I got a nice NH bull moose...

[bigbore442001]

Last week my Dad and I went to northern New Hampshire to hunt for moose. I decided early on to use a Super 16 45-70 .

I practiced incessantly to the point of trashing a scope. Well, my dad and I hunted the opening day and I could have had a really big bull, with the rifle. My dad was sort of forcing me to use the 30-06 Remington but I felt bad as I had worked so hard to get good with the TC. This huge bull was just out of range of the 45-70.

Anyways, we hunted Sunday and observed a cow and calf walk up the road and she put her nose in the bed of the pick up. We were observing all of this from a great distance in a clear cut. Anyways, that was that.

The next morning we went out and my guide Steve Courshene accompanied me. We spotted three moose on a hillside and attempted to stalk them. After what seemed to be a long time, we managed to beat the wind and was able to sneak to about 100 yards. I steadied the 45-70 with the Storey Point Pole Cat and took a shot. Steve called and the bull turned to look at us while I took another shot. He trotted off and collapsed.

I was very happy to see my four point bull taken with a handgun. It weighed 500 lbs dressed and was 1 1/2 years old. After that the work of butchering and cutting started.

Anyways. Let me say that the weather and wind conspired against us each day and both Dad and I were wondering whether or not we would be one of the few that would go home empty handed. Needless to say, we now have a full freezer and soon some nice moose hide for a vest and shirt.

[Redhawk1]

Congratulations on your Moose. What a memory.  

[IKE]

Congragulations ! !

I've always said that out of all the big game in the U.S. I'd rather take a moose with a handgun, for some reason, than anything else.

Would you mind sharing your load data, bullet placement and actual bullet performance ?

I'm currently loading 58.5grs of Varget under a Rem. 300gr JHP in my 15" Encore barrel.......sound like good moose medicine ?

Ike

[Hcliff]

Congrats.  That is great

Hcliff

[EdK]

Congratulations!

Last week my brother also got a NH moose - I was not able to go. As he lives in an apartment I do however have it in MY freezer.  

[Van/TX]

Cool!!!  Pics? ....Van

[Del]

First, let me say I'm no expert, but I have grown up in Alaska and have harvested a number of moose.

I'm not sure what load bigbore used on his hunt, but since Ike mentioned the load he is using from his 15" brl. and said, "sound like moose medicine?"  I would like to offer a couple suggestions:
1)I would not use a 300 grn JHP.  I believe these would make great deer / black bear bullets, but I would want a bigger tougher bullet, for moose.
2)A good all-around bullet would be the Hornady 350 grn JRN.
3)If you like cast, a good 300 grn or bigger, Flat nosed bullet.
4)Want bigger & jacketed, a 400 grn + would be good, don't go to soft.

I've seen an average bull moose take a magnum JSP bullet at 75 yards through the on side shoulder and no part of that bullet made it to the off side rib cage - not even on the inside.  It ran a ways and we finally found it, but I'm sure a better bullet w/ more penetration would have done a much better job!

Just want to be helpful to the fine people here that may get the chance to go moose hunting, especially a "once in a lifetime" tag like some states - I wouldn't want you to have bad memories from a bullet that wasn't up to the task for the shot presented!

Good luck & be safe!
Del

[THE#1hunter]

Congrats   IT feels alot more accomplishing when you do it w/ something that takes alot more practice than ordinary to get good at...

[bigbore442001]

This hunt was more difficult that most people would have guessed. When I hear people refer to hunting moose like shooting a cow, I know that they are full of what is in the cow.

Anyways. The night before the hunt I decided to do some practice. I shot and discovered the gun shooting off. It turned out that the Redfield 2-6 scope was damaged. I quickly drove home and put on a 4x Burris scope and shot Winchester factory ammunition out of it.

I sighted it in for 50 yards and it shot dead on. I used the 300 JHP load and dropped the moose. I found one bullet in the off shoulder. It mushroomed slightly and weighed 291.5 grains. Not too shabby.

[TCShooter]

Congrats bigbore!  Sounds like it was something you wont soon forget!