Lever action calibers for moose?

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Max-4

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Hey, I am thinking of buying a lever action gun for moose here in Ontario. Where I hunt is pretty thick bush and shots are usually under 100 yrds, seldom would you get out to 150 yrds. I want to get a nice lever action gun for hunting moose, everything from bull to cow to calf so they could be 1000 lbs down to 400 lbs.

I see Marlin offeres a "big bore" line of guns with the .45/70 Govt and .444 Marlin. I also see there is a model 336 in .35 Rem but not sure if it is a little under powered for a 1000 pound bull moose.

Is there any good rounds between the .35 Rem and .444 Gov't? What round would you pick for moose, is the .45/70 too large for a cow or calf moose?
 
Max-4 said:
I see Marlin offeres a "big bore" line of guns with the .45/70 Govt and .444 Marlin. I also see there is a model 336 in .35 Rem but not sure if it is a little under powered for a 1000 pound bull moose.

What round would you pick for moose, is the .45/70 too large for a cow or calf moose?
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Both excellent moose cartridges. And no, 45/70 is not too much (except for the shooter).
 
Back when I was the sporting goods guy at our local Woolco, I sold more win 94's in 30-30 than all other centerfires combined. The vast majority of those were going to moose hunters. I also sold more 150gr 30-30 ammo than all other centerfire ammo combined. Why were they buying the lighter 150gr ammo versus the 170? It was $2 per box cheaper and the moose ended up just as dead. Now, the 30-30 would not be my first choice as a moose rifle, but I personally know people who have used them for decades, and their daddies did before them.

And if it could be done with the 30-30 using the cheapest ammo people could find, it can be done a little more confidently with any of the calibers you listed. None of the calibers you listed will give you excessive meat damage either, if loaded intelligently.
 
Pudelpointer said:
Both excellent moose cartridges. And no, 45/70 is not too much (except for the shooter).
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X2 and on a 'few' occasions the 444, especially along with the Hornady 265gr bullet, has been a winning combo on Moose. In addition to Marlins in 444 and 45-70, I have a couple more lever guns to pick from. A Marlin 'oldie' in 44-40 that a family member has used in years past which included two Moose at close range. And last but not least, my favorite, a Winchester model 71 deluxe in 348WCF that I hope to introduce to Mr. Moose in the not too distant future.

TheLeverfamily.jpg
 
Northman999 said:
Back when I was the sporting goods guy at our local Woolco, I sold more win 94's in 30-30 than all other centerfires combined. The vast majority of those were going to moose hunters. I also sold more 150gr 30-30 ammo than all other centerfire ammo combined. Why were they buying the lighter 150gr ammo versus the 170? It was $2 per box cheaper and the moose ended up just as dead. Now, the 30-30 would not be my first choice as a moose rifle, but I personally know people who have used them for decades, and their daddies did before them.

And if it could be done with the 30-30 using the cheapest ammo people could find, it can be done a little more confidently with any of the calibers you listed. None of the calibers you listed will give you excessive meat damage either, if loaded intelligently.
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From my long ago experience behind a gun counter, I soon discovered that most hunters didn't have a clue what weight bullets their rifles shot. They simply asked for a box of shells for the calibre rifle they had. If you asked them what weight bullet they wanted, they just looked at you with a blanc look. Or else, sarcastically repeated the calibre they wanted.
This was not too long after the 308 Winchester came out and it got a bit complicated when a hunter would ask for a box of "306 bullets."
Or a box of "30-60 shells."
With the 30-60 bit you were safe in just handing them a box of 30-06.
But one had to be careful with the request for "306 bullets, or shells." When you querried them on what they wanted, you may get an earful, about dumb clerks selling guns they didn't know anything about!
 
Max-4 said:
Hey, I am thinking of buying a lever action gun for moose here in Ontario. ...

I see Marlin offeres a "big bore" line of guns with the .45/70 Govt and .444 Marlin. I also see there is a model 336 in .35 Rem but not sure if it is a little under powered for a 1000 pound bull moose.

Is there any good rounds between the .35 Rem and .444 Gov't? What round would you pick for moose, is the .45/70 too large for a cow or calf moose?
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Do you reload? Are you interested in starting? If so, the 45/70 would be an excellent calibre, for anything up to 150 yards. Unfortunately off the shelf ammunition are very limited in choice and often under powered. So handloading is the only viable option for the 45/70.

45/70 can be a very versatile load, from wild hogs, all the way up to grizzly, if properly loaded and you don't expect to shoot much beyond 150 yds (although it will be accurate beyond that, but it's trajectory will be challenging for most shooters).

If you aren't into that, then by all means the 444 is a good choice.

Another contender, if you can find one, is a Savage model 99. It's a lever action with rotary magazine usually found in 308. Very well balanced rifle, easy to carry in the thick brush.

Regardless of the caliber, shooting through brush isn't usually a good idea, no matter the weight or velocity of the bullet it's accuracy will be significantly affected.
 
I am not a reloader and don't really have any desire to get into it. Is the .444 Marlin really a better choice than the .45/70 Gov't if I don't reload, I would have thought the ammo for the .45/70 Gov't would be more available and have a better selection of bullet weights and types simply because its been around forever.

I am not really interested in a Browning BLR, I like the fact that Marlins and Winchesters have steel receivers, I am kind of put off by the BLR's alloy receiver.
 
Don't count out the .308. It will perform well on moose in the distances you have outlined with 180 grains. Very manageable recoil, and excellent performance and ammo availability. A BLR or Model 88 in .308 might suit you well. Also, as has been mentioned, check out a BLR in .358, 30.06, or 7mm. All of these rifles will set up nicely with a scope. Win 94 in .356 will work, and even 30.30 if you want open sights. Marlin or Winchester will do. You don't need 45.70 or .444, but if they appeal to you than by all means. You have many options so just make sure you like the gun and it fits you well. For the record, my personal choice is the BLR in .308 or .358. Browning is a premium manufacturer and the alloy receiver should not scare you. You can find a steel receiver one if you want.
 
Max-4 said:
I am not a reloader and don't really have any desire to get into it. Is the .444 Marlin really a better choice than the .45/70 Gov't if I don't reload, I would have thought the ammo for the .45/70 Gov't would be more available and have a better selection of bullet weights and types simply because its been around forever.

I am not really interested in a Browning BLR, I like the fact that Marlins and Winchesters have steel receivers, I am kind of put off by the BLR's alloy receiver.
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Most factory 45-70 ammo available is loaded to a low safe level taking into account of some of the older and weaker firearms that it could be used in. This isn't the case with the 444 as it a relatively new comer to the field of calibers, about 1964. However, with the initial 444 factory loads, the 240gr bullet used, basically a handgun bullet, was found somewhat lacking. The advent of the 265gr FP Hornady bullet was a definate improvement. I've had difficulty locating any lately but on a recent trip to AB and a shopping trip to the new Cabela's store in Edmonton, I lucked out and acquired three boxes.

45-70 ammo in a variety of bullet weights is probably easier to come across compared to 444 because of the shear number of 45-70's around. I reload so I haven't looked into it but there 'may' be factory ammo available, loaded to a standard for todays firearms.

Another option for you, if you don't wish to reload but want a powerful lever gun, would be to go for a Marlin in 450 Marlin. This chambering was brought about in 2000 to allow a cartridge very close in size to the 45-70 but considerably more potent to a standard to match todays firearm strengths in a lever gun.
 
Last I checked the old .30-30 could still drop a moose like a bad habit in the thick stuff. But I would take a good, long look at the .45/70 especially if you're a handloader. You can have a lot of fun experimenting with that, plus they have that Lever Evolution ammo if you want to stretch it out a ways.
 
Another vote for the BLR in .358 Winchester.

Edit - just saw that you are not interested in reloading - in that case consider the BLR in .308 Winchester. Plenty of good quality, reasonably priced ammo available and it is more than plenty for moose at 150 yards.
 
My wife shoots a win. 94 in .375 win. and I shoot a blr in 450 marlin for moose.

The 375 pushes a 220gr Hornady at just over 2000fps, my blr pushes a 400gr Hawk at the same velocity. Both are very accurate.

Oops, don't reload? How about a blr in 30-06? That's what I took my first moose with. Also a very nice deer gun.
 
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My vote goes to the 45/70, which can be loaded to levels which exceed most other leverguns, there has been some very interesting posts on another site about the use of .45/70 guide guns in Africa on the BIG FIVE. More PHs and guides are going to them along with heavy cast bullet loads, these folks were using Garrett and Cast Bullet Performance ammo that features heavy LBT designed bullets on Lion, Cape Buffalo and Hippos.
I really like the .356 Win. and .375 Win, and .44 Mag. in leverguns but they are quite a ways behind the .45/70 in knockdown power.
 
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