Lever action calibers for moose?

[mourre]

Another vote for BLR. My pref is .358Win, but I guess you would be looking at .308 or .450 chamberings.

And if you're considering 'unique' lever guns how about a Sako Finwolf in .308? Not many around, but definitely a conversation piece.

 

[Rick Teal]

Lever actions I own that I feel are appropriate for moose are:

Savage 99 in .300 Savage
Winchester 88 in .308
Winchester 1895 in .303 British
BLR in .358
Winchester 94 in .356
Marlin 1895 in 45/70

 

[powwersurge]

marlin 45-70

Hey, I am thinking of buying a lever action gun for moose here in Ontario. Where I hunt is pretty thick bush and shots are usually under 100 yrds, seldom would you get out to 150 yrds. I want to get a nice lever action gun for hunting moose, everything from bull to cow to calf so they could be 1000 lbs down to 400 lbs.

I see Marlin offeres a "big bore" line of guns with the .45/70 Govt and .444 Marlin. I also see there is a model 336 in .35 Rem but not sure if it is a little under powered for a 1000 pound bull moose.

Is there any good rounds between the .35 Rem and .444 Gov't? What round would you pick for moose, is the .45/70 too large for a cow or calf moose?

hi.i use the 45-70 gvt in 300GRAIN.KILLS bear , moose, deer.with amazing results up to 100yds accurately.another round would be the 308 for more distance.anyhow 308 has more options and accuracy for distance.45-70 more punch,energy at shorter distances.i hunt where the kill shots are at a distance of 30-80 yards.i have the 45-70.hope this helps.

 

[caramel]

8 years ago, i dropped my Scout Steyr 308 from the VTT and did not know if the zero had being affected, i did intend to go zero it the next day at 10 kilometers from the lake, but it was 2 in the afternoon and my back up rifle was my Trapper 44 mag, i had some goods gaz check lead 300 gr ( those push 1650 fps out of the 16 inchs tube ) so since i was not sure of the 308 i decided to take the 44 and hunt the short side of the bush road leaving the open area to my 3 sons, only 10 minutes of daylight left, i ear a loud crack about 200 feets to my left and then i saw a big buck with only half a rack, i could see it fairly good and it was clear enough to put the crosshair directly on the base of the neck... one shot, 10 minutes and 20 metres in the thick, Mister moose was laying... at 70 metres this lever 44 is very lethal even on a 800 pounds moose... Goods souvenirs i am please to share with you gentlemans... Cheers. JP.

 

[H4831]

Hey, I am thinking of buying a lever action gun for moose here in Ontario. Where I hunt is pretty thick bush and shots are usually under 100 yrds, seldom would you get out to 150 yrds. I want to get a nice lever action gun for hunting moose, everything from bull to cow to calf so they could be 1000 lbs down to 400 lbs.

I see Marlin offeres a "big bore" line of guns with the .45/70 Govt and .444 Marlin. I also see there is a model 336 in .35 Rem but not sure if it is a little under powered for a 1000 pound bull moose.

Is there any good rounds between the .35 Rem and .444 Gov't? What round would you pick for moose, is the .45/70 too large for a cow or calf moose?

I have skimmed through it all and haven't seen anyone reccommend the lever action/calibre that has likely killed more moose than all other calibres in lever action combined. Especially in the above conditions you describe---"usually under 100 yards----seldom to 150 yards," the 30-30 would be just fine.
During the depression years in northern Canada when great numbers of bush homesteaders and thousands of trappers shot big game year around for survival, the 30-30 was king. No question.
Even in that great age of shooting and hunting which followed WW2, there was more 30-30 ammunition sold in BC, at least, than any other calibre, until into the 1960s.
Many of us prefer the Marlin in that calibre to the famous Winchester 94, but there are plenty of excellent used rifles in 30-30, of either variety, in the market place to be purchased.
More than a century of service for each variety should be enough to establish a great reliability factor.

 

[Mutt58]

BLr in 358 or 450 marlin!

 

[Why not?]

.....I like the concept of the .358, but except up very close where that extra energy can be realized, the .308 will quickly overtake.

The 358 Win is not, as is commonly believed and promoted, only a short range brush gun.

A 250 spitzer in the 358 Win stays well ahead of any 308 load out to 250 yd, and is about even at 300. BTDT, loaded for the 358 for more than 30 yr, no small amount of it used in a BLR.

Ted

 

[remington jim]

moose killer rifle

Marlin 1895 45-70 - its gets er done when others can't !

 

[woodlotowner]

I have skimmed through it all and haven't seen anyone reccommend the lever action/calibre that has likely killed more moose than all other calibres in lever action combined. Especially in the above conditions you describe---"usually under 100 yards----seldom to 150 yards," the 30-30 would be just fine.
During the depression years in northern Canada when great numbers of bush homesteaders and thousands of trappers shot big game year around for survival, the 30-30 was king. No question.
Even in that great age of shooting and hunting which followed WW2, there was more 30-30 ammunition sold in BC, at least, than any other calibre, until into the 1960s.
Many of us prefer the Marlin in that calibre to the famous Winchester 94, but there are plenty of excellent used rifles in 30-30, of either variety, in the market place to be purchased.
More than a century of service for each variety should be enough to establish a great reliability factor.

Bruce,

Where would we be without your historical perspective! I always appreciate a posting from your QTH. I would only add my Win 94 in .307 as a candidate for moose under 150 yards. Or my BLR...

 

[davemccarthy707]

Bruce,

Where would we be without your historical perspective! I always appreciate a posting from your QTH. I would only add my Win 94 in .307 as a candidate for moose under 150 yards. Or my BLR...

Watched my uncle topple a nice little bull from a .307 model 94. 180 gr power points. Just under 200 yards.

 

[Superbrad]

BLR in .308.... proven and sweet rifle

 

[Max-4]

Ok, so I have boiled it down to these choices which are all Marlin lever guns.

Marlin 336 in .35 Remington
Marlin .444
Marlin 1895 in 45/70

I am well aware of what the .35 Remington is and can do, a slightly more powerful 30-30 really. My questions are between the .444 Marlin and the 45/70 Gov't. The .444 Marlin has only been around for 15 years or so, but I have heard people say that they are loaded to perform very well due to the fact that they don't have to take into account old guns they might be used in. The 45/70 has been around for ever and they might be loaded very mild because they could be used in relly old guns which arn't as strong.

Between the .444 Marlin and the 45/70 Gov't which one will have more recoil? Which one will shoot flatter out to 200 yards? Which one will be more available and have better options as far as ammunition goes? Is the 45/70 more powerful than the .444 with more knock down power?

Any other real world comparasins we can get on these two big bore rounds would be great! Thanks

 

[whitetailwoodsarcher]

killed a big bull with my 308 this year! one shot and he only went 15 yards and fell over!

 

[Rory McCanuck]

My questions are between the .444 Marlin and the 45/70 Gov't. The .444 Marlin has only been around for 15 years or so

The 444 Marlin came out in 1964.

Between the .444 Marlin and the 45/70 Gov't which one will have more recoil? Which one will shoot flatter out to 200 yards?

"A 45-70 will do with a 400 gr bullet, what a 444 will do with a 300."
A 400 gr at 2000 fps will have about 50% more recoil than a 300 gr at 2000 fps.
A 45-70 will drive a 300 gr bullet faster. A 300 gr bullet from a 444 has a higher BC and SD, so at the same speed, a 300 gr 444 will have a flatter trajectory.

Which one will be more available and have better options as far as ammunition goes?

45-70 is more available, with more selection.
Paying $40-50 a box gets old really quick. A Lee reloading kit will pay for itself by the third range trip (or earlier )
Reloading gives you many more options in both calibers. Better selection for the 444, and ammo more powerful than you can stand for the 45-70.

Is the 45/70 more powerful than the .444 with more knock down power?

If a hit from a 444 doesn't knock it down, a hit in the same spot from a 45-70 probably wouldn't, either. Seriously, bullets of 265 gr and up are
BIG. The difference between the two is about the difference in being hit by a Freightliner or a Mack.

Any other real world comparasins we can get on these two big bore rounds would be great! Thanks

You really aren't going to go wrong with either. The 444 vs 45-70 arguments are some of the silliest on the internet. Both have big bullets that hit hard.

 

[woodlotowner]

Win 94 AE XTR in .307 would do fine within its range limits. Wouldn't it?

 

[257Roberts]

Ok, so I have boiled it down to these choices which are all Marlin lever guns.

Marlin 336 in .35 Remington
Marlin .444
Marlin 1895 in 45/70

How about the 308 or 338 Marlin Express, would be a likely candidate for moose.
257 Roberts

 

[Max-4]

Nope, I have it down to either the .444 Marlin or the 45/70 Gov't. I obviously had the dates wrong for the .444 marlin and when it was first introduced. This gun in either the .444 or the 45/70 is exactly the gun I want to carry in the bush, 22" barrel and 40.5" overall length is perfect for me.

So, I know the 45/70 is the more powerful round and can shoot the bigger 300+ grain bullets. I want this to be an effective Ontario moose gun in the bush, shots will always be under 200 yards and more likely 60 to 100 yards. So neither one of these calibers will be discontinued any time soon if they have been around for that long.

I may reload in the future but it is more likely that I buy a few boxes and sight it in, then shoot a few shots a year to keep the zero and hunt every October with it for moose, thats it.

What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of each round? Are there any differences in the bullets used in each round, im not talking weight, are they both handgun type bullets? What is the better hunting round?

 

[iceman2]

If you are determined to have a Marlin lever, and don't reload, I would go with the 444. The reason is that the factory 45-70 is loaded to be safe in older trap door rifles etc and the 444 is loaded for modern rifles. If you presently reloaded, it would be the 45-70. Personally I would opt for a Savage 99. BLR, or a model 88 in 308 or 358 for the extra range and power.

If you want short and handy, look for a Marlin 336 or Win 94 BB in 307 or 356. I have a 94BB in 356 and wouldn't worry about using it on moose out to 200 yards. Basically a rimmed 358.

 

[NB444]

The 444 Marlin came out in 1964.

"A 45-70 will do with a 400 gr bullet, what a 444 will do with a 300."
A 400 gr at 2000 fps will have about 50% more recoil than a 300 gr at 2000 fps.
A 45-70 will drive a 300 gr bullet faster. A 300 gr bullet from a 444 has a higher BC and SD, so at the same speed, a 300 gr 444 will have a flatter trajectory.

45-70 is more available, with more selection.
Paying $40-50 a box gets old really quick. A Lee reloading kit will pay for itself by the third range trip (or earlier )
Reloading gives you many more options in both calibers. Better selection for the 444, and ammo more powerful than you can stand for the 45-70.

If a hit from a 444 doesn't knock it down, a hit in the same spot from a 45-70 probably wouldn't, either. Seriously, bullets of 265 gr and up are
BIG. The difference between the two is about the difference in being hit by a Freightliner or a Mack.

You really aren't going to go wrong with either. The 444 vs 45-70 arguments are some of the silliest on the internet. Both have big bullets that hit hard.

What he said.
If you are not a reloader the 444 factory loads are superior.

 

[gtrussell]

45-70

BLR in 358win.
Necked up 308win.
Haven't tried it out yet on moose.
Maybe next year.
Will out run the 45/70 in distance.

Looky I can outrun the 45-70,but it would be close.HA HA