Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .30/06 for moose

It has worked for me for about a dozen moose, 150 or 180 gr bullets. 180 by preference, but ya gotta use what's in the gun in hand when the op affords itself.

I've also taken moose with 243, 270, .338WM, 12 ga. slug, 308Norma Mag.

They all fell down.

When I hear a 30-06 owner talk about "getting a bigger gun" (out here its elk) I tell them to try something first. Try any good 200gr bullet on a couple critters "first". To me, that means the aforementioned elk ( or go shoot a bunch of big hogs lengthwise, ha) then, if that 200gr doesn't scratch their itch ( everyone itches in different places, right?) go to a 300WM or up. I've only been around our Shiras moose, which look like monsters to me, ha. I can only imagine how even an "average Alaskan" looks, but...a 30-06 is a very powerful round, in its range/and with the right bullet. Of course, a 180 Mono and a few others will work great too. I liked the 200NP, Sierra 200 SBT and the Speer 200HC for cnc, and the Barnes 165-180. I'm sure the 220rn is also a great one. Heck, I have some of those 240gr Woodleighs that shoot like Match bullets, and easily can get 2400fps in several 30-06s. "The Truth is Out There", ha. Now, if a man lives where you get to hunt them often and bears are around, and "they can shoot them accurately", love the Big Guns! I like them too! But one is not handicapped with a 30-06 they can shoot "better". I have to add that "if I" lived up there, a 300WM/180 MONO would be my "minimum". On average, my fave would be a 375 Wby or Ackley with a 270 Mono. But I put Big Bear in the same class as Cape Buffalo....they give me.....pause. ha

Another vote for you being fine with '06.

Never plugged one myself. Growing up in MN where there was a limited moose lottery up by the range, I only personally know 2 people who ever took a moose... they both used a 30/30, and one shot with a 170gr did the job in both cases.

My sister and nephew live in Alaska. They hunt there and know many others that do, and know several guides. 100% of them say a 30-06 is fine for all game including moose and big bears, just use a good bullet.

I talked to the sporting good manager last time I was in Anchorage and he told me the biggest sales on ammo they had every year was 30-06 with 220 grain bullet. They sell it by the pallet load every season to the locals and state residents. The magnum shooters are nearly all from out of state and are motivated by what they read and not from a lot of experience.

szihn, Most Hunters every where are motivated by what they read or heard, not from a lot of experience. Rio7

I don't see how you could get better than that.

I'd be quite happy with a 308 or 30-06 for moose. I used a 7x57 with 160gr NPs last year and had no troubles killing one.

I've used a 375 magnum, 35W, 308 and 7x57 in the past. Next up if I get a tag will be a M721 in 300H&H.

There are a few of us larger bore shooters up here. I use them, because I like them not that I feel they are required.

If I could only use one of my 30-06’s or 308 Winchesters, I certainly would not miss a hunt. I personally, would use a monolithic or solid shank bullet of 150 - 180 grain range and not worry.

Lots of moose are killed every year with 270’s and 30-06’s.

Lol, agree there is a difference looking at a bear at 100 yds than at 25 yds and under. Especially when it is also looking at you.
Sometimes that larger hole in barrel can be psychologically comforting.

180 RN and 30-06….. about as good as it gets. Granted I have killed ZERO moose…..but I’ve killed enough other big game to know that I would gladly use that combo.

I had a long dead friend who always used the Remington 220 corLokt for East Texas deer/hogs. I also "kew of" two guys who hunt ed river bottoms of a part of Arkansas that has some pretty big bucks, they also used the 220 round now. I could hunt all my like with that old Remington 180 round nose load/06, it was a jim dandy!

Seems 200 gr partitions would do the job just fine