1st rifle for moose: advice needed please.

gixer

gixer

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Ok, guys, I'm a shotgun guy to the core, but I'll admit that my rifle knowledge is well.......lacking.:confused: So I need some advice from the rifle guys out there, on this one.

I'm going on my first moose hunt this october, amd I'd like to pick up a new rifle and scope now, so I can practice all summer at the range. (after my rounds of trap of course).

I really, really, really like the Marlin XLR Lever action rifles, with the laminated stock, and stainless action/barrel. It's available in:
.308win, .308marlin, 30/30win, .35rem, 444marlin, 45/70gov't, and

450marlin. Are any of these calibers suitable for moose? I was thinking the .308 ? :sniper:

What would be my maximum distanceto kill, on any of these that are suitable?

also what type of scope would I use as well? Thanks for help boys!
 
Of the three guys I go hunting with, two of them use a .308 Win. (I use a .270, cause I can't afford anything else or I bum a 30/06) and the 4th guy uses a .303 Brit. My father in law use to use a 30/30 (when he use to moose hunt) I think this is a little under powered, but he has shot more moose then I've had hot dinners. So what do I know?

As to maximum distance, It can't say, we hunt in very dense bush and realistically we haven't shot anything farther then 125-150 yards
 
All of those calibres will kill a moose out to 200 yards with proper shot placement and bullet choice. Rifle recoil is different than shotguns in my opinion. Recoil may play a role in your accuracy or comfort level. The .308 is a great calibre and a fine choice for moose a reasonable ranges. Good ammo selection right off of the shelf of almost every gun/sporting shops. Moderate recoil. A fixed 4X or 3-9 variable power scope would be just fine for a lever .308.
 
Really any of those calibers can kill a moose- I think you are on the right track with the .308- it would be my choice if I was limited to the selection you list0-it will let you reach out there abit more than the other calibers.
The 444 and 45/70 will certainly make a moose take notice if you whallop-em with one of those, but they have looping trajectories and fairly non-aerodynamic bullets that will limit their practical range to around 100 yards. In my limited experience ( I have only shot 6 moose) the extra range provided by a .308 will be most welcome. If you are willing to realize the limits of your caliber selection and pass up any shots that are out of range or at a bad angle you could and would kill moose with any of these.

The problem comes when you see a big bull on the other side of the river or across a clear cut and have to make a decision to let him go or take a potshot with your 100 yard gun- thats up to you.

For what it is worth in my moose hunting group we have 5 guys with .338 win mags, 1 guy with a .338 rem. ultramag, and one .375 h&h.
The logic for us knockleheads ( we are without a doubt overgunned) is that we spend alot of $$ to go moose hunting, tags only come every couple of years and if I see a moose its gonna die right here, right now. We have never lost a moose.
 
of all of those I would buy the .308 for ranges up to 300m, more then enough for any moose. if you're hunting bush all the time, one of the bigbore (.444 or .450) would be awesome.

I love my .308 and .450 ;)
 
Hey thanks for the quick responses boys! As far as distance, I don't think that I'd be confident in taking shots at much more than 200yards, no matter what gun I had. So I guess a .308win, or 308marlin, would work pretty good for me right?
 
.308 Marlin ammo is not as readily available. You may find that you may have more trouble unloading a .308Marlin if you ever wish to sell it. Not a very popular one I think. .308 Winchester is available in about 90,000 factory loadings with all kinds of flavors, and you can find ammo anywhere. Just my 0.02. I don't have a .308 Winchester anymore, but have shot a fair number of them.
 
notlim2424 said:
For what it is worth in my moose hunting group we have 5 guys with .338 win mags, 1 guy with a .338 rem. ultramag, and one .375 h&h.
The logic for us knockleheads ( we are without a doubt overgunned) is that we spend alot of $$ to go moose hunting, tags only come every couple of years and if I see a moose its gonna die right here, right now. We have never lost a moose.
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No one at your camp much recoil sensitivity I would think.
Overgunned is better than undergunned, my pops would say. :cool:
 
gixer said:
It's available in:
.308win, .308marlin, 30/30win, .35rem, 444marlin, 45/70gov't, and
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I don't believe it's available in .308 Win because the Marlin is tube fed. Which leaves the .308 Marlin Express, a new caliber that may just fade away like the .307 Win.

Browning BLR lever rifle has the .308 Win as one of their numerous offerings. It isn't limited to tube specific calibers like Marlin levers because Browning is magazine/clip fed.

If your keen on Marlin, the .45-70 guide gun is a beauty.
 
Well, it's gonna be awfully hard not to buy this gun like........tomorrow!

I had a vasectomy done this morning, so I'm off work for few days, cuz I'm not to do any heavy lifting. My plan for tomorrow was to go and "look, just look" at rifles at the local shops. However, I just checked online and one of favorite shops has the stainless marlin lever gun, in .308win. :runaway:

I might have some explaining to do when my Fiance gets home from work tomorrow!:slap:

Maybe I should have never asked eh?

Thanks again boys! Steve.
 
Oops my mistake, yes this gunis only offered in .308 marlin, NOT .308 win.

I never really considered that the caliber might be hard to find after a few years.

I'll see what the local shops say about availability. Hornady makes a plastic tipped pointed bullet in this caliber for these tube mag guns, accordung to the marlin site.
 
.308 winchester is everywhere and fairly cheap to boot . It's accurate and will get the job done and won't beat the hell outa ya ,it would be my choice.
 
STOP THE TRAIN !!!

If you are a not a big time rifle guy (shoot hundreds upon hundreds of rounds) sounds like you may not be a reloader either.

For the once a year moose trip, or 3 or 4 if you go after other big game,
and out of the calibres you mentioned, get the 450 Marlin !!!!
Don't even think about it, do it!

As for the .308 marlin. If you went and bought 20 boxes of ammo do you think you'd be good for almost a lifetime of hunting? If so, go for it if that;s waht you want. Just don't forget your bullets casue you won't find them just anywhere.

450 MARLIN !!!! 450 MARLIN !!!

200 yrds and less, 450 MARLIN ! Turns moose inside out !!!
450 MARLIN !!!!

If you're not gonna be a reloader the 45/70 is not worth it!

450 MARLIN !!!

did i mention, 450 MARLIN
 
sure a 450 so you to can watch the moose at 200 yards walk away haha, 308 is fine, and the 308 marlin wont be going anywere anytime soon I dont inagine with there reviews, if your realy not into recoil or hard to find ammo get a 30/06 or even a 300wm ammo is available at almost every quicky mart in the world and a remmy sps is cheap accurate fun ;)
 
bone-collector said:
sure a 450 so you to can watch the moose at 200 yards walk away haha,
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HUH???:confused:sighted 3" hi @ 100yds,none of those leverevolution loads are more than 3" low @ 200.

If you've already got your heart set on the XLR,which IMHO is a fine choice for a dedicated moose/bush rifle(not to mention pretty;)),I'd go with .444 or .450?The 265gr .444 has a bit faster MV and "slightly" flatter trajectory than the 325gr .450,with similair downrange energy.I don't think any moose inside of 300 yards will be able to tell the difference?:D
 
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I'd start with a .30-06 and I would use Federal 180 gr. ammunition.
A .30-06 will take a moose quite nicely at most ranges you will encounter them.
Just know your bullet drop and either be a good judge of distance or use a range finder.
If the ranges are longer than say 400 yards or so, you might want to consider something like a .338WM, using 250 gr Federals to keep the power factor/energy up.
Just the view from my saddle.
 
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