Hi there. I like the 265 grain Hornady loading. I used the loading in my 444 Marlin which is a great heavy game rifle with the right loading. I shot two nice Mulie Bucks with the 444 this season and they sure perform superbly. I have since traded another rifle for a 1894 S Marlin Carbine that is an accurate little carbine that I will used for close in hunting for whitetails in thick brushy areas. The soft points used in most 44 loadings are designed for low impact velocities. Try the Speer 44 Gold Dots which are tough bullets designed to hold together when hitting bone and heavy hide like on a moose. I also like the idea of using the 9.3 * 57 or 9.3 * 62 with the 286 grain which are proven for 100 years to drop moose dependably. Good luck.
44mag for moose?
- Thread starter chaslavk
- Start date
Legal in AB.
Alberta dropped the case length requirement when the WSSM's hit the scene.
Just has to be .23" caliber or larger.
Chucker243
Member
- Location
- quinte west area
44mag ...Moose?
I am no expert, but, I hunted with a guy who tried a 44 mag on a whitetail doe (within 100 yds.). We had to track her and I finally put her down. He had hit her too far back; just forward or the hip, but, centred vertically.
My partner has shot 3 moose with his 30-06 and is surprised at how much energy a moose can absorb.
I appreciate the handiness of the 44 mag, but, we as hunters have a duty to use the right tools for the job.
I vote no.
I am no expert, but, I hunted with a guy who tried a 44 mag on a whitetail doe (within 100 yds.). We had to track her and I finally put her down. He had hit her too far back; just forward or the hip, but, centred vertically.
My partner has shot 3 moose with his 30-06 and is surprised at how much energy a moose can absorb.
I appreciate the handiness of the 44 mag, but, we as hunters have a duty to use the right tools for the job.
I vote no.
A bad hit with any cartridge is just that, a bad hit. It is indicitive of nothing about the cartridge used.
As a short range cartridge, the 44 will work if you place your shots. Let's not even pretend that 240-300gr bullets will bounce off a moose!
Psst! That's US (44mm) ya big oaf!
NWT Wildlife Act 42(1)(b)(iii).
Chucker243
Member
- Location
- quinte west area
I'm not trying to spar, however, my point is not every shot taken by anyone may always be perfect. Some margin of error can be compensated with pure energy. I totally believe in marksmanship for every shot. This particular doe went quite a ways and was tracked down purely by blood-trail. A higher powered rifle would (most likely) have slowered her down at least.
I concede; a .44 mag is sufficient to take a moose (if everything goes right).
I concede; a .44 mag is sufficient to take a moose (if everything goes right).
joe gibault told me years ago when I told him [very mistakenly] I thought my 6.5x55 was ''too small'' for moose-''put one shot behind the shoulders,sit down for 20 minutes then follow up your moose,and he;ll be pretty close to where you shot him''he said too many guys opt for big magnums they can't shoot well, then proceed to unleash a barrage of shots,most of which miss vitals,then try and follow up imediately,which spooks the moose into taking off.
Do you really want to track a 1300 pound moose through the bush and cart its ass out from some bog where it finally gave up the ghost, instead of dropping it at the clearing where you shot it?
.45-70....call them in close to you and drop them instantly.
.45-70....call them in close to you and drop them instantly.
No it can't. A gut shot deer is still a gut shot deer regardless which cartridge launched the bullet.
That is the type of twisted logic that compels some shooters with piss-poor ability to buy 300 magnums for deer hunting.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I know two people (my brother being one) who hunted moose, caribou and bears (even grizz at close range) with 44 magnum carbines. They held their shots to 100 yards or so and generally put two rounds right away into whatever they were shooting. My understanding is they never wounded anything...
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
i would use it but i would call them in so i could see the slobber drip down then fling some lead. a 44 mag leaver would be like a muzzle loader that can be reloaded very fast.
are muzzle loaders to small for moose?
are muzzle loaders to small for moose?
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Seems I remember "researching" this very same subject a while back.A bad hit with any cartridge is just that, a bad hit. It is indicitive of nothing about the cartridge used.
As a short range cartridge, the 44 will work if you place your shots. Let's not even pretend that 240-300gr bullets will bounce off a moose!
Psst! That's US (44mm) ya big oaf!
IIRC, the NWT is the last jurisdiction in Canada, with this 44mm cartridge case length requirement for big game use.
I don't think either is the right tool for the job but they will both work. If I had to choose between the two for a moose I would go with the .243 every time...
Jeff
I disagree with the last two posters, the .44 mag. is up to the task, it kills all out of proportion to it's size. With proper loads the .44 mag. has killed big game all over the world from handguns. From a rifle the .44 is even deadlier, one large bear I shot with one is a good case in point. 1 shot from Marlin .44 mag. and the bear dropped in it's tracks. The 325 gr WFN GC hardcast bullet broke both shoulders and left quite a hole on the far side, very similar to the heavily loaded 45/70.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Quite a few.....and with black powder no doubt.
Years ago I bought a Winchester Model 92 in 44 WCF from old guy who couldnt' hunt anymore. It was his only gun and he had taken 3 moose with it. Very Marginal but if used with its limitations its been proven to work.
Of course the old guy didnt' have to wait 10-20 years for a moose tag back then......
In the hands of a halfassed experienced shooter who can wait for good shot placement sure it'll kill a Moose. The poster is obviously not experienced or he wouldn't be asking. I can see the next post coming so, yes a .22 will kill a Moose. Is it a good choice?
That's my point as well. Yes it will do it under the right conditions but for me when I hunt moose I want to bring home a moose! I would like to have the knowledge that even if I can't get any closer than 200+ m the tool I have with me is up to the job. Maybe guys who are better stalkers than me or have more opportunities to hunt are looking for more of a challenge but I'll probably keep to .270 or .308 and above. Just my opinion...
By the way I have seen a moose killed with a 22LR. It was by poachers near Mattawa when I was 16 and some guys camping near us shot a big cow. They shot through the head and had it gutted and quartered (chainsaw) in about 3 minutes and they were gone! At the time I didn't hunt or know anything about the conservation laws so I didn't say anything.
Jeff
