in your humble opinion...

Mr. Friendly said:
...minimum you would want to drop moose within 200 yards? talking cartridge & bullet, which in turn would speak about velocity, energy, ballistic coefficient, etc...
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The 416 caliber 340gr Cutting Edge Bullet is at the top of the list for next season (although a Bull Moose would be called in a lot closer than 200 yards, more like about 50 yards) -

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Anything I carry for medium game with the intention of shooting and killing medium game at any hunting range/angle I would shoot a moose up close broadside with. They aren't overly hard to kill, it's just a big animal with a large mass. Put the bullet where it matters and it'll go down.
 
Reading this I'm thinking that my newest new-to-me favourite rifle, my 280 loaded with 140 grain Federal trophy bonded tip bullets might be okay if I ever get a moose LEH again or see a spike-fork in season. Oh yeah: in the 2018 season I will qualify for the calf season in Region 7 in BC too!
 
I haven't got a clue how low I would go as far as caliber. However, I feel confident my .270win would take it down at 200 yards no problem. Do I use it for moose? Nope I use my .375H&H. If I told my wife the .270win could do it then I wouldn't have an excuse for another rifle.
 
I have killed 2 bulls with a 25-06 (100gr X bullet & 120gr partition) Neither bull walked farther than 10 yards. I have seen a few moose taken with .243 win but I personally think quarter-bores (.257) are ethically PROBABLY the smallest diameter bullet a moose should meet. Nowadays, I only use either my .300winmag with 200gr Accubonds or my .375 Ruger with 250gr TTSX Barnes bombs. I feel better with either of those in my hands.
 
I carried a .243 with 100 partitions once, but only because my main .308 rifle had problems. The smallest I've carried on purpose was a .257 Roberts with 120 NP at 2800fps. I agree with many here who say 6.5mm is a sensible minimum bore size. Bullet construction becomes critical with the little ones, so, Partitions, A frames, TSX, and bonded cores only please.
 
I have dumped 3 moose and an elk running my 7-08 with Barnes 145 LrX at 2750fps. The bullet have all been recovered and preformed perfectly, practically doubling in size. All shots under 200, excellent performance all around. 3/4were one shot kills, two of the three were dead right there.
 
On moose I've only used the 30-06, 300WM and 300 WSM. I know that lighter calibers could be used - but I'd be somewhat reluctant to use a 243 (but it could be done). I've seen caribou shot at over 300 yards with a 26 inch long barreled 30-30. This hunter only had 1 gun. So that can be done. I would pick the 270 as a smaller caliber rifle with 150 grain bullets.
 
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25-06, and 308 I’ve used. That said I will not go out again with less energy than the 308. If I was getting a moose gun for here in Alberta, it would be a 300 WM and a good bullet. There is no good reason to go with the smallest. Moose can be easy to kill or hard, I’m not willing to risk a lost animal. Too much time effort and money invested in a hunt.
 
You can kill a moose with just about any centerfire rifle at 200 yards or under in the hands of a good shot with a cool head. Having said that if I were investing all that time and money in a moose hunt I think the .300 magnums are just about ideal in most places. Lots of power, flat shooting, manageable recoil and a lot more effective if a shot has to be taken from a bad angle. I have only killed two bulls personally as the season in N.B. is a lottery. One was shot with a .35 Whelan, 225 grain Nosler and the other with .300 Win Mag and 180 grain Hornady. Both died immediately thereafter. A few older lads around my area still prefer the .30/30 to anything else.
 
For me the smallest I have used is a 250 savage with a 100 grain bullet at about 100 yards, I would have felt comfortable using it out to 200 yards on a moose. Moose are fairly easy to kill a 243 would have worked as well, but there are better things to use.
 
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