Either option would be good as long as you make the first shot count. Personally I like 30 cal bullets for moose and will usually pack my 308 over my 7-08 when moose hunting. With the cost of everything now it probably best to stick with what you have and can shoot well but it is always fun adding a new rifle to the collection.
.308 vs 7mm 08 for moose.
- Thread starter Clay00019
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
A strong bullet designed for penetration and integrity after the hit is far more important than ultimate accuracy for hunting moose with "smallish" cartridges. Heavier bullets than standard help too. The 7mm08 doesn't seem to be available in much besides 140 grains in factory loads, so a good bullet is even more important. I'd suggest Barnes TSX, Nosler Partitions, or one of several good bonded-core bullets. SST's and Ballistic tips and Sierras et al will kill moose too - until one goes wonky after impacting the humerus bone and the moose runs off. I handload 160 grain Speer Grand Slam bullets for my sons to use in their 7mm08's for elk and moose, they work very well.
What sort of speed are you getting with that bullet?
- Location
- Saskatchewan
With 44.5 gr. of H4350, out of both my son's rifles 22" barrels, the Speer GS 160gr. gets 2650 fps. They have used this load more for elk than moose. Usually full body penetration, but no exits.
We've never tried the Browning 144 gr. Matrix tip, but from their website:
"specifically for use on whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and antelope. The proprietary matrix tip design allows for high downrange velocity and energy retention while also initiating rapid positive expansion. The jacket and tip combination yields precision accuracy, rapid energy transfer"
it seems like one of the poorer choices available on the market. There's big difference in a bullet designed to kill smallish game animals quickly vs penetrating a moose adequately from nearly all angles. "initiating rapid positive expansion" and "rapid energy transfer" are not what you want from a relatively small caliber moose bullet. See what I wrote above: "SST's and Ballistic tips and Sierras et al will kill moose too - until one goes wonky after impacting the humerus bone and the moose runs off."
I've seen decent quality "standard" .308" 150 grain cup and core bullets like Remington Core Lokt and Winchester Power Point stopped dead in the humerus/scapula joint of both elk and moose that were shot quartering towards the hunter. Each time those animals would have escaped wounded and still very mobile if not shot quickly again in a more easy-to-penetrate spot. A heavy for caliber bullet is more reliable under unreliable conditions, ( 160 grain 7mm or 165 -180 gr. .308 ) or if sticking with the lighter weights like 140 gr. 7mm or 150 gr. .308, a strongly constructed bullet makes more sense.
We've never tried the Browning 144 gr. Matrix tip, but from their website:
"specifically for use on whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and antelope. The proprietary matrix tip design allows for high downrange velocity and energy retention while also initiating rapid positive expansion. The jacket and tip combination yields precision accuracy, rapid energy transfer"
it seems like one of the poorer choices available on the market. There's big difference in a bullet designed to kill smallish game animals quickly vs penetrating a moose adequately from nearly all angles. "initiating rapid positive expansion" and "rapid energy transfer" are not what you want from a relatively small caliber moose bullet. See what I wrote above: "SST's and Ballistic tips and Sierras et al will kill moose too - until one goes wonky after impacting the humerus bone and the moose runs off."
I've seen decent quality "standard" .308" 150 grain cup and core bullets like Remington Core Lokt and Winchester Power Point stopped dead in the humerus/scapula joint of both elk and moose that were shot quartering towards the hunter. Each time those animals would have escaped wounded and still very mobile if not shot quickly again in a more easy-to-penetrate spot. A heavy for caliber bullet is more reliable under unreliable conditions, ( 160 grain 7mm or 165 -180 gr. .308 ) or if sticking with the lighter weights like 140 gr. 7mm or 150 gr. .308, a strongly constructed bullet makes more sense.
This
Same way as you say buy 80+ year hunting rifles. Slightly used of course from a country which doesn't want them anymore.
Same way as you say buy 80+ year hunting rifles. Slightly used of course from a country which doesn't want them anymore.
Lol. I say that for beginner rifles not upgrades. My taste in rifles doesn’t change the fact savage is junk.
Both the 7-08 and 308 are very good calibers for hunting moose/deer/bears. I tend to like the wider bullet weight selection of the 308 more, but the 7-08 just seems way more deadly on game than a person would think. I can't really pick a winner between the 2.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Moose are not tough. I swear Elk will run km hit well, Moose find the nastiest little corner of swamp, in a drought, curl up and die when shot in the ankle. Depends on terrain, at any range, neither. Most of my Moose have been close to damn close, for those 308.
Given a different option, 06, 7 or 300mag. It's $6k in meat.
Given a different option, 06, 7 or 300mag. It's $6k in meat.
I didn’t comment on 7-08 I commented on savage. Your reading comprehension is still top notch I see.
Yes I’ve had a savage axis II stainless that I bought off a friend, he had it glass bedded for some reason. I did not like the action, I did not care for the magazine. This rifle also had feeding issues if you put more than 2 rounds in it.
OP was talking about Savage 11 for ladies fit. Not about your modified Axis 2 purchase.
We ended up ordering the Weatherby Camilla from Reliable Guns in .308 plus a Leupold 3x9 CDS freedom, Leupold cross slot base and rings, Federal Premium 165gr Barnes TSX ammunition, Butler Creek sling and scope caps.
Our first Weatherby, super impressed with quality, trigger pull, 3 position safety, fit and finish especially on the walnut stock. (Actually has a metal trigger guard!)
The bolt is not as smooth as my Tikka but much better than the Ruger American and Savage110. Its a top load and holds five rounds, feeds flawlessly.
The rifle really fits her well compared to the youth/compact model Ruger American, guess that will now become the grand kids starter rifle.
Happy wife happy life.
Thanks for all the info/advice. Cheers
Our first Weatherby, super impressed with quality, trigger pull, 3 position safety, fit and finish especially on the walnut stock. (Actually has a metal trigger guard!)
The bolt is not as smooth as my Tikka but much better than the Ruger American and Savage110. Its a top load and holds five rounds, feeds flawlessly.
The rifle really fits her well compared to the youth/compact model Ruger American, guess that will now become the grand kids starter rifle.
Happy wife happy life.
Thanks for all the info/advice. Cheers
Congrats! Being a top load, does it have a hinged bottom plate? If so, on my Howa (same action AFAIK) I just hold the rifle upside down and pop open the plate. I'll throw in 4 or 5 rounds and snap the plate shut. Much quicker - what with me being all lazy and all
I've shot several moose with a 6.5 Rem Mag using 140 grain NBT/NAB bullets, so no reason not to use the 7-08... having said that, if I were choosing a specific rifle and load for moose, I would probably go with the .308 with 165 or 180 grain bullets... can't go wrong with Partitions for moose.
john-brennan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
I use a 7-08 for moose with 154gr spire points at 2700fps works like a charm so far.
Congrats! Being a top load, does it have a hinged bottom plate? If so, on my Howa (same action AFAIK) I just hold the rifle upside down and pop open the plate. I'll throw in 4 or 5 rounds and snap the plate shut. Much quicker - what with me being all lazy and all
Yes...it has the hinged floor plate.
