I am planning an camping trip in the spring & since a friend of mine got taken out on his motorcycle by a moose, I am thinking of taking a sporter enfield along. Assuming this is legal & allowed what would you use for a load? I am thinking for close range(under 100 yrds) heavy & slow to minimize the chance of blowing through it. Any suggestions?Thanks.
303 bear or moose stopper
- Thread starter desporterizer
- Start date
Sorry to hear about your friend, but I don't think he was attacked by a moose, sound like he ran into it. If bears are the concern, any .303 factory load will work and would be cheaper to just buy a box then buy the components to reload some.
Unless of course you plan on going camping with 100 rounds or something. :shock:
Unless of course you plan on going camping with 100 rounds or something. :shock:
Nope, it actually ran him down, he must have pissed it off somehow. He hit it in the chest area at an angle & tore it open with the handle bars, moose went 300yrds & dropped, my friend got some bruised ribs & road rash, bike was totaled. He was lucky to have lived. As for the loads, I have some super X 180 grain winchester, but was looking for something that would drop a charging animal in its tracks. I don't hunt so I don't know which combo would be most effective. I am afraid the super x might fail to expand at close range, if it doesnt hit anything solid. I am thinking a 215 grain bullet would do more damage & drop'er if I don't get a second shot.
desporterizer said:
215 gr are rare these days but Woodleigh in Australia (http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/) make one. They list their Canadian distributor as www.accuracyplus.biz, although the latter's website doesn't mention them.
How effective a .303 is as a "stopping round" for moose (as opposed to hunting, and assuming proper shot placement, of course) I can't say. I think I'd feel happier with my 45-70 for that purpose- bigger hole and lots of momentum. Perhaps more experienced hunters on the forum could chip in on that.
Stuartdesporterizer said:
215 gr are rare these days but Woodleigh in Australia (http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/) make one. They list their Canadian distributor as www.accuracyplus.biz, although the latter's website doesn't mention them.
How effective a .303 is as a "stopping round" for moose (as opposed to hunting, and assuming proper shot placement, of course) I can't say. I think I'd feel happier with my 45-70 for that purpose- bigger hole and lots of momentum. Perhaps more experienced hunters on the forum could chip in on that.
Stuart
Are you handoading? If so, check out Steves bullets. Theya re 200gr.
If you don't reload, then the 180gr Winchesters arent' a bad choice at all. There aren't any 215gr bullets factory loaded anymore that I know of, but there should be.
I have seen them absolutely foor a big moose! :mrgreen:
If you don't reload, then the 180gr Winchesters arent' a bad choice at all. There aren't any 215gr bullets factory loaded anymore that I know of, but there should be.
I have seen them absolutely foor a big moose! :mrgreen:
I don't know where you live or are planning to camp but be aware that in some areas having a gun with you other than during hunting season is, if not illegal makes you suspect at poaching and shooting a moose 25 yards away, even though it may be attacking you, will be very hard for you to prove that an attack was happening. Some Provinces allow guns for bear protection (I wouldn't even mention MOOSE attacks)during the other times of the year but some provinces don't, you have to find out what your area allows. As for what will stop a moose, I would think a 12 gauge with slugs would work, that is usually recommended to stop a charging GRIZZLY. GOOD LUCK.
Gatehouse said:
Darn... I completely forgot about Mr. Redgwell. (www.303British.com. Sorry, Steve!)
Well, Kynamco do (great website, too- talk about classic cartridges! www.kynochammunition.co.uk) and I think they load Woodleighs. No Canadian distribution, though.
Stuartps- Clark, what WERE you doing in that avatar pic?! Or do we want to know?
Believe it or not, I am talking about southern ontario! The same guy who got flattened by the moose had his tennant shoot a black bear on his front lawn. The third visit was the last one for the bear after it tried to raid dudes fridge! Wild animals are spending too much time around humans( who feed them with garbage) lose there fear of us & are getting mighty uppety. I want to try mr redgwells bullets just for fun, but he seems to have taken the summer off. Thanks for the input, maybe I will just stick to the shotgun/slug combo.
I would go with the shotgun/slug combo especially if it is definately a defensive senario. If it is a pump it would be quicker on the follow-up shots as well.
I would contact the ministry about it as well because like BEARMAN pointed out, the line between self defense in the woods and hunting out of season/without a license is almost non existent in Ont. Now if you had a license for small game and birds were in season... not only could you look after yourself but maybe put some extra meat in the pot as well.
Good Luck
Bryan
I would contact the ministry about it as well because like BEARMAN pointed out, the line between self defense in the woods and hunting out of season/without a license is almost non existent in Ont. Now if you had a license for small game and birds were in season... not only could you look after yourself but maybe put some extra meat in the pot as well.
Good Luck
Bryan
If you're in the bush with a firearm in Ontario you are assumed to be hunting. If you have no hunting licence, you will be charged with hunting without a licence. If you take a .303 or any ammo suitable for big game(like slugs), you will be charged with hunting out of season. If you are charged, the game warden can confiscate ALL your kit including your vehicle.
"...must have pissed it off somehow..." Bullwinkle didn't like the noise.
"...might fail to expand at close range..." The range has nothing to do with expansion. It's the velocity.
"...must have pissed it off somehow..." Bullwinkle didn't like the noise.
"...might fail to expand at close range..." The range has nothing to do with expansion. It's the velocity.
It sounds like the chance of you getting into trouble for having a firearm with you are much greater than the chance of you needing it for protection against a bear, let alone moose attack. But if you are going to risk it, I hunt with a .303 and I would choose a 12 ga. with slugs if I wanted something to stop large animals charging me.
By the way, what motorcycle does your friend recommend for moose defence? :shock:
By the way, what motorcycle does your friend recommend for moose defence? :shock:
"...might fail to expand at close range..." The range has nothing to do with expansion. It's the velocity.[/quote]
Thats why I thought a heavy low velocity round would be better, at close range super x might be going too fast & not expand. The motorcycle was a newer 1000cc rice burner.
As for the legalities, I thought the burden of proof would be on the MNR. Let' see, no camo, no blaze orange, three guys in the bush with no way to get anything but what is on their backs out, no blinds, no calls, no scope, no tree stands, etc, etc.
Thats why I thought a heavy low velocity round would be better, at close range super x might be going too fast & not expand. The motorcycle was a newer 1000cc rice burner.
As for the legalities, I thought the burden of proof would be on the MNR. Let' see, no camo, no blaze orange, three guys in the bush with no way to get anything but what is on their backs out, no blinds, no calls, no scope, no tree stands, etc, etc.
desporterizer said:
Thats why I thought a heavy low velocity round would be better, at close range super x might be going too fast & not expand. .[/quote]
You've got it backwards.
The higher the velocity, the more the bullet expands.
So at close range the bullet will expand MORE, not less.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
You need to post this over in 'Hunting!' as a moose defense thread.
I can't find the reg that sunray is refering to about being considered hunting, it used to be in the reg booklet, now it seems to be gone. I bet the reg is still there though.
To use a 303 for moose, I would want the 174 grain Hornady or more. I intend to try out Mr regewell's bullets this fall, if the moose will cooperate.
Then, maybe we can bribe him into making more. :twisted:
I can't find the reg that sunray is refering to about being considered hunting, it used to be in the reg booklet, now it seems to be gone. I bet the reg is still there though.
To use a 303 for moose, I would want the 174 grain Hornady or more. I intend to try out Mr regewell's bullets this fall, if the moose will cooperate.
Then, maybe we can bribe him into making more. :twisted:
RhysFromNZ
New member
- Location
- New Zealand
I went and had a look at steves site a few days back, but as has been mentioned it seems to be a part time operation currently, his job must be keepign him busy, does anyone know if he sells bullets only rather than completed rounds? would be too much hassle with import licences etc for ready round into NZ< but plain bullets can just be popped in the post.
