Moose gun
- Thread starter Cagunman
- Start date
If your shots are all in the 8-40 yrd range you should trade your 338 in for a bow! I have been bow hunting for moose the last few years and my bulls from the last two years were at 42 and 45 yrd respectively, no need for a gun at those ranges.
IMO moose are not that tough to kill, any legal gun you can shoot accuratly will do the trick, 30-30, 270, 7mm, 300 mag, 45/70, doesn't matter if you use a decent bullet and hit them in the boiler room.
Why?
I understand everyone has there personal opinions, but why do people insist on making comments like this? 300 meters for moose long? Just because you live in a thick brushed area does not mean EVERY MOOSE ONLY LIVES IN THICK BRUSH. I think I read you are shooting in NB, I use to live near Fredericton. You are gonna get shots anywhere from a few yards to pretty much infinity. Like most people said, .270 will deff. do the job, most people prefer any .30 cal round just for the little extra hitting power on impact. If your buddy wants to buy a 30-06 than so be it, don't let internet chatter deter him from buying a classic round that has killed thousands of moose.
I understand everyone has there personal opinions, but why do people insist on making comments like this? 300 meters for moose long? Just because you live in a thick brushed area does not mean EVERY MOOSE ONLY LIVES IN THICK BRUSH. I think I read you are shooting in NB, I use to live near Fredericton. You are gonna get shots anywhere from a few yards to pretty much infinity. Like most people said, .270 will deff. do the job, most people prefer any .30 cal round just for the little extra hitting power on impact. If your buddy wants to buy a 30-06 than so be it, don't let internet chatter deter him from buying a classic round that has killed thousands of moose.
Spark Shooter
New member
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
.308 Norma Mag with a 180 grn accubond will never let you down.
I've shot a few moose(some out past 300yds.) with a 303 British(220gr.), a lot with a 30-06(180gr.), and quite a few with a 280 Remington(139gr. Hornady).....even one with a bow .
Shot placement is called for on any animal , but moose are not as tenacious of life as a WT deer.
Your 270 will do fine .
Shot placement is called for on any animal , but moose are not as tenacious of life as a WT deer.
Your 270 will do fine .
carl gustav
CGN Regular
- Location
- Thunder Bay
If the shots are not long all you need is a 160 grain round nose out of a 6.5x55, although a 250 gr from a 35 Whelen would be ideal and OK for the longer shots too. You can also go to lots of other calibers in between without going to the magnums and maxing out on meat spoilage. How dead do they need to be?
I was actually wondering if the 6.5x55 would be sufficient for moose.
It would seem from discussions many think it would be on the slightly small size for moose/bear.
With my handloads and 140 gr. nosler partitions. I wouldn't hesitate for a second out to 250 yards. A ton of people here have magnum itis! Lots of of guys think you need a cannon to kill game. Truth is what you need is to know your rifle, it's capability, and most of all. YOURS! You put a round from the swede into the vitals, it's on the ground. Just my 2 cents.
Dave.
- Location
- Ontariariario
+1!
If a professional hunter in Africa can down numerous elephants with a 7x57 Mauser, theres no reason you can't use the very similar 6.5x55 on moose.
I use my 6.5x55 on whitetails occasionally and judging by its performance I'd have no reservations whatsoever using it on moose.
Some calibers seem to have effectiveness that doesn't show up in ballistics tables.
The 6.5x55 and 7x57 Mauser are 2 of those types of cartridge.
Eric
doug keller
Member
- Location
- Winnipeg,Mb.
I like my 338 win mag. was using 225gr. trophy bonded bear claws. Both moose I shot broadside had penetration to the far side with massive expansion, bullets measured close to 5/8". Going to try some accubonds this year.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Any of the popular calibers from .25 cal and up will work with good bullets and proper shot placement.
Bigger and faster calibers offer you some margin of error, but then they also tend to make more guys flinch and therefore need that margin of error...
Bigger and faster calibers offer you some margin of error, but then they also tend to make more guys flinch and therefore need that margin of error...
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
You recoverd 338 win mag bullets from broadside shot on moose? The only way I've found a moose to retain a 338 slug is on a double front shoulder shot, and even then it better be a generously sized moose. I've recovered more .375H&H bullets than 338 win mag bullets...
I have shot right through moose with my bow. I have never hesitated going out the door after anything in ontario with my 6.5x55 or my .308. I don't handload which is a huge factor in my coice of calibers. Both are readily available at the canadian tire down the street. Pick something you are comfortable with and practice. Do your part, put the bullet where your are supposed to and you won't have a problem with anything say .260 and up. I'm a game hunter not a game shooter. Get comfortable and know your limits!
Maybe he shootin' a ways off?? I raked one from fore to aft with a 250 nosler partition (.338), at 50m and recovered it in the top of the hip. Broadside? Likely right through most times.
270 for moose? Good enough. Dad's used one for years. I don't like to be so mundane. I prefer to use the golf bag approach...Driver....338 win mag....Sand Wedge...45-70.....3 iron....30-06.....putter.....300 savage. Why limit yourself? It's the .300 savages turn this year.
I wonder what you would say to a guy in the bush with a Dunlop golf bag full of guns?
My first moose ever was with a .270 - I still have the same rifle (that was 22 years ago). I now use a 7mm Rem Mag for Moose, but my backup is my trusty .270.
I used a .280 Remington for a few years and had good success but cost of shells in relation to the .270 was the difference.
Many guys I've gone hunting with swear by their .30-06 and I would agree it's a fine rifle. It really comes down to preference.
Where I grew up (in Northern BC) many of the First Nations hunters would use a .30-30 and take moose on a regular basis (not much different than a bow).
If you're looking for a gun that'll take a moose on a flat open field a .270, .280, 7mm can't be beat based on speed of round (provided there's a heavy enough bullet - 170gr is what I shoot), but in densely wooded areas, you'll want to go to a heavier, slower travelling bullet.
It's funny - everyone has a caliber that's their favourite, but in reality, a .270 or greater is enough to take a moose provided the shooter is competent and can put it into the kill zone at the right range.
I used a .280 Remington for a few years and had good success but cost of shells in relation to the .270 was the difference.
Many guys I've gone hunting with swear by their .30-06 and I would agree it's a fine rifle. It really comes down to preference.
Where I grew up (in Northern BC) many of the First Nations hunters would use a .30-30 and take moose on a regular basis (not much different than a bow).
If you're looking for a gun that'll take a moose on a flat open field a .270, .280, 7mm can't be beat based on speed of round (provided there's a heavy enough bullet - 170gr is what I shoot), but in densely wooded areas, you'll want to go to a heavier, slower travelling bullet.
It's funny - everyone has a caliber that's their favourite, but in reality, a .270 or greater is enough to take a moose provided the shooter is competent and can put it into the kill zone at the right range.
Robert Albert
New member
- Location
- Welsford n.b
Bonjour..my hunting buddies and i use 270, 308, 30.06 All seam to do the job just fine in New Brunswick. My brother shot his 18 point bull last september At 350 yards with an old 303. one shot! It all depends on shot placement and what feels good to you i guess.
