308 for moose
#21
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Posts: 1,964
RE: 308 for moose
bigbulls,
All true, as written.
Congrat' s on having the young' n on the verge of joining you for the elk hunt. I' m sure he' s been listening to the stories over time and counting the years/months and is chomping at the bit to get at it.
Has he been out in the field with you on an elk hunt before (without a gun) or is this going to be the first time for both going and packing a rifle? If so, then the weight of the rifle may be more an enemy than the caliber (as even a 270 for his size might be a lot to ask).
Trade offs at that age, weight, toughness and endurance may require suspending some " rules" (as we may or may not be outside the envelope - different kids are different) BUT I assume you will be right there acting as his " guide" and " backing him up with both firepower and experience. Something that don' t occur for most folks out in the elk woods.
I' m sure you' ll watch out for him on all counts.
Never Go Undergunned,
EKM
All true, as written.
Congrat' s on having the young' n on the verge of joining you for the elk hunt. I' m sure he' s been listening to the stories over time and counting the years/months and is chomping at the bit to get at it.
Has he been out in the field with you on an elk hunt before (without a gun) or is this going to be the first time for both going and packing a rifle? If so, then the weight of the rifle may be more an enemy than the caliber (as even a 270 for his size might be a lot to ask).
Trade offs at that age, weight, toughness and endurance may require suspending some " rules" (as we may or may not be outside the envelope - different kids are different) BUT I assume you will be right there acting as his " guide" and " backing him up with both firepower and experience. Something that don' t occur for most folks out in the elk woods.
I' m sure you' ll watch out for him on all counts.
Never Go Undergunned,
EKM
#22
RE: 308 for moose
Were are thinking about taking him up with us this year and next year for sure with out a rifle. His birthday falls just after hunting season so he still has two more seasons to go. As far as he is concerned he was ready a couple of years ago. We' re are breaking him in though. He' s been going on fishing / camping trips in the mountains miles back and is doing pretty good. Carries his own pack, rod and so on. You can' t baby them up there. He' ll be ready when that first elk steps out.[:-] If not then I' ll be ready.
#23
RE: 308 for moose
bigbullsh***er,
I ain' t ever recommended anybody shoot a big magnum. I think they' re overrated snake oil for the average hunter. But I do stand firm behind my belief that a properly sized and constructed bullet is a responsibility. All this " shot placement" crap don' t apply to 99% of the hunters unner field conditions. As far as I' m concerned, a hunter lookin' to do his best by an elk or moose should be totin' a 30' 06 with 180s (good ones) at a minimum. If he can' t shoot it, he should practice. Period. No easy way out for green dreamers. I like elk an' moose too much. If you want my favorite elk/moose cartridge, it would be the 338' 06. Not a magnum, an' damn lethal. Wish I could wear my 30' 06 out so I could buy one. Shootable too.
I ain' t ever recommended anybody shoot a big magnum. I think they' re overrated snake oil for the average hunter. But I do stand firm behind my belief that a properly sized and constructed bullet is a responsibility. All this " shot placement" crap don' t apply to 99% of the hunters unner field conditions. As far as I' m concerned, a hunter lookin' to do his best by an elk or moose should be totin' a 30' 06 with 180s (good ones) at a minimum. If he can' t shoot it, he should practice. Period. No easy way out for green dreamers. I like elk an' moose too much. If you want my favorite elk/moose cartridge, it would be the 338' 06. Not a magnum, an' damn lethal. Wish I could wear my 30' 06 out so I could buy one. Shootable too.
#24
RE: 308 for moose
I never said that you had, I was just making a point. There are people out there that can not handle a heavy 30-06. They might not be on this board, but they are out there. I quoted you cause you said a 30-06 is a minimum. After a 30-06 it pretty much goes to magnums and bigbores. There is the 8x57 = obscure, 338-06 = only Weatherby is loading finally, 358 Win. = obscure, 35 Rem = very limited range, 35 Whelen = not factory loaded, 358 Win = obscure. There just isn' t many choices for the sensative hunter after the 30-06.
Sorry, didn' t meat to ruffle your feathers.
By the way, my plastic coffee mug works great. LOL
You' re right the 338-06 is excelent elk medicine. My next rifle is going to be a 338 of some kind just haven' t decided which one yet.
Sorry, didn' t meat to ruffle your feathers.
By the way, my plastic coffee mug works great. LOL
You' re right the 338-06 is excelent elk medicine. My next rifle is going to be a 338 of some kind just haven' t decided which one yet.
#25
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 917
RE: 308 for moose
bigbulls - You might want to consider getting your boy a .260 Rem, 6.5x55mm Swede or a 7x57mm Mauser. All will kill elk without a problem, all have minimal recoil and all make excellent " grown up" cartridges, too.
By the way, I share your love for the .338-06. My next rifle will also be chambered for that cartridge.
By the way, I share your love for the .338-06. My next rifle will also be chambered for that cartridge.
#26
RE: 308 for moose
There' s lots of choices of good big game cartirdges for elk an' moose thet ain' t magnums.
Fittin' non-mag elk cartridges (accordin' to Beaverjack):
270 Winchester (with 150 or 160 grain partition-grade bullets only)
7 mag (with 160 or 175 grainers, I don' t call this a mag)
30-06 (with 180 grain bullets)
8mm-06
338-06
35-Whelen
348 Winchester
358 Winchester
358 Rem Mag (not a real mag by today' s standards)
45-70
375 H&H
Probly more thet I ain' t thunk of. But thet' s my list. Add all the mags when an' if you can shoot them offhand, hitting a pie plate 9 outta 10 times at 50 yards.
Fittin' non-mag elk cartridges (accordin' to Beaverjack):
270 Winchester (with 150 or 160 grain partition-grade bullets only)
7 mag (with 160 or 175 grainers, I don' t call this a mag)
30-06 (with 180 grain bullets)
8mm-06
338-06
35-Whelen
348 Winchester
358 Winchester
358 Rem Mag (not a real mag by today' s standards)
45-70
375 H&H
Probly more thet I ain' t thunk of. But thet' s my list. Add all the mags when an' if you can shoot them offhand, hitting a pie plate 9 outta 10 times at 50 yards.
#27
RE: 308 for moose
Your right but the only problem is that the average hunter won' t be able to find a lot of those cartriges in their local stores. Like the 8mm-06, 338-06, 35Whelen, 348 and 358 Win. The first three are by far the easiest to get.
I would also have to include the 7mm-08. 280 Rem.,284 Win., and the 308 in there too as being sub 30-06 cartriges. Don' t forget the .444 Marlin in the big bores.
I would also have to include the 7mm-08. 280 Rem.,284 Win., and the 308 in there too as being sub 30-06 cartriges. Don' t forget the .444 Marlin in the big bores.
#28
RE: 308 for moose
The .308 based cartridges don' t innerest me beyond deer. I kilt several elk with a 8x57 mauser loaded with 200 grain noslers. But I wouldn' t recommend it to jus' anybody, an' its sure gonna be out-performed by the 8mm' 06. The 308 is marginal for elk in the average hands. Afor tryin' it, I recommend the hunter kill a whitetail buck in his bed first. Once you do thet, then I' d say its enuff gun for the job.
#29
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pickering Ontario Canada
Posts: 153
RE: 308 for moose
I still say the .308 is a fine moose cartridge the one in our group that was killed with a .308 last year was just as dead as the one with a 300 mag and he tasted just as good too!