Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Moose cartridge/rifle

I've shot moose with the .30-30, .30-06 and the .450 Marlin. They all worked but the 450 worked the quickest.

Alaskan Moose. He was only 51" but he has impressive fronts and a cool kicker out the back of the left paddle. I was with my dad when he shot it in 1993 near Healy, Ak.

One of my regular deer hunting partners was invited on a Newfoundland moose hunt this last season and scored a nice 800 pound bull. He used a Remington 7600 .35 Whelen with 225 Nolser Petitions. His backup rifle was a Winchester .270 with some 160 or 170 grain Speer RN that are long discontinued.

My friend was sitting on a stand when the bull walked right up to him. Three fast rounds in the chest put him down but as I recall the story the bull just stood there after the first round hit like nothing happened...and the shot was like at 35 yards...

Bob

Bob, That's a pretty common reaction, regardless of what round you hit them with. They'll just stand there or wander off a few yards and then collapse.

To the OP: any reasonable round with have about the same effect as any other. A 270, 7x57, 308, or 30-06 is plenty. It's all about the shot location and some decent bullet integrity.

True all. They take - and stop- all manner of projectiles without so much as flinching. When they're ready, they tip over. You don't knock a moose over without a CNS or double front leg take-down. (Shoulders as in scapula won't prevent their mobility.)

Most of my collection of copper and high quality lead-cored bullets have been taken from moose. Use good bullets might be redundant, but bears repeating.

I have and have seen moose shot and killed with 270, 280,30-06, 7X57, 7MM-08, 308, 338 win mag, 300 win mag, 375 H&H, do to shoulder and chest injury/operation this year I will be hunting with my 25-06 and 257 Roberts. I will be hunting deer, bear, moose and elk. Right bullet, right shot placement, your good to go.

Most locals take their moose with 223 - 30-06. I always used a 375 H&H or 9.3x62, especially during the fall hunt where bears are plentiful.

223 is not legal for moose here. I have seen them taken with 22LR but I sure do not reccomend it. Lots with 243 and on up.

I've killed two Shiras moose with my .338-06 and both were dead-in-their tracks with a 210 Nosler Partition. My did the same thing with a .30-06 and 180 Nosler Partitions. Shot placement with a good bullet is the key to success.

If you have a .270 and shoot it well, take that. Lots of moose shot around here with .270/.30-06 and Remington CL's. A .338 will work fine too, but it isn't a requirement. Besides - you hit the nail on the head by saying "...it's all about placement."

With all that said, a Moose hunt is an excellent reason to add to one's rifle collection

BTW, you're going to need a large, empty freezer.

Medicman,

Unless there has been a recent change in the reg's a 223 is legal. I am two floors away from the most current reg's but the 2010 version in my hand says on page 22 "Moose - Rifles - Centrefire, yes; Rimfire, no."

That is only part of the quote but the pertinent part relating to centrefire rifles.

I would never use or recommend the use of a 22 centrefire for moose but do know of them being killed with a 243. The majority of my moose were taken with the old 270 Winchester.

If I am wrong please provide me with the source of the new rules. Thanks

Jim

The mid-bores stagger moose better than the 30 and under rounds. All will kill but the 33, 35 36 37 caliber ones just do it more decisively. One of my favorites is a 35 whelen with 250gr bullets, probably bagged over 20 moose with this round, replaced it a few years ago with a 9.3x66 and it works just like the 35W and 375HH.

my family has been fortunate to draw 8 moose tags since the lottery started back in the early 80's and we have used a handful of different cartridges. 308, 3006, 6.5x55 sweede 7mm mag, 300 win mag and 35 whelen w/ ranges from 30 yds to 260 yds and none have been as impressive as the whelen sending the 1040lb bull azz over tea kettle in mid paced trot. the 6.5 was a close second anchoring my 12year old sisters bull in his tracks. the rest wereall very good one shot kills but those bulls seemed to carry the lead a few feet. of all the moose we have taken they have all been bulls, the smallest weighing an even 800lb dressed, the others were over 900 dressed w/ my dads 2011 bullbeing the biggest at 1040 dressed. if i ever get drawn (ive been applying for 19 years now) ill def be using one of my 350's or one of my 35 whelens.

here is a pic of our most recent bull. 225gr nos pt out of my whelen carbine.

Jim my recolection is not based on regs, but a game warden instruction in 97 or 98 when my daughter was doing the apprentice hunter training. I accept your research as accurate. Thanks

Randy

Randy,

The instructor was probably just giving what he thought was good advice without regard for the actual regulations. As I said in my earlier comment I would never consider using a .223 or even my 220 Swift on moose. While I'm sure they could be killed with one under PERFECT circumstances I doubt they would work well on something like hard quartering shots.

I think a fine animal like the moose deserves something better than a marginal cartridge that might leave it wounded. Unfortunately I have talked with Indians who mentioned wounding moose with 30/30's, which they didn't retrieve, and thinking nothing of it. Those conversations had to be cut short before things were said that would probably have led to a fight.

I think we are on the same page with regard to how suitable the 22 centrefires are for moose.

Jim

Centre-fire only is what the regs say. I know a native guy up north that kills one every year with a 25-20. I wouldn't but he does.

Thank you for all the input. I am taking my 7x57 R and buying a backup gun in the .30 + range or 9.3 depending on the area we hunt, especially if there is bear. We just started calling and talking to outfitters. nloa.ca/members is a great site - the Newfoundland Labrador Outfitters Association.
Great excuse to pickup another gun as well. In my neck of the woods my Model 94, the Merkel 7x57 R and a Browning slug gun is about all I need for deer.
My son and I are applying for the Maine, NH and Vermont moose lottery as well.

Great pics Skybuster... The 35 Whelen together with Moose hunting is a perfect fit.

7x57R is good joice Abbydog
As a real joke story I can tell that one of my Finnish friend sometimes hunt moos with his .460 Weatherby Magnum . When I ask WHY...he say with foxy smile...it's damn good caliber if there is a tree between you and moose.