Author Topic: Moose calibers (Read 12743 times)

SteveADK · « **on:** April 19, 2007, 03:27:50 AM »

What's a good non magnum caliber for moose in New England?

Buckfever · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2007, 04:39:24 AM »

CZ 550 in a 9.3x62 with 286. gr. bullet. Or a 30-06 with a 180gr or 200gr. Buckfever

navylawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2007, 04:04:22 PM »

SteveADK,

The good 'ol 30-06 was my first thought. They do make 220 grainers for it too. Or you could go with a .45/70, .444 Marlin, or .450 Marlin.

Navylawdog

corbanzo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2007, 08:36:13 AM »

30-06 is what most people use. Pretty much anything pushing 180 grns or more at 2500 fps or more will do. Bigger slower works too.

lester · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2007, 04:31:39 PM »

Got my 1st moose here in VT last year. 589 lbs, 37 inch spread. 30 yard shot with my old faithful Rem 788 in .308, factory Remington 180 gr Core-Lokts. He went about 75 yards after the shot and piled up.

Lester

lester · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2007, 04:36:31 PM »

Here's a pic:

Lester

Buckfever · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2007, 04:59:42 AM »

Nice Moose. When I saw the picture all I could think of is yum, yum! Try some Nachos with all the normal stuff and pan brown some Moose hamburger. It tastes great and has little to no grease so you feel great after you eat them. My favorite nachos!! Buckfever

steve66 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2007, 01:13:39 PM »

anything around the 30.06 size will do the job, how big are the moose in your area? .303 is a pretty popular caliber up here and have taken many a moose, and our moose will easily top 1000lbs.

Dee · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2007, 01:22:32 PM »

How about a plain ole 3030 with a 170gr nosler fp? Works for many canadian guides and plain ole canadians.

Zachary · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2007, 05:55:22 AM »

I have heard that in Scandinavian countries, the most popular cartridge is.....get this.....the 6.5x55 with 140 grain bullets! It seems that these long, skinny bullets penetrate very well through moose. I think a similar article stated that more moose around the world are killed with the 6.5x55 than any other cartridge.

Zachary

tanoose · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:03:34 AM »

I'm going with the .358 Winchester with 250 grain hornadys at around 2200- 2300 fps my brother is going with the 35 Whelen , my Dad said if he comes along he will use his 35 Remington. I guess we just fell into the 35 craze. But before that i would have used any of my 30/06's with the hornady 220 RN If you dont like to use heaiver bullets in the 06 the 180 grain bullets will do just fine.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2007, 11:31:47 AM »

I really like the 30-06 and it's a great choise.... BUT, one thing i've learned over the years harvesting big game is, the 200 grain bullets out perform the 220's every time. I'm talking about better penetration, less drop ect.., so that would be my first choise..

DM

steve66 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2007, 03:36:08 PM »

ya the 30-30 is an alright cartridge, for close range but it is kinda underpowered for anythin past 50 yds, and anything to large. but it has taken many a moose. the 6.5 X55 is a good cartridge and has taken many a canadian moose as well. i personally use a remington 180 grain 30.06. its has good speed and good ft-lbs. 180's definately out produce the 220's.

Elk Hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2007, 10:29:09 PM »

Any rifle you use for elk or black bear will work as long as you use the proper bullet. A Nosler partition or any bonded bullet with a good weight to it will work great.

JonnyC · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2007, 05:25:30 AM »

Remember you may be shooting 200 yds- so pick something that can shoot that far with accuracy and umph!

TribReady · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2007, 05:56:38 PM »

Another game animal I can hunt with my trusty 8mm Mauser

It really comes down to shot placement, good bullet, and patience for the right shot angle and distance.....like most hunting .

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2007, 05:08:10 AM »

I've shot two so far. One with the 45-70 and the other with the 375 JDJ. Both didn't go far.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2007, 04:29:29 AM »

I just picked up a nice Husqvarna 9.3x57 for about $300,and although ammunition isn't readily available-Norma chambers it in 286 gr Alaska brand.I'm told it shoots cast pretty good,too.I'm not into punishing heavy recoil magnums -don't shoot them as accurately either

Sourdough · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2007, 12:18:33 PM »

30-06, .35 Whelen(or it's twin the .350Rem Mag the original short mag), 45-70, something big enough to anchor it to the spot where it's shot, and not let him get to water. Good article in this month's Americian Hunter titled "How Not To Shoot A Moose".

Cabin4 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 01, 2007, 09:29:01 AM »

how about a 170grain or better, 30 caliber or better bullet traveling around 1300pfs upon impact.

RaySendero · « **Reply #20 on:** August 01, 2007, 03:42:07 PM »

I use a sporterized Vz-24 Mauser rebarreled to 9.3x62.

jasonprox700 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 02, 2007, 04:58:33 AM »

Maybe a .338-06 or the new .338 Federal. If your not into mags, one of those would be my choice. Another one would be the .35 Whelen.

NYHunter · « **Reply #22 on:** August 02, 2007, 06:30:35 AM »

180 grn out of a .308 or .30-06.

Sourdough · « **Reply #23 on:** August 03, 2007, 03:48:56 AM »

With the little Moose you have in the states, any thing that works for Elk will do.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 03, 2007, 06:55:36 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough on August 03, 2007, 03:48:56 AM

With the little Moose you have in the states,

Hey... hey... hey now.... this sounds like an insult to me!

Sourdough · « **Reply #25 on:** August 03, 2007, 07:23:09 AM »

Sorry, no insult ment. I was just down there, in June, visiting friends in Maine. They took me out to one of their favorite spots where we seen a bunch of Moose. They were impressed with their size, but could not understand why I was not. According to my Host, we were looking at five to seven year old bulls, that were in their prime. These bulls were the size of a two year old Alaska/Yukon Moose, little guys. They were no bigger than some of the Montana Elk I have seen. Then I remembered the Moose my wife and I saw in Yellowstone. Again they were little to us, the wife thought they were young ones till I pointed out the size of their racks and the number of brow tines. They look like they would go from 800 to 1200 lbs on the hoof. A big Moose here at home (Alaska) will top 2000lbs, with the average 1600 to 1800lbs. I got 890lbs of meat off the last cow I killed.

So like I said earlier, if you are hunting Moose in the states any Elk cartridge will do. I'll add, If you come to Alaska leave that gun at home.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 03, 2007, 09:38:00 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough on August 03, 2007, 07:23:09 AM

Sorry, no insult ment.

I'm Just messing with you Sourdough. I know our moose down here are the little guys. Its scary when I think about that. Because I think the moose we have here are huge!! I can only imagine up close to a 2,000 pounder! I have been up close to 1,200 pounders and they are still a massive creature at that weight.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #27 on:** August 03, 2007, 01:37:28 PM »

Quote

So like I said earlier, if you are hunting Moose in the states any Elk cartridge will do. I'll add, If you come to Alaska leave that gun at home.

In all the years i lived in Alaska, i never had a problem putting a moose down with a 30-06 size gun. Use good quality bullets of the proper weight for the cal. your using, and you don't need a cannon for moose!

DM

Sourdough · « **Reply #28 on:** August 03, 2007, 07:15:10 PM »

Cabin 4: I think one of the best sights I have ever seen was down in the Alaska Range, on the Mc Cllearan river we saw several big bulls. Then we noticed two that were off by themselves. These boys were so big and broad that when they walked they had to swing their bodies from side to side to maintain balance. The space between their front legs was impressive. We were watching them through a powerful scope, they were about a mile away. They were in the middle of a big swamp, with no way to get to them except walk. No way you could have gotten them out if you did get a shot. We just don't normally see them that big ourselves.

Drillingman: First off Moose will always run to water if spooked or hurt, it's instinctive, that is where they feel safest. Wolves and bears can't get to them there. The deeper the better. A 30-06 will kill a Moose, but it will not anchore one like I want. Killing a Moose is not hard, I know people that use .243s to kill Moose. But not in my camp. I want that animal knocked down and not able to get up period. The problem with using smaller guns to shoot Moose is that they will run to water and die in the water. There is nothing more miserable than trying to clean a Moose standing in a foot or more of water. Plus it's a good way to lose the meat. If it gets wet it can cause it to souer and go bad real fast. That's why I shoot a .338 Win Mag. I shoot center of the shoulder to brake the shoulder so that animal is anchored, he can't go anywhere.

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #29 on:** August 08, 2007, 06:17:52 PM »

I am still building up preference points to the level that I can expect to draw a moose tag here in the mountains of SE Wyoming. At age 61 I probably won't have time to build up enough points for a second hunt in this state.

When I draw that tag I will have a choice to make: which rifle to use. I have three good choices on hand. All have fixed power, El Paso era Weavers, either K2.5 or K3. My selection includes 30'06 Rem. M700, 35 Whelen M700 Classic, and .444 Marlin. I have taken elk with each of them.

I see the moose often when hunting elk locally. Once spotted, getting close is not a problem. They do not spook easily here and they are easy to track if good snow is available. Of the moose I have encountered the past few years, I could have taken any of them with my Marlins in 30-30 or 35 Rem. They were that close.

When I finally draw a Wyoming moose tag I won't be carrying a marginal rifle. Most likely it will be the Whelen.