For moose - longest range without wind adjustment - what caliber?
- Thread starter Rangel
- Start date
Out out my collection of moose worthy cartridges; the 338 Edge and 28 Nosler have the least drift. 300s in the Edge and 195s in the 28.
Range varies with the terrain. 25 yards might be real in some circumstances like thick cover; but moose live with the mountain goats, pronghorns and mule deer too. You can pretty much forget about 25 on those ones.
My average shot would be about 200; longest were 390, 400 and 437
Range varies with the terrain. 25 yards might be real in some circumstances like thick cover; but moose live with the mountain goats, pronghorns and mule deer too. You can pretty much forget about 25 on those ones.
My average shot would be about 200; longest were 390, 400 and 437
I generally gravitate towards .300 magnums. They just always work. My longest shot on a moose though was a lasered 268 yards which isn't close, but also not that far. .30-06 did the trick.
If I were to do it again with possible open country shots it would be with my .300 Weatherby Magnum.
If I were to do it again with possible open country shots it would be with my .300 Weatherby Magnum.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Where I hunt moose, the range can be anywhere from 10ft to further than a reasonable man would shoot. So, my choice usually is 308, or 338WM depending on just where in the hunting territory I am hunting, and if I am standing, or walking.
Really long walks in close cover I am not afraid to carry a Winchester 94 in 30-30. It's light, and effective, but obviously not the best choice for longer ranges, or bad shot placement. My longest moose shot with it is 85 yards aprox.
The 308 is the cartridge of choice for over half the guys I hunt with. 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, make up the others. I am the sole user of the 338WM. I do cheat a little, and I don't hesitate in recommending Pachmyers D750B Decelerator. It's a great addition to a rifle that smacks harder than a 308.
Really long walks in close cover I am not afraid to carry a Winchester 94 in 30-30. It's light, and effective, but obviously not the best choice for longer ranges, or bad shot placement. My longest moose shot with it is 85 yards aprox.
The 308 is the cartridge of choice for over half the guys I hunt with. 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, make up the others. I am the sole user of the 338WM. I do cheat a little, and I don't hesitate in recommending Pachmyers D750B Decelerator. It's a great addition to a rifle that smacks harder than a 308.
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In 35 years of hunting big game, longest shot on a moose was 220 yards and closest waas 20. Average shot distance on all big game is 137 yards.
There are instances where shots can be longer, but usually not needed as you can either get closer or call them closer (during the rut).
Depends on how and where you hunt, or plan to hunt moose, as to what caliber/cartridge you need, or want.
I have used the 6.5x55 on up through the 9.3x62, including regular and magnum cartridges (7mm, 300 and 338). I have used medium to heavy for caliber cup and core and premium bullets, both with success, at a variety of velocities from the various cartridges
The species of moose should also be a consideration, as there is a big difference in body size between a Shiras and a Alaskan/Yukon moose. While moose are not overly tenacious, a bull full of adrenaline in the rut will be different than a resting and unwary bull.
While wind can be a concern when hunting, most successful moose hunting is done with no to moderate wind conditions. They do not like to much move in high winds.
At most typical ranges, under most circumstances, wind won't be a big consideration. On longer range shots, yes, it is going to be a factor.
Biggest thing for you will be to limit shots with your chosen cartridge, to your practiced comfortable shooting range with known wind drift data for your load.
There are instances where shots can be longer, but usually not needed as you can either get closer or call them closer (during the rut).
Depends on how and where you hunt, or plan to hunt moose, as to what caliber/cartridge you need, or want.
I have used the 6.5x55 on up through the 9.3x62, including regular and magnum cartridges (7mm, 300 and 338). I have used medium to heavy for caliber cup and core and premium bullets, both with success, at a variety of velocities from the various cartridges
The species of moose should also be a consideration, as there is a big difference in body size between a Shiras and a Alaskan/Yukon moose. While moose are not overly tenacious, a bull full of adrenaline in the rut will be different than a resting and unwary bull.
While wind can be a concern when hunting, most successful moose hunting is done with no to moderate wind conditions. They do not like to much move in high winds.
At most typical ranges, under most circumstances, wind won't be a big consideration. On longer range shots, yes, it is going to be a factor.
Biggest thing for you will be to limit shots with your chosen cartridge, to your practiced comfortable shooting range with known wind drift data for your load.
My shortest was about 15 yards, in a willow thicket. Longest was a very nice bull, a very long way down a cut line. Maybe 300 yards or so. Used a rest and shot him with a 7mm-08. - dan
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Vladthepes
Regular
- Location
- Okanagan-Similkameen
i can tell you that, at 230 yards, a moose still look very big! The chest must be at least 40 inches from top to bottom!
No. Practice shooting considerably further than you plan to hunt. That way, the "long" shot on an animal will be relatively easy compare to what you practiced.
I'm sure 50 BMG would be fine at that range.
The closest I could get to a bull moose this past week was a ranged 480 yards and even though my skills and rifle can make that shot, I passed. It ended up being the only opportunity I would get over the week.
It was hard hunting and crappy weather and predator sign of wolves and grizzly like I have never seen in that area before. Some areas that always had loads of sign and well used moose trails/feeding locations were absolutely devoid of moose sign. Most years the same locations in the bush would show where the animals congregate and where the bulls thrash the bushes and small trees to mark thier areas..... not this year..... grizzly and blackbear tracks everywhere and there wasn't a cutblock without fresh wolf sign every morning. I rode my quad into one area with some newer cut blocks only to find fresh grizzly tracks over my atv tracks an hour later. It was then that I saw the bull at the top edge of the cut. Weather, terrain, grizzly close by...... the wind wouldn't have bothered my 7mm rem mag 160gr nosler partition much but it was blowing a steady 10 to 15miles an hour. Sometimes solo hunting is a b!tch...... the caliber of rifle I was carrying wouldn't have made any difference.
It was hard hunting and crappy weather and predator sign of wolves and grizzly like I have never seen in that area before. Some areas that always had loads of sign and well used moose trails/feeding locations were absolutely devoid of moose sign. Most years the same locations in the bush would show where the animals congregate and where the bulls thrash the bushes and small trees to mark thier areas..... not this year..... grizzly and blackbear tracks everywhere and there wasn't a cutblock without fresh wolf sign every morning. I rode my quad into one area with some newer cut blocks only to find fresh grizzly tracks over my atv tracks an hour later. It was then that I saw the bull at the top edge of the cut. Weather, terrain, grizzly close by...... the wind wouldn't have bothered my 7mm rem mag 160gr nosler partition much but it was blowing a steady 10 to 15miles an hour. Sometimes solo hunting is a b!tch...... the caliber of rifle I was carrying wouldn't have made any difference.
2024 bull, taken with a 22 ARC at just over 1100 yards...Aimed for behind his left ear, misjudged the wind a bit and the bullet impacted 1/2 inch to the right of where I aimed. I was a bit dejected about impacting a half inch to the right but, nobody is perfect...One and done! 
'rifle
'rifle
Thats not how bullets work….
