Favorite cartridge/rifle for moose

[mark-hunter]

Lower cut off point, would probably be minimum caliber legal requirements.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don't think there is such a thing as "best" as any caliber that kills quickly at the range you plan on shooting is good enough. Once you have enough gun to do that, how much better can you get? Lets see, there is dead, extra dead, really dead and graveyard dead. Any one of these will put meat in the freezer. I have used a 338win once,a 308win twice, a 300H&H once and a 270win 6 or 7 times. All of which put moose in the freezer. I'm not sure how to tell if one worked any better than the next. I think a better question would be where is the cut off point as to being too small. And, even that is pretty subjective. It will be interesting to see how many will say this or that whiz bang magnum is the best.

@Probono
The me the best rifle is the one you have at the time as long as it will do the job.
Bob

 

[Foxi]

few yards behind. By a reflex and with intention I shot the moose in the shoulder area. What a mess.. We had to throw I would estimate 30-40 lbs or more of good meat. Could`nt even give it to the dogs.

puh ,there you have but quite spoiled dogs

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Funny thing: I've never owned a model '94. Back in the day I really wanted one, had a Winchester 88 in .358 Win., a Savage 99 (with the brass rotary magazine) in .300 Sav., a Marlin in 35 Rem and another in 44 mag. A Winchester .22 but no '94. I think that they are one of the handiest rifles ever, better to carry than a Marlin. (Without a scope...)
I always wanted a 1895 in 30-06 as well. Knew an ol one armed trapper that used one. But that is another story...

Rick, I am with you on wanting an 88 and 1895, and those calibers would be outstanding. I have the 99 in .300 Savage - it almost went to Africa this time and may well next time. And I have a 336 in .35 Remington. In fact, my largest moose fell to it; I was shooting the Buffalo Bore stuff from it.

 

[Probono]

@Probono
The me the best rifle is the one you have at the time as long as it will do the job.
Bob

Well said, I guess the trick is to shoot as many rifle and caliber as you can find to at least be able to whatever the situation or opportunity presents.

 

[Accidental Villain]

puh ,there you have but quite spoiled dogs
View attachment 408104

That`s actually spot on @Foxi. The dog in question was quite a character. Surprisingly intelligent and a true joker. I`m sure he would wear the pink dress with crown with pride

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That`s actually spot on @Foxi. The dog in question was quite a character. Surprisingly intelligent and a true joker. I`m sure he would wear the pink dress with crown with pride

@Accidental Villain.
The dog would go well with @CBH outfit for the Broken Heel festival.
Bob.

 

[Spooksar]

I don't think there is such a thing as "best" as any caliber that kills quickly at the range you plan on shooting is good enough. Once you have enough gun to do that, how much better can you get? Lets see, there is dead, extra dead, really dead and graveyard dead. Any one of these will put meat in the freezer. I have used a 338win once,a 308win twice, a 300H&H once and a 270win 6 or 7 times. All of which put moose in the freezer. I'm not sure how to tell if one worked any better than the next. I think a better question would be where is the cut off point as to being too small. And, even that is pretty subjective. It will be interesting to see how many will say this or that whiz bang magnum is the best.

Agree with you on that I used a 270 on most of my game for 25 years. I grew up in North central BC when moose where plenty, one of my friends shot his Moose every year with a 243 all one shot kills. Bullet placement is everything.

 

[Accidental Villain]

@Accidental Villain.
The dog would go well with @CBH outfit for the Broken Heel festival.
Bob.

Kind of funny how the dog and owner often resembles each other,,

 

[1dirthawker]

there is no right answer here, just room for lots of opinions.

on another thread, it was asked, was the 308 was it enough for eland? it will kill em, probably not ideal and one would have to pass on some shots or angles. i have a similar take on moose that are probably not as large as eland on average.

I've killed em with 7mm and 3006, but graduated to a 338 win (which i think is about ideal for moose) and currently hunt mostly with a 375 ruger. (just happens to be my brown bear/guiding rifle). lots of moose have been killed with a 30-30, so...who is right? shot placement and good bullets are primary.

the only real advantage is that with a larger bore rifle and very good bullets is that there are no worries on tough shot angles. you WILL get enough penetration, even on tough angles to do a good job.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Guess it'd be my Ruger #1 .375 H&H Mag. & 300gr Hornaday RN.

 

[ChrisG]

Hopefully heading to Newfoundland in the next few uears for moose. .375 Ruger loaded with 250 grain Barnes TTSXs if Barnes ever gets around to making bullets for reloaders ever again.

Either that or my .358 Win with a similarly premium bullet of about 200-225 grains.

Either should put a moose on the ground inside of 250 -300 yards.

 

[Cam Moon]

Hopefully heading to Newfoundland in the next few uears for moose. .375 Ruger loaded with 250 grain Barnes TTSXs if Barnes ever gets around to making bullets for reloaders ever again.

Either that or my .358 Win with a similarly premium bullet of about 200-225 grains.

Either should put a moose on the ground inside of 250 -300 yards.

Very easily!

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Weather permitting, I am headed out for a two day moose hunt starting tomorrow. I will be toting my Savage 99E/.308/handload 150 grain Partitions. Zero worries.

 

[Ragman]

Weather permitting, I am headed out for a two day moose hunt starting tomorrow. I will be toting my Savage 99E/.308/handload 150 grain Partitions. Zero worries.

Perfect! My Dad has shot a lot of moose with his Savage 99C in .308 Win.

 

[The Lion Tamer.....]

Marlin lever in .30-30,.35 rem or .45-70, I hunt thick slash and keep all my shots within 100 yards,I like my animals in close,as a bowhunter,I want the adrenaline rush of up close and in tight....

 

[Betterinthebush]

Winchester Model 70, .338 WM, 225gr. Barnes TSX-FB

 

[Beck]

I have not had the pleasure of hunting moose, but I like the idea of using the Ruger Guide Gun in 338 Win Mag or 375 Ruger. Do moose make for good eating?

I've not hunted moose yet, but I've always thought I do a moose/brown bear combo - My .375 Ruger Alaskan with a good illuminated Meopta 1.7-10x42mm scope on it, and 260 grain accubonds seems like it would be good medicine for both. Someone with more experience may correct my bullet choice though, could be a little soft for brown bear.

I guess if I was only chasing moose I'd probably use my .300 Weatherby or buy a .338 Win. .338 does feel like an almost ideal caliber for a moose.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I shot thirteen elk and seven moose with this 30-06 Springfield 03-A3 wearing Weaver 3x and 180 gr bullets. Did the job. The elk were killed in grizzly country but I always felt safe with 30-06.

Like all big game, some moose are fantastic eating, some are okay, and some are terrible. A lot of factors come into play before the meat is on the plate.

 

[DLSJR]

Well, since someone resurrected a very old thread…

I’ve only shot 2 moose. A big Alaska Peninsula bull that I shot with a 270 Winchester and 150 grain CoreLokt bullets. He was next to a large and deep creek, so I shot him as fast as I could work the bolt and kept shooting till I emptied the magazine, 5 very rapid shots and the bull only went about 20 yards, never made it to the creek. But, I would take a bigger gun next time as September on the AK Peninsula means Brown Bears on the salmon streams, and we saw quite a few bears.

My other moose was a Wyoming Shiras that I shot with a 100 grain Thunderhead from a 67 pound bow. Complete pass-through and he fell within 200 yards.

If I ever hunt moose again, and I’d like to, I’ll be shooting my 338 Win Mag. To my way of thinking, that is the ideal cartridge for any and all moose.