First Moose Hunting Rifle Help

sphen

sphen

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Hey guys, looking for my first moose rifle, have a hunt getting set up for September so lots of time to pick it up and get it set up. My first dilemma is if I should buy or use something I already have. I have two current options I could go with; my M14 or borrow my dads 30-30 winchester that he never uses (had him out with it this summer for the first time in 20 years). My M14 is iron sights, I could pick up a mount and scope, the 30-30 has a short scope. I'm not looking for a long range shot.

Option two is to pick up my own bolt action for moose and other larger game (deer and cariboo), that would normally be my first choice (any excuse to add to the collection) but I recently completed my rpal course and as soon as that goes through I'm looking to pick up a handgun and ar15 for the range. Getting something for the hunt would bounce back the ar15 purchase another year or so.

What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards using the m14, I just wasn't planning on putting a scope on it any time soon. There seems to be mixed reviews for using the 30-30 for moose but considering I'm looking for a shorter shot I'm not overly worried about it. Feel free to chime in.
 
I would buy a quality hunting rifle in any of the North American all rounder cartridges and top it with a quality scope, rings and bases. This would set you back $1000-$1200 pretty easy and would push your AR purchase back. Unfortunate, because ARs are really fun; but, in my opinion if hunting is something you are passionate about than you may as well lay out the cash and get something that can last you a lifetime.

If you want to put off the purchase until after you buy an AR and handgun than I would just run the M 14 with irons, especially if it has USGI irons (the absolute first upgrade any Norc owner should purchase.) The M1/M14 have the best iron sights ever fitted to a rifle IMO and they would certainly do just find hunting Moose at short range.
 
If you still have good eyes and don't require a scope, I'd stick with your M14, it will do the job quite well until you find something better down the road one day.
 
Cam is right - a noobie to hunting as well, I bought an A7 in 30.06 with Burris 3x9 and it was 1150 pretax. But she shoots like a dream and I don't think I will need (unofficially lol) another big game hunting rifle for 10 years. And took a calf with it this year.
 
Spend 400 bucks and put a 3-9 leupold on the m14 sight it in with some solid 165s and be done with it. It'll hinder your AR purchase a bit but will not completely kick it out of the field. Look on EE and you could probably find a decent 3-9 x40 for 300 bucks or less.

Good luck with the hunt,
Kid
 
I shot my first moose with a 30/30 lever Winchester and have seen lots of other moose killed with a 30/30. If the weight of your 308 doesn't bother you I could use it as well, iron sights work as far as you can shoot it, my first dedicated moose gun was a 308 BLR and it killed a dozen or so of them before I moved on to a 338wm.
 
Sic Kid said:
Spend 400 bucks and put a 3-9 leupold on the m14 sight it in with some solid 165s and be done with it. It'll hinder your AR purchase a bit but will not completely kick it out of the field. Look on EE and you could probably find a decent 3-9 x40 for 300 bucks or less.

Good luck with the hunt,
Kid
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Just so there's no confusion on the OP's part, I'm assuming by "solid" you mean "quality", as he definitely shouldn't be using solids or FMJ for hunting moose.
 
I have my grandfather's .30/30 in my safe, a rifle that has taken more than 30 moose and countless deer over three generations... but not one I would recommend as a dedicated moose rifle. Even though you have the M14, I would recommend a quality bolt action as a dedicated hunting rifle... in .308 Winchester it will do everything you are asking of it... set it up with a premium bullet in the 165/180 class mount a quality scope (Leupold VX-2/VX-3) and you are golden. This might sound "spendy" to you, but when you consider how much you are investing in this upcoming hunt... and all of the other hunts that are to follow... it is money well spent. Put off the AR and handgun as long as is necessary to accomplish this higher priority.
 
Moose tend to not be susceptible to bullet shock and will either stand and take it after the first shot or trot off 50 yards and lay down.Exceptions would be spine/neck +head shots.Sturdy bullet construction is a plus for penetration.You can use what you have no problem and in the meantime save for a decent BA and Leupold combo.Have shot truckloads with 6.5x55 ,.270 win,.308 NM,.300 H+H , .338 win mag's and 9.3x62.......seen many others fall to .30-30 to 7mm rem mag and the like.......caliber didn't much matter within reason.Harold
 
I shot my first moose with a 30-30 , neck shot on the run. He ran about a 100 ft and dropped. Got my second moose with a 7 mm. Either moose couldn't tell the difference. Both shots were in thick brush about 75 yard shots
 
.30-30 have taken so many critters, yet people insist behemoth bolt action magnums are a must. They aren't. Pick a quality bullet and place your shot correctly, your freezer will be full.
 
I'd be the last guy to tell someone not to buy another rifle; but if you are happy with the iron sights there's no real reason why the M14 won't work. I'm wracking my brain to think of a moose that I've shot that I wouldn't have taken with .308 and not coming up with any. I can think of a lot of low light shots that would rule out the irons.

I'd be more concerned about the M14 blowing up in your face. I hate it when that happens.
 
dugasgunner said:
Keep your M14 and get some quality hunting ammo. Unless you absolutely want a new rifle wich i completely understand... Lol
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This ^^
Put a decent scope on it.
you can always move it to a diffrent gun later.
like was said also get some decent hunting ammo (also sight it in with this ammo)
later you can get a bolt action if you want one bad enough.
30/06 would be my choice
 
30-06 with 165 Grain. If your barrel likes Winchester Power Points they are a great choice because they are inexpensive and get the job done. At $27.00 a box you can do a lot of practice shooting and pay for beer too. If you plan on doing longer shots I recommend 300 Win Mag. :eek:)
 
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