Moose/Wolf rifle suggestions plz

Gargoyle said:
Well comparing the fps and energy from the 6.5 creedmore and the flatter trajectory plus the fact that I can use it where I live legally for yotes.. it only makes sense.. possibly not that model of savage but def that chambering.. Thanks for the advice.
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Unless you plan on shooting beyond 250-300 yards the trajectory won't make a hill of beans difference...and if you do, you definitely need to upgrade optics. I own a Creedmoor and absolutely love it but honestly, it would be one of the last rifles I'd pull out of the safe on a moose hunt. On a wolf hunt, absolutely. Factory ammunition offerings are pretty limited with the Creedmoor as well. For moose, you'd basically have one option....the 120-grain GMX. If you handload, then the world is your oyster.

Edit: If you are truly looking for something a bit off the norm with a bit more zip but still legal for coyotes, the 270WSM would give you many more factory ammo options.
 
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If 270 is your max at home, then a 6.5 or 270 make a lot of sense, I personally hate 270s and therefore would recommend a260, 6.5X55, or 264 Win mag. None of these are real easy to find ammo for so the 270 might be your best bet. 90 grnrs for coyotes and a good 150 gn load for moose and wolves. My personal recommendation would be a Rem 700 SPS in blue or stainless and a mid range scope in a 3-9 variable and you're set and you should be able to keep it under a grand.
 
The guide says standard shots in there area are 200-400 yards so trajectory is going to be an issue.. I have a few scopes sitting around here.. 2.5-10x50, 6-24x50 and the 3-9x42 xlt.. and i'll keep an eye out for any other options.. Guide also said that the 6.5 would be a good round for the area for moose and wolf.. gotta go with his advice on this one as he knows the terrain and conditions more than me.
 
I'd go with a 6.5x55 swede

Pick a quality bonded bullet and hope that it wont rip the crap out of the wolf hide, and will do the trick on moose with no issues. A lightweigh, fast, soft point will hit a wolf like a grenade.

And just a note: You can target shoot all you want with any calibre you want in southern ON. It just hunting that is restricted to max 270
 
sheephunter said:
Has anyone actually ever forgotten their ammo?
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Someone had posted on the subject earlier this fall. Specialized calibre, four or five hour drive to moose camp, no bullets. One little box is easy to forget. I make a point of keeping it on the front seat so I know for certain I have it when I leave.
 
kennymo said:
Someone had posted on the subject earlier this fall. Specialized calibre, four or five hour drive to moose camp, no bullets. One little box is easy to forget. I make a point of keeping it on the front seat so I know for certain I have it when I leave.
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Guess it's possible...not something I've ever worried about when buying a rifle though.
 
never seen the swede on the shelves around here but boxes of the creedmore at the local shop in various hornady loads.. I'll talk to the gun shop here as well and see whats more available...
 
Gargoyle said:
never seen the swede on the shelves around here but boxes of the creedmore at the local shop in various hornady loads.. I'll talk to the gun shop here as well and see whats more available...
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There are probably 10,000 6.5x55 rifles out there for every Creedmoor, 6.5x55's a safe bet and offered in better hunting load options if you don't hand load. Also a true classic, and outperforms the Creedmoor in modern actions.
 
Have you hunted other big game animals? Have you shot much? I think it is tough to beat a .270 Win + 150gr Partitions as a basic, low recoil big game rifle. Then of course the .30-06 is an excellent choice too.
 
Over a decade of whitetail hunting. Same for yotes but nothing bigger than that... Four Whitetails so far this year but all with a mossy 835 with cantilever rifled barrel and hornady sst slugs.. shots ranged from 50-200yards this year. Three out of 4 dropped where they stood, other didn't make it 30 yards. I'm out hunting something almost every day from Nov 1st till the end of small game season. Taken lots of yotes with a .223 but sold it last year.
 
In that case you should be comfortable with either the .30-06 or the .270 Win. Either one would do well.
 
Gargoyle said:
yup but a .308 I would only use for three shots a year.. one to ensure it's on zero, one for the moose and one for the wolf.. Like I said, being in southern ontario I can't use anything above 270 down here and would love to set up the rifle for coyotes as well and possibly ground hogs. If my guide chuckles at me I'll butt stroke him with it since he is family...lol
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I was in same boat in Ontario, went the .260 route myself and do not regret the choice.
 
Gargoyle said:
The guide says standard shots in there area are 200-400 yards so trajectory is going to be an issue.. I have a few scopes sitting around here.. 2.5-10x50, 6-24x50 and the 3-9x42 xlt.. and i'll keep an eye out for any other options.. Guide also said that the 6.5 would be a good round for the area for moose and wolf.. gotta go with his advice on this one as he knows the terrain and conditions more than me.
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I'm just sharing my thoughts here, I'm sure you know what you are doing, and it sounds like an exciting hunt. Wolf is at the top of my want list! I'd smoke a pack a day if I could! ;)

I just used my new REM 700 SPS 16.5" .308, with a Vortex Viper 2.5-10x44 for it's first deer season. After about 60x rounds at the range, I was feeling very confident out to 200 yards.
I didn't get a chance to shoot it past 200 yards at the range, so that was my max for hunting this year. I have hockey pucks pails filled with close to 4000x .308 cases, I love this cartridge and I think I know it pretty well.

I fired 2x shots and dropped my first 2x deer this season. One at 145 yards, the other maybe a little further. My confidence was high going in, and I'm not afraid to say it's even higher now, but not past 200 yards...yet.

For me, 400 yards sounds like a real challenge, and if you are doing your own distance calculations, dealing with wind...oooh baby it could get interesting! :)

Whatever you choose, especially a new to you cartridge, get out and enjoy your new rifle as much as possible between now and your hunt.

Good hunting, and I hope you get both animals!
 
Wired leader said:
30-06....enough said
Suppose you forget your ammo....try walking into the small local store and asking for 7mm-08. Not many places that won't have 30-06 and is a proven cartridge....
270 is an excellent cartridge and can reach way out,....but in my opinion a little light for moose.
For wolf, just use a lighter bullet.

It worked for me this fall :) Model 70 btw.
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Superbrad said:
And when is he going to get a chance to sight in when he switches between the two?
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There are two ways around this problem of using different bullets in the same gun on the same hunt. Windage isn't going to change so its just elevation.......mark the scope turrent or put a sticky on the inside of the scope cap for the MOA difference between the two.

Say that is too complicated, then you have to compromise between the two and take an average. I did this for my Mother who likes to bow hunt but does not like gun hunting but takes one for protection. To her, all ammo is the same and she does not discriminate when loading the gun, literally loading whatever she has in that caliber. 150's, 180's 200's and 220's all get loaded and used. So when I sighted in her gun, I set a 250 yard zero and used a paper plate as the target. I mix up all the ammo and start shooting to see where the average is, then get the pattern in the middle of the plate :) This was set several years ago and was good enough for a 1st place sheep at 500 yards and a charging Grizzly Bear.
 
OP - I know you really want a 6.5 Creedmore :)

However, there have been lots of Moose and Wolves taken with calibers such as 30.30, .308 & 30.06. I have shot most every form of animal legal to be taken with a 30.30 Model 94 Winchester. When I was a teenager, I hated scopes and shot really poorly with them, but I was great with open sights........

.308 & .30.06 are very common calibers and I have found used rifles here where I live for as little as 300 bucks for a Belgian Browning, 500 bucks for a Browning BAR in .308, both local purchases in the area where I live. Top that with a good refurbished Leupold scope that I got for nothing cause it was broken, Leupold fixed for free so its just shipping cost and I have a great Moose / Wolf gun for less than 400 bucks for a 30.06. Factory ammo can be had a Canadian Tire which makes it an effective low cost hunting rig. or.....

With all the cash saved you can now buy a Russian SKS for Mr. Wolf and have 4 other shots left for all his buddies that may show up too. So about 600 bucks for both and enough beer money left to have all your hunting buddies over later to share hunting stories :evil:
 
I think for us guys in southern Ontario there is only three real main stream chamberings for a do bit all rifle. .270, .260, and 6.5x55. Keep in mind guys IIT west we have stupid rules here.
 
Yeah, I forgot about that rule. In that case the .270 Win hands down. As I mentioned, it is great with 150gr Partitions.
 
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