Moose Gun, Give me your thoughts

[Ardent]

Only one brief mention of 45-70. I'm curious to know if anyone has actually hunted moose with a lever action chambered in 45-70?

I suppose the range would be limited, but it sounds like the moose wouldn't go far with a good shot. Am I wrong?

.45-70 will largely be less impressive on game than just a .25-06. You have to get above 2200fps impacts to get radiating tissue damage, and .45-70s don’t do that with most loads. They’re 100% lethal but most things shot with them outside the central nervous system will take a death sprint, where they’re more likely to fall over much closer with a faster round. Even if it’s slinging a 120gr bullet instead of a 500gr, the animal’s still taking a heavier hit with the lighter, faster round. African and other heavy game well beyond moose large and heavy enough to plain stop the light bullet excluded, of course. For them there are much better choices than .45-70, too however.

 

[45ACPKING]

I haven't taken any huge moose like some of the fellas here have posted..... come close but no cigar
Most of my bulls have been the moose that average joe hunter bumps into in the bush , immatures up to 4 or 5 year olds.
I've taken them with .303 brit 180gr federal blue box , 7mm rem mag 160gr partitions and accubonds, and .308 165gr partitions

find the rifle that suits you and then pick your pill

My personal choice is the 7mag for it's versatility for deer, moose, elk, black bear I use the same bullet/load

 

[SuperCub]

never seen a newfie moose before is that a new species

There is actually four sub-species of moose in Canada. The western moose are typically larger than out eastern moose.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moose

Moose are the largest living member of the deer family (Cervidae). Four subspecies are found in Canada: the Alaska/Yukon moose (Alces alces gigas), the shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi), the western Canada moose (Alces alces andersoni) and the eastern Canada moose (Alces alces americana). They live in every province and territory except Prince Edward Island. Often considered a symbol of Canada, the moose is featured on Ontario’s provincial coat of arms

 

[Northern Shooter]

I've traditionally used 30.06 but this year im going to go with 45-70 (Marlin 1895 GBL) seeing as most shots are within 200 yards due to the thick terrain. Never hunted with 45-70 before but I have high hopes.

 

[nomad 68]

never seen a newfie moose before is that a new species

Their call sounds like more of a screech.

 

[Tbayhabs]

30-06 for me! Best all around caliber for Ontario hunting. Got that caliber in a pump, bolt and semi. But like said already 270 up to 300 will do the job at a good distance with confidence.

 

[WhelanLad]

The real truth is that if you are not wearing Sitka, Firstlite, or Kuiu, you will never be a successful hunter! ;P

ive heard this, as an Aussie interested in hunting these big game animals, all of the guys i spoke to in regards to planning some kind of hunt, all say you need that camo or forget it

 

[nowarningshot]

Most of those guys in fancy camo just confuse moose. They wonder, how that truck drives with noone in the drivers seat.

 

[sharp shooter]

Hard to go wrong with a .30/06 in your choice of quality Bolt action rifles... any of the "7's" will be great... M70, M77, M700.

This - But I'd lean towards a current production M70.

 

[sharp shooter]

I have had the good luck to take several moose. All have been inside 75 yards, and most at 40 yards or maybe a little less.
One of my choices, a 1x-4x(Leupold) scope has proven to be just about ideal. So glad I didn't go to the 3x-9x route espoused by so many.
I feel that even a 200 yard shot with 4x would be quite doable.

X2 on the 1-4x Leupold.

I recently took the 1-4x leupold off my 30-06 (great combo) as I shoot more often at paper than actual hunting and replaced it with a 2-7 for a happy medium. My 30-06 has iron sights and quick detach mounts so if I know I am going in the thick stuff I can take it off.

 

[mudgunner49]

My advice FWIW, is to not over-gun and (probably just as importantly) not over-scope. I've seen far more guys miss animals or hit them badly because all that they could see was hair when they pulled up on a bull at 45 yds and had their optic set on 12x, than I have guys miss a shot at 175 or 200 set on 1.5x... I'd far rather have a good 1-4 or 1.5-5 than a 3-9 or 4-12 any day of the week, magnification doesn't help you shoot better, it just lets you see better. I have 10x binos for looking at stuff...

As to not over-gunning - buy a rifle that you're not afraid to shoot, either physically (everyone has a recoil threshold - even they hairy-chested he-men shooting the big magnums), or financially (I have a friend who only fires 2 shots before season because his .338 ammo "costs so much" - coincidentally, he has missed more animals than anyone else that I know - and those shots are almost never within 12" of each other but they're "good enough", sadly this is pretty common. No, I do not hunt with this individual, but get lots of first hand accounts from his brother. Get a rifle that you can get common ammo for and that you will shoot until you're comfortable with it.

It also really helps if you have a similar rifle in .22LR so that you can practice position shooting and not break the bank - I start my hunting-specific shooting practice in June/July and hit the range with a rimfire and my hunting rifle, usually a .308, but sometimes an 8mm-06, a .280 or a .30-06 - I try for weekly, but most times it's twice a month. I shoot 6" (25/50) & 8" (100m) paper plates and don't use the bench after initial zero confirmation. I then fire 40 rds each at 25/50 & 100m, 10 ea at prone, sitting, kneeling and standing at each range, and don't consider it a win unless I hit minimum 100% at 25 & 50 and 75-80% at 100. I repeat the exercise with the centerfire firing 2 shots per position at each range and look for the same results - sometimes I go home disappointed.

That's 120 rounds of LR and 24 rds of centerfire twice a month for 12-24 weeks. If that isn't an incentive to handload, I'm not sure what is

Shoot more, obsess over caliber less...

 

[9.3mauser]

X2 on the 1-4x Leupold.

I recently took the 1-4x leupold off my 30-06 (great combo) as I shoot more often at paper than actual hunting and replaced it with a 2-7 for a happy medium. My 30-06 has iron sights and quick detach mounts so if I know I am going in the thick stuff I can take it off.

2-7x + 30/06 is a perfect combo. That's what I have mounted on mine.

 

[Ardent]

Most of those guys in fancy camo just confuse moose. They wonder, how that truck drives with noone in the drivers seat.

Out here those of us wearing that fancy camo, are a full day’s travel or more from a road or their truck, and and that’s why we seek out better and lighter gear. Don’t sweat it though as there are plenty of laughs out here about overweight truck and ATV hunters elsewhere in the world.

I get a kick out of the hunting crowd that figures good gear means you don’t know what you’re doing.

 

[Dogleg]

ive heard this, as an Aussie interested in hunting these big game animals, all of the guys i spoke to in regards to planning some kind of hunt, all say you need that camo or forget it

It ain’t the camo, its the rain gear they printed it on. Even then, its a situational thing. Where I live you can hunt moose in a Santa Claus suit and be successful and comfortable. At least as comfortable as someone in a Santa Claus is likely to get.

That changes on the left coast. Those guys aren’t striving for dry and comfortable; they will settle for that happy state they call “Not dead”. “Not dead” is claimed to be better than the alternative, but some dispute that. You can simulate it by standing outside barefoot in a wash tub full of icecubes in the winter while your wife alternately shovels snow in your face; soaks you down with a garden hose and hits you with a barbed wrapped stick. If you don’t have a wife maybe you can get someone else's to do it for a few bucks?
Anyway, there is a lot of variation in conditions. Where I live 13 inches isn’t that far out of normal; go to Kittimat and 13 feet is a dry year.

For the OP:

I want to say .300 because its always a great cartridge. Trouble is, its a bit much for most new shooters. Most of my moose met their maker from a 7mm of one description or another. Moose are big pussies; bust them through the slats with just about anything and you’re going to using your knife pretty soon. The only rodeos I ever had or saw were with copper bullets.

I’ve only shot one moose over 400 yards, that happened to be the last one. The rest were under 200 more or less. You
could do worse than a 30-06 with something ordinary like 180 Blue box, Corelocks or Hornady Interlocks. You know all those makers of factory ammo? They aren't as dumb as they look.

 

[Ardent]

You know and nailed that deal “Not dead” is as good as things get in the north west many days. Good gear helps keep things the right side of not-dead/dead line, especially so when you have to pick and choose the few items you can afford to carry for a couple weeks in a bag the homeless would call minimalist.

Oddly people pay handsomely for toeing the line, especially in the mountain goat and grizzly games.

 

[mwic98]

My advice FWIW, is to not over-gun and (probably just as importantly) not over-scope. I've seen far more guys miss animals or hit them badly because all that they could see was hair when they pulled up on a bull at 45 yds and had their optic set on 12x, than I have guys miss a shot at 175 or 200 set on 1.5x... I'd far rather have a good 1-4 or 1.5-5 than a 3-9 or 4-12 any day of the week, magnification doesn't help you shoot better, it just lets you see better. I have 10x binos for looking at stuff...

As to not over-gunning - buy a rifle that you're not afraid to shoot, either physically (everyone has a recoil threshold - even they hairy-chested he-men shooting the big magnums), or financially (I have a friend who only fires 2 shots before season because his .338 ammo "costs so much" - coincidentally, he has missed more animals than anyone else that I know - and those shots are almost never within 12" of each other but they're "good enough", sadly this is pretty common. No, I do not hunt with this individual, but get lots of first hand accounts from his brother. Get a rifle that you can get common ammo for and that you will shoot until you're comfortable with it.

It also really helps if you have a similar rifle in .22LR so that you can practice position shooting and not break the bank - I start my hunting-specific shooting practice in June/July and hit the range with a rimfire and my hunting rifle, usually a .308, but sometimes an 8mm-06, a .280 or a .30-06 - I try for weekly, but most times it's twice a month. I shoot 6" (25/50) & 8" (100m) paper plates and don't use the bench after initial zero confirmation. I then fire 40 rds each at 25/50 & 100m, 10 ea at prone, sitting, kneeling and standing at each range, and don't consider it a win unless I hit minimum 100% at 25 & 50 and 75-80% at 100. I repeat the exercise with the centerfire firing 2 shots per position at each range and look for the same results - sometimes I go home disappointed.

That's 120 rounds of LR and 24 rds of centerfire twice a month for 12-24 weeks. If that isn't an incentive to handload, I'm not sure what is

Shoot more, obsess over caliber less...

^^ Very wise man.

 

[Norma]

Hey Folks,

Interested in getting my first moose gun this spring, I don't come from a big hunting background so I haven't had a lot of experience on that side of things.

I know its a big matter of opinion but I'd like to hear what cartridge you guys are using for moose and thoughts on who's current making the best rifles out there now.

Tikka T3X in .30-06, Bushnell 3x9 x 40, 180 gr Nosler Partition. Go hunting, Good Luck

 

[chuck nelson]

Regarding the need for name brand camo. I’m heading out for a hike with a gun in the rain. I pulled on my OR Crocs and 15 year old North Face Hyvent shell that has yet to leak and thought gee, thank goodness for Sitka.

 

[Ardent]

There’s a whole other level of weather to be found, having hunted both our beautiful backyards. If it isn’t rubber it won’t work here, but the Kuiu / Sitka / various wonder gear is the best clothing shell I’ve found for the north coast rainforest and rocks.

People get confused when I say that Kuiu / Sitka rain gear makes great clothes and think it’s a slight, but it’s a compliment they’re fantastic as a quite water resistant layer under your rubber shell. You can get around camp in it comfortable and wear it in your tent, leave the frog suit that smells like hockey gear outside.

 

[conor_90]

Definitely appreciate the range of motion offered by clothing like arcteryx and some patagonia and MEC stuff while hunting and working outside, but I've never tried the kuiu stuff.

Oh yeah moose guns, I've still never shot a moose but you should get a gun for sure.