The gun and caliber you can shoot accurately off hand. I settled on 30-06 with a 180 grains years ago and only once I wished I had a 300 win mag to reach further. Been hunting for 50 years + and had an outfitting business for 10 almost. Too many guy hunt with gun they can’t shoot well or good enough because of the caliber they choose..bigger is not always better..
Best Moose Caliber
- Thread starter JasonG61
- Start date
Wow....you were THIS close. I think the correct answer should be 338-06.
If I was going to pick one do-it-all Canadian big game cartridge. It would be hard to beat that one.
The guy who asks if a 300 Ultramag is the best moose caliber? lol
Lots of cartridges are good moose killers. The 300 RUM- like most of the RUM lineup- are pretty much dead and a poor choice for the average hunter unless they happen to already be saddled with one.
There are several more common 300 magnums available if you want a 300. They will do the exact same job as the RUM. But there is nothing wrong with using a 6.5 Creed, a 7-08, 308, 3006 or many other cartridges. Hell, even a .270 is a better choice than any RUM cartridge.
There are several more common 300 magnums available if you want a 300. They will do the exact same job as the RUM. But there is nothing wrong with using a 6.5 Creed, a 7-08, 308, 3006 or many other cartridges. Hell, even a .270 is a better choice than any RUM cartridge.
That's my Second CHOICE Pete ! RJ
I have dropped 3 fairly big bull moose and several black bears with a .25-06Rem easily using my favorite 100gr X bullet. Moose are not tough creatures at all. I have even had 2 impressively quick kills usinng a 100yr old model 1894 in .30-30 win. Just pick a caliber that you shoot well. Put the bullet where its supposed to be placed and you have a dead moose.
A well shot .243 or .25-06 trumps a poorly shot .375 H&H anyday.
A well shot .243 or .25-06 trumps a poorly shot .375 H&H anyday.
All the moose I have taken I used a 308 Win with 165 Accubonds. Never had an issue. As already mentioned, shot placement and bullet selection is the more critical than caliber. Growing up on the Rock seen more moose taken with a Lee Enfield 303 than anything else. They looked just as dead as if hit with some fancy magnum.
Welp, the Newbie with 2 posts picks the Remington RUM for his first choice for a moose and has not since posted back to weigh in on the subject.
Know of a couple young brothers in the Christina Lake area who shoot the RUM and both say it tenderizes the shoulder ..the shooters shoulder .
Yes, my comment was tongue in cheek and a reminder about Big Bads and others research of the woman who shot that Grizzly Bear with the .22 Hornet.
Rob
The Ultra Mag seems like a lot of gun, especially as for the vast majprity of people, the recoil will be too much to shoot it well enough anyways. To each his own though, if that rifle really does it for you, you will not be under-gunned.
I used to be into the big heavy calibres too until recently. I got to thinking about the areas that I usually hunt and came to the realization that there isn't a whole lot of opportunity to shoot at anything all that far away. Areas are all getting grown up, the new cut-overs aren't the big open clear cuts like they used to be. Most of the time the longest shot you could make is only 300 yards or so. Plenty of lighter cartridges and lighter rifles that can do that job well enough. Light, easy to carry rifles are a god send after a weeks worth of hard hunting. The other thing I'm getting rid of is big bulky scopes! Once again, used to think the more magnification the better, well with everything getting grown up and the brush so tight, a good set of peep sights has become much more prevalent in my arsenal.
I grew up in Northwestern Ontario and most people used the standard 303 Brit, 308 Win, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Win Mag with great success.
Good luck in your search!
I used to be into the big heavy calibres too until recently. I got to thinking about the areas that I usually hunt and came to the realization that there isn't a whole lot of opportunity to shoot at anything all that far away. Areas are all getting grown up, the new cut-overs aren't the big open clear cuts like they used to be. Most of the time the longest shot you could make is only 300 yards or so. Plenty of lighter cartridges and lighter rifles that can do that job well enough. Light, easy to carry rifles are a god send after a weeks worth of hard hunting. The other thing I'm getting rid of is big bulky scopes! Once again, used to think the more magnification the better, well with everything getting grown up and the brush so tight, a good set of peep sights has become much more prevalent in my arsenal.
I grew up in Northwestern Ontario and most people used the standard 303 Brit, 308 Win, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Win Mag with great success.
Good luck in your search!
I suggested it right up at the beginning of the thread.
450 Marlin is just 45-70 without the pesky rim. (or at least it is if you reload)
Knew somebody from Newfoundland who shot over 20 moose with a .243. Odd that most people use a magnum now, where it used to be guns in the 30-06 class.
I often tote a .338 RUM for moose - not because you need one for moose - you most certainly don't - but it is the gun I carry for just about everything and am used to shooting it. Bought a nice CZ Range Rifle this year in .308. May have to pack it this year for moose.
