The 30-30 for moose

[antiqueguy]

Have to disagree in gentlemanly debate, seen many a moose go rigid and tip over, loosely collapse like the legs went to jello, or go stiff legged and stagger a handful of diagonal steps before tilting over from basic, modern chamberings to the regular old vitals shot. .308, 7x57, .300, .375 etc. It’s been too many to believe it’s luck.

They’re likely the easiest animal to kill in their weight class from my experience, and rarely death run mortally wounded with a good chambering and bullet, on a good vitals shot. Not like a mountain goat that fights and scrambles for footholds and elevation til it’s last second, or a bear’s death stroll.

Has been my experience the slow heavy rounds raise the prospect of longer recoveries, they were always dead at the end of the blood trail. They usually took a longer walk first. Again, talking really slow rounds, anything modern achieves plenty of performance to manage good terminal ballistics.

I’m sure the snider I have has taken a moose or 2 in its lifetime. If I ever got a tag it I would be using my .458 win mag most likely with a bullet in the 450gr range.

 

[Ardent]

Oh it’ll kill them, and every time when placed right, but it won’t be as impressive as a plain old .270 or -06 throwing a third of the weight, much more quickly.

 

[antiqueguy]

Oh it’ll kill them, and every time when placed right, but it won’t be as impressive as a plain old .270 or -06 throwing a third of the weight, much more quickly.

I don’t enter the moose draw unfortunately no place to go. But black bear should be a go for next spring.

 

[Ardent]

I’m all for using interesting guns and own an old Snider .577 myself.

 

[antiqueguy]

I’m all for using interesting guns and own an old Snider .577 myself.

Mine had to forend cut down someone in its past definitely has hunted before I plan on bringing it out after I get a load worked up and sights altered.

 

[bearkilr]

I don't think there is anything that has more or less "knock down" on a moose unless you make a direct CNS hit.

Exactly this, if you get a bang-flop, you better reload quickly. I've seen them stand and a little time later fall over after a well placed shot from a 308, and I've seen them walk off 3 shots from a 378 Wby before collapsing 50 yards later. One thing that's usually hard to find on a moose, no matter the caliber, is an exit wound.

 

[Mogulrider]

Our family have killed geez at least 30 moose with 30-30 growing up. It was always 170gr winchester ammo. NEver over 125yds.
It was always close range. One in the engine room, one in the high shoulder you could see as they turned. Our father demanded it for ethical kills.
It immobilzes them. 30-30 is not a one round moose gun.
But what is? I've taken this shot cycle with otehr calibers as well. The shoulder shot is important as they can run a friggin long on shrinking lungs.
Anyone taking moose with one shot is an ahole in our family.