Got my moose licence! Leverevolution 30-30 worth using?

Fox said:
He asked for a reason, potentially that is the gun he has been using for 20 years.

Would it make more sense to go get a 300 WM and try to learn that gun over the summer or use a 30-30 that is known and trusted, it is still a 30 caliber bullet and as long as it goes into the vitals it will kill exactly the same way, it is a hole in the lungs and a hole in the lungs will kill no matter what made the hole.
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I answered the question he asked. You're inventing questions to ask.

And if you think there is no difference in a moose's reaction to a .30-30 through the lungs and a .300 Win. Mag through the lungs, you haven't seen both things happen. I repeat myself, but no one has said a moose won't die with a .30-30 shot to the lungs. But if I had only one hunt every 9 years, I would use more gun. That's my advice, and no attempts to muddy the waters with absurd arguments about whether or not the moose will die is just that - absurd.
 
TheCoachZed said:
My point is this: I'd rather shoot what I have, and am comfortable with. I know I can kill a moose at 100 yards with a .30-30. What I want to find out is--can LeverEvolution help me extend that range reasonably, or are the bullets too soft? Sounds as if the 160s might be! The 140s supposedly have 1200 ft-lb of energy at 200 yards. My range, if it ever opens again, only goes as far as 200 yards anyway.

I do have a Remington 81 in .300 Savage, and that's what I'd LIKE to take, but -- it's almost impossible to scope without drilling more holes, and it already has enough of those.
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I know a guy around the corner from me, used to use the 303 Brit and never wanted a 308 or a 30-06 because it did nothing for him, loved the 6.5x55 though when he got his hands on it because he only shoots them in the head or neck (no my thing but this guy is some kind of shooter, neck shot 50 cal muzzle loader too) and did not want to have to worry about hold over, loves the "laser" 6.5x55mm with a 140gr bullet at his hunting range.

Honestly, I have the same thought on that 160gr FTX, they on paper do great things and I love lever guns but being designed like an SST would it really hold up if you clipped the shoulder blade or something like that.

No plans to hunt moose for a while though, I was going to try but Ontario has screwed up the moose population so bad I will not spend a dime on a moose hunt here, just to make a point.

What range do you expect to see them and be able to get a shot? 100 yards? 150 yards? 200 yards? If you do not trust the FTX and are happy with a bullet that you normally use for deer at 100 yards then put yourself in a spot that you cannot even think about shooting too far, too thick to see anything beyond your maximum range, removes this ethical dilemma. I have a traditional bow that I was really good with at 15 years old, it was a 40lb and I had a specific stand that was on the edge of a logging trail, if the deer did not come down the logging trail I could not have even seen it to take a shot, was perfect for that sort of hunt.
 
rral22 said:
I answered the question he asked. You're inventing questions to ask.

And if you think there is no difference in a moose's reaction to a .30-30 through the lungs and a .300 Win. Mag through the lungs, you haven't seen both things happen. I repeat myself, but no one has said a moose won't die with a .30-30 shot to the lungs. But if I had only one hunt every 9 years, I would use more gun. That's my advice, and no attempts to muddy the waters with absurd arguments about whether or not the moose will die is just that - absurd.
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The OP just came on and reiterated why he wanted to use a 30-30, it is what he has and what he trusts, therefore the point is moot.
 
Fox said:
What range do you expect to see them and be able to get a shot? 100 yards? 150 yards? 200 yards? If you do not trust the FTX and are happy with a bullet that you normally use for deer at 100 yards then put yourself in a spot that you cannot even think about shooting too far, too thick to see anything beyond your maximum range, removes this ethical dilemma. I have a traditional bow that I was really good with at 15 years old, it was a 40lb and I had a specific stand that was on the edge of a logging trail, if the deer did not come down the logging trail I could not have even seen it to take a shot, was perfect for that sort of hunt.
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I don't know anyone who has shot past 100 yards up where we're going in Zone 3. I know there are a TON of cuts, it's almost all big clearcuts, but the guys I'm going with mostly get on the ridges above the clearcuts and walk through the woods and look for them, instead of driving around and shooting at them 300 yards away with magnums.

Where I'm going, we'll have three parties camped, including one from Quebec with a pro guide who I used to work for up in Tadoessac (commercial fishing). He said he will call one in for me if I can't get close enough. He's one of the best-known and most-respected guides in that province, so I have no question that if it comes to it, he can get me the shot.
 
TheCoachZed said:
I don't know anyone who has shot past 100 yards up where we're going in Zone 3. I know there are a TON of cuts, it's almost all big clearcuts, but the guys I'm going with mostly get on the ridges above the clearcuts and walk through the woods and look for them, instead of driving around and shooting at them 300 yards away with magnums.

Where I'm going, we'll have three parties camped, including one from Quebec with a pro guide who I used to work for up in Tadoessac (commercial fishing). He said he will call one in for me if I can't get close enough. He's one of the best-known and most-respected guides in that province, so I have no question that if it comes to it, he can get me the shot.
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Then you are set, bring what fits you and you will be fine, make sure to show us pictures when you get one :D
 
One thing I have seen more than once is the result of borrowing a rifle/camera for the hunt/trip of a lifetime and getting a disaster because of a lack of familiarity with the borrowed equipment.

My experience with New Brunswick moose is that they are not very big and the ranges tend to be small, so a rifle the OP is comfortable with trumps everything else. And cheap Remchester ammo will do the job.

Please let us know how it works out.
 
Moose I have shot with the 30-30 died on the spot. I generally use 170gr Hornady Interlocks. I avoid any shot that might be considered iffy. The last bull I shot had 18" of penetration by that bullet, but it hit no bone, unless it clipped a rib. Ended in the off side shoulder. Go broadside rib shots and you'll be fine. I was shooting a levergun, and I never found that any of the premium bullets improved enough on the Interlock to be worthwhile. That might be different in a bolt gun.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
Moose I have shot with the 30-30 died on the spot. I generally use 170gr Hornady Interlocks. I avoid any shot that might be considered iffy. The last bull I shot had 18" of penetration by that bullet, but it hit no bone, unless it clipped a rib. Ended in the off side shoulder. Go broadside rib shots and you'll be fine. I was shooting a levergun, and I never found that any of the premium bullets improved enough on the Interlock to be worthwhile. That might be different in a bolt gun.
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I only personally know one person who shot a moose with a .30-30. Her husband said it dropped right there, and it "looked like a garden hose had sprayed blood everywhere." I think they were in a canoe and shot it pretty close range. I suspect I won't get that lucky, although I'd love to try hunting them from a canoe someday.
 
Congrats' on your draw!

Not my personal choice, however, I have never hunted moose with my .32 WSPL (pretty much the same) ~ I have used a .303 in the past, but primarily a .300 WBY Mag. for Moose & large game.
Depending on shot placement, distance & SIZE of the animal etc.. you should be fine.. However, as you know, some Moose don't go down that easy.

Best of luck on your hunt.. & share some pix of your success.
 
Congrats on the tag!

In the area we hunt, we are pulling these every other year so this was a good reminder of how special a moose hunt is.

My philosophy echos many others and is to prioritize familiarity and accuracy.

If you can reach a point at the range that shots from field positions are good at reasonable distances, a 30-30 can do the task.

Last time around I caught flack that a .375 wasn’t necessary for moose but the result was literally immediate.

As long as it’s humane and you avoid major recovery headaches, it’s fine and there is a spectrum of reasonable options.

Good luck!
 
The .30 30 has been getting it done for over 100yrs it will keep doing it for the next 100yrs. Grab a $20.00 box of 170gr silver tips and go kill yourself a moose. Politically incorrect but " it's the Indian not the arrow" stay within the limits of the rifle and yourself and things will go well.

Good luck on the swamp donkey hunt
 
No issues with the rifle, but the rubber tipped bullets are not considered tough. I lost a bear to one that came apart without penetrating much into a bear on a 6 yard shot. use a better bullet
 
The FTX is,possibly was, very soft. I'd be shocked to hear of a monoflex or any of the Hornady GMX type bullets breaking up at a velocity the .30-30 case can produce.
I say possibly because a few gunwriters have suggested that Hornady toughened up the SST and I wonder if the FTX may have received the same treatment. Maybe it is similar to the Nosler Ballistic tips and how some were toughened up due to their likely uses.
 
Had a 30-30 160 Hornady flex tip blow up on a deer once, but he was only about 7-8 yards away, still got the deer but had to put a second shot in him. The 170 grain Federal & Winchester & Hornady always gave pass throughs and quick kills on deer when I used them, if I was after moose with a 30-30 I'd definitely go for one of the 170 grain flatpoints over the leverevolution stuff. The flex tips probably work great on lung shots & further away shots where they impact a little slower though.
 
ratherbefishin said:
Why not just pick up a ‘sporterized’ 303 for about $100 and then you have no issues at all
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When was the last time you saw a lee enfield sporter for $100? Seeing them going for $250 now, and not in good shape.

The guy knows his 30-30 and loves using his 30-30, nothing wrong with a 30-30 for moose within its limits, the 303 Brit is not going to stretch out those limits too far, especially with battle sights on it.
 
Agreed there is nothing wrong with a 30/30 but the 303 gives you a little more margin and in Canada probably more moose fell to a 303 than anything else.
One on EE right now for $130 shipped..
 
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