New hunters or experienced hunters w/other weapons are coming into rifle hunting all the time.The gun companies and marketers need to justity new models/calibers to keep interest and profit alive.With all the new short mag/ultra mag cartridges getting the most press,less is heard and understood about old reliable favorites.The first time rifle buyer simply has too many choices.They may conclude that rifles getting all the press must be the weapon necessary.The new shooter,even when told, may not understand about recoil until the reality of shooting the said caliber.Suddenly the light comes on and the shooter realizes there's a price to be paid.
In answer to the moose question,I would use a .280 RS w/a good bonded core 160 gr. bullet.That's what I have and don't doubt it for a minute.