.308, Moose, 150-200 yards...

[Idcurrie]

When you practice shooting, don't just do it from a bench. Try lots of shots standing, leaning against a tree or post, or even quickly plunk down on your butt and brace your rifle with your leg in an A frame to take shots quickly without any kind of external support.

When hunting you'll have to use any kind of support that's available or even no support at all. Practice all of these shots.

Your effectiveness as a shooter at the decisive moment will make 10 million times more difference than your calibre selection.

 

[tylerjwitty]

7mm rem mag with cheap core locks are a lot more useless then 308 with tsx. get a 308 for many reasons with moose hunting being in that list.. cheaper brass, accurate, fun, low recoil....it goes on

 

[captonion]

7mm rem mag with cheap core locks are a lot more useless then 308 with tsx.

So....A 308 with tsx is useless, but a 7mm rem mag with core locks is even more useless?

Explain please!

 

[danny45]

I'm with Northman999. More moose have been taken at our moose camp with the almighty Mohawk in .308 than with anything else That is a chip shot for that caliber

 

[davemccarthy707]

Ah, no.......Newfoundland does NOT have the best moose hunting on the planet. Yes, it may be OK there, but not the best. I am from there and I find the hunting in Alberta MUCH better.

My hunt this year was a grand total of 35 minutes. I saw 7 animals and took a 3 year old bull. However EVERYTHING is better in Alberta . What do I know? I am just a stupid Newfie.

 

[300grains]

Agree totally, .308 winch is enough gun. Have shot many with this caliber and 180 grains bullets. However today I use a bigger gun, mostly because I like it so much, not that it is really needed.

 

[blargon]

Wrong Way but you realize you just called my dad(who has been hunting for 30+ years) a moron right...

Moron might be a bit strong...

However, I know people that have hunted for 30+ years that don't know the difference between a .300 Savage and a .300 Winchester.

In regards to the .308, you can tell your dad that I took my moose last fall at 290yds with my .308 and a 165gr Interbond, in rain and 50km/hr winds. The bull didn't like it one bit...

 

[dan belisle]

My hunt this year was a grand total of 35 minutes. I saw 7 animals and took a 3 year old bull. However EVERYTHING is better in Alberta . What do I know? I am just a stupid Newfie.

That's why most of you have moved here, right? - dan

 

[AG]

Good advice to be gotten for you from this thread, let me add my 2 cents as a redundancy.
If you're set on a short action, I recommend a 308 in whatever platform fits you best. By 'fits' I mean physically, financially, and mentally (what tickles your fancy).
I've taken deer with the 308 from 15 yards out to just over 200 and have yet to recover a bullet, all passed through. Never had one of them move more than 20 yards after being hit either, most falling on the spot. That said, I admit I've never taken a moose yet but given an opportunity I wouldn't have a second thought about taking my 308 with a 200 yard zero out for the task.

I also recommend 308 for a few other reasons. It's very economical especially if you reload. I've picked up enough once fired 308 brass to last me more than my lifetime for free. Bullet selection is more than enough to satisfy your needs ranging from fmj's for less expensive target shooting to premiums like partitions or tsx's and everything else in between. In short, reloading components are cheap and plentiful for the 308 allowing for more shooting, more familiarization with your rifle, and ultimately more success with it. Now if you do end up doing alot of shooting with your rifle, you want one that will be easy to load for as well as be easy on your shoulder and pocket book right? 308 has a great reputation compared to some other calibers for barrel longevity, and it's not hard to work up a load that is accurate in a 308 with so much data out there. IMHO, 308 is cheap and easy to load and damn near the only caliber you would ever need if you've put the time and effort into becoming very proficient with your particular rifle.

 

[Huntin' Gun]

Question to the OP:
What cartridge does your dad say is the minimum for moose?
You don't have to respond, since it may open him up to some more ridicule.
Lots of folks on a different thread were saying how a 300 Savage is plenty enough for moose and elk. I don't disagree. The .308 packs an additional 300 fps, so there's a bit more energy there.
Myself, I'd prefer to pack a 300 WSM with a 180 gr partition.
But if someone put a 300 savage in my hand and told me to go kill a moose, I wouldn't feel bad! And if that's the case, then a .308 will do fine as well.

 

[Potshot21]

[youtube]PLB27C2A750DF73BC6[/youtube]

ht tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAXQUCv8qo&playnext=1&list=PLB27C2A750DF73BC6

I cant seem to get it to embed properly.

Thats a .300 Win Mag by the way.

 

[mikeyb]

.308 Winchester is lots for anything that doesn't bite back. Decent 180's should make short work of the vitals, and that's all that matters. Put it where it needs to go and get ready to pack out a moose.

 

[mikeyb]

Here's the video Potshot21 posted:

[youtube]cWAXQUCv8qo[/youtube]

 

[Toomanyguns]

If you drive to NFLD you can use your vehicle to get a moose much, much closer.!

 

[H4831]

A lucky shot hit the moose. It was clipped in the spine near the rear end. Certainly, the hunter never tried to hit it there. Had the bullet been a foot lower, more in the vertical centre of the animal, the moose would have gone into the bush and died a horrible death a couple of days later.

 

[grit]

very lucky shot indeed, but whatever. anyway with in reasonble range the 308 is a fine moose cartidge,especially with 165gr x or 180 gr nosler

 

[Johnn Peterson]

1100 yards?? Far beyond my abilities but I would be interested in hearing the details of the shot and equipment used.

 

[triton]

Is it a good idea?

My dad... who has been hunting for more years then I am old, insists that it's not enough. Over 150 yards, he thinks the .308 wont have enough power in case the POI is not perfect. where my dad hunts, the longest shot is about 250 yards if I remember right.

I've been reading alot of topics about this, both here and many US forums. I've found answers to be about 50/50 in this regard.

The main reason behind this discussion is I've been shopping for my first rifle lately, I've been looking at many nice .308 like a Savage 10-FCP-K. I would go hunting maybe once a year, but I dont want to miss an opportunity... but I go to the range once every 2 weeks if not more. Makes sense until I get enough funds for more toys that I look for something that can accommodate both.

BTW, he hunts with a 7mm Rem Mag. I cant deny the fact it's a superior round over 150 yards for larger game.

The other solution... I have been looking at the Savage Edge/Axis series in 7mm-08 also knowing should do the job and wont break the bank and buy the other toy later...

You will have no problem at all at 250 yards. But like with any rifle, you have to hit where it counts. I would have no reservations shooting in excess of 300 yards with a .308, but that's just my personal opinion.

Dave.

 

[woodchopper]

My hunt this year was a grand total of 35 minutes. I saw 7 animals and took a 3 year old bull. However EVERYTHING is better in Alberta . What do I know? I am just a stupid Newfie.

Ok but how many years did it take to get the draw for your tag

and how long is your hunting season

I hunted 2 weeks this year, saw at least 20 cows and calves, and 5 bulls

we had 2 draws for bull moose in our group and both got their bull moose in the first week of moose season.

If we had a calf tag we would have shot the calf that was standing in our hunting camp on the morning of the second day, but no luck on that draw last year. But it was nice to see first thing in the morning.

Oh and I had a few weekend hunts before and after the 2 week hunting trip. Easy to get out when the season 2 1/2 months long


I would love to go out and shoot a nice big Newfoundland bull moose, but I'll be fine huntiong out here.



But lets keep this a civil discussion, no need for bickering who has better hunting.



And back on topic

308 is just fine for moose.

 

[quackquackbang]

Ok but how many years did it take to get the draw for your tag

and how long is your hunting season

I hunted 2 weeks this year, saw at least 20 cows and calves, and 5 bulls

we had 2 draws for bull moose in our group and both got their bull moose in the first week of moose season.

If we had a calf tag we would have shot the calf that was standing in our hunting camp on the morning of the second day, but no luck on that draw last year. But it was nice to see first thing in the morning.

Oh and I had a few weekend hunts before and after the 2 week hunting trip. Easy to get out when the season 2 1/2 months long


I would love to go out and shoot a nice big Newfoundland bull moose, but I'll be fine huntiong out here.



But lets keep this a civil discussion, no need for bickering who has better hunting.



And back on topic

308 is just fine for moose.

Moose season in NFLD runs from september to january in 90% of the areas. For the most part you will get a license here every second year but depending on the area you apply for you can get one every year. One of my friends had one 11 years in a row now.


Also the 308win is fine for moose.