44mag for moose?

chaslavk

chaslavk

Regular
Rating - 83.3%
5   1   0
Location
Kitchener
I thought that bare minimum for moose was 300WM but was surprised to discover that a lot of lesser cartidges are adequate for moose; even 243win.
So is 44 mag enough for moose?
I am thinking of getting lever action in 44 mag for plinking and I want to know if 44mag is adequate for moose?
 
I'd say if you could bow hunt, then for sure it would work... If you hunt like me.. I'd probably pass. Not that it's not capable, I'm sure it is and it's been done before.

My grandpa shot them with a mod 94 30-30 with old dominion ammo. There were also stories written up on a board over the table at the camp of "Oct 3, 1970. 3 point bull moose, 7 shots"

Just thinking you might want to be as close as possible to slip it into just the right spot.
 
wikepedia describes the .44 mag as being suitable for "close Range" hunting of "All" north american big game. With a 240 grn bullet 1500fps and 1200lbs of energy. While it would probably kill moose effectively close up( 100-150?? yards) there are far better choices. It could be easy to be tempted/ misjudge distance etc. and have a wounded animal running around or worse loose it.
 
i dont see why it cant be done, in maine they can handgun hunt them IIRC so I figure thats the round of choice. if it can be done out of 8'' of steel, 18'' should do it as well, just use the right bullet and know your limitations.

you mentioned the .243, my ex took hers with a .243 a few years ago, browning a-bolt.
 
44mag is equivalent to a 30/30 out to 125 yards.

Myself I wouldn't use either round not saying it won't work if everything is right saying I wouldn't use it.

If I had to use a 44mag I wouldn't use a 240gr bullet I would get my hands on the heaviest widest meplat hard cast gas checked bullet around, load it as fast as I could and I would keep all shots within 100 yards tops.

I also would only shoot if it was a cross chest shot where I could take out the lungs/heart.

Moose are to majestic to risk wounding so get/use a bigger cartridge.
 
chaslavk said:
I thought that bare minimum for moose was 300WM but was surprised to discover that a lot of lesser cartidges are adequate for moose; even 243win.
So is 44 mag enough for moose?
I am thinking of getting lever action in 44 mag for plinking and I want to know if 44mag is adequate for moose?
Click to expand...

I have a Ruger .44Mag, it will kill a moose I'm sure! "BUT" why limit yourself?
I would not use it for Moose as it does not have the reach that most other calabers have. It would be safe to say that the .44Mag is a 100 meter and under gun. So! when a Bull walks out into a clearing @ 150 + meters, it's nice to be able to shoot it. Although the calaber choice for moose is long listed and is mostly personal preferance.


Tikka
 
chaslavk said:
I thought that bare minimum for moose was 300WM but was surprised to discover that a lot of lesser cartidges are adequate for moose; even 243win.
So is 44 mag enough for moose?
I am thinking of getting lever action in 44 mag for plinking and I want to know if 44mag is adequate for moose?
Click to expand...

All 3 cartridges, the .243, .300 magnum, and .44 magnum when loaded appropriately will kill a moose with a solid hit. Moose around here are often taken with .22 centerfires, although small bores (those under 6.5) are not my first choice for any big game, never mind moose. The choice you make should relate to the type of hunting you do, the type of country you hunt in, and which rifle you shoot the best under those particular conditions. A .44 lever gun would be a very nice carry all day gun, certainly nicer to carry than any .300 magnum I've ever seen. But it won't give you that, "if you can see him you can kill him" feeling that some folks prefer. The .44 carbine is the stalker's rifle, and if sneaking in close before making a shot brings you joy, the .44 is a good choice and it will put meat in the freezer. If you intend to shoot much beyond 100 yards, switch up to a moderate .30 or even a .300.
 
with some very fine Husqvarna 9,3x57's available at Tradeex for very reasonable prices-why would you opt for something less?A 286 gr privipartizan even at 2000 fps is going to hit like the hammer of Thor
 
Using a .44 Magnum on a moose isn't all that different from using a muzzleloader, especially considering that sometimes the same JHP bullets are shot out of muzzleloaders with plastic sabots.

Many uninformed people believe that all handguns are inadequate for big game hunting, but many of the big bore sixgun cartridges are in a similar performance "envelope" as commonly used muzzleloading rifles in terms of bullet weight and velocity. The same cartridge out of a lever action carbine would be easier to shoot accurately and shoot a bit flatter due to the higher muzzle velocity.

It will be fine if you are willing to get close and choose your shots carefully.
 
unstableryan said:
I'd say if you could bow hunt, then for sure it would work... If you hunt like me.. I'd probably pass. Not that it's not capable, I'm sure it is and it's been done before.

My grandpa shot them with a mod 94 30-30 with old dominion ammo. There were also stories written up on a board over the table at the camp of "Oct 3, 1970. 3 point bull moose, 7 shots"

Just thinking you might want to be as close as possible to slip it into just the right spot.
Click to expand...

Do you realize how much damage broadheads do compared to a rifle? Bullets may do big time blunt damage, but broadheads will bleed an animal out just as fast, if not FASTER.

I've seen arrows drop deer within their first 2-3 steps. The wound channels are gigantic and they slice arteries the whole way through the animal as opposed to the "pushing" bullets do.

People hunt elephants\rhinos\hippo\cape buffalo with compound bows, so the comparison of "I'd say if you could bow hunt, then for sure it would work..." isn't really accurate IMO.
 
I have never shot a moose (yet) but if given the choice for close range I would choose a .44 Mag before a .243.
 
Are there not legal issues in some provinces with using a cartridge with an empty case length of under 1.5" (if memory serves)? Thought the regs had a section like that for Alberta and BC but can't remember exactly.

Adequate, yes. Legal, maybe not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom