308 for moose
 

Would it be foolish to use a 308 for moose in alaska?

RE: 308 for moose
 

I don' t think it would be foolish, but I would still use a bigger caliber

RE: 308 for moose
 

Only if you left your 300 mag at home!;)

RE: 308 for moose
 

why not use a .338, a much better big game caliber

RE: 308 for moose
 

I don`t want to start an arguement or anything, plus there is no way to prove it to you folks, but my brother has shot over a dozen moose in the last twenty years using only a 243 with 105 gr bullets. These have all been one shot kills too. He lives in northern B.C. not far from Alaska where the moose can get pretty big. So, yes, I think a 308 is fine.........oh yeah, my father uses a 270 with 130gr bullets for moose...been doing that for over 30 years and I use an 06 with 150s for moose.

Ron:D

RE: 308 for moose
 

The .308, with good quality bullets, if perfectly adequate for moose out to 200 yards or so. Use 165-180gr premium bullets, aim straight, and you' ll fill the freezer with no problem.

RE: 308 for moose
 

Moose are large animals but they are not hard to kill.The 308 will do fine.

RE: 308 for moose
 

Nicolas,

It kind of depends -- what all other game is there in the area where you will be hunting your moose? Brownies, grizzlies?

From a personal safety standpoint, you might consider if you are hunting in bear country -- load for bear first and THEN go on to hunt what you have a tag for -- just a thought.

EKM

RE: 308 for moose
 

just goes to show that shot placement is everything...............:D:D:D

RE: 308 for moose
 

I would use something on the larger side myself. Moose are tough animals, and some of the bullets mentioned thus far, though highly effective calibers, have bullets with rather fragile jackets. The point about being in bear and dangerous game territory is very valid. I would say, if you have the means, finding a larger caliber, such as the .338 at minimum, more comfortable for that terrain might be a 45/70, .450 or .444 Marlin, something with some bore diameter. That way, you can buy a bullet meant to NOT deform much at all, which will easily penetrate a Moose' s hide, while easily disabling and hitting hard. Your wound channel will also still be significant due to the sheer diameter of the bullet. Also, alot of moose terrain is thick woods, and a brush gun such as these definitly has a place in the woods.

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RE: 308 for moose
 

Actions speak louder than words -- Nice choice of cartridge -- I trust with good reason given your extensive experience.

Nice overview of moose hunting history and lore. Thanks.

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM

RE: 308 for moose
 

The 308 is more than enough gun for moose if you do your part. I have a 7x57 mauser in my closet that belongs to my cousin and he drops a moose every year with 140 grain Barnes bullets. I' ll be using my new 280 Rem. with 140 XLC' s this year for moose. Of course, I' ll take my trusty 338 Win. Mag. and 250 grain Nosler Partitions out on a few trips as well for moose.:D

RE: 308 for moose
 

Keep it under 200 yards and your fine the group I hunt with use 2 30.06' s, one 7mm rem Mag. one .300 Win Mag and a .308 all are adequate all can take a moose down keep it under 200 and hit em where it counts!

RE: 308 for moose
 

.243 for moose? Outta have yer liscense pulled for life. Don' t spread that kinda crap to new hunters. Use a ' 06 with GOOD 180s as a minimum. If you ain' t got nuthin' but a .308, stoke it up hot with premium 180s. Worst thing ' bout these sites is the advice thet' s doled out thout no regard to who its goin' to an' what might happen to a fine animal if things don' t go 100% right.

RE: 308 for moose
 

Beaver, the same can be said about recomending big, hard kicking magnums in the hands of a younger person, or someone that is recoil sensative. I would rather see a person use a 6mm cartrige that can shoot the Bal** of a fly at 100 yards then give him a magnum that he flinches at on every shot and can' t hit the broad side of a barn with it. A 243 or a 7mm-08, or 308 through the lungs is a hell of a lot better than a 338, 375, 444, or 45-70 in the stomach.

RE: 308 for moose
 

BigBulls,

A bit of exaggeration and a bit over simplified with a lot of middle ground left out -- don' t you think?

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM

RE: 308 for moose
 

Not really! There are many people out there that can not shoot magnum cartriges accurately enough to reliably hit an animals vitals. But they can shoot 308 class cartriges very well. So if one can not handle the recoil of a hard kicking magnum then it would be much better for the animals and himself if he did not use a magnum. Like I said a bullet from one of the smaller cartriges through the lungs is a lot better than a 338 through the stomach.

Example: You have two people one 6' 2" tall and weight 250 pounds the other person a small framed lady at 5' 4" tall and weighs 110 pounds. The 6' 2" guy can shoot pretty much any magnum rifle out there accurately with out it bothering him. The lady can not handle the recoil of a 30-06 very well at all. Would you not let her hunt with you just because she can' t shoot a magnum class rifle or even worse would you make her use a magnum and risk wounding an animal because she is scared to shoot it?

Seemed pretty cut and dry to me.

RE: 308 for moose
 

bigbulls,
Again isn' t the middle ground being left out for the convenience of arguing a given view point: 110 pound women and 250 pound men -- nary had anyone who looked like either one of those two in my elk camp nor in my Michigan mentor' s camp up the road over all these years.

Also, is it written in granite somewhere that if one shoots a sub 30-06 you' ll automatically be a great shot and if one shoots an over 30-06 caliber rifle you will be doomed to gut shoot everything you hunt? It must be -- I keep hearing the same refrain everytime a smallbore fan even broaches the question of larger calibers.
-------------------------------------

My boys are 20 (almost 21 now) 6' 1 and 165 pounds and BOTH shoot 338 mags (after starting with a 270 and a 30-06, they took over my 338' s (2) and bumped me on up) -- these kids are wirey. " ..... Dad, when I shoot at an elk I don' t feel anything....it' s not a problem." I' ll grant you that this is an instance of only two out of thousands; however, they fly in the face of such magnum assumptions.

So is there something wrong with these kids? I' d say they' re closer to average than the 110 lb woman and the 250 lb fire hydrant. Why aren' t their boyish shoulders being torn asunder by their rifles and their brows bloodied by their scopes? [It might have something to do with being TAUGHT how to do it.]

Leapin' Lizards, Batman! They' re shooting magnums AND they are accurate! What are we going to do now? Well....:D

Never Go Undergunned
EKM

RE: 308 for moose
 

I see your point on the middle ground but the point is still the same. There are many women and young kids out there that like to hunt elk and moose but can' t handle recoil very well. I am 6' 2" and weigh 245 pounds and can handle just about any gun out there. My son, when he turns twelve, will be going on his first elk hunt with me and he will be about 5' 5" and weigh about 115 pounds. What rifle (cartrige) should he use?

No it is not written that someone will be a great shot if they use a sub 30-06 cartrige but they have a better chance of being a better shot if they don' t get kicked around a lot when they practice. And no you won' t gut shoot animals just because you shoot a medium bore magnum, but my almost 12 year old son wouldn' t like shooting a 338 mag. and almost certainly would not shoot it well. He will probably start out with something along the lines of a 7mm-08 or my 270 and work his way up from there just like your kids did.

I' m just saying there is good and bad to everything and as far as guns and recoil go each person has their own limits and i would rather a person be comfortable in shooting a rifle than be worried about having scope eye. Yes, like you said they need to be tought how to handle it but you can' t start them out at the top.

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

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.:D

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.

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;):D

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!:D

[Deleted]
 

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RE: 308 for moose
 

A tired old refrain..... which means very little.

In a " Is this caliber okay?" discussion, it' s NOT the moose that are dead and nicely hanging in camp that count. The question centers on " what is the increased probablity of a wounded moose getting away when using a .308" versus some other caliber?

Perhaps a .308 IS fine for moose; however, ...
merely looking at two dead moose and declaring them equally dead is way off track and proves nothing towards the question at the head of this thread. To make such a generalization you need a statisticial sample size much larger than a mere " two" in order to draw a conclusion that can be held out as applying to a population of thousands of shot (but not necessarily taken) moose in any one year.

Applying that kind of loosey goosey logic without some sort of qualification one could say, " .... and the one that died of winter kill a month after we left camp was just as dead as the two we had in camp --- and it didn' t require a rifle of any caliber; therefore, any caliber even infinitely small will do." Which is also a crock.

308 MAY be an " okay" moose round, but certainly not on the basis of either one of those arguments.

Just for grins you may want to go to " Momentum vs Impact Energy" and check out the Taylor Index for an unbiased answer to the question, 308 has a 100 yard Taylor Index of 17.1 --- In any case.... :D

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM

RE: 308 for moose
 

I don' t have much experience with a .308 so I can' t really weigh in on this discussion but you took the words right out of my mouth EKM. I can' t stand the just as dead arguement, it really does prove nothing except that it is capable of killing in some instances but that is not the point. As hunters in a society that is getting more " sophisticated" hunting appears more and more barbaric to those who don' t know much about hunting. Wounded animals only add to that misconception. Using rifles that are better suited for the game we are taking is no longer an option, its a necessity for the survival of our sport.

RE: 308 for moose
 

Give thet boy a pat on the back an' a two bit ceegar! Now everbody read his post, an' lets do away with thet " jus' as daid" argument from here on out. Y' all are beyond thet crap now.

RE: 308 for moose
 

I apoligize guys you are both right! I never thought of it that way! Both of the moose that were shot were under 100 yards little or no wind. and perfect shot placement both dropped like stones. under not so perfect conditions it ma have been different who knows?? you are right though that wasn' t a great comparison.

RE: 308 for moose
 

Syd,
Wow.
I' m impressed.
Don' t worry about it.
Move on from here.

EKM

RE: 308 for moose
 

I don' t think bigbull' s knocking the mag' s but he' s just saying some people aren' t suited for em. In my opinion if you can' t handle a gun big enough to do the job you shouldn' t be hunting that animal. The .308 will do fine. I' d personally go with the .338 or 7mm mag, but that' s me.

RE: 308 for moose
 

Sounds good EKM will do I think what I meant in my original post was if you can shoot a .308 well it is capable of taking down a moose! and it is better to shoot a .308 well then some new gun that you aren' t used to and risk wounding an animal!

Syd

RE: 308 for moose
 

I' m going to say the .308 is fine for moose, throw a Controlled expansion 180gr bullet out there into the boiler room and all odds are that it' s going down (125+/-yrds). However, I' d say that if you want a rifle with comprable recoil, and a bit more stank, avoiding the magnum nominations, get a .45-70gov in a marlin 1895, especially in a 1895Cowboy (long barrel) it' ll reach out there and thump them hard, especially since you can hand roll them to such high powers in the new marlins, the cowboy gives you a lot more barrel to stabilize things and adds some velocity. And, contrary to what big bulls stated, the .45-70 is in EVERY store, in fact, almost all of those listed on BJ' s post are easily found at almost every shop I frequent, ranging all over KS.

RE: 308 for moose
 

I think I will stir the pot some more cause it' s me. It' s not how much bang you got but knowing how to use the bang you got. You can drop a bull with a .22 cal. if YOU put it in the right place, you can drop a bull with a howitzer if you put within 20yds. of it.

RE: 308 for moose
 

I do not think it would be foolish, but i would suggust that you think about a muzzle loder in the .50 calliber area or a pistol, nothin' beats a classic ol' .45 colt