Moose Hunting Question

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Jonny_Cannon

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I've been invited to go moose hunting next year in northern ontario next year with the brother-in-law. I'll be part of a group, so never fear, I know my place, and where I'll stand in the "moose-hunting-group" hierarchy. All that aside, I have a couple of questions with regards to an appropriate firearm.

I have never hunted moose or deer, etc. I'm a bird guy. Nonetheless, I am a big fan of milsurp rifles. I know my SKS won't be big enough for moose (or so I've been told). I have a pristine numbers-matching Lee Enfield (yes, it would kill me to bring this gun out into the bush but that's what they're for, right?), and an SVT-40. I don't want to buy another rifle for something I may not like first time out.

I'm an ex-military big boy, so carting a heavy firearm around in the bush all day is something I'm used to. When it comes to shooting at paper, with my glasses on, I have no problems drilling bullseyes with open sights out to 100 yards (that's all my range offers). After that, it gets sketchy for me. Nailing a dinner plate out much further is something I can accomplish, but that's it. Thank-you for that old age.

I'm wondering - will either of these rifles be adequate? I mean, the SVT is pretty much a .308, so it should easily do the trick, and I believe the 2014 record moose was taken with a .303. If I use the SVT, should I put a scope on it? I really don't want to do it on the Enfield. My other question is that since the SVT is a semi, I guess I have to find a pinned mag somewhere (I'm not interested in drilling my only mag for it).

I'd be interested in anyone's advice. I've got all winter to prepare.

Tthank-you.

Cannon
 
Good excuse to buy a rifle. You should be fine with open sights most of my moose encounters were within 100yards. Lots of moose have been shot with 303. I would take that one if it was me. Good luck
 
What are the rest of the gang using?
No point in being under or over powered.
And as stated, might be time fer a new shewter.
Hunnnie, gotta buy a mewsie rifle, mine aint' proper................:dancingbanana:
 
Go with the Lee Enfield, for sure. That is an excellent moose rifle, with factory ammunition and 180 grain bullets.
If it is the mk4 rifle with aperture sights, you won't be a bit handicapped by not having a scope.
And don't feel a bit bad if the rest of the crew all have belted magnum rifles. If you get a chance, you'll nail a moose.
 
The 303 will do the trick. Taking a gun to the field can be rough on them, you never know when you might slip, or have to dog some brush (which is where our camp newbies go), or so on. If it is truly pristine, there is a risk it might come back with a few extra character marks on it. If you don't want to risk damaging it and since you're in military surplus guns I would get a cheaper 303 or a 6.5x55 swede, or hunt with the SVT. No scope is needed, 1/3 of my moose hunting group hunts with iron sights only.
 
No question - the Brit is the way to go. If you still have the eyes to shoot irons, that is even better. There is no rifle that screams traditional Canadian moose rifle than a .303 Brit and with 180 grain soft points, it is more than up to the task.
 
Take the Enfield. If it really kills you that much to use it, buy a budget rifle and re-sell it. Lose $50 or so, but you're enfield is still locked snugly away. Hell, buy a bubba Enfield for $150 or so.
 
Sporterized .303 Lee-Enfields are simply called "moose" rifles down here on the Rock. 180 gr hunting bullet and you're good to go.
 
on the contrary moose are very tough animals.To be able to survive and flurish in this part of the world they have to be.Any animal well secum to a well placed lung shot from a high power rifle such as the 303 british,this round as been around for a long time and is underestimated and for goten by a lot of hunters with the avialiability of so many more power full rounds for example 300 win mag and 338 and so on.
The 303 has been used here a lot over the years ,not so much anymore as modern rifles become cheaper and more avialable but im sure most hunters still have their grand fathers or fathers sportered no1mk111 or no4 tucked away some where
 
I've used 7.62x39 as a bush gun for a while, it represents the bottom of the calibers I use for big game -200 yards max
.303 British has probably bagged more canadian moose than any other caliber.
For long distance I use a .338 lapua mag.
Moose have been taken by archers for a couple of hundred years and a .270 has more power and range than any arrow or bolt. In my opinion caliber is a part of the equation but so is accuracy.
My suggestion is to upgrade your sights/scope and spend some quality time at the range with the guns you have !
Good luck next season !
 
I'd take the Enfield if it were me. Up until the 80's they were a very popular rifle in the bush. They haven't fallen by the wayside due to calibre or lack of punch. The fellows who carried them are all at that age where their hunting days have come to an end or are ending and the younger generations coming up preferred something a little more sleek and sporty looking. There has been no shortage of game killed a with a 303 Enfield in every corner of the globe.
I wouldnt worry too much about using it from a "marking it" standpoint either. Yes it may be in fantastic shape but we're not talking about dragging a hand made $15,000 Holland & Holland double rifle around. Enjoy your rifle, thats what it's for.
 
.303 has my vote. 187 yards when I first started moose hunting bagged my first moose. The SVT and SKS with hunting rounds would be a bit lite.
 
With all the glory we have heaped on the 303 Lee Enfield, I think we should keep some things in perspective. The 303 Lee Enfield was not the classic Canadian moose killer that kept families from starvation. That title belongs to the 30-30, about 95% of the time in a Model 94 Winchester.
During the great depression, which faded out as WW2 progressed, rural Canadians living in northern areas, literally depended on wild game to survive. They shot moose and elk 12 months of the year, whenever meat was required.
And by the way, nobody had to tell me these things, or did I have to read about it to know what went on. I lived it. I grew up in one of the most depressed areas in northern Canada and I was old enough to remember it all. At the rural one room schools we had, when the boys were too young to bother talking about girls, we talked about the guns our families had! To this day I can rhyme off the guns that many of our neighbors had.
In late winter a large family with about five kids, came to the little one room school and we noticed the only lunch they brought in their pails was dry bread, meaning no butter on it and nothing else! Then one afternoon we heard some rifle shots from our school. The very next morning their lunch pails were nearly full of chunks of cold, boiled moose meat, which they ate in huge quantities. Their Dad had a 30-30 Winchester.
Probably half of the rifles used were 30-30s and a great variety of others made up the balance. There were only about two 303s in the whole district. One neighbor who use to walk through our yard to go hunting, and often came in for coffee on his way home, carried a 300 Savage. Other rifles were 32 Winchester Special, 43 Mauser, 6.5, Win. 351 Self Loading, 32-40, 250 Savage, 45-90, 30 Remington pump and on and on.
The 303 Lee Enfields came on the market in droves, starting a few years after WW2 and well after the classic hunting for survival period. By this time hunting was called sport hunting was well regulated, with very little hunting out of season.
 
For goodness sakes! Take BOTH!!

Take the SVT with you on day 1 of the hunt. This will give you an idea of the terrain and bush conditions, and how much abuse your enfield may be expected to take. Depending on what you face on day 1, plan the rest of your hunt accordingly.

And not to knock the mighty .303, but 7.62x54 has about 300ftlbs more energy at the muzzle. So, on paper, it would be the better hunting rifle. However, 300ftlbs of extra energy does very little if it isn't placed where you intended to place it. Accuracy trumps oomph.


And don't worry about adding a scope. If you can shoot plates at 200yards with open sights you're good to go. The moose's heart is about as big as those birds you usually hunt.
 
TwigPig said:
.303 has my vote. 187 yards when I first started moose hunting bagged my first moose. The SVT and SKS with hunting rounds would be a bit lite.
Click to expand...


Light? I think you're mistaking the svt for something else...

Svt 7.62x54 firing 180gr: muzzle 2625fps, 100yards 2303fps

Enfield .303 firing 180gr: muzzle 2460fps, 100yards 2233fps
 
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