Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Moose rifle

It is all about placement of shots not the size of the cannon. I think some of you guys have no meat left after you drop the poor animal! I use a .270 with 160 grain bullet. I have taken 2 in the past 3 years one at 275 yards and one at 125, both are dead and a small caliber weapon did the trick with very little meat loss.

Walt

www.northwestalaska.com
Kotzebue, Alaska
33 miles north of the Arctic Circle

My 7x57 Ruger has killed two. One with 140gr Noslers, the other with 150gr PSPCL. Wouldn't have any qualms about using it again.

Sure, thats what it means. Sell it now. Let me know what you're asking.

".308" was a largely arbitrary staring point. .307 would be good too.

Your 45-70 is VERY ADEQUATE for any critter on four legs in AK. Limit your range to 100 to 150 yards and its meat in the freezer every shot.

You just ain't gettin' it C. Jack. He's looking for another gun! And an excuse.

The 45-70 is great on moose to however far you can hit with it, which is probably greater than any range one will be shooting at them.. Ain't worth much on a 300 yard sheep or whatever.

He NEEDS another rifle!

Well, a couple of years ago an older fellow in Anchorage killed a moose in his backyard with a pellet gun. The pellet passed between ribs and hit the lungs. The moose bedded down and died later. Sooo, shot placement is very important of course, but call me chicken if you like. Moose roam the same grounds as bears.

35whelen kills has well or better than the 338wm, my vote goes to the 35

"guns don't kill...hunters kill!" *





*slightly changed quote to fit this topic

...with that said...

2,700 fps and down is usually a guarantee to allow the hunter to "eat up to da hole." I like the Whelen alot. The Ackley version better. The .338 is my favorite, though theres a lot to be said for the good ole aught-six (Alaskan traditional piece for sure) First at ripe old age of 12 was with an 80 grain soft oudd'a 243 mod.88 Winny. Just below and forward of the base of the ear...

Had faster kill with an arrow though...scary dead it was...

bhtr

I use a 45/70 guide gun

Rifles don't kill Moose, bullets kill moose.

Way up there (as they say) in Maine, where they hunt moose a whole lot, most people hunt with Rem 742's in .30-06 or .308. It also curious that the gun shops like Kittery Trading Post have so many .375 H&H's on the shelves. No charging Buff in Maine, more likely dedicated to moose swatting. I know a lot of people with moose stories where they shoot the moose and it goes into the thicket and dies. A day or two with the chainsaw and come along later, the moose is in the truck. Some people gear up with guns like the H&H so they don't go so far. Given both ends of the spectrum, it would be possible to find a myriad of cartridges in between. Your beloved 9.3's, a .338 Win, anything like that.

OK folks, so far the count is close to these numbers.

a. .338WM number and location of votes:
-5 votes = Alaska
-1 vote = Indiana
-1 vote = CA
-1 vote = Wash. State
------------------------
b. .35 Whelen or .338WM:
-1 vote Canada
------------------------
c. .338WM and .45-70:
-1 vote = Alaska
------------------------
.35 Whelen:
-1 vote Canada
------------------------
d. .45-70:
-1 vote NY
-1 vote Montana
-1 vote Indiana
-1 vote TN
-2 votes Alaska
------------------------
.300WM:
-1 vote (unknown location)
------------------------
.30-06:
-1 vote Montana (Big Sky?)
-1 vote (unknown location)
-1 vote Alaska
-------------------------
.7x57:
-2 votes (maybe?) Alaska
-------------------------
.375 H&H:
-1 vote Alaska

It seems that the most votes for the .338WM come from Alaska, but I could be wrong of course In reality, the most popular cartridges in Alaska are the .30-06, .300WM, and the .338WM, and when bears are mentioned, then the last one in the list is favored. While those three are much of all around cartridges, the .375 H&H is another favorite with bear hunters alone. The .7mm Magnum is also popular, and so the .308 to a lesser degree along the .270. The .45-70 (different versions) has a good following, too.

So now we're killing them by the democratic process? (Add a vote for the 270 Win - he voted [from AK]).

Okay, how about doing a bullet thing next?

I've used a broad gamut of stuff from Ballistic Tips to Failsafes. However, only three have been at-the-shot-tip-overs. They were Interlocked, X, and Gameking. (Two of them boattails ). One other bullet / rifle combo which came close was a Core-Lokt from a 30-30.

I told you my 7x57 has killed two moose, that's correct. But, my preferred caliber is the .350RemMag.

I have shot them with 338 win mag 308 winchester and two with my bow. I would say whatever blows your skirt up. Just dont use varmint bullets in the smaller calibers. Your 45-70 would be great.

Now that you have mentioned, it would be nice if we can create polls on such things with web buttons for us to mark. I really like the old 230-grain Fail Safe (Lubalox coated). But the 225-grain TSX is quite nice, too.

Don't forget the 225 grain A-Frame.

The 225-grain A-Frame, as well as the 250 grainer, are outstanding bullets.

I kill moose every year. To date I have shot them with:
300 hh
270 wm
338 wm
hoyt trykon
hoyt magna tek
300 wm
223 (ar 15)
44 mag
45 auto
12 ga with slug
truck
I have never had to track

Moose are dumb and easy to kill shot placement is key.