.308 hmmm,

At what range would you take a moose with a .308 you are competent with

  • 100 yrds and less

    Votes: 40 5.1%

  • 200 yrds and less

    Votes: 222 28.1%

  • 300 yrds and less

    Votes: 315 39.9%

  • 400 yrds and less

    Votes: 213 27.0%
  • Total voters
    790
These rounds maybe capable of killing at great distances the issue I have is threads like this that promote the use of less efficient cartridges to distances that many are incapable of shooting accurately but they see that others are doing it so they try resulting in a wounded animal.

So do not be condicending to me about ending my posts with a comment that I will not shoot those distances with the lesser cartridges when I feel that those that are promoting the practice are totally off base by promoting that it be done.
 
Camp Cook said:
These rounds maybe capable of killing at great distances the issue I have is threads like this that promote the use of less efficient cartridges to distances that many are incapable of shooting accurately but they see that others are doing it so they try resulting in a wounded animal.
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for every thread like this, there is ten about shooting moose at 400+ yards with some sort of mega magnum.

The amount of moose a guy who knows how to shoot a 308 will wound, is a fraction of the amount a guy who is afraid of his rifle will wound, at much closer distances.

that is my opinion :D
 
Camp Cook said:
These rounds maybe capable of killing at great distances the issue I have is threads like this that promote the use of less efficient cartridges to distances that many are incapable of shooting accurately but they see that others are doing it so they try resulting in a wounded animal.

So do not be condicending to me about ending my posts with a comment that I will not shoot those distances with the lesser cartridges when I feel that those that are promoting the practice are totally off base by promoting that it be done.
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I'd say at 300 plus yards that choice of cartridge is the least of one's worries. At that point accuracy matters most and a .308 shooter can be just as accurate at a 300RUM shooter and achieve the same results. Shooting an uber magnum does not make you a better shot but it seems that plenty of shooters feel it does! Plenty of efficiency in either if the shooter does his job....plenty of inefficiency in either if the shooter doesn't.
 
I would have no trouble shooting a moose at 500 yards with a 308. I would be able to hit it and it would die as a result. I wonder though; why am I shooting it at 500 yards? Is it on the other side of a canyon? A river? Am I just too clumsy and inept to make a decent stalk? If the first two, what will I do after the moose's demise. If the last, why am I out in the field in the first place? Regards, Bill.
 
Can a 308 kill a moose at 400yrds? Yes
Can the average moose hunter hit a moose at 400yrds? Doubtful

Drops for 308 style bullets 150-168gr bullets at 400yrds are around 3'.
Can the average shooter compensate that much hold over? Under field conditions? Be honest. Kentucky windage doesn't cut it at that distance.
Then factor in environmental conditions, things like breathing hard/excitement, accurate judging of the distance (assuming a range finder of decent quality is used), a solid rest and wind drift.

Most rifles are more capable than the shooter.
 
it's actually only about 25" drop from a 200y zero with a 308 and 150 or 165 gr bullets. On a moose sized target, that just means a bit of daylight above the backline.

I agree though, the average shooter should not be attempting such a shot with any cartridge. That doesnt mean the majority dont try though...
 
Can the average shooter compensate that much hold over? Under field conditions? Be honest. Kentucky windage doesn't cut it at that distance.
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No need to compensate or use Kentuky windage with proper optics and laser rangefinder. Without, you shouldn't be taking the shot. With a balistic reticle or turret scope, a known range, a good rest, good environmental conditions and time at the range, 400 yard shots are not all that difficult any more. Yes it takes practice and those unwilling to practice shouldn't be taking them but the days of 400 yards being a long shot are rapidly disappearing. New scopes and range finders have definitely taken much of the learning curve out of long-range shooting.
 
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On a moose sized target, that just means a bit of daylight above the backline.
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On any moose that means you shouldn't be taking the shot.....if POA and POI aren't the same, pulling the trigger is not overly ethical.....especially if the crosshairs are on blue sky...
 
come on SH, a moose is 3 feet deep through the chest. If you know its 400 yards, and know your 308 drops 25" at that range, you can lift a half a foot over his back and the bullet will hit vitals. Aiming with the 400 yard plex on your Ballistic Plex reticle, dead on its heart, you'll probably notice about 6" of daylight between the horizontal crosshair and its backline :)

I do not condone the shooting of a moose silhouetted on a hill top!
 
Do what you do Todd but I won't take a shot unless my POI is the same as my POA. If I'm going to take long range shots, I feel it only ethical to use a scope that allows me to hold on my target and not guessing in the air somewhere above it where I think the right holdover may be. Judging how far your crosshair is over a target at 400 yards is an inexact science. It might be a three foot target to you but to me, it's a precise spot on that three foot target.
 
what kind of scopes did you use on your hunting rifles 10 years ago? 20 years ago? The Ballistic Plex/LR duplex/B&C reticle/RapidZ, etc reticles haven't been out that long. I am curious. Ive read quite a few of your articles in the past, but don't recall one about elevation turrets etc
 
I'm thinking it wasn't just me that was bored today...

Hows this I am so bored that I have been involved in this thread and also changed the scopes and rings on 5 rifles now I have to go to the range and re-sight them all in... :D

I bought 2 new rifles this month and had to switch scopes from one to another so I didn't have to buy a new scope as well.

Damn I love this hobby and I'd be lost without CGNTZ and all the fun here... :p
 
todbartell said:
what kind of scopes did you use on your hunting rifles 10 years ago? 20 years ago? The Ballistic Plex/LR duplex/B&C reticle/RapidZ, etc reticles haven't been out that long. I am curious. Ive read quite a few of your articles in the past, but don't recall one about elevation turrets etc
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What does 10 years ago have to do with it? I'm talking about today and the technology we have at our disposal to make ethical shots. I didn't use a range finder 20 years ago either so does that mean I shouldn't today? 60 years ago people didn't use jacketed bullets.

Ten years ago I likely never took shots over 300 yards and with calibres I was using at the time, I could hold on hair with a duplex reticle at 300 yards. Long range shooting has become a passion of mine with the advent of hunter friendly long range scopes. I'm sure I likely took the odd Kentuky windage shot 20 or 30 years ago but back then I didn't know better. Now I do. Ten years from now you'll likely realize how foolish your comments are as well.
 
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I bought 2 new rifles this month and had to switch scopes from one to another so I didn't have to buy a new scope as well.
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I want to see a picture of them with a penny on the stock! :D
 
Sheesh!! Imagine not feeling the 308 will reliably kill a moose at 400! Sure, there are probably better choices, but the little 308 will get the job done.... IF the shooter is up to the task, knows his rifle & load, and waits for proper presentation. I saw a moose flattened at 400 yards with that diminuitive 6.5 swede. When it's what you have in your hands, and the shot is ideal, why pass? Of course, some like to soapbox it, and relate how ethical they are and all, but the bottom line is meat on the table. Regards, Eagleye.
 
sheephunter said:
I want to see a picture of them with a penny on the stock! :D
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OK so I forgot the penny... :)

Top rifle is my Rem 700 LSS 375RUM I took the VX111 4.5-14 BC scope off and put It on the 3rd rifle down my new Sako 85 Grey Wolf in 22-250 new rings arrived today because the shop owner sent me med rings instead of lows so I popped the scope off again and installed the new rings.

Second rifle down is my new Rem 700 LSS 50th Anniversary 280 Rem took the Vari X 11 4-12X40mm scope off my old Rem 700 Mtn rifle in 280 and popped it onto this one.

So the 375 was without a scope so I took a VariX 111 2.5-8 off of my T/C Contender 308 Bellm barrel then removed the compact Leupold 2-7 from my T/C Contender 45-70 barrel and put it onto the 308 Bellm barrel.

I have a Leupold VariX 11 1-4 that I put onto my Marlin 1895GS when I take my XS Ghost Ring site off so it was already off the rifle and I put it onto the 45-70 Contender barrel I'm going to leave the Marlin without a scope for now.

I also took the stock off the 280 LSS and started getting it ready to be glass bedded by grinding the bump off the inside of the barrel channel to free float the barrel.

Now I just need to get to the range. :cool:

Scope_changes_Feb_02_2009_002.jpg
 
sealhunter said:
If using a .308 that you are competent with, at what range would you take a moose.
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Well I dumped a good sized moose at about 200 meters with the 7mm08 and a 139 grain bullet.......I reckon with a slightly heavier and larger 30cal I'd push that shot abit further. :)

Truthfully I answered 300......not because the 308 won't kill farther then that it obviously will but that's just my realistic "comfort" zone and self imposed limit ;)
 
I am very comfortable taking a 300 yard shot with my win 70 feather wieght 308. I have been shooting 165 gr interbonds out of this gun for many years. Even though I have gone to larger cases for the majority of my hunting, it had nothing to do with the power factors more just personal preference and something different. I did in fact carry my 308 this year for the majority of the season and will carry it next year as well.

Nothing wrong with a 308 or 30-06 for anything on this side of the Ponds.
 
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