Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Need some input and advice guys on taking my son moose hunting

Hey guys I'm taking my soon to be 13 year old on his first big game hunt this year for moose.

We will be floating a wild river and my options to equip firearm wise are all lever actions.


Here's the choices ranked by my preference.

1. 45/70 guide gun, with ole timey loads, the boy is as thin as a whipporwill and I think the hot loads from BB and others would have him hating life.

The pros of this choice, it's slung, set up for a scout scope if needed or desired, has ghost ring sights and the big bullets on reasonable range should be plenty for a moose IMO.

The cons it's heavier than the other two options


2. Win trapper in .30-.30, no sling (easily remedied) but he will have a gunbearer on his pack, don't like the open sights as well as the ghost ring set up, but not bad sights

3. Win trapper in .44 magnum, (his first rifle) so sentiment there, no sling, don't want to sling it either, it's a beautiful little rifle pre 92 (no safety) so a bit concerned about the abuse it will see on a hunt. Know moose can be taken with a .44 especially outa rifle barrel, but thinking the .30-.30 and/or 45/70 gives my young hunter a better margin.

Still shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.

I'll be backing him up via .338 so not that worried about caliber choice, but I'd be lying if I said I'd prefer to put some of my lead in his moose.

He's in that transistion from boy to man, I would really like him to pull this off on his own, as bringing home meat is a big part of his culture.

Probably putting more thought into this than needs be, but I haven't been this stoked to go hunting in I don't know when.

He's a great kid and I want it to be the best possible experience for him.

Thanks for sharing whatever advice or experience you deem appropriate. 1ak

1AK,
Is he able to shoulder each of these rifle [stock length?].....I'd go for whichever one he can shoot comfortably......you will be at hand with a rifle anyway......
Did he apply for the Youth Hunt in the Bison Range?

thanks Vern, nope he/we didn't apply, my mistake

Yep all of them are short enough for him to shoulder, and fit IMO is one of the most important features of a rifle. He dry fired each one about 20 times yesterday (his assignment) and came up with the .45/70 and his .44 mag.

I'm gonna watch him dry fire the .30-.30 trapper and the .45/70 to see if I can discern any difference for him.

It will be his call as it's his rifle but I'd prefer him to leave the little 44 trapper as a safe queen, just too dang pretty.

My 45/70 already shows the evidence of road hard put away wet.

Next test is to take the two and see how he does with live ammo, i.e. comfort, fit, recoil etc.

We're either headed down to the cabin later today or will take him to the range, hopefully with the rain and the fair the range won't be crowded.

Only gonna have him shoot at 50 and 100 yards, in field positions.

Dang why'd you bring up that Bison hunt? Now I'm gonna be kicking myself!

My work life got hectic again, but if you're coming to town I'm good for lunch or coffee, if schedule permits.

1AK,
I have a hunch he will shoot the ghost ring sight better....

I don't see a bad choice in the bunch. Key to it to me is 2 things. Pick the one he can shoot the best.
Second pick good ammo.
45-70 I'd use the Winchester supreme 300 gr Nosler
30-30 I'd use the 170 grain Federal premium Nosler
44 Mag I'd use the Federal Cast Core 300 grain.
Can't imagine he's going to have to shoot more than 100 yards and if he does hand him your rifle. But since he won't any one of them should do him good long as he can shoot them. Just like anyother game animal. Shoot and keep shooting till he's down. You already know the 1st shot is the key shot, just talk him through it and I'm sure he'll do just fine. He'll make the OLD MAN proud. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey guys thank you, came home today, he'd done some more dry firing and decided he wants to hunt the .45/70

something about those sights, the boy has a good head on him and a good heart (takes after his mom he does)

Next stop Down under to see if they have the load you speak of CJ, if not see what they have and on to SW if need be. I think the only mild loads I have for it are 405 gr. Remmies IIRC.

gotta get ghost rings for the rest of our levers we intend to keep, what do you guys like besides the $90 WWG kind?

I like the XS sight system. I was kinda hoping the lad would have picked the 30/30.

Gonna take both to the range for him Steelhead, and I still have time to put some different sights on it for him if necessary.

IMO&E rifles are like women, some really catch your eye, but you don't really know what you got till you trip their trigger. Some you click with, some you don't.

Where you get those XS sights at bud?

I like the XS sights too. Have them on my 45-70. That front post is FAST. Bout like shooting a scope. Centers quick. If you can't find one give me a hollar and I'm sure there's one here in town. I'll pick it up for ya. Gotta get that boy ready.

Seems I have bought them from Midway, Natchez, and Brownells at different times. Us to be Ashley sights.

You can try here. http://www.midwayusa.com/esearch.exe/search
Anyhow they have them.
Under "XS Sight Systems"

The 44mag in a rifle is devestating, especially with today's great factory loads- 250gr Nosler/partition gold, penetrates like no tomorrow 270gr Speer Gold-Dot and the 300gr Gold -dot or Hornady would also kill very well.

Then again the 45-70 is no slouch either, all choices would do fine, guess its up to the boy to decide, especially after he fires em all.

Take the one that you know he will not flinch or jerk the shot. Inside 100 yards, a good placement from either will do the job.

Here are some heavy penetrators.
Belt Mountain Enterprises Inc.
P.O. Box 3202, Bozeman, MT 59772
Phone 406-388-1396
www.beltmountain.com


Good articles
Make Mine a .44
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ammunition/make_111405/

Paco Kelly
www.gunblast.com/BeltMtn_PunchBullet.htm

Try to find him a 35 remington!!!!!

My 10 year old will also be going on his first moose hunt this year. I gave him the choice of any rifle we had on hand and he chose the Savage 99 in .300 Savage. The 180's give him a nice shove, but don't slam him so he's all right with shooting them. It's topped with a Nikon 1.5x4.5 Monarch and shots will probably be less than 50 yards where we will be. We've been shooting almost every weekend for awhile so I think he'll do alright. Good Luck to you and let us know how it goes!

Cabela's has the XS system, but they're $89.99..