Moose hunting

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pharaoh2 said:
And tell this to our very own John Y Cannuck, as I'm pretty sure it was him who used his underqualified .30-30 1894 to kill a moose very dead with a photo to prove it. (John, photo, please!) :)
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While I can accept that you could kill anything with even a dull knife, you have to admit that if a new guy showed up at moose camp with a 30/30 he would get a serious work over.

To the OP - PM inbound.
 
pharaoh2 said:
And tell this to our very own John Y Cannuck, as I'm pretty sure it was him who used his underqualified .30-30 1894 to kill a moose very dead with a photo to prove it. (John, photo, please!) :)
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If you're talking about that minnow hanging in a tree, I've never even seen a Moose that small with horns out here. These threads are hillarious, yes by all means get the smallest gun you can find and have at it.
 
You can use a 30.30 to take moose...without issue...BUT, depending on accuracy, distance from target, and you own comfort level with it ALL play a big part.
Short range, up to 150 yards, thick brush, you will like the 30.30 winchester....if you are hunting mostly open fields, then think of the .308, 7MM, etc. When mounting a scope, consider see-through mounts, as it offers the use of open sights as well.
BTW, since John Y Cannuck has yet to post his....here is another ...Kinda small, isn't it?
IMG_1945web.jpg
 
fbimagery said:
You can use a 30.30 to take moose...without issue...BUT, depending on accuracy, distance from target, and you own comfort level with it ALL play a big part.
Short range, up to 150 yards, thick brush, you will like the 30.30 winchester....if you are hunting mostly open fields, then think of the .308, 7MM, etc. When mounting a scope, consider see-through mounts, as it offers the use of open sights as well.
BTW, since John Y Cannuck has yet to post his....here is another ...Kinda small, isn't it?
IMG_1945web.jpg
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Non-sense. Everyone knows you must have a magnum to shoot big moose.
 
Absolutely no offence intended it John Y Canuck, a Moose is a Moose. No doubt that one was great eating. Again, use what you want I have no problem with guys useing anything. I just think it's funny that everyone thinks little guns are the only way to go. Feel free to laugh at me useing a 338, 375 or bigger. I've got big guns and I like to use them.
 
Moose Gun

Given you are in Burlington area you will most likely be hunting moose in central to northern Ontario. In these areas moose country is filled with thick bush, heavy swamps and small open bogs. Allthough a bolt action would work in these areas it would be my last choice.

I would look for something in a Lever or Pump action like a Marlin 1895, Browning BLR, Marlin 336 or Remington 7600. Look at the Marlin in .35 special, 444 marlin, 45/70 govt. Both the BLR and 7600 can be had in .308 or 30-06.

My Ontario moose gun is a Browning BLR in .308 with a 1-4X scope. Something light, small and fast rules the Ontario moose woods!!! Good Luck
 
fiddler said:
I have a moose hanging in my workshop just about every year. There is no way I would use a 30-30 on a moose, or anything less than 180 grain. There are people who hypothesize about how easy they should be to hunt and kill, but for those of us who regularly hunt and kill, we use bigger guns with much more energy.

At minimum, I use 30.06 with 180 grain. Moose can be close, but you still need to have a round with at least 2200 foot pounds out to 100 yards. Its a big animal and needs a round with penetration.

You always hear about lucky shots, but you don't hear about how many moose run away with a wound because some cowboy has a small pea-shooter.
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THANK YOU! This has been driving me nutz on this site... all these armchair moose hunters and "old indian tricks".

A 30/30 is unethical and near useless against a BIG moose. You are often shooting from 20-300 yards. You are often shooting in rugged terrain and do not want to track a moose for a mile. You are often shooting through "trash" and a heavier bullet is required. A small bullet will not get good penetration in a moose and even a hopped up 300mag will not blow through a decent sized moose, let alone a monster.

I have had all kinds of guys flame me about my recommendations to shoot magnums when moose hunting, but one thing I can promise is that I have taken large moose, witnessed large moose go down, and when shooting front shoulders, they were all multiple magnum hits. All lethal, but not one shot put them down. It was always shot 2 or 3 or in once case 4 (all hits). We are talking 50inch+ bulls and we are talking shoulder breakers, and double lung, and just plain old devastating shots. But the BIG moose eat that s**t for breakfast. The only feasible way I could see a 1500 pound rutting bull go down in one shot is with a spine shot (high shoulder), or a solid head shot or a neck shot that hits bone. These are all low percentage shots, and the high shoulder shot in a moose is dangerous as you could easily hit him in the hump, and bye bye. A head shot could easily wound too and should be done at <50yards.
Big moose = big gun = big shoulder shots

PS all these 30-30 moose hunters never seem to tell about the ones that got away
 
i agree 100 %
you can right me off as a nubee to this sight
but when it comes to huning my family and i have put down over a 100 moose so we are not new t0 moose hunting
you can kill a moose with almost anything but if your not using a large cal with power. 30-06 and up you will eventually loose and wound more animals than you would with a big gun .
in our family its
2 with 7mm
2 with 300wm
1 with 30-06
 
waderow said:
THANK YOU! This has been driving me nutz on this site... all these armchair moose hunters and "old indian tricks".

A 30/30 is unethical and near useless against a BIG moose. You are often shooting from 20-300 yards. You are often shooting in rugged terrain and do not want to track a moose for a mile. You are often shooting through "trash" and a heavier bullet is required. A small bullet will not get good penetration in a moose and even a hopped up 300mag will not blow through a decent sized moose, let alone a monster.

I have had all kinds of guys flame me about my recommendations to shoot magnums when moose hunting, but one thing I can promise is that I have taken large moose, witnessed large moose go down, and when shooting front shoulders, they were all multiple magnum hits. All lethal, but not one shot put them down. It was always shot 2 or 3 or in once case 4 (all hits). We are talking 50inch+ bulls and we are talking shoulder breakers, and double lung, and just plain old devastating shots. But the BIG moose eat that s**t for breakfast. The only feasible way I could see a 1500 pound rutting bull go down in one shot is with a spine shot (high shoulder), or a solid head shot or a neck shot that hits bone. These are all low percentage shots, and the high shoulder shot in a moose is dangerous as you could easily hit him in the hump, and bye bye. A head shot could easily wound too and should be done at <50yards.
Big moose = big gun = big shoulder shots

PS all these 30-30 moose hunters never seem to tell about the ones that got away
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Well put but you're in trouble now.
 
waderow said:
THANK YOU! This has been driving me nutz on this site... all these armchair moose hunters and "old indian tricks".

A 30/30 is unethical and near useless against a BIG moose. You are often shooting from 20-300 yards. You are often shooting in rugged terrain and do not want to track a moose for a mile. You are often shooting through "trash" and a heavier bullet is required. A small bullet will not get good penetration in a moose and even a hopped up 300mag will not blow through a decent sized moose, let alone a monster.

I have had all kinds of guys flame me about my recommendations to shoot magnums when moose hunting, but one thing I can promise is that I have taken large moose, witnessed large moose go down, and when shooting front shoulders, they were all multiple magnum hits. All lethal, but not one shot put them down. It was always shot 2 or 3 or in once case 4 (all hits). We are talking 50inch+ bulls and we are talking shoulder breakers, and double lung, and just plain old devastating shots. But the BIG moose eat that s**t for breakfast. The only feasible way I could see a 1500 pound rutting bull go down in one shot is with a spine shot (high shoulder), or a solid head shot or a neck shot that hits bone. These are all low percentage shots, and the high shoulder shot in a moose is dangerous as you could easily hit him in the hump, and bye bye. A head shot could easily wound too and should be done at <50yards.
Big moose = big gun = big shoulder shots

PS all these 30-30 moose hunters never seem to tell about the ones that got away
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Whatever. Ive seen a big bull go down from one Federal 180gr 30.06 soft point. It took about 5 strides and collapsed.

Just because you havent seen it, doesnt mean it cant happen.

And I'd wager theirs just as many moose lost by guys who cant handles their magnum guns as their are guys who are shooting 3030s. Now, we dont use 3030s, but no one uses a magnum either. We never lose moose.
 
waderow said:
THANK YOU! This has been driving me nutz on this site... all these armchair moose hunters and "old indian tricks".

A 30/30 is unethical and near useless against a BIG moose. You are often shooting from 20-300 yards. You are often shooting in rugged terrain and do not want to track a moose for a mile. You are often shooting through "trash" and a heavier bullet is required. A small bullet will not get good penetration in a moose and even a hopped up 300mag will not blow through a decent sized moose, let alone a monster.

I have had all kinds of guys flame me about my recommendations to shoot magnums when moose hunting, but one thing I can promise is that I have taken large moose, witnessed large moose go down, and when shooting front shoulders, they were all multiple magnum hits. All lethal, but not one shot put them down. It was always shot 2 or 3 or in once case 4 (all hits). We are talking 50inch+ bulls and we are talking shoulder breakers, and double lung, and just plain old devastating shots. But the BIG moose eat that s**t for breakfast. The only feasible way I could see a 1500 pound rutting bull go down in one shot is with a spine shot (high shoulder), or a solid head shot or a neck shot that hits bone. These are all low percentage shots, and the high shoulder shot in a moose is dangerous as you could easily hit him in the hump, and bye bye. A head shot could easily wound too and should be done at <50yards.
Big moose = big gun = big shoulder shots

PS all these 30-30 moose hunters never seem to tell about the ones that got away
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My 30/30 I got from my grandpa has killed hundreds of deer, moose, and even the odd buffalo. It has no problem busting the offside shoulder of a moose at 150 yards.

As for shooting the moose in the spine or head, just shoot them through the lungs and they go down quick.

:jerkit:
 
K really, you guys really need to get out to the range soon. The snow is gone or have you looked out your windows lately?

You know back in the day moose were taken with black powder and a ball of lead, are there better options today, of course there are but do we really gotta get into a 6 page arguement over it?
 
blasted_saber said:
Whatever. Ive seen a big bull go down from one Federal 180gr 30.06 soft point. It took about 5 strides and collapsed.

Just because you havent seen it, doesnt mean it cant happen.

And I'd wager theirs just as many moose lost by guys who cant handles their magnum guns as their are guys who are shooting 3030s. Now, we dont use 3030s, but no one uses a magnum either. We never lose moose.
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fine...but I was mainly commenting on 30-30. My first two bulls were 30-06. I wouldnt want to be lobing 300 yarders, but okay, I digress. You tell me a 30-30 is okay, and we will disagree to the end
 
Logan_Lamothe said:
My 30/30 I got from my grandpa has killed hundreds of deer, moose, and even the odd buffalo. It has no problem busting the offside shoulder of a moose at 150 yards.

As for shooting the moose in the spine or head, just shoot them through the lungs and they go down quick.

:jerkit:
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did he tell you about the lost ones?
Do you use it for moose? probably not, because its a crock.
 
Icon said:
I would think that Savage, Remington, and the Howa/Weatherby Vanguard would be good choices for a bolt action in the $600-$700 range, leaving $300 or so for glass and rings.
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This would be my path, one of those rifles and a scope like a Leupold VX-1, Bushnell Elite 3200, or Burris Fullfield II in 3-9x40mm is about perfect. .270/7mm/.30-06/.300Mag or either the .270/.300 WSM's will be plenty fine for taking moose and should be sitting on dealers shelves, and all of them will shoot fine and be dead reliable it you take care of them.
 
Moose rifle

I've been fortunate in shooting quite a few moose and I tend to favor a big chunk of lead. If you're hunting in cover, all short shots, can't go wrong with a 45-70, 450 marlin, 444 or something similar. If open shots are possible, .338 Win. or RUM or .375 H&H. Lots of people swear by 30 cal or 7 mm. To be honest, I never tried either with the new hi-performance bullets, but I can almost guarantee you that if you hit a moose solidly with 250 grains and up, it ain't goin' nowhere. If you do opt for a smaller caliber, don't skimp on the ammo. Get the best ammo made in a partition, bonded core or solid copper.

Some people will tell you that the 30 and 7 mm's are good for longer shots, but realistically, in hunting conditions, what are the odds of making a shot over 300 yds. Ethically, I wouldn't try it except under very particular conditions - off a rest, you know the exact range, and so on. At up to 300, the 338 or 375 will do a well as a hot 30
 
Papaclaude said:
I've been fortunate in shooting quite a few moose and I tend to favor a big chunk of lead. If you're hunting in cover, all short shots, can't go wrong with a 45-70, 450 marlin, 444 or something similar. If open shots are possible, .338 Win. or RUM or .375 H&H. Lots of people swear by 30 cal or 7 mm. To be honest, I never tried either with the new hi-performance bullets, but I can almost guarantee you that if you hit a moose solidly with 250 grains and up, it ain't goin' nowhere. If you do opt for a smaller caliber, don't skimp on the ammo. Get the best ammo made in a partition, bonded core or solid copper.

Some people will tell you that the 30 and 7 mm's are good for longer shots, but realistically, in hunting conditions, what are the odds of making a shot over 300 yds. Ethically, I wouldn't try it except under very particular conditions - off a rest, you know the exact range, and so on. At up to 300, the 338 or 375 will do a well as a hot 30
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My bull in 08 was a 300 yard shot. I called him in at a logging cut block, and the wind picked up on me about the same time as he hit the fringe. The block was cut a few years prior so it had some taller poplars, and he was in and out of cover from about 800 yards up to the 300 yards as he came in on me. At 300 he caught wind, and turned to bolt. This was a slow thanksgiving hunt, and in alberta this year, the temp got to the 20's, so needless to say, things were slow. The previous weekend scouting, I called in 7. This weekend (the big hunting weekend) I called in this one only. I wasnt about to let him get away, so I took him at 300 quartering away. A .300win mag. Like always, found its mark, and put him down with one (he was a smaller bull) but I had to finish him when I arrived at him.
A big ol 44cal 300 grain hunk of lead would have sucked in this case, but my moose last year, it would have rocked. 75 yard shot through high grass.
 
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