BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[maddenwh]

I tried, to no avail, to get this discussion started on the elk forum. Surely some of you guys are up for debating caliber preferences for big game animals. What are the best, or simply your favorite ,cals for hunting moose. I think the best would be either the 338 win mag or the 375 H&H magnum. However, my first choice if going on a moose hunt might be a single shot 45/70 or 405 win. Or, I'd go with my trusty 358 winchester Browning BLR even though I think my 338 federal would work better. So what are your thoughts on this kids...?

[big drift]

The question should not be what caliber but rather what bullett,

In that I look to Hornady Interlocks or Barnes TSX.

In caliber whatever you shoot well. To many overgun the situation many moose have been taken with a 30/30 or .303 British. That being said I also prefer heavier calibers just because. I am using a .35 Whelen this year with 250 grain Interlocks and 225 grain TSX's which ever shoots better.

But I am also taking my .280 as a backup if we have gun issues.

JMO

[Old Professor]

I like the 338 caliber cartridges as well as the 35 Whelen. I am going to use the 338 Federal on a moose hunt this fall. I will shoot the factory 210 gr Nosler Partition load.

[atomikall]

30-06 for me 180 gr bullets Remington ultra bonded.

[Good Northern Boy]

Remington 700 30-06 with Winchester XP3 180 grain

[atomikall]

Yea xps are nice.

[Rick Teal]

I've shot most of my moose with a 30-06, and a couple more with a .303 British. It doesn't take a big whompin magnum to put down a moose.

Currently my number one moose gun is a Remington 7600 in .35 Whelen, with a BLR in .358 Winchester as back-up. Any good middle cartridge of a bore size of .270 or greater and a slightly heavy-for-calibre bullet should do the job.

As to rifle type, I tend to stay away from bolt actions due to their slowness in getting a possible follow-up shot ready, but that's just a personal preference. I find I'm a more accurate game shot with a quick shooter than with a bolt.

I started hunting with a bolt - namely a .303 British - but graduated to an auto which accounted for my remaining moose.

As for bullet design. I find (again) that slightly heavy-for-calibre bullets that are designed to expand quickly do the best job. I've shot moose with CPEs and Sabre Tips (neither of which is currently manufactured) and ballistic tips. My well hit moose have generally either dropped on the spot or died within 50 yds. A running moose is often dead on its feet and drops within a short distance. I had one poorly hit moose that travelled about 200 yds before laying up.

[wonksy]

300 wsm with 180grain winchester supreme accubonds for me....before that i always used a 270 with 150 grain federal premium high energy sierra game kings. like they previously stated it dont take much to drop a moose if hit in the vitals :thumbsup1:

[aaalaska]

over the years our moose have been killed with 20 ga slugs ,12 ga slugs,30/30, 35rem,300 win mag and 45/70,along with a couple bow kills.most any decent shot through the vitals =a dead moose,the issue isn't how to kill it it's how to get the critter from point a to point b,without breaking our back.

[wyldewood]

Will be using a .300 win mag. with 180gr. Nosler partitions or a 7mm Rem. Mag. with 150gr. Barnes X. Both of these are handloads and are very accurate in my rifles. Never found moose to be very durable and a well placed shot puts them down very quickly. I can only speak for the eastern moose and don't know if those "bad boys" up in Alaska / Yukon are harder to knock off their feet. I've seen various rounds work well on moose.....270, .308, 30/06 and one of the nicest bulls I've seen, my friend shot a few years back with a .35 Rem. in a lever gun. Its a short range gun but at about 80 yds. it just crushed that bull. Looked like he was dead before the bullet hit. (just kidding) . If someone were to ask me what I feel would be the ideal eastern moose rifle I would probably have to say the .30/06 with a good quality 180gr bullet in whatever action your comfortable with.......pump, bolt , auto all work if they hit where you're pointin' em.

[Don Fischer]

I haven't hunted moose in a lot of years and I've never killed one. But I do have an opinion.

It would not bother me to take my 6.5x55 for them but I also have a 30-06 that I believe is better. That's what I would take loaded with 180gr Hornady interlocks if I was to go. All the moose country I've seen, and I lived in Alaska for awhile, has been fairly wooded. Montana was the same where the moose were. I don't believe a cartridge is needed that will deliver the goods beyond a couple hundred yds or so. That reguardless what some would have you believe. But it must deliver a good bullet capabile of penetrating at most a shoulder, at least the rib cage. I'm quite certain the 180gr Hornday will do just that at reasonable range, when started out of a 30-06 about 2700 +/- fps. If the cup and core bullet gives you pause, use a premium bullet.

[Taku]

I've hunted moose here in the Yukon for about 20 years. I've shot them with 30.30's, with .270's, with 303 British and most often with my 30.06. In the last few years I've changed from 180 gr. bullets to 165's. Nothing fancy.... basic factory loads. My sons and I just started reloading so this year we'll shoot some hand loads. With the hand loads I've gone back to 180 gr. so we'll see how it goes.

[Chuck-n-Alaska]

I have taken moose with 7mm and 338 I think any 30 cal would do the job. It is as much bullet placement as caliber.

[maddenwh]

I don't have any experience hunting moose, thus the reason I posted the question. From the replies, it looks to me that moose aren't realy what you would classify as a "tougher" species. If one is comfortable using a 30/30 on an animal that size, it would seem to me they aren't real fighters. If given the chance, I'd probably use what I do on elk... a remington 35 whelen, 358 BLR, or a 338 federal ruger. I really like my 45/70, and it's been posted that they work well. I might also use one of my double rifles just as an excuse to use them. I've got a 9.3x74R that might be perfect. My 470 nitro might be a bit overkill, but I don't think I'd really have to worry about meat damage. Good to see so many different cals that could be used. Now I just need to nut up and go get me a moose.

[atomikall]

I wouldnt use the 30/30 but its up too you unless you are planning on getting close enough to them or stand hunting calling and hoping they come in close enough for moose its more the 30 cals that will travel more distance and still drop em not sayin the 30/30 wont but I would use a .303 before a 30/30 for moose just my thoughts. Though the .338 should be perfect and your right a .470 is overkill but what the hey just aim for the heart. I like 30/30s for brush and close up shots through deep, thick ruff spots but for open shooting and field, gulleys, ravines I would use a .303 .308 or 30-06 before a 30/30 anyday. Some people prefer different but these are the calibres of my choice for all candian big game.