Which rifle for my first moose hunt ?

Agreed that the .308 with a heavy bullet is enough cartridge. None of those exactly sound like something I'd want to carry any further than I had to, however. Your call.

If you're looking for a solid moose gun under the conditions you describe, don't overlook the .303 British. Surplus Lee-Enfields can still be had quite reasonably and almost always shoot 'minute-of-moose' with factory ammo. The venerable .303 has taken oodles of moose for over a century and ammo is easy to come by.
 
45ACPKING said:
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 ;)
Click to expand...

No one said his rifles won't kill moose. I did say I wouldn't want to go moose hunting with any of them, and that I thought he would be better off with a "hunting rifle" (that is one designed and built for hunting big game rather than some other purpose). What gets very close to "asinine" is for someone to say that people who think it's best to use good tools for the job are asinine. You admit that the M305 is "not the perfect hunting tool". That's what many have said. It's true. It's also true that it is good advice to suggest he get a proper hunting tool to go hunting.

Guys who think doing everything the hard way is the best way, can be kind of asinine at times when they try to rationalize it.
 
Stick with what you have if those are your options. I wouldn't be hiking too far from came with any of them, too heavy. So change your tactics head to a nice high point over looking Mr Moose's marsh and take the Lapoo-a and pack a lunch. Easy peeze
You can give ol Mr Moose a heart attack from a long way off with the lapoo-poo a
 
My point Angus and others getting bent out of shape over my comments is that the "comments" are asinine, not the "people"... Lighten up there fella LOL
Maybe I shoulda said "fuddish" instead of asinine ... My bad ;)

Reading the OP's post, he clearly asks guys NOT to do what you guys have done in this thread...
He says his option for "this years hunt" in the three rifles in his post. NEXT year he plans to spend on a "hunting rifle".
So yes, the experts have again turned another thread into one full of suggestions not asked for LOL

Angus, why not just post those awesome hunting pics you've shown in the past , with your M14 type rifles. I rather enjoyed those.

Point in all of my posts in this thread were geared to the OP's actual request, not towards what "I" would do. However, I have hunted with m305 rifles and have managed to do very well. Freezer's full every year and for me that's all that matters ;)

My collection
PGW timberwolf .338 LP
Winchester model 70 classic, custom (pre 64 action) .338win mag
Winchester model 70 stainless 30-O6
Ruger M77 MKII 7mm rem mag
Ruger M77 stainless custom, .338F
2 Ruger scout .308
4 lee enfields
3 M14 type rifles

Could hunt with any of the above..
Still like my enfields tho LOL
 
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45ACPKING said:
I see guys telling you to buy a "hunting rifle" LOL so typical of the internet experts.
Click to expand...

You better review the list above of "assinine internet experts" recommending a proper hunting rifle...

They are some of the most experienced memebers here, with (literally) thousands of big game animals harvested... "assinine????"
 
hoytcanon said:
You better review the list above of "assinine internet experts" recommending a proper hunting rifle...

They are some of the most experienced memebers here, with (literally) thousands of big game animals harvested... "assinine????"
Click to expand...

So next year when OP asks what hunting rifle he should buy... We can all help him with that.

This year, he's asking, of the three rifles he currently has, which one to use.
I answered the m305.
Not from a tacticool perspective but because he said it was a 2moa rifle and he was competent with it from 50 to 200 yards. That's it.

For me to go off and say , hey buddy, buy a real hunting rifle and so on, to me, due to OP's original post, is indeed asinine.
Especially from the "experienced" forum members.
I'm not here to be part of the "boys club" LOL don't much care about that gentlemen.

However, if you had no idea who I was and I showed up in yer hunt camp..... I'm sure I'd fit right in.... Always do ;)
 
45ACPKING said:
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.
Click to expand...
what ammo would you suggest for the M14 on a moose hunt ?

thx
 
45ACPKING said:
So next year when OP asks what hunting rifle he should buy... We can all help him with that.

This year, he's asking, of the three rifles he currently has, which one to use.
I answered the m305.
Not from a tacticool perspective but because he said it was a 2moa rifle and he was competent with it from 50 to 200 yards. That's it.

For me to go off and say , hey buddy, buy a real hunting rifle and so on, to me, due to OP's original post, is indeed asinine.
Especially from the "experienced" forum members.
I'm not here to be part of the "boys club" LOL don't much care about that gentlemen.

However, if you had no idea who I was and I showed up in yer hunt camp..... I'm sure I'd fit right in.... Always do ;)
Click to expand...

"None" is an answer too.
 
cdn1canhunt said:
Stick with what you have if those are your options. I wouldn't be hiking too far from came with any of them, too heavy. So change your tactics head to a nice high point over looking Mr Moose's marsh and take the Lapoo-a and pack a lunch. Easy peeze
You can give ol Mr Moose a heart attack from a long way off with the lapoo-poo a
Click to expand...

hahahaha

love the way you think
 
S1nnerman said:
what ammo would you suggest for the M14 on a moose hunt ?

thx
Click to expand...

Winchester supreme 168gr
Or nosler custom Accubond in the same.
I'd suggest the 180 partition if using an adjustable gas plug or sadlak grooved piston, which enables heavier(than 174gr) bullets to be used in the platform.
 
like many have stated, I wouldn't take any of those, but not just because of the weight, inevitably you will end up getting a scratch or worse on whatever you end up taking, I am guessing that you would rather mark up a cheap axis instead of your babies.
 
Hello S1nnerman! And welcome to the exciting world of moose hunting! You're in for a treat! :)


With all due respect, I think my fellow gun nutterz are missing the obvious answer to your question: TAKE ALL THREE!!:-D

Or better yet, TAKE ALL FOUR! (The fourth being the extra hunting rifle you're being pushed towards)

Seriously, half the joy of being a gun nut is getting to put them to "work" outside the range. When I go hunting, I take 2 .308s, a .303, an SKS, a rifle barreled shotgun, a .22, and a bow. (Not all are for Bullwinkle obviously). Depending on where I'll hunt that day, I take a different tool for the job.

My suggestion to you, would be to pick up a well used, light weight .308 (so extra ammo is compatable with what you already own) from your local gun store. Sight it in and take it as your fourth rifle. After day one in the bush, you'll quickly get a feel for which of your 4 rifles is best suited to the job, and you may very well discover that there are certain hunting stands that beg the use of different rifles. For instance, where I hunt, it's all tight bush, except for one little clearing on a hill that gives you 500 plus yards of range in a 45 angle. Neither I, nor my rifles are set up for those longer shots, but if someone with your toys and skills came to my camp, I think that's one of the first places I'd show you.

When the hunt is over, you will have SO MUCH more knowledge of what rifle works best in your unique hunting situation. If the used .308 was unnecessary, sell it on the EE for the same price you paid. Or, you may find that none of the rifles did the job, and it's time to add something new to your fleet.

Anyway, all I'm saying is: there's lots of time before moose season starts. Don't limit yourself now, and don't limit yourself then. Rifle cases stack easy in the truck. But most of all HAVE FUN!! You're about to be 10% more Canadian! ;-)



Cheers,

KJ
 
The M14 would be your best bet due to the scopes you have on your rifles. When hunting moose you often get a shot at them inside the bush and not in the open and seeing to shoot with those long target scopes in low light is really hard to do. The scope on the M14 is made for close quarters shooting and would work better.
 
Take whatever you feel comfortable carrying under the conditions you will be carrying it under and are confident you can place a properly constructed in the correct place with.

OR, you have a golden opportunity to add a new rifle to your collection that is tailored specifically to the new task you have at hand.
 
45ACPKING said:
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 ;)
Click to expand...

I've killed my fair share of game and I've also humped big guns along with my gear in all sorts of terrain and temperature for work enough to appreciate my light hunting rifle when I go hunting on my days off from playing soldier at work.

OP can do what he wants and so can you. Most of us with experience are giving our opinion, the same way you did. Personally I prefer a light bolt action rifle.

But I guess I'm just an asinine internet expert, disregard my experience in the field humping firearms around with the military and the countless hours in the field on my time off hunting.
 
Of the choices presented, the M-14 is the only real option. I'll add my voice to those of the internet heros who recommend purchasing a sporting rifle that is suitable for big game hunting. You appear to have some nice equipment and don't seem to be averse to spending money on your gear, so why not just buy a good hunting rifle to fill that role?
 
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