The moose rifle selection: 35 Whelen vs. 9.3x62 vs. 375 H&H vs 375 Ruger

From a 375 at 80 yds,:confused: that result really suprised me.
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While I don't think you need anything larger than a 30-06 for moose, I do agree those FS rifles really are purdy and if you're going to have a purdy full stocked rifle it may as well be a 366 Wagner. Enjoy you quest!
 
DogLeg, for a minute there you had me convinced you were in cahoots with my wife ;-).

I know you are right and it may make far more sense for me to save up for a used ATV for the hunt or save for a plains game hunt in SA in 2015.

But it is nice to fantasize in the dead of winter ;-)


Sorry, but your wife was the highest bidder. Just business, nothing personal.;)
 
Sounds like you need a 20mm anti material rifle. Those .50 BMG's just don't have enough jam.

Alberta Tactical is seriously considering going into production...
I want to be the first kid on my block to get a 20mm!
 
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't doubting you,
No worries .... I didn't take your comment like that. I too was quite surprised at the results but did learn that moose don't "bang flop" on a broadside lung shot. A couple or 4 yrs later I shot another moose broadside with a TSX. It too just stood there, but I knew better than to blaze away with the rifle. It just stood there for a bit and finally died.

If I was to do it all again, I wouldn't go with a 375Magnum but would prefer a lightweight 35Whelen or 9.3x62. There are lots of good bullets for each chambering and moose won't know the diff. from a 375.
 
No worries .... I didn't take your comment like that. I too was quite surprised at the results but did learn that moose don't "bang flop" on a broadside lung shot. A couple or 4 yrs later I shot another moose broadside with a TSX. It too just stood there, but I knew better than to blaze away with the rifle. It just stood there for a bit and finally died.

If I was to do it all again, I wouldn't go with a 375Magnum but would prefer a lightweight 35Whelen or 9.3x62. There are lots of good bullets for each chambering and moose won't know the diff. from a 375.

Kinda' reminds me of a similar reaction when I was with Dad on one of my first occasions Moose hunting. Dad had just put one of his favorite 215gr 303 bullets into a young bull at about 75 yds. 'Nothing' happened so I commented, hit him again!! Dad said "no, he's dead, he just doesn't know it yet". Shortly after, it started to stagger a bit, then fell over.
Live & Learn.
 
On moose all will be all but indistinguishable, .375 H&H is by far the most readily available and also the most capable of the bunch (.375 Ruger to my understanding will struggle with the 350 and 380gr loadings on account of OAL). If you're after versatility, there's only one "best", but if just after something different any will do.

The Ruger works fine with the 350gr Woodleigh. Bullet seated to the cannelure and gets at least the velocity of the H&H. Never tried 380gr bullets though. Boomer uses the 380gr in his RUM and I think if someone wants to use them they might want to skip past the H&H and Ruger and use a RUM or 378 Weatherby. Or just get a 416:)
 
My dad just bought a Rem 700 in 35 Whelen and I had a chance to shoot it at the range last weekend and was very impressed. Manageable recoil, tight groups, nice big holes in the target. For me this caliber would be a strong contender.
 
I'll pitch in for the Whelen. Have 700 BDL from about '91. It shoots really well with factory 200 gr Cor-Lokts. So much I sometimes question why I reload for it. The Remingtons seem to have a thing for any 225 gr bullet as well, if you want to hand load. I run 225 TSX's on a bunch of 4064 just off of max and it groups incredibly well. I also have some 250 gr Hornady over 4895 thumpers that make you sit up and take notice.

I took my last moose with the Whelen and TSX. Full frontal, 30 or so paces from a tree stand. He started breathing badly, then fell down. In through the neck, clipped the windpipe and stopped in the boiler room. Did not get to the stomach. Did not take a step

I have a VX3 on QR rings. I also keep the iron sights and they are sighted in for the TSX's. My moose trip is fly in two provinces over and I don't want a scope death to lame it up.

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Although I love my Whelen, it is not a flat shooting, long range rifle. This is cool to me, since the longest shot I made was approximately 200 yards. It was offhand, with this rifle and I had no business making that shot either. I tend to shoot animals at 100 yards or less. The Hornady 250's are indirect fire. 5' low at 500 yards.
Most Whelens have been barreled with too slow of a twist to stabilise big heavy long bullets well. This is apparently why you don't see any Barnes TSX in .358 heavier than 225 gr. Mind you, if you custom one up you'll have the choice of course.
FWIW, I'd love to have an accurate, reliable carbine length autoloader in Whelen, but I know that's not going to happen...

Hope this helps.
 
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