The Kodiak & the Bull Moose
- Thread starter Slamfire
- Start date
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
2nd shot, done on a moving target as the Bull galloped away, worked awesome. Good bullet. Struck the front of the shoulder and messed up the spinal chord. Piled up DRT. The operator isn't too shabby either. 
This has been awesome reading so far! Guess all the guys bowhunting moose are just out of luck!
Years ago I watched my uncle put two shots through the boiler room of a big mule buck at 100 yds- 20 min later I put a .270 through the spine, cut it's throat and there was no blood left. Take out both front shoulders or the spine if you want it down on the spot - the last moose I shot dropped within 10 feet from a 7mag through both lungs at 35 yds - but sometimes they just run no matter what you do.
Good on you for the quick second shot and congratulations on the moose!
Years ago I watched my uncle put two shots through the boiler room of a big mule buck at 100 yds- 20 min later I put a .270 through the spine, cut it's throat and there was no blood left. Take out both front shoulders or the spine if you want it down on the spot - the last moose I shot dropped within 10 feet from a 7mag through both lungs at 35 yds - but sometimes they just run no matter what you do.
Good on you for the quick second shot and congratulations on the moose!
"I expected the Moose, with all the accolades bestowed upon the venerable .375 as a heavy game stomper, to drop at the first shot. My initial reaction was surprise that the first shot had absolutely no effect at all, as if the Moose didn’t even feel it. But then it’s only a .375, below the caliber threshold for imparting debilitating shock...."
Careful, your experience is showing...
Careful, your experience is showing...
What's wrong with a fatally shot animal running a little after being shot? When did dropping right on the spot become the only desirable outcome? I hunt with a bow and gun and have only experienced a couple dead before they hit the ground moments. Amazing how some of us create problems for ourselves when everything goes properly,
Patrick
Patrick
I know a guys who's Daddy would say " kill it !! kill it is effen dead!!
Anyways, I'm happy to read about guys successfully tagging out.
Rob
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- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Exactly, no previous experience with the venerable .375.
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Thanks! The great thing about hunting - success depends upon having the proper gear and shooting skills both of which can always be improved as well as knowing as much about your quarry as possible. And a bit of luck goes a long ways.
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Congrats ! Nice Moose ! that 375 should be rebored and rechambered to 416 Rem Mag for sure ! 375 H&H is Totally Inadequate for animals the size of Moose ! 
RJ
RJbearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
A moose collapsing at the shot usually means you hit him in the antlers or hump, either of which will cause him to regain consciousness and bolt in short order thereafter, or you hit him in the spine or brain. None of those are really good places to aim at considering you have about half a plywood sheet size area to touch the vitals.
Nice bull regardless!
Nice bull regardless!
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
To the op if you were looking to the DRT effect on your moose with a 338win why did you attempt a shot at its vitals.?????
Bullets kill mainly by means of hydrostatic shock, but also by creating a wound channel. Hydrostatic shock is best utilized when it interrupts an animal central nervous system. Ie) shot to the head/brain or the spine which causes immediate interruption or complete malfunction to the system that allows the animal to move its body. This type of shot will always cause the RT affect but not necessarily the DRT effect you so desire. This shot is also considered inhumane or unethical due to the facts that the brain or spine are small spots to hit vs the vitals, the margin for error is large. The animal may well drop on the spot if hit but may also not expire quickly if hit marginally.
Because we as hunters want to be as ethical and humane in the dispatching of a critter we hold so dear. Our best option to to get the best of both effects that a bullet can cause when placed in the correct spot ie) the vitals. (PS: vitals offer a much bigger target than the brain or the spine)
On a big animal like a Moose, your 338 or for the matter your 40 cal you seem to feel the need for, may not inflict enough hyrdo shock to stop him in his tracks..... but beacause you did the ethical/ smart thing and delivered the shot to the vitals and caused damage to your moose's vital organs. He was only able to move a short distance before he expired, due to the fact that your .338 bullet created a wound channel through his vital organs.
Is short what I am saying is that your 338 bullet or any well constructed bullet from any firearm powerful enough bust through your moose's vitals is more than enough to ethically take any moose if you prescribe to be ethical in the taking.
IMO you will not solve your DRT moose problem with a 40cal unless you choose to be unethical and start aiming for the brain or the spine.
Bullets kill mainly by means of hydrostatic shock, but also by creating a wound channel. Hydrostatic shock is best utilized when it interrupts an animal central nervous system. Ie) shot to the head/brain or the spine which causes immediate interruption or complete malfunction to the system that allows the animal to move its body. This type of shot will always cause the RT affect but not necessarily the DRT effect you so desire. This shot is also considered inhumane or unethical due to the facts that the brain or spine are small spots to hit vs the vitals, the margin for error is large. The animal may well drop on the spot if hit but may also not expire quickly if hit marginally.
Because we as hunters want to be as ethical and humane in the dispatching of a critter we hold so dear. Our best option to to get the best of both effects that a bullet can cause when placed in the correct spot ie) the vitals. (PS: vitals offer a much bigger target than the brain or the spine)
On a big animal like a Moose, your 338 or for the matter your 40 cal you seem to feel the need for, may not inflict enough hyrdo shock to stop him in his tracks..... but beacause you did the ethical/ smart thing and delivered the shot to the vitals and caused damage to your moose's vital organs. He was only able to move a short distance before he expired, due to the fact that your .338 bullet created a wound channel through his vital organs.
Is short what I am saying is that your 338 bullet or any well constructed bullet from any firearm powerful enough bust through your moose's vitals is more than enough to ethically take any moose if you prescribe to be ethical in the taking.
IMO you will not solve your DRT moose problem with a 40cal unless you choose to be unethical and start aiming for the brain or the spine.
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Congrats ! Nice Moose ! that 375 should be rebored and rechambered to 416 Rem Mag for sure ! 375 H&H is Totally Inadequate for animals the size of Moose !
Thanks!
If Sako ever comes to their senses and offers the Kodiak in a .40+ caliber I will grab one.
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- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
To recap -
1. It's a .375 H&H Magnum.
2. The Bull stood facing my position, 1st shot was through the boiler room, no apparent effect. WTF??
3. It then headed toward the treeline under full gallop. BAD!
4. It dropped DRT under full gallop with a 2nd shot to the shoulder. GOOD!
5. Boiler room (i.e. heart/lungs) 1 shot DRT kills on Moose and Elk are more the norm when I use my high speed .40+ calibers.
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Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You presumably used the reduced 2,300fps load mentioned in the other thread, meaning your 300gr Accubond arrived at just over 2200fps at your bull. You essentially hit him, and very lethally, with an enlarged .30-30. The lack of reaction happens a lot with moose too, have even seen them start to feed again, then fall over. Much as I like .375s there is no difference in what would have happened with .30-06, .375, or .458. My last three moose seasons were harvested with 7x57, .375 H&H, and .308 Winchester in that order with no difference between them, all died promptly.
This said, Ted / Why Not? who has seen more moose die than just about anyone on here has posited several times the most dead right there moose kills he's seen from a round come from the .270 Winchester. Get the speed up on your .375, load it more appropriately for moose with a 235, 250, 260, or 270gr much faster and your game tipping on the spot will increase. You can't count on it, just plan to see more of it the faster your bullet meets the moose. You'll also see more meat damage, a natural side effect of more violently dumping energy into an animal. You most definitely do not need a .416 Mag to take moose reliably, you could easily hunt moose all one's life with a .25-06 and no issue.
This said, Ted / Why Not? who has seen more moose die than just about anyone on here has posited several times the most dead right there moose kills he's seen from a round come from the .270 Winchester. Get the speed up on your .375, load it more appropriately for moose with a 235, 250, 260, or 270gr much faster and your game tipping on the spot will increase. You can't count on it, just plan to see more of it the faster your bullet meets the moose. You'll also see more meat damage, a natural side effect of more violently dumping energy into an animal. You most definitely do not need a .416 Mag to take moose reliably, you could easily hunt moose all one's life with a .25-06 and no issue.
