide is like one of those bristle hair doormats you buy that is two inches thick.
Their hide is like one of those bristle hair doormats you buy that is two inches thick.
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