257 Weatherby for Moose

Another 223 for deer thread !?!? :)

Everyone what to shoot an elephant with a BB gun. Most hunting experts agree that 270 Win is the smallest great moose cartridge and while Federal recommends 223 for deer, but does not recommend 257 for moose.

We still live in a free country and anything 6mm up and over is legal so it's your choice,

Alex
 
Every now and again someone will come on here asking if some underpowered rifle is good for some big game animal, whether it's a .22 for Coyotes, a .223 or 7.62X39 for deer or Bear, or something else that's too small for Moose or Grizzlies......Whether I respond or not, I'm always thinking that it is a form of Trolling as we owe it to the game we are pursuing to use a caliber large enough to quickly and cleanly take game without them suffering. I don't believe that many on here are that poor or destitute that they can't afford a proper gun/caliber and have to rely on a gun not meant for the job.
If indeed anyone is down to their last buck and has to hunt a big animal with a popgun, contact me and i will loan you a rifle and ammo that is up to the task, you just have to provide the most important factor, proper shot placement.

I am curious to know what criteria you choose for selecting which caliber is a moose caliber and which isn't?

ft/lbs? initial bullet diameter? expanded diameter?

You do know that a .257 will open up to .5" and blow an even bigger hole out the other side. Please elaborate.
 
Owning a 257 I am sure it would kill a moose using good bullets with the perfect boiler shot. Personally my thoughts are the bullets are to light for the not so perfect hits. I draw the line at 150 grain tsx for moose. Have used 7mm ultra with 160 tsx, 300 win mag 180 x bullet, with great success.
 
I am curious to know what criteria you choose for selecting which caliber is a moose caliber and which isn't?

ft/lbs? initial bullet diameter? expanded diameter?

You do know that a .257 will open up to .5" and blow an even bigger hole out the other side. Please elaborate.

It will? That's good to know....... So the rule of thumb is that bullets will expand to double the bore diameter ??? :confused:
 
Good shot placement + good bullets = job done with your 257.

My preferred deer cartridge is 243 Win. I have had incredible results with it. Used to use various flavours of 30 calibers - now, it's 6mm when it's not shotgun.

A little time at the reloading bench and on the range and you'll have the ultimate in ungulate medicine!

Good luck - SD
 
I know more than one fellow who has gone out and killed moose with his 25-06 fairly regularly, so I'd be confident that a well placed shot with a .257 mag will do the job.
 
The 25 cals will kill a moose,ofcourse they will! But whats the point? there are better tools for the job.Seems everyday one one these threads comes up.I guess there truely is no need for the 35 whelen and 338's, even the 30/06 is a bit much
 
100gr tsx 69gr rl22, does a pile of meat damage at closer ranges, not a worry at all shooting moose.


This gun just crushes animals. The tsx in my pic is out of a left rear skin of a doe shot front right shoulder, broken shoulder, broken spine. 98.3gr broke one peddle off. I have shot three deer and recovered 2 bullets, only on quartering shots, none took any steps.
One cow moose no bullets recovered.
 
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I know more than one fellow who has gone out and killed moose with his 25-06 fairly regularly

Me 2. I have taken Six moose with my 25-06, using both Nosler partitions, and rem Core Lokts. I think I only recovered one bullet.

The 25 cals will kill a moose,ofcourse they will! But whats the point?

That right there is the point!!!!!

There are better tools for the job.

I have taken moose with other cartriges(bigger),with no deader results.

I guess there truely is no need for the 35 whelen and 338's, even the 30/06 is a bit much

It's not a matter of need. It's freedom to choose. This is what makes hunting/shooting great.

I have a 375 Ruger, but choose to use my 25-06 for moose.
 
Hi, l have used the 270 for moose, and deer with great results.
l thinking about getting a 257 Weatherby, would this work well on both of these animals.

Thanks
Doug

Why would you take a chance with a light caliber when you are hunting such a large animal. A moose can take alot of punishment at times and using enough gun is a wise choice. The Grizzly is usually a smaller animal, would you use the 257 on a Grizzly? Why?
Would a 257Wby take a moose, of coarse it will with a properly place hit and the right bullet.......but!
Respect the animals you hunt and use enough gun for that shot that the 257 just can't handle.
Even the 270 Win. is a marginal caliber in my books for moose but it is a heck of a lot better than the 257 with heavier bullets.
bigbull
 
All about shot placement and keeping within acceptable ranges. Don't try and make long, risky shots just because you have a "magnum" in your hands.
I think you'd find the 257W to be a great long range cartridge for moose and smaller game with practice and appropriate bullets. They shot fast and very flat.


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Some people would consider 50BMG to be a better choice.

They tried that in Gagetown , let's see... about 15 years ago. Can't remember, memory fading a bit.

I do know it didn't turn out too well for the moose or for the soldiers that fired on it...
 
I was told just this past Friday by wildlife officer while checking to see if I can use my 243 win to hunt Coyote that the 243 win is used to hunt moose here ( I wouldn't) so I don't think you should have a problem with a 257.

By the way the answer was no, no hunting coyotes with a 243 win,,,, but get this, I can shoot them with my 300 win mag if I see them when hunting moose this fall.:confused: I think a 300 win mag loaded with a 180 - 190 gr bullet will ruin a pelt before a 243 win loaded with a Varment bullet, don't you?

In Newfoundland, A Coyote Shooting Licence permits hunters to use centerfire rifle calibres up to and including .225 (i.e. .17 Rem., .22 Hornet, .204 Ruger, .218 Bee, .222 and .223 Rem., .223 WSSM, .22-250 Rem., .220 Swift, .224 Weatherby Mag. and .225 Win.). Shotguns may also be used but hunters may only use No. 2 shot or larger. Slugs are not permitted.

Holders of a coyote shooting licence are not permitted to use rimfire rifles to hunt coyotes. Coyotes may be harvested by holders of a valid big game, small game, or wolf shooting licence during the open season and in the management area where the licence is valid (big game licences become invalid when the tags are filled).

Hunters may harvest coyotes using firearms and ammunition permitted under the authority of the licence type they possess. Hunters who use a shotgun while hunting small game must use shot size No. 2 or larger to harvest coyotes (slugs are not permitted). Once you harvest your moose or caribou you are no longer permitted to carry your big game rifle and thus cannot use it to harvest coyotes.

Incidentally, all hunters must report the numbers of coyotes taken and must submit coyote carcasses to their nearest DNR office. A $25 collection fee is offered for coyote carcasses.

The limitations are in place because of a fear of increased poaching of big game. However, we all know that the poachers are going to continue breaking the law regardless. With no coyote hunting tradition in the province, most guys are learning as they go. It is only the truly dedicated who are willing to spend several grand to get outfitted properly. Most guys simply aren't willing to spend that kind of money or can't afford to. As a result, there is little coyote predation by humans and their population continues to boom, while caribou populations collapse.

Our Wildlife Dept. should work to have the regs changed ASAP to permit any caliber. Without having to buy a new gun/scope many more hunters would try their hand at coyote hunting.
 
my opinion

I have a 25-06 I use it for deer, and its a hell of a deer gun.

Would it be enough for moose, I guess so with the right bullet and shot placement.

Is it what I use for moose.... hell no, I have better choices.
 
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