308 and moose at 600m to 700m?

Rugdoc said:
I bet ya most people can't even spot a moose at 600 metres, never mind hit it with whatever they are shooting.
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I was going to make a joke about "range estimate" out in the bush

- A few years back, stopping by one of the unofficial plinking area... A guy is there with a nice Savage 99 in 30-30. I always had a crush on these rifle, but never got around to actually buying one. Anyway, we got talking and I was wondering what kind of accuracy he was getting... "I can easily hit a pop-can standing at 100y". It seemed reasonable enough... then he proceed to show me, walking down range to put a pop-can on a tree stump and hit it on first shot... Only thing is, it couldn't have been more than 25-30 yards away.

Didn't say anything, figured that's probably how far he'd shoot his deer... and beside, he let take a few shots with it.
- A good time was had by all :)
 
AlbertaJohn said:
They look tiny when they are way out there and you owe it to the moose NOT to wound them and let them get away.

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looks like about 400, bit of a stretch, would need a good solid rest, and no wind.

using 300WM with 200grn Accubonds 2960fps MV, broadside, sighted in with a 200m zero so compensating for drop, cross hairs just above the hump and send it.

but then moose is standing in water and that is one hell of a long drag for this old guy across what looks like a swamp. I might pass on that one, too much work and I hunt for enjoyment.

Now if I had a few 20-30YOs around to do the heavy work... :)
 
There is a member here who shot a deer, and his friend shot one with the same rifle, 308 Palma match rifle but with a scope on it.
Ranges were between 575 and 610 yards IIRC, and from a solid rest in a box blind
bullet was a 165 grain cup and core, expansion was absolute minimal . at least one bullet was recovered .
He stated he would not do it again.
Cat
 
woodchopper said:
looks like about 400, bit of a stretch, would need a good solid rest, and no wind.

using 300WM with 200grn Accubonds 2960fps MV, broadside, sighted in with a 200m zero so compensating for drop, cross hairs just above the hump and send it.

but then moose is standing in water and that is one hell of a long drag for this old guy across what looks like a swamp. I might pass on that one, too much work and I hunt for enjoyment.

Now if I had a few 20-30YOs around to do the heavy work... :)
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Yes my son at a bit under 50 passed up two cows with calves at a bit under two hundred yards last fall as they were all almost up to the belly in gumbo and it would have been a horror dragging/polling an aluminum boat or something out to get a rope on one. Yes we have that much rope. If he shot hopefully it would have just been a calf.
 
AlbertaJohn said:
How many of you would shoot at this bull?

And how far do you think he is?

Yeah it's a poor iphone pic but you can see him

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Anybody who would shoot "at" that bull from the road doesn't know anything about stalking. There is cover all the way to the animal that makes it easy to stalk closer. Stalk to 100 yards or whatever your 100% certain range is, and kill it. Shooting from the road is for lazy slob hunters. And it's illegal in Saskatchewan. Most other places too.
 
seamusm said:
Thank for taking a look at my post, I'll keep my question short.

Does 308 have the power to take a moose at 600-700 metres? Any experience here with moose at that distance?

I ask because I will have the opportunity to hunt regularly (seasonally) on land where moose pop out of dense bush but I will be 600 metres away. Of course I'll try to get closer but I may not be able to.

Yes I've hunted other, smaller game at those distances before. Deer and coyote with 270 win and 308.

I'm in the midst deciding on a new rifle purchase so I'm open to calibre and rifle suggestions. I'm leaning towards a sniper rig in 308 because off my army experience, familiarity and access to "cheaper", maybe free ammo.

Thanks in advance for your experience.
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think about it ? how many foot pounds of energy does the 308 have at 600 to 700 meters ? more than likely not enough . at that distance buy yourself a 338 something like that . or get closer and use your 308 .
 
gr8trapper said:
It is unethical to setup for a shot at that range because it is a low percentage shot. If you want to come home with a moose you setup for the highest percentage shot possible. Of course you pick a good spot and try to give yourself and wide field of view so if the animal does appear at a longer range and IF you have a good high percentage shot you can take it. A high percentage shot is one that considers all the factors involved like distance, wind, shooter's ability and yes, even their comfort (no shooting from inside the warm truck though). But the further you get, the lower the percentage of a clean kill. This fact does not change with the shooter's ability.

700 meters is low percentage for pretty much everyone. This of course is just my opinion. Each hunter decides for themselves how much chance they are willing to take. You can bet there are a lot of sharpshooters (I like that word) on this thread but I'm glad to see most agree and would not take a shot at that range. Setting up for a shot at that range is unethical. Don't you want to get a moose?
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I don't intentionally hunt where the moose will appear only at long range, I have had them so close I can poke with the muzzle or come out in an opening at over 1000yds.

Hunting isn't just about one method, a different method is not low percentile just because you have never developed or honed any skills beyond your one method.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with people who have decided their abilities are limited to ******* but to limit others who have much more skill, experience and practice to the much lower level you have set for yourself does not make any sense
 
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StoneHorse said:
Maybe you should become more of a proficient hunter rather than just a shooter.
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Your game deserves you to be very proficient as both. I have known many a good hunter that couldn't shoot well even at the very close ranges the animals would present them with. Lost of ruined meat and long tracking jobs, but their freezer was full all the time.
 
Brian46 said:
Your game deserves you to be very proficient as both. I have known many a good hunter that couldn't shoot well even at the very close ranges the animals would present them with. Lost of ruined meat and long tracking jobs, but their freezer was full all the time.
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Hunting skills and accurate shooting are two sides of the same coin. That should go without saying.
 
StoneHorse said:
Hunting skills and accurate shooting are two sides of the same coin. That should go without saying.
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Hence my post saying your quarry deserves you to be proficient at both.

Good hunting skill and poor shooting results in seeing lots of game, but usually wounding shots with suffering.

Good shooting with poor hunting skill results in fewer seen animals, but the shooting skill ensures a quick clean kill or the trigger is not pulled.

Everyone subscribes to their own ethics, I personally don't want to see an animal suffer or meat wasted by a hunter who can't shoot. I would rather see hunters go home without because the conditions were not right to pull the trigger. Knowing when not to pull the trigger and actually not pulling the trigger only comes with practice.
 
Shooting moose at long range is require a salt bullet with a thin copper jacket. It will help preserve the meat till you get there. :p

A 308 at 5 to 600 yards the bullet starts to drop fairly fast and your range calculation has to be right on. Even if you had a lot more gun at 600yds time of flight of the bullet allows the moose to make a step forward or backwards the chance of wounding the animal and not retrieving it goes up a lot.
 
Ill be curious to see his target results at 600 yards with 308, bullet placement must be far from precise, good plan to cripple an animal.
 
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