Which rifle for my first moose hunt ?

S

S1nnerman

Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
103   0   0
Location
Quebec
Hey ladies and gents.......

I need some advice from experienced moose hunters. I just joined a group of hunters for my first moose hunt ever and I'm not sure which rifle to use for my hunt. I have experience with small games but never hunted big game. Also, you should know that I'm an excellent precision shooter but I know that hunting is a totally different game and I intend to practice all the different hunting shooting positions all summer long with which ever firearm I will use for the hunt.

From what I hear from my fellow hunters, the area we are going to (zone 19 in Rimouski) has like a 99% rate of killing and the kills are made between 50 and 200 yards. These guys are very experienced hunters and they will teach me the abc's of moose hunting but I also want some advice from this forum.

As I said before, I mostly do target shooting up to 700 yards so I'm not well equipped hunting wise and my rifle are quite heavy. Here are the rifles and optics I own that could (more or less) be use for moose hunting....

Norinco M14
Caliber : .308 (5.56)
Optic : Aimpoint CompM3 with a 2 moa dot.
Barrel length : 18.5 inch + muzzle break
Accuracy : 2 moa
Weight : 11.5 lbs
Note: I shoot this rifle very well within 200 yards.

Savage 116 brush hunter
Caliber : .338 WM
Optic : None for now but use to have a US OPTICS on it
Barrel length : 18.5 inch + muzzle break
Accuracy : 0.75 moa
Weight : 12.0 lbs
Note: This rifle has been modified for long range shooting so it has a heavier stock.

HS Precision Pro Series HTR 2000
Caliber : .338 Lapua
Optic : US OPTICS ER25 (5-25X58)
Barrel length : 26 inch + removable muzzle break
Accuracy : 0.25 moa
Weight : 16.0 lbs
Note: This rifle is simply amazing. It is crazy accurate but also very heavy

The only other optics I own are a Bushnell 3-9x40 and a Fastfire 3. I might be willing to buy a new optic if its really really that important.

You should also know that I reload all of these calibers so I have a broad range of options in that area.

I know they are far from the perfect hunting rifle but that's all I have for this year, next year I will get a real hunting rifle.

So what do you suggest ? and please don't mention any other rifle or caliber cause It not an option.

Thanks in advance for all your suggestion. As always it will be greatly appreciated.

ps: I added a few pics of the rifles in question if it helps at all

Cheers
Mario



 
Eastern Moose are not tough to kill and they will let you get fairly close (like well under 100 yards).

Your 308 is all you need (if you don't mind lugging that weight around). Loaded with a stout 180 grain load (bonded, partitioned or mono bullet) and Mr. Moose doesn't stand a chance.

Anything bigger than the 308 is not needed but if you trust one over the other, go with what you trust.

I have hunted Eastern Moose for about 40 years now. Many are taken with 308/30.06/303 and even 270's at ranges often 100 yards or less.

My "moose rifle" now is a 7.08, which is "enough".
 
I'd go buy a $500 hunting rifle and be appropriately armed for the task. You could even get by on $300, you don't need anything fancy inside 200 yards and you won't look quite so curious to the experienced hunters guiding you. Standard, boring hunting rifles don't take that form because the owners are missing something, it's the best balance of features for the task generally. Aim for something 8lbs or under in .30-06 and you can't go wrong. Totally understand you enjoy LR range shooting and there's nothing silly about your rifles, but there's likewise a reason you won't see any hunting addicts similarly armed. If this is a one off, the M14- good hunting to you.
 
Any of those will feel like 100 lbs by the end of the day.
I would do what Ardent suggests - perhaps borrow a .308 from someone to carry around. Look for something light.
 
There's plenty of time between now and hunting season for you to not buy a fancy 300$ cheek rest or what have you, and go spend that dough on a cheap Savage Axis. Light and accurate. You'll thank me later.
 
If I owned the rifles you showed, I would think I needed a good hunting rifle. Take the advice given and get an appropriate gun for the hunt.
 
Buy a Tikka or M70 Win. In maybe .308Win., 30-06,any WSM,300 or 338WM or which ever one you prefer but something light and comfortable to use. You defenetly have nice guns here but you are not going to Iraq but in some bush paradise.
 
OP, forget all the hawgwash posted here. Take your M14.
I've humped such a rifle all over BC hunting mule deer and moose. Friends and I have put several moose and even more deer in the freezer using modified M305 rifles and quality ammo.
 
If you still have the factory stock for the Savage, I'd put that back on and stick a 3-9 or similar size scope on it and go hunting.

If the brake is removable I'd take that off too. And since shots are under 200 yards I might even be tempted to load the 338WM to 338-06 levels. And I'd leave the bipod at home, too.
 
Gatehouse said:
If you still have the factory stock for the Savage, I'd put that back on and stick a 3-9 or similar size scope on it and go hunting.

If the brake is removable I'd take that off too. And since shots are under 200 yards I might even be tempted to load the 338WM to 338-06 levels. And I'd leave the bipod at home, too.
Click to expand...

I was about to type the same thing, so this. You had a great moose rifle before you tacticalized it.
 
I think Ardent whacked the nail on the head pretty darn good.
Nothing in your list would be what I would take.
Those short distances I'd be looking for a light weight 30 calibre
or stumble upon a 358win just to be bear friendly.
 
Buy a hunting rifle in .308 or .30/06... they are so commong place (vanilla) that the prices are low for what you get. A used M70, M77 (even an M700 if you just gotta), blued in good solid walnut, are inexpensive, even on the EE... and you will look like a spiffy, experienced hunter in camp with the other fellas... top it with a good 2-7 or 3-9 (Leupold perhaps) and you have a classy and functional hunting rig.
 
A good multi-purpose 'moose rifle' would be a Tikka T3 S/S with a Picatinny/Weaver rail on it, Burris Signature Zee rings, in any caliber between 260 Rem and 30-06. You can also use this rifle for silhouettes, long range work, impressing your friends at the range, and wondering why your other rifles are not as accurate. Good all round caliber would be 7mm-08 but if only used for moose then 30-06.
 
Wouldn't use any of those as is because of the excess weight either. Put the factory stock or a fibre glass stock on the M305(it's NOT an M-14) and sight in with 165 grain hunting bullets.
 
You'd be better served buying a proper hunting rifle in. 308 or. 30-06 with a decent 3-9X40mm scope. Savage and Ruger offer decent entry level package rifles, or you can look at a Remington 700SPS that won't break the bank. Of your three rigs, you've got way too much glass on the latter two for practical hunting.

I've harvested several dozen moose and I generally leave my Leupold set at 4X to allow me the flexibility to take that quick snap shot if/when the opportunity presents itself. You could get away using the M305 in a pinch, if you dropped it back in a standard USGI fiberglass stock. The Aimpoint can work, but I'd much rather swap it for a quality LER scope in the 1-5 or 1-6X range or stick with USGI irons, either genuine M14 or M1 Garand. Otherwise, it's another $250 for a Smith Enterprises or ARMS scope mount if you want to go with a traditional set up. Either way, you're going to end up with a heavy SOB for pushing the bush with. However, if you're hunting area lends itself more to climbing the highest hill and glassing all day while your buddy calls and you wait in place for an animal to appear, weight becomes less of an issue.

Whatever rig you end up with, forget shooting from the bench or bipod. Practice shooting from real world field positions, know how to sling up for that off hand shot, shoot from improvised rests/braces, off your ruck and shooting sticks. Moose generally aren't hard to kill as long as you can put a bullet where it counts. Think heart and lungs, nothing fancy, but be cognizant of where the animal may end up. I've passed on monster trophy bulls simply because there was no way for me to recover all the meat before it spoiled. Broke my heart, but as the old saw goes, the real work to moose hunting starts after you pull the trigger. Best of luck!
 
Surprisingly enough, part of sunrays post is great advice.
Find a 100.00 stock for that M305 and have at er. From your initial posst describing the rifle and your abilities with it.... It's the rifle you should take.

I see guys telling you to buy a "hunting rifle" LOL so typical of the internet experts.

Your M305, while I'll admit, not the perfect hunting tool, will kill what you shoot if you do your part.
I am 160lbs soaking wet, suffered a life long pelvic/lower back injury being crushed by a 400 lbs oxygen tank back in 1998. I am in some level of pain, every day of my life.... Yet I seem to have zero issues carrying an 18.5 inch medium contour barrelled M305 hunting. I've successfully hunted, on foot, BC blacktail, mule deer, black bear and moose with these rifles in various configs.
Anyone here telling you it is not a viable choice or telling you how other's in camp might view you showing up with it.... Well, I think that's just asinine LOL

The last 3 moose I've killed 2012 M305 nosler partition, 2013 shorty lee enfield , 2014 lee enfield
Last 7 deer I've killed 3 with m305 and 4 with lee enfield.
People look at me funny in hunt camp too ;) but they don't say much when they see the meat hangin ;)
 
I'm one of those asinine Internet experts apparently. :) Challenge the guys you disagree with and feel are asinine to compare the animals harvested with boring old hunting rifles to the wilder more tacticool stuff. Start with moose, you've even got a big leg up and head start over the more eastern Canadians due to BC moose. I'm a strong guy, and will also freely admit no matter how strong you are your hunt is more enjoyable, and you'll cover more miles with a lighter rifle. More miles means more opportunities, if he really wants to get into hunting, a hunting rifle would serve him well, and they don't have to be exciting or expensive. Just his replacement stocks, and a single one, will buy a perfect hunting rifle. This isn't silly advice many of us have put in "asinine" amounts of miles with a rifle and a pack. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom