Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Cartridge for Alaska Moose Hunt

For me that would be the deciding factor.

Either will shoot plenty flat for moose as long as the OP figures out how flat it does shoot.

All good posts. I have killed more moose off-hand with my Ru77 in .338WM than any other rifle I own, tho the “Stub” - a 17 inch barreled RU77 .30-06 is pushing it hard. Of the 21? moose I have killed( not counting car hit ones with a .22 handgun) only two were over 100 yards, None over 160. A Ford 150, at about 52 feet per second worked also. That’s a close range proposition tho ....🙃

A heavier rifle is easier to shoot accurately.

I've also got a "Stub" .30-06 although mine is a whole 1/2" longer than yours. What kind of loads you use in yours?

Corlokt factory 180 for moose, 150 for lighter game mostly. These are throwaway brass (even as reloads if I do that)as the rifle has a misshaped chamber. Gets 1.5 moa anyway. Should probably rebarrel......

Sounds like a 220gr RN would work just fine for that work.

I've thought of rebarreling to. Had to cut it back because of a bbl bulge. I've got so many assorted .308 caliber bullets (150,165,180) though so I'll probably leave it as is. Going through the 150gr Core-Lokts now.

For moose and bear hunting it makes no difference in Alaska. Now, a sheep hunter would probably want a lightweight rifle because he cannot ride a horse or ATV on some mountains. Two of my hunting friends hunt with 16-pound .300RUM rifles, the same rifles they use for 1,000-yard competitions. But we ride ATV's and UTVs into the areas we hunt, just like a great number of Alaska hunters. The whole thing depends on having to carry a gun up some mountainous trails for many hours, or if you have to go on long hikes.

Anyway, we are beating a long dead horse. 458 Lott already provided the right answer.

That’s how I ended up with a 17 inch barrel also. But then I got it for $80. A new barrel would run the cost way up! 😁. First thing I killed with it was a Dall ram at about 330. Have killed caribou out to about 375. It doesn’t seem to be “ broke”!!! 😏

If a guy is on a "foot-hunt" for moose, the heavier, shorter-shooting rifle might be the better choice. The logic being that one should be less inclined to get as far away and in trouble with it. Carrying a rifle is the least of one's carrying problems if the venison has to be extracted on foot.

That's lobbing them in there. lol

Don't know if you've ever chronographed your "stub" but with the 180gr Federal Power Shok (blue box stuff) I get 2509fps at the muzzle. With 150gr CoreLokt handloads I get 2545fps. Could probably get to 2700 but hardly any advantage in it. According to Nosler 2509(180) and 2700(150) are pretty much max for a 24"bbl 300 Savage.

I've killed lots of moose with calibers from 243 to 425 Express,, most with the 358 Norma though. If I was building a pure moose rifle it would be a Mod 70 Fwt in 35 Whelen shooting 250gr Hornady RN. Most shot run from 75yds to 150yds,,this combo would be a hammer!

I'd say ...New rifle time ...go buy a '06

this

My NWT moose was DRT at the shot! Guide asked me "where did he go"!

338-06 225 gr nosler partition.

Mtn caribou same results.

Where they both CNS shots?

I've seen two moose and one caribou stand up without flinching to good lung hits with a 375Magnum. They all did die, but were not bang flops as most think should happen.

^^^^This^^^^ And to add to it, Nosler Partitions have always worked well for me.

I'd go with the WSM as you can get ammo for it if you have luggage issues. I haven't seen 338-06 on the shelf. If you can preship a supply to your guide, I'd like the heavier bullet of the '06.

The moose was caribou not.

Very expensive to ship ammo to AK... we do not have anything they call "ground" so it has to come by barge and the minimum weight to make it reasonable is measured in hundred pound units... It is pretty much a bring it in your baggage or buy it here proposition.