Author Topic: Moose calibers (Read 12723 times)

Sourdough · « **Reply #30 on:** August 17, 2007, 07:01:36 AM »

I'd opt for the 06 or the Whelen, leave the .444 at home. The .444 uses pistol bullets that are not tough enough for a thick skinned Moose. Range is another factor where the .444 loses. You may be able to get to with-in 40 or 50 yards, then again a 150 yard shot may be the one you have to take. The .444 is bleeding off velocity and energy real fast at that range. The 30-06 or .35 are still going strong. Good Luck, Rog

Cabin4 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 17, 2007, 07:50:11 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough on August 17, 2007, 07:01:36 AM

The .444 uses pistol bullets that are not tough enough for a thick skinned Moose.

Lots of advancements in bullets for the 444 lately. The one I would go with is a hard cast load which makes it a great big game killer. With .429 caliber, no need to worry much about expansion.

379 Peterbilt · « **Reply #32 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:02:05 AM »

I'll be usin' my 338 Win Mag this Sept. I still can't decide if I will use 225 grain A frames, or 250 NPs. Both should more than sufice.

big spruce · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2007, 03:04:27 PM »

I am going to use my 35 rem, next year, I hope, will try again. Will probably use a 225 bullet @ 2100fps all you need according to speaking with some folks about North East moose. I guess they are smaller 400-800 lbs. Unless your going to be shooting 200+ yards standard cartridges need only apply. 30-30, 308, 35, 30-06, 444.

The Canadian fella I spoke to last year said he doesn't care how fast the bullet is going hes more concerned with bullet and placement. Were I was the .303 was popular.

Big Spruce

roscoe · « **Reply #34 on:** September 09, 2007, 03:34:30 PM »

Dropped my last moose at 250 yds with my 300winmag.went 7 steps to meltdown!

10 minutes after this one was down my buddy dropped this 47 incher with a shot from his 7mm as we called it in to within 25 yds of where mine was down.

the following yr he dropped two smaller bulls at aprox.100 yds with two consecutive shots using an open sighted 30-30 winchester,so if you hit em where your supposed to they're not that hard to put down.

theoldarcher · « **Reply #35 on:** September 14, 2007, 03:55:23 AM »

So tell me your thoughts on the .45-70: T/C; 325 grain Hornady; 3-9x40 scope. This was what my brother and I had planned for a hoped-for hunt in the near future. Although I think out of his .45-70, he wants to shoot some special loads from Black Hills ammo.

Thanks, Arch

banen · « **Reply #36 on:** October 18, 2007, 03:32:46 PM »

Well like the other guys have shown, there are plenty I would recomend
In long action
30-06
35 Whelen

But don't' forget about some nice short action options like
308 Win
358 Winchester
338 Federal

If it were me I think the 338 Fed or 358 Win would make dandy options. I just prefer short actions.

~Ace~ · « **Reply #37 on:** November 09, 2007, 12:26:07 PM »

lǝʍoʌ ɐ ʎnq oʇ ǝʞıl noʎ plnoʍ

JonJon · « **Reply #38 on:** November 11, 2007, 04:36:45 AM »

I have not taken a Moose in a good while...decades....still miss the aroma on the grill...

But now, as a long-gone local boy from Anchorage, I recall a Pump 30-06 at 150 yds would put Bullwinkle down everytime back then...

It was never under powered at 180 grains...never saw one able to leave the impact site.

And 45 years ago, at mile 101 on the Palmer-Tok highway......

They were as thick as Jack Rabbits along a lonely Southern NM paved road on a cool early fall full-moon evening...

Think I'll go "harvest" a few bar-ditch "Jacks'' tonite with my 20 gauage and make-believe.....

JonJon

By the way....I hadn't seen -Ace- (above) in years either....
Good to see he's cleaned up and taking care of him self....
I'd been a little worried about him....
Yo -Ace-.....sup?

thumbcocker · « **Reply #39 on:** November 18, 2007, 01:33:33 PM »

A friends' Dad uses a 270 win and 150 gr. bullets.

7magfan · « **Reply #40 on:** December 30, 2007, 11:56:29 AM »

Don't know why you are ruling out some of the "small" magnums. My 7mag has much less felt recoil (model 700 BDL) than my pump 30/06 and much less than a 45/70, 35 whelen, and 444. I have killed 2 Maine Moose with mine both long shots and both equally effective. 1st moose was at 180 yds , one shot of my 145 grn speer's dropped him on the spot. The second one ,shot in 2006, I shot at 150 yds with 150 grain swift scirocco's. He went about 50 yds before piling up.

My dad hunts with a 444 that I wouldn't want to be on the other end of if I was a moose..He is running the new 265 grn Hornadys out of it and loves it..

IMHO the '06 is a great general round, but it doesn't touch the 7mag in many applications. Before I get blasted, I do carry an '06 in the remington 7600 carbine for my still hunting in New England and I do like it..In my heart and through my eyes, it doesn't touch a 7mag.

GrassLakeRon · « **Reply #41 on:** January 03, 2008, 05:21:49 PM »

In Europe, 6.5 x 55 Mauser. I would say anything that has around 2000 ft/ibs at 50-100 yards should do the trick as long as you do yours in bullet placement. I would use a 30-06' with 200 norma oryx or my 375 H&H.

Ron

KenGarth · « **Reply #42 on:** March 30, 2008, 12:19:20 PM »

I hunt moose with a 6.5x55mm because I can shoot it well and where we hunt you would never have a shot longer than 75-100 yards. Handload 155 grain Lapua Mega bullets to 2,550fps. Having said that, I've not had the chance to actually shoot a moose with these so I can't comment on how effective they are....hopefully this year. I don't think the 155 grain 6.5x55 is any less powerful than a .308 with 180 grain. Other guys in our camp use .30/30 or .308 remington carbines and they've taken lots of moose over the years.

Perkins · « **Reply #43 on:** April 08, 2008, 06:04:01 PM »

the best moose rifle is the rifle you have at hand when you meet up with one.

renegade50 · « **Reply #44 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:57:59 AM »

ot6
165 grain bullet with good weight retention is just fine
for bullwinkles in maine
go for a breakdown shot 1/3rd of the way down from the backline to his belly line
centered right on the front leg
he wont go far..........

no animal shot that way will go far.....

BBF · « **Reply #45 on:** April 12, 2009, 06:43:28 AM »

The original post is very old but I will add my 2.25 cents Canadian to it. I have taken moose with the 243 Win, 30-06, 35 Rem. and 444 Marlin.

The longest shot was around 100 yards, most were less then half the distance. Only two of the moose got anchored on the spot and that was because of spine shots. The reason for those two shots were brush covering the bulls for a more classic lung/ heart aim point.

The only bullet that just about anchored the moose where he stood came out of the 444. That 265 gr Hdy FN did an outstanding job!
Nothing wrong with the 35 Rem either with 220 gr Speer FN's, the moose didn't go far.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #46 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:54:33 AM »

Quote

I'd opt for the 06 or the Whelen, leave the .444 at home. The .444 uses pistol bullets that are not tough enough for a thick skinned Moose. Range is another factor where the .444 loses. You may be able to get to with-in 40 or 50 yards, then again a 150 yard shot may be the one you have to take. The .444 is bleeding off velocity and energy real fast at that range.

The 265 grain bullets loaded in the 444 Marlin are not thin jacketed pistol bullets, and they will work fine out to 150 yards on rib shots on moose... I can't imagine someone comfortable shooting at those ranges, not being able to kill a moose that far away with a .444 loaded with the heavier bullets...

DM

BBF · « **Reply #47 on:** April 14, 2009, 03:10:03 AM »

There were no Nosler PT's, Gold Dots and Hdy pointy "boolits" when I was hunting with the 444. All of those would perform fine on Moose, you could probably even consider the 300 gr XTE.

Nothing wrong with the Whelen. SiL uses one with 220 and 250 gr Speers.

no guns here · « **Reply #48 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:25:44 AM »

Never shot one but I wouldn't hesitate to use any of my following:

.45-70
.30-'06
.376 Steyr
.308
.50 cal in-line

NGH

Swampman · « **Reply #49 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:39:49 AM »

.30-06

S.S. · « **Reply #50 on:** June 01, 2009, 02:19:18 PM »

I would have to use something about 50 caliber that belches lots of smoke!
.58 Zouave would be a definate maybe also. It would have to be a front-stuffer for sure though.

Sourdough · « **Reply #51 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:30:10 PM »

45-70 is great for up close and personal. Actually if you can hit it the old 45-70 can take them on out there, as far as anything else and better than most.

Last year I shot my cow moose at 787 yards using a Weatherby 338/378, 225gr Nosler Accubond bullet, traveling at 3210fps. One shot and she turned around and stood there for about 10 seconds, then fell. Bullet took out both lungs and stopped on the far shoulderblade.

BBF · « **Reply #52 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:19:03 AM »

That 338/378 would probably make me drop on the spot as well

.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #53 on:** May 18, 2010, 05:18:34 PM »

WyoStillHunter, I am in the same boat as you. I FINALLY get drawn this year. As long as this one took I am pretty sure it will be my ONLY moose. I'm in SW Wyo and have been within a hundred yards of moose every year and always dreamed of the day I'd actually be able to take one of them. I am seriously thinking of hunting with my Smith 629.Can't think of a more rewarding hunt than to take my only moose with a handgun. I will most likely take a rifle along for the hunt in case they keep their distance, Either a BAR in 338 or a Kimber 84 in 300 WSM but think I'll have the chance to use the 44. Like you said, once you spot one they are pretty easy to stalk to within 100 yards. Good luck on your draw next.

BBF · « **Reply #54 on:** May 19, 2010, 08:31:32 AM »

Dogshooter

You will hate yourself forever and curse the day you decided to shoot a moose with that revolver IF you loose that moose or never get the chance to shoot because you can't get close enough.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #55 on:** May 19, 2010, 03:51:53 PM »

Oh I will have a rifle with me because it will be deer season as well when I go for my moose. I'll have the 44 in a holster. I usually take it with me for the times I am presented a shot suitable for it. If there's no way to get close enough for the revolver, I'll use the rifle. I have taken more than half of the animals I have killed with my revolver. The pic I posted is from my front porch. There is no shortage of moose around here.

BBF · « **Reply #56 on:** May 20, 2010, 06:07:42 AM »

That would work for me as well.