Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Maine Moose Optic

Having never hunted moose the only information I can add is the following. My father drew a September Bull Moose tag for Unit 1 and he will be using a NULA 30-06 with a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40. Listed as the sub permittee I plan to carry either a 300 Win Mag or 375 H&H with a Nightforce SHV 3-10x42. The outfitter explained that the majority of the shot opportunities are 100yards or less for the area we will be hunting. He recommended being comfortable shooting out to 200 yards.

Is shooting Moose at 400 yards a thing?

I have a NULA 30-06 with a Zeiss Victory 1.5-6X42 on it that I have been very happy with. I have taken two Moose in Gasp'e and 6 winter Caribou in Northern Quebec in temp's. as low as 25 below zero and at distances up to 350 yds. Never had any problem or felt under scoped. It is also my go-to gun for deer hunting where I live in the Adirondack Mtn's of NY.

I'm up in NY and have hunted Caribou in Quebec and Moose in Newfoundland and I have yet to find a better optic for cold/wet conditions than the Bushnell Elite scopes with the Rainguard coatings. I have several of them and they have never failed or failed to hold zero. The hydrophobic coating really works to provide a nice view even in the nastiest weather. As a hunting tool in such conditions, IMO, there is nothing better. Any power from 1.5X to 3X on low end to 5x - 10x on the upper end will do. For Moose high power is not needed. I think a 2-7X would be about ideal.

I'd say he's pretty much just described a rig that will be not only fine for moose but for any hunt in North America.
SPS has 30 caliber 200 grain partitions on sale, for crazy cheap, by the way. I'd say that's about all that's missing from the specs.
I've killed antelope to 400 yards with an M8 4X but if a variable is a must I agree with those who've said no more than 9 or 10 on the top end is fine.
For some reason I rarely see challenged, for a given level of optical quality, a 3x9 is more expensive than a 2x7, and a 4x12 is more expensive than a 3x9. Keeping the "size" to the minimum really needed lets you bump up the optical quality for a lower overall price.

Cheers,
Rex

Almost a limitless bunch of choices out there, just depends on what one likes. I have shot a bunch of moose in the last 55 years here in Alaska. I started with and old Weaver all steel 4 power with a post reticle on a Springfield 30-06. When I got out of the service in 1973 I used a Redfield 3-9 Widefield for a couple of years on a .300 Win. Mag. Then I picked up a Ruger M77 in .338 and put a Leupold 1.5-5x20 with a Duplex reticle on it and used it for 12 years. I think my longest shot with it was a little over 350 yards. In the mid 80's I discovered the Leupold 2.5-8x36 with a Duplex reticle. In the early 90's I put a .338 together based on a Mod. 70 "Classic Stainless". About a year ago I put a Nightforce SHV 3-10x42 with the Forceplex reticle and illumination on that .338 and doubt at my age I will change it.

My eyes as I am almost 70 have changed and I like the 30mm Nightforce scope with illumination option. Reticles like the Boone & Crockett and similar are fast. Once you learn how to use them with your rifles load they are like a point and shoot system. That is a good feature for moose that can quickly disappear into the pucker brush.

One of my favorite reticles is Leupolds Post-Duplex and Firedot #4 found in the VXR series. They show up good in low light and offer plenty of precision for ou to 500 yard shots on big game. I still have a couple of Leupolds on my two 30-06 rifles, but I don't dial them, strictly zero and leave alone. Both scopes have the Boone & Crockett reticle. The Nightforce scopes are usually very reliable. Moose in my experience are usually shot well under 200 yards and often when light is fading. They are also a big critter and the broad side lung shot offers a big kill zone and a big heavy high powered scope is not needed.