Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 30-30 for moose

well,in a lever gun,the 444 marlin is a good choice.And a once in a lifetime hunt doesnt mean you kill a record animal,it means you do it.....once in a lifetime.A 300 savage lever gun would be better than a 30-30.

I agree, but that wasn't the question.

OK,let me answer the question."What is the best rifle?" Best rifle for what? Best 30-30 for hunting moose? If I had to do it,Id pick up a winchester 94 ranger.But I WOULDNT DO IT.

Didnt mean to scream I wouldnt do it.I accidentally left the cap locks on and dont feel like editing it.

Take your pick. Either the Malin or the Winchester which ever one you like best. I'ld use 170 gr bullets. I've seen 2 shiras moose killed with 30-30's one was a Marlin with 150 gr bullets, the other a 94 carbine with 170's. Both of those bull moose died , just as quick as the one I saw shot with an 06.

A long bow kills in a different manner than a rifle. Stick a 1 1/2 in hole through somethings lungs and it's pretty much dead if an ER isn't really close by.

As for a 30-30, if I had to pick one I'd take the Savage 170 rifle or more likely a 14" Contender.

That was my first thought too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Mac

I don't think that it really matters which 30-30 you choose.

Can you kill moose with a 30-30? Sure, but the better question is why would you choose a 30-30 for a moose hunt? If it was all you already had I'd understand but if you haven't bought a rifle for this purpose yet (and obviously you haven't because you are asking for opinions on which one to get) then why not get something better suited for the task at hand?

Thank you! My thoughts exactly.

If you reload, whatever bullet you like and shoots good groups in your rifle. If you don't reload, whatever factory load shoots good groups in your rifle. FWIW, I have usually had better luck grouping 170 grain factory loads than I have 150 grain factory loads. If Federal still loads the 170 grain Partition, I think that I'd give that a try.

Jeff

Federal does still load the 170 Nosler Partition in .30-30, and it is a great bullet for any larger game (or deer for that matter) in the .30-30.

Moose aren't particularly hard to kill. All you need is enough penetration, and the 170 Partition will do it.

Of course, even with the 170 Partition it wpon't shoot endwise through a moose, or explode a moose at 600 yards, as some here would apparently prefer. But given a reasonably broadisde shot at normal moose ranges of under 200 yards, the .30-30 will do just fine.

MD

Yeah,but it cant do texas heart shots! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't think we want to get into the vial things that should happen to anyone who intentionally takes a virginia heart shot on unwounded game.

Whats a Virginia heart shot? I hope you realize I was kidding.

I live where moose walk across my backyard.so this isn't a once in a life time hunt. [color:"red"] [/color] <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

sure a 30-30 will kill a moose, but why use it if you can have something more powerful, step up to a 308 win or 30-06 which is far better moose killers heck even a 7mm-08 or 6.5x55 is far better than a 30-30

using a 30-30 will just limit your shots and shooting range, plus could add tracking time, or maybe a lost moose

which rifle in a 30-30?, the one you like the best that shots accurately

In your back yard! Thats a different story.I still dont like the 30-30!In that case,get a 300 mag. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Seriously,if you have a 30-06,use it.If you have a 270,use it.If all you have is a 30-30,then use it.Good luck.Post pics when you kill your moose.

Moose live in my back yard as well, and I sold my 30-30 so I could buy a RCBS loader for a 30-06. I ended up giving the '06 to my wife, and now have a 300 winmag. Yes the 30-30 will kill moose, but range must be close. The infamous "they" say you need about 1500 ft/lbs of energy at range to kill a moose, and if memory serves me right, that is somewhere around 100 yards but not 150 yards for sure. 200 yards shots with a 30-30????? Forget it!

When I first lived away from home, I was befriended by a family who lived a good ways out of town. They had 15 kids, and they could eat a lot of food, believe me!! That family was fed on moosemeat, and guess what? All the moose taken were shot with the 30-30 and 170 grain factory CIL ammo. I once asked the "hunter" of the family why he didn't shoot a larger chambering for moose. He replied " why? dead is dead" As I recollect, he kept his shots inside 125 yards, and didn't take chancy shots...always got his moose, most often one shot and done. It's not my choice for moose, but the 30-30 is well known for good penetration with the 170 grainer at it's modest velocities. Shot through the lungs, no moose is going far. Regards, Eagleye.