Best Moose Hunting Cartridges!
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- Опубліковано 15 сер 2022
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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years, I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion - the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me - from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, become an integral part of our ecosystem, and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see and survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish, or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.
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I usually say 30-06 is the way to go. Plentiful ammunition, lots of bullet choices in a huge range of weights, decent trajectory and you can get any rifle you want in that chambering.
I still have a couple of boxes of 220gr corelocks
Moose drop so fast because once the pressurized chamber holding their vitals are punctured, they can't take their own weight. That's why elephants have been killed with 7x57s for a century or more.
@@corporalpunish6089 Actually 180 corelocks works fantastic
I use 9.3x62 with about 250 grain from brenneke germany - brenneke TOG. We have Lots of 9.3 ammo over here. I use a ballistic tower and laser range finder. This set-up Takes down everything. Ps: as a european we like and love that cardridge. So much history behind IT and so effective and Not much recoil.
@@2dResq Absolutely, that is my base load. Those 220,s just have so much sectional density, they are a beast. Less accurate though because you are on the edge of proper twist. Just love that 3006 supports such a broad range
I have been hunting moose for 50 + years, used a 303 British, browning BLR 308, Tikka 270 and recently a Browning BLR in a 7mm. I would say that at moose camp the most popular is the 30-06 although we have a couple of guys with 300 Win, Mag’s. In my opinion the shot placement is much more important than the bullet size.
BTW great video’s
Ahh! Good to hear from a wise hunter. Happy trails ❤️
@@briant7652 No I have had no issues with either of them.
Nearly 40 years in Alaska and I've taken a lot of moose. My favorite cartridge is the .338 Ruger Compact Mag. Same ballistics as a .338 Win Mag but in a carbine sized rifle. It's not the moose that needs this much cartridge, it's the grizzly that just might surprise you.
I agree about the bullet diameter. The 338 Ruger Compact is an excellent choice. The 338/06 is just a little slower, but uses same bullets.
I love the 30-06! You can shoot anything with it, and it doesn't kill your shoulder, and you can shoot it a bunch and have fun at the range. Also, ammunition is ubiquitous!!!! Can't beat it! The dead animal doesn't care what you shot it with!
I mean it does care because it wouldn’t like you shooting it a 100 times with a .22 or like a 17hmr, so yeah they do care what cartridge to be shot with ool
Many moose in canada have been dropped by 30 30 win, and 303 british.
Many of those by my clan hahahaha, at some sometimes astounding ranges. Moose aren't overly tough; they drop from a double lung much more quickly than an elk
See my comment above, that's exactly what my niece's father in law used.
303 is a hell of a round.
A 30-30 is stretching it and I am sure many have wounded Moose with it and often the Moose died later for the meat just to rot or feed other animals.
.303 British is great for most game in north America though I use the 215 woodleigh for grizzly
Hello. Please understand that I am not trying to be rude with my comments. Where I live in northern Canada, the most popular moose rifles are, 300WM, 30-06, 303, 308, 270 and 30-30, and on special occasion 12 gauge slugs. We use our skills at stalking and shot placement over extreme caliber size to compensate for poor shooting. The 6.5x55 Swede has also been used for over a hundred years harvesting moose. I reload for my 308, and father in law 30-06, and we have never lost or wounded any animal.
YES! The Swede is sweet. The 6.5 mm has numerous great qualities and it is much more effective than its paper ballistics would suggest. My favorites are the 6.5x55 and the 6.5-284 Norma, same length cartridge the Norma has just a bit more energy/velocity if needing to take longer shots. Both are sensible cartridges
I use a 270 and 300 but prefer the 270 I get at least two every season one with each
@@twitchie989 Nice. Cant go wrong with either one
@@reloadnorth7722 all about shot placement 💯
@@twitchie989 It sure is
Really enjoyed your take on a moose cartrage. I live in Northern Alberta and hunt Moose anytime I get a draw. I've taken moose with a 30-06, 303 British, 378 Weatherby necked down to 338 and a couple 50 cal black powder and all of them with a single shot. I think bullet placement is the most important part of the kill
Yeah bullet placement is the thing i have shot moose with a 7.62x53R and i know a lot of people who shoot moose with .308
@@rockwellrhodes7703 no i mean 53, the finnish version of the mosin is chambered in 7.62x53R rather than 54
I know a lady hunter here in alberta she shot a cow and a bull moose with one shot from her marlin 336c 30-30
Yup
In think the 303 British would be close to taking the most moose over the last 70 years.
My brother is married to an indigenous woman. She said none of them used the 223 but the 243 was popular. Most used the 30-06 and most of them were open sights. I didn't expect that.
I'm not surprised about the open sights part, moose in Alaska spend most of their time in thick timber and wetlands and the shots presented are usually pretty close range, and with an animal that big and potentially aggressive, being able to keep your field of vision open makes a ton of sense. And with the target area on a moose being so huge, if you can hit a pie plate at 100yds with iron sights, that's probably good enough.
I’m Alaskan Native myself, and I only started using scopes in my ripe age of 38 lol. Caught everything from seals, walrus, moose, caribou, etc. Good ol reliable iron sights has been the way to go all my years of hunting.
Gonna use my new Browning Stainless BLR in 358 Winchester this year for my moose draw up here in BC!
Good luck. Even though I don't have one I like the .358 Winchester. Savage model 99 or Winchester model 88 would be perfect for this left handed hunter.
I ve taken many deer with the same rifle and cartridge. You won't do wrong with a BLR
27 years ago my wife used my Savage 99 in 358 Winchester to take her moose in northrn Wyoming. First shot 100% effective.
The .358 has 33 % more punch then a 35 remington.Back in the 80s I did my research before I got one.
@@danielgrabske2557 For me the perfect scout rifle would be a Remington 7600 with a 20 inch barrel in .358 Win. The Rem pump is very quick. I have one in .308 Win and I love it. The .358 would take performance power up a notch although I would give up a flatter shooting cartridge. But, a scout rifle is for quick, close quarters use.
When my Grandfather lived in Alaska (32 years!) he and the neighbors shared the hunting chores. His cartridge of choice? The .30-06 with hand loaded 180 or 200 grain bullets. Every Moose they ever killed took one, and occasionally two shots. But, the real work begins once that 1,000 to 1,500 pound critter is down! It's a huge job cutting it up and packing it out!
Everyone I know from Alaska hunt for food! There is little time, due to rough country and even worse weather to "enjoy the experience"!
Here in NZ mooses were introduced at the bottom of the south island and it is thought that they died out and despite much looking they are gone but every few years someone finds and photographs a massive hoof print.
Truer words were never said.
I have enough fits pulling deer by hand in mountains. I couldn't imagine pulling a moose.
@@GunGuy258 We had a draft horse pull one out and were lucky enough to shoot the other two where we could drive a truck to them.
A good platform sled with a waste to sled rope lead comes in handy there.
With a few years of moose hunting, i experienced the same results with caliber 270, 308, 7mmrm,30-06,300wm. The worst thing i saw is not a wrong caliber, but more than once is a bad scope, full of humidity preventing to aim correctly. Dont cheap on the quality of a scope and select something that will be 100% fog proof!
Nikon Buckmaster Fog/Waterproof but only if you find because Nikon doesn't make rifle scopes anymore
I totally agree! The scope should be of very high quality and sometimes cost more than the rifle!
I spent five years in AK and most of my buddies that successfully hunted moose used .308, .30-06, .30-30, .270 Win, and .45-70. One friend used a 7mm-08 with great success. As you said, bullet placement rules the day over caliber selection. Great video, thanks! 👍
I'm from Quebec, Canada and most hunters use 300 wm and 7mm rem mag. Also 30-06 and 308 are popular. For me, i take my only big games rifle, 7mm rem mag with federal terminal ascent 155 gr ou nosler partition 160 gr.
This is exactly why I bought my Remington in 7mm magnum
I had a Winchester Model 70XTR in 300WM, but later had a Browning BBR in 7mm Remington Mag. It was an awesome rifle and calibre. Only hunted once with it though, but it was a nice 6 point bull with a single lung shot at about 200 to 250 yds.
Yeah that's because there are no grizzly bears in quebec. So you don't need a 338 win mag. The 338 win mag was designed for killing the great bears such as grizzly and polar bears
you prove the point yet again, you dont need a 300 win mag.... 243, 270, 3006 will do everything in N Merica! shot placement is KEY as always as well as distance!
My dads buddy calls the 30-06 a elephant gun lol. he started with a .270 and has never switched. I also seen a few moose dropped with a .243 no problem. I agree shot placement, distance , right ammo and patience are all more important
My dad took his moose with a .270 with a 130 gr. Remington Core-Lokt back in the '50s when that was a high-tech bullet. It was a little over 1000 lbs. at about 120 yards. One shot, looked around a little, fell over. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Them are still good solid bullet choice and also the federal fusion is my go too! But shot a lot of core locks
Remember that when you're hunting moose in Alaska you are also in grizzly bear country. So having extra gun is never a bad thing if you need to put down an aggressive bear that wants the moose you just shot. Yes shot placement is everything, but if a grizzly is charging and you're having to take a quick shot at close range a heavier bullet moving really fast is a huge plus.
An EXCELLENT POINT to make 👏
Anytime I was up there hunting moose I was also hunting bear so I like to take the 45-70 Marlin lever. But you're right shot placement is key no matter what you're using.
I’ve never gone after moose, but if I did, my Henry 45-70 would probably be my choice.
it's comin' right for us
When i used to live there, 45-70 was the go to bush caliber there
Having quicker followup shots and a real thumper of a cartridge would be wise, especially for (as you mention) bear.
@@MDR-hn2yz LOL time I was in AK. we heard a guy empty his 45-70 on a Grizzly , claimed he hit it every time, never did find it .
In my experience in northern Alberta, 30’06 is king. Works every time.
Partitions.
Hi, thanks for another great video. Hunting moose in Sweden since the early 80s. Historically the most common caliber was 6.5x55 with a minimum weight of 140 grains (according to law). Nowadays, there is a greater spread in calibers and 9.3x62 is much appreciated due to an increasingly large population of brown bear and wild boar. Personally, I usually use 9.3x62 as I usually hunt in the southern part of the country with dense and bushy areas. But 6.5x55 is a fantastic elk caliber, especially with Nosler partision.
I am really interested in the 9.3x62. I use a .35 Whelen and I believe the ballistics are close to the same. I love my .35.
The 6.5x55 Swed has feed more mouths world wide than nearly any other round. In North America the 30-40 Kraig then the 30-30 are the mainstays over the last 150 yrs.
@@Pyle81 love my 30-40 it always makes things into food
My two favorites in the USA too!
In Newfoundland, Canada where I grew up, the 6.5x55 was more popular than probably anywhere else in Canada. In my years of gunsmithing, I have converted numerous Model 94 Swedish Mausers to sporting rifles. The standard 160gr big game bullet even round tipped had a high BC due to its long slenderness. It was more than capable of taking Moose at not only short ranges, but rivalled the 30-06 at longer ranges, due to its superior bullet ballistics performance. I myself have only taken 2 Moose with the calibre, but both were one shot kills, with one being over 200yds.
Loved your video, because I lived it too! My first moose was with a 270 Win and the old 130 Nosler Partition; one shot through the heart and a pile of meat seconds later. My next was four shots through the lungs with a 338 WM; no doubt dead from the first shot, but no reaction, so I kept shooting. I did a stock repair for a long time AK resident lady who used a 6mm Rem with 100gr Remington factory ammo, which I was convinced was 'inadequate', except for her long list of moose she had collected over the years saying otherwise. She truly looked dismayed at me when I suggested something larger! As you so often say: Bullet Placement; and not being distracted by muzzle blast and recoil is a deadly combination. Great job Ron.
Thanks John. And thanks for the additional anecdotes.
That 6mm has to have a properly designed hunting bullet to get in side. With Monolithic solid copper bullets. If there hit in the spine, the neck or the brain they're going down.
If I had to pick in my collection I would grab either the .280AI or my 30-06
I could listen to this guy all day! Love how he just makes you think a little. What about a 12ga. Slug? Probably wouldn't hurt out to say... 75 yds???
I think that slug would do the job without question. I'd like to see Ron's take on 12ga. slugs for short ranges.
@@sylviajones3355 I agree. I actually love a 20 ga. Slug too. Absolutely destroys deer
@@sylviajones3355 Sadly;In British Columbia Canada 12 gauge slugs ,In fact all shotgun slugs are illegal for moose.
12 or 20 ga slugs would work just fine to 100 yards or so -- depending on the slug style and material. Those Ddupleks slugs are the bomb!
@@RonSpomerOutdoors thanks man! Please do a video on the effectiveness on all bores both slug and buck shot
When I lived in AK, the 30-06, 7mm Rem , 300 Win and 338 Win were by far the most popular rounds with everyone I ever met or talked to for moose and most everything else.
30-30 308 375 h&h andc45-70 as well ..most locals there get the standard cartriges and stansard magnums cuz the newer ones ain't stocked in small towns there mostly
@@jamiehurtt3530 Most locals simply use what is tried and true. They simply want to fill their freezers and could care less about the supposed latest, greatest whiz bang to come along.
@@404nitro
Lol I know
Cuz I am a local
@@jamiehurtt3530 Didn't sound that way since you said "most local's there"
@@404nitro
Even up here not everyone's on the same page ..lots of millenniasl now that want the latest greatest ..most of us use what we know works
Growing up on canada I used the old .303 Brit.... then in my late 20s I bought my .270 Win... used that for 10 years... then I bought my 300WM and used that for another 10 years... then in my 40s I needed a cartridge good for my som and daughter, 7mm-08 to the rescue... drops.a.moose DRT... worked so well I bought one for myself and have been using that ever since.
Thank you ron.bullet placement is what counts .the old standby 3006 is all you need for 99 percent of your hunting on big blue earth .having said that I have a Husqvarna 46 in 9.3x57 that the swedes had made for hunting moose .they call it a potato lobber .286gr/9.3 bullet at 2150 fps what a trajectory,hence the name.these old rifles handle better than many high end custom rifles 96 Mausers for 350 to 500 dollars .wow and you can straighten that trajectory by hand loading 250 gr nosler accubonds and lookout mr lion,cape buffalo even the almost impossible jackalope fr the southwest. Great video as always ron
I suppose if I lived in Alaska I’d have a .30-06. I live in Virginia so my .308 is fine for deer and hogs down south.
Yah we grew up in Alaska and 30.06 was the bullet of choice for our family anyway…
@@edwardhoward4708 I would absolutely use the .308 on a moose. As I am also a virginian. I feel as though my Remington 700 with some 180 grain Winchester cxp3 will take pretty much anything that graces our Green earth. Atleast if used properly
I have hunted moose in sweden since med -80:s. Still using the same rifle, a Husqvarna 640 8x57 JS with an Aimpoint and Vulcan bullets from Norma. Works like a charm every time.
The 9.3x62 is the perfect Moose cartridge in my opinion.
Even if I have shot multiple Moose with 6.5x55, 6.5-06, 308, 30-06 and 375 Ruger as well.
If you are recoil shy, then a 6.5x55 with a quality bullet is the perfect choice if you shoot well with that one.
There was a CZ550 in 9.3 at a shop near me. It was marked down $100 because no one working there knew what it was. I should have bought it.
@@dg20120 At the opening of the Cabelas here in Marysville Wa I spotted a Savage 111 in 9.3x62 - one of 11 made - and haven't regreted it since. A couple cast bullet molds later I'm still having fun with it and its my "go to" rifle.
@@dg20120
You for sure should have bought it.
You would not regret it for a second.
It is also great when hunting whitetail, mule deer, wild boar, elk and any kind of bear.
@@dg20120 man I’ve always wanted a cz550 in 9.3.
@@louielindenmayer6653 that’s super rare all I ever see out here in wa is mostly 308 and 6.5 creedmore never even heard of the 9.3 , barely ever see a 30.06 anymore
.270 or .25-06 did the job for 50+ years. Moose, caribou and bear. Shot placement is key. The neck or spine works every time. Thanks for the info and videos.
as a Yukoner I like to use something between a 35 and a 416, not because a lot of the little cals won't do the job ,but because you never know if Mr. Grizz might show up and ruin your day or night
Yeah and the 338 win mag is a good choice. The cartridge was literally designed to take down the great bears such as grizzly and polar bears.
I had a friend who lived out in the Alaskan wild in a cabin for a few years. He was a prolific hunter. He used a 25-06 on moose. Clean hits, no fails, shot placement saved a lot of meat. He stated that moose were pretty easy to take down also his favorite meat. His words and experience, not mine.
That sounds like a dream.
The 25-06 is an exceptional cartridge, it should be more popular.
Yep, sounds ideal
.25.06? what a girls blouse?
@@ryanehlis426 sure is!
I used my '06 with 180 grain nobler partition for Maine moose. 2 shots. worked like a charm.
Ron you have been in many hunts in many parts of the world. I have watched several videos and you have convinced me that there's really nothing in North America that a .30-06 can't handle, and handle well in the real world in less than ideal conditions. This information is invaluable to me as someone with pretty limited funding as i try to get into hunting. I can just buy one rifle in .30-06 as it is hugely versatile. Thank you for publishing all this knowledge for free. It's not obvious to someone who didn't grow up around guns and hunting.
Between Galena and Fairbanks for 4 years 89-93 I used a .416 Weatherby for everything. One thing I learned was the rifle you used for anything had better be a bear rifle as well. I lost a few animals to bears who got to them before we did. A bit much for some animals but it saved our bacon once, a lesson I won't forget.
My son and I have hunted from Kodiak Island to Coldfoot , and have never let a bear take our animal , as my buddy used to say, the 375 H&H is the perfect AK. deer gun .
Start with 300 savage or 7mm-08/6.5 creed. Work up depending on distance. Many go for headshots and your 30-30 will do just fine. Many are shot with 30-06 and 220 round nose corelokt. 300 wby is an excellent if hunting clear cuts out at distance. Most are shot in the road at around 100 yards in Maine. The penetration is key to getting an exit wound. Bullet selection is important when using high velocity rounds.
Clearly the 45/70 gov't is the ultimate big game rifle! Anything from squirrels to moose and grizzly !
Squirrels would be interesting with the 45/70…
@@danielbell4007 my 270 Alaska o. Squirrels was useless of course couldn't find em
@@danielbell4007 I’ve considered it several times when you’re deer hunting, and all you see are squirrels when you hear the leaves rustle haha.
The great 3006 does it all, fantastic versatility, and it's not too much and certainly will get the job done without the heavy recoil. This caliber is right in the middle of choices.
Back in 1990, I shot a moose that was going away from me diagonally with an 8mm magnum. The shot was a little higher than I preferred above the heart into the thick part of the backstrap and precious rib roasts. There was so much primal meat loss I never hunted with it again. After that, I figured the 45/70 was a good choice because of the bears here in Alaska. Now the story about the 45/70 - I was on a ridge and the moose was low in a swamp and a ways away. I thought I made a good judgment on the trajectory PFFT and missed it completely, we did not have moose that winter, seeing it was closing day. The 45/70 was not flat-shooting enough for me. Hence, when I discovered that the 375 H&H has as much energy remaining at 300 yards as the 45/70 does at the muzzle, it was an easy switch for me and it shot considerably flatter than the lobber 45/70. AND - you can pretty much butcher up to the bullet hole with the 375 H&H vs the blood-soaked meat after the heavy hemorrhaging from the 8 mm mag high-velocity rounds. For me - win-win and probably will continue to win, with the 375! And no bears as of yet! Hallelu-Yah
Also the guys living off the land in Alaska typically (not always) don't care much for mounting heads and such, they use the animal instead of keeping trophies, and I've spoken to a few Alaskans and they use the smaller cartridges for headshots and drop animals on the spot.
I am all for sensible cartridges, the Alaskan hunters have their head screwed on straight about smaller rounds with excellent shot placement.
I have lived in Alaska since 1989 with my business is guiding hunts for Moose and brown bear.
I get a real laugh at the liars and bull shitters who write absolute crap knowing they are telling lies.
@@Lure-Benson What's the lie?
@@rustyshacklefort3715 many of them and the worst is idiots that never been to Alaska making videos saying home defense handguns are Alaska brown bear guns
Seems like any whitetail caliber will work on Pronghorns up to Moose so long as the hunter does his part…
Geeze, almost sounds like what the Professor said about the 270Win, LOL!
Great video, Ron, thanks for posting!
I hunt Ontario moose & have harvested three years in a row now & the last one I got this year was a monster 1638lbs. My choice is a Browning BLR with a custom trigger job shooting 30-06, 178grain ELDX last year & this year 180grain Sako Super Hammerhead. The key is once you have hit the beast once...KEEP SHOOTING! This year my shot was 190m across a lake, two in the boiler house. Last year was only 80m away. My first was in the boiler house, the 2nd was from behind as he turned to run, up through his flank & into his head smashing the right side of his skull where the rack is rooted... he ran 150m down into forestry, fell to the ground but was still alive so I shot him again somewhere in the front end from about 40m away & he tried to get up but stumbled. It took 3 seriously lethal hits so the moral is KEEP SHOOTING... My friend shot a cow three years back with a .458, hit it three times up front end, shredded the lungs & she still ran off into the bush.... KEEP SHOOTING!
5 years ago I shot a bull with my 270. 150grain, Federal Premium, down & dead in a couple of minutes on his own footprints with one shot just above the heart. He dropped because the shot shattered some ribs & the hole hit not only his heart but also his spine & collapsed his front legs.
As someone who chose most of my rifles during the ‘90s when the common theme of most gun writers was ‘bring enough gun,’ I selected a Weatherby in .338 Win Mag in case I’m lucky enough to find myself on a moose hunt. I’m glad I won’t question if it has enough power to down it.
I got my moose with a 6.5 swede at 100yds and iron sights. Was a pretty quick death and almost no meat damage
The 6.5x55 is my favorite all around cartridge as well, if I needed or wanted a touch more velocity or energy with the exact same cartridge length I would go with the 6.5-284 Norma. The 6.5's have excellent attributes, high BC, high SD, low recoil with non-magnum loads, deep penetration, and accurate, what more does a hunter need.
Perfection. 😍
Us hunters have to have something to talk about in between shots so we argue about stuff like this!! It’s always been about shot placement and penetration. Just a couple more months left until I get to head back out to the deer camp and “argue” with my buddies! Can’t wait! Especially since I just ate some of my last ground venison I had in the freezer!
Thank you Ron
This has been kind of a crappy day for me but, as soon as I saw the thumb nail, I had to click on it. I am now smiling for the first time today. Thank you. I always find your videos educational but the enjoyment factor is just extra icing on the cake.
I appreciate what you do.
.35 Whelen. My go-to elk cartridge for decades (even before it was commercialized) is also outstanding for moose.
And if all I had to go moose hunting with was my all time favorite deer hunting rifle and cartridge, a Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage, I wouldn't be at all concerned about having an adequate rifle/cartridge.
Other good ones? .308, .30-06, .303 British.
180 gr. bullets in the .30 calibers and 250 gr. bullets in the .35 Whelen. Go for sectional densities (SD) of .270 to .280 More is better.
I'm not a world wide hunter and mostly hunt in Colorado. I have relieved myself of all magnum rifles and if I need magnum power I use my .35 Whelen. The most efficient cartridge I have ever loaded.
I’m in Denver. Just moved here. It’s wayyy more liberals than I was expecting. Sure hope to connect with some hunters maybe elsewhere up north
@@DenverPicker Looking at an election map could have told you that.
Yup, the hippies are displacing the cowboys in a lot of the west. It’s also like a lot of the country where the cities are more liberal, and the rural areas are more conservative.
@@DenverPicker I live south of Denver by a few hours right down I-25. Denver and Boulder are total liberals and do not represent the beliefs of most of the rest of the state. Colorado is a good example of why the founding fathers created a republic when creating the government rather than a democracy. The Republic has an electoral college and the State does not. In some circles it's called mob rule.
Shot an Alaskan moose last year with an ‘06 with 180gr psp corelokt. 1 shot at 250 yds. It stood there, jogged 20 yards and toppled.
I live in northern Canada and have hunted moose for the past 34 years. I used a 270 Weatherby magnum for all but 2 moose. Those 2 were taken with my brother’s 300 Win Mag. My dad’s hunting partner has used a 270 winchester for years with excellent success. The target area is huge making the shot placement relatively easy. Anything bigger than a 270 is plenty for a moose unless you’re shooting at a distance. In that case bump up to the associated magnum. If I was to pick one rifle to shoot moose on a regular basis I’d choose my brother’s 300 win mag. It’s pretty much the perfect moose rifle in my opinion.
This video touched on a number of things I've been thinking about i.e. the "humane kill" and bore size. I appreciated the emphasis on shot placement as well!
Howdy Ron! I personally have nabbed a few moose over the years in Maine. It's roughly half and half for me. I've been using and still use a .358 Winchester loaded up with 225 gr Nosler AccuBonds. They're just about perfect and have a pretty darn decent ballistic coefficient. However, they're becoming harder and harder to find as of late. I recently started using my 8x57mm with 170 gr Hornady SST's and wow. I've yet to meet a moose that's walked away from being hit with one. It's definitely got a lot going for it. Hard to say, honestly. Both are accurate, not too hard on the shoulder, and I genuinely enjoy shooting them through my Savage 110 and my Yugo Mauser!
Yep, easily took my cow moose with 8x57 (factory PPU 196 gr SP) K98 Mauser iron sites. She let me walk up to 100 yards. No need to overbore a thin skinned animal that anyone can get within 200yrds.
Fantastic cartridge the 358win for moose couldn’t agree more! I hunt in the Nordic countries and it works as well here!
Even moose are in short supply since Biden took office. Thanks a lot Brandon
Good video. Probably an eye opener for many. Moose are considered a thin skinned game. Anything that has energy figures that match or exceed 308win is perfect, and an uncountable amount of Moose have fallen to the 30-30, 303 Brit and 30-40 Krag
I am a green hunter. I like to give the moose a fair chance so I wrestle my ones to the ground and then ask them if they give up? If they say yes i let them go. If not I strangle the bastard.
Exactly! I feel like 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, 300 WSM, 300 RUM will all do it. Especially considering you can generally get at least 5 rounds in a magazine. If shooting an AR10 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester or supersonic 8.6 Blackout will all do the trick and you can get some quick followups if you need to bang off a couple in self defense vs a bear.
Also 6.5x55 and 7.62x54R have both probably taken their fair share of moose and caribou.
I killed my only moose, and it was a big one in Alaska, with a 180 grain partition from a 30-06. My two other primary hunting calibers currently are 300 Wby and 7mm-08 (my main ride these days). All three would work great but I’d probably carry the 30-06 if I did it again. That rifle is a lot easier to carry than my Weatherby and I just don’t think it gives up enough performance to matter. My second choice may be the 7mm-08 - I’ve got that in a Model 7 and it’s so nice to carry.
Elk have a fair bit more survival fight and even will to drive their spines and hooves through a hunter.
I shot my only moose with a Sako .30-06 and most of the guides and hunters in Saskatchewan I talked to used either that or a .308 Win. Usually a 180 grain partition. My favorite cartridge now in the southwest is either the 280 REM or 280 Ackley. No moose down here!
Ron, I have to say you are the best there is. I love your common sense, your delivery and you knowledge. Well Done!
Hi Ron very good video talk , I think the golden bullet I would use is from 30-06 caliber 180Grn
Heard/read a lot of instances of moose taken with 30-30.
I took a nice moose in northern Maine a couple of year back with my Tikka 270 using a 130 grain bullet at 200 yards. One shot the moose dropped where it stood. As always the most important factor is what you shoot accurately and staying within the limits of your cartridge.
Yet another great video Ron, thank you!
While I love the 35 Whelen, and think it is a very good cartridge for any North American game, I killed a bull moose with one shot at 300 yards. His feet were still in the tracks they were in when the bullet hit him. The cartridge? 25-06 Remington with a 120 grain Nosler Partition @ 3000 fps mv. Bullet placement is everything, with next important variable of bullet construction.
Worst performance on a bull moose I have ever seen, a 338 Win Mag. 14 shots, all in and just behind, the shoulder. Last six shots from 10 yards. Bull kept getting up and walking away.
I'm a 35 Whelen fan too but for me it's not necessary to kill the moose or elk, it is nice to have however if you are sectioning your moose in bear territory.
@@mikewyd53 Mike, that reminds me of my friend shooting a water buffalo repeatedly right behind the shoulder. After the 4th or 5th hit I said "That parts dead, Stan. Pick another."
30-06 is all I ever use. Eat moose every year. 180 grain
Awesome video! I think as an archery hunter, understanding that a sharp stick can do the job, means most reasonable rifle cartridges can do the job also. For me, .30 caliber seems appropriate for large ungulates like elk and moose, but there are certain cartridges such as the .270 that supersede the terminal ballistics of rounds such as the .308 or certain .30-60 will also do the job. The best round is the one you can put in the vitals.
Thanks Ron, I truly appreciate your efforts making these videos.
Take care
I have shot multiple Moose with my 6.5-06 with 120 grain Swift A-Frame and 120 grain ttsx bullets.
Works very well.
I agree Ron cartridge talk is always interesting/fun because we all have our favorites. Always enjoy your content!
Hi Ron! In my opinion 338 win mag is the best overall moose cartridge. Work for bush and also longer ranges.
Living in Alaska since 1975 I've use 375mag, 338win, and now I use my 45-70 for quite a few years now. Yes, you can use smaller calibers, but there are a lot of bears that would love to get your moose. So it's nice to have a rifle capable of stopping a bear.
I lived and hunted in north central BC for 35 years. By far up there, the most popular big game target is the moose. I've seen all kinds of cartridge choices but far and away, the most common was what I call, "Medium Oomph" cartridges. 30-06, .308. 7mm Rem Mag, .270 Win, .300 Win Mag, the occasional .243 and then some less popular but beloved by the shooter such as the .303 British and the 6.5x55 Swedish. I saw the occasional .338 Win Mag, the odd .300 WBY Mag and even the odd .30-30 Win.
So, what did I see most often? I'd say it's a toss up between the 7mm Rem Mag, the .308 and the .30-06. Personally, I started with a .270 and then went to a .300 Win Mag.
What I didn't see was any cartridge that didn't work if there was a well placed shot. So, the lesson is pick any reasonable cartridge, practice with your rifle, learn bullet drops over varying distances and always remember that the solution to an 800 yard shot is to get 600 yards closer.
Of note, the one cartridge I don't recall ever seeing (or shooting) is the one I'd choose today for a dedicated moose rifle. That's the .35 Whelen. If anyone has an old Winchester Model 70 in .35 Whelen, topped with a plain Jane scope that they don't see using anymore....
🤠 Well said! 👍
I'll take a 303 British rifle anyday
@@RebelSandGaming About thirty years ago I acquired an Enfield Model of 1914 (the P14) from an uncle. Unfortunately, it was a 'Bubba' with a cut down stock, missing wood from the fore end. The rest all looked original including the military ladder rear sight. Chambered of course in .303 British, I was keen to see how it worked on moose. Well, I actually already knew as many a Canadian moose had met it's demise from military surplus rifles chambered in .303 British.
By far, the more common surplus rifle seen in the field after WWII was the Lee-Enfield, either the No. 1 Mk.III or the No. 4 Mk. 1. My uncle told me that back in the fifties and sixties, they were sold by the thousands, often stacked in a barrel in some hardware store. Examples in very good condition could be found for $20 to $25 or even less if the store owner needed to clear stock.
Even today, if you go to any place that sells ammunition in Canada, you'll likely see .303 British. I worked up a load using .303 cal 180 gr. Cam Pro flat base jacketed soft point bullets. Not a long distance target bullet by any means but just the ticket for moose, elk, bears etc. I took it on several moose hunts and even bagged two with this rig. As long as shots were no greater than say 200 yards, the original sights did just fine. You just had to be aware of your load's bullet drop over distance.
@@stephenland9361 those jungle carbines were pretty popular too for close scrub hunting and trap line checking too still got a no5 that's taken plenty of game even stopped a couple of grizzlies
You call 7mM Rem Mag and 30-06 medium oomph?
Here in quebec most hunters use 308/ 30-06 / 300wm
I have used both .300 Win Mag and a .300 Weatherby to take 7 bulls in Newfoundland, British Columbia and Maine. In the camps I've been at, the biggest mistakes I've seen are the lack of practice and bullet selection, not caliber. Too many people unwittingly use soft point bullets and go into the field without a clue as to their ballistic trajectory. If someone out there is looking for a recommendation on bullet selection, go with a bonded bullet such as the Nosler Partition or Accubond, or go with a copper solid bullet that your gun shoots well. Most importantly, practice from a variety of positions, including off sticks, seated and prone.
Thank you Ron! Very informative. I still haven't found a need to replace my 30 06 I have been shooting since 1982! 🤣
No need to reinvent the wheel!!!! 30 06.... nuff said!
I'm really enjoying your videos, Ron... thanks for all the great information.
Another great video. Been enjoying your articles for years but these videos add so much more!
Thanks Kevin.
@@RonSpomerOutdoors
180 grain pill - H1000 - in 7PRC
Bat Vampire Action
APW Carbon X Chassis 🇿🇦
Trigger Tech Trigger
= 🫎 dead
Great video again Ron! Thanks... I definetely can relate to this video. Our legal minimum in Finland for moose is practically 6,5x55 or 6,5 CM. According to my experience, these have adequate energy to knock down a moose. If you are looking for a quick kill, keep your distance in a reasonable and make sure your bullet works. Problems occur when shot placement is bad or bullet is bad. Unbonded soft points can sometimes (rarely) fail you when jacket and lead separates, and you can't reach vital organs. Still definetely most of our moose are taken with 308, but 9,3x62 is getting stronger. I use mainly 9,3x62, but honestly, reactions in the moose aren't that different. 9,3x62 gives a bit of more security and peace of mind, but that is about it.
I'm a huge fan of .308 for anything I will ever hunt in North America. For sure shot placement is king and a well place bullet from a .308 has always given me the expected results.
Interesting presentation Ron. For decades, I've always come back to my Ruger RSI in 30-06. I've whacked a pile of deer with it, but only two moose. Both of them dropped like stones with one shot. I believe shot placement is critical in any hunt, but considering the mass a moose presents, there's a smaller window of critical hit needed. With the two moose I mentioned, both were hit about two, to three inches behind the skull. Which proves that shot placement is everything.
Well, I've certainly had an education watching this. When I went to New Foundland moose hunting I took the two biggest calibers I had; a .30-06 Springfield and a lever action .35 Remington. I hoped like heck I wouldn't need the .35 Rem because I wasn't sure it would put a moose down in short order. I have read stories of hunters being big believers in the .35 Rem for moose and even big bears. But, I wanted more confidence using the .30-06 using 180 gr. Core Lokts.
I was surprised at the lighter bullets being used to take such big animals. I have always been a believer in bigger heavier bullets for bigger, tougher game. I guess a good hunter can use smaller and lighter calibers and bullet weights to get the job done and done well. Thank you for the enlightenment.
Had my curiosity peaked when you started with those big bore stuff, couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Glad you changed it around. My family’s 1960’s modified 303 British has killed a lot of moose dead with one shot… even at quite a distance of 300 yards.
I know a hunter who used big bullets and now only uses 303 british. But now since bullets are hard to come by he is probably using the 4570
I just wanted to say I really in joy your videos. I find the info very interesting and helpful thank you.
I would like to say thank you for your videos on Rifles & Cartridges...I really enjoy watching them...and you reaffirmed my big game.(antelope to moose).rifle and cartridges..in almost all videos...my savage 3oo wsm..
I have a plan to rebore a Remington 760 to .35 Whelen and cerakote it and put some laminate furniture on the ends. That is what I'll take if I ever get a chance to go up into big moose country. I agree you don't need that much cartridge for the moose, but you might need it for the things that hang around the moose.
🤠 Great choice! 👍
In my experience, moose die easy. Also in my experience, guys tend to carry the bigger calibers if theyre worried about bears while moose hunting. But i'd say as an alaskan that 338 win mag is probably the most common moose caliber.
Thoughts on a 30-06 with 180 grain tsx or ttsx?
@@phild9813 it will for sure kill moose. Go for the double lung, avoid the shoulder if you can, and they bleed out fairly quick.
@@phild9813 I always used 180 or 150 nosler partitions. Maybe not the most accurate but always worked.
@@phild9813
That is a great choice for Moose.
@@siegehammer63
The shoulder will be no problem with a 180 grain tsx/ttsx.
You do such a great job with these comparisons. Keep the conversation going!
My moose hunting experience is fairly limited. One was taken with a 280 Remington shooting a 160 grain Nosler Partition and the other with a 280 Ackley Improved using a 140 grain Barnes X bullet. Both reacted as you described in the video.
My dad has always used .30-06, I think 180 or 190 grain. Sometimes 220 grain .30-30. I plan on using my Mauser 1895 in 7x57 Mauser, 173 grain semi-jacketed exposed lead tip rounds.
Got to love the 7x57mm Mauser!!! I have two Rifles, so chambered,
Wow that 338 federal has impressive muzzle energy.
Ron thanks for an entertaining and informative video! You talked about different calibers,which is why I like my encore! My favor caliber, took my moose with it,35 Whelan, can't beat it! I also have a 45-70 20" Kathadin barrel that's a close 2nd. Enjoy your content thanks again
Great show thank you for sharing all of knowledge and experience with us, we definitely appreciate it
I took down a moose with a 7.62x39, 30-30, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag. My go to for one shot take down power is 30-06. I tried 300 win mag but it just blew up bones and meat. 308 and 30-06 can break moose bone but it’s smaller. Love the 30-06 for long range and 308 for close range.
Enjoyed this Ron. Agree with your thoughts on smaller calibres - 6.5 x 55 has probably accounted for more Moose than any other cartridge in Europe…
The Scandinavians use them for moose
A 6.5x55 is great on Moose with the right bullets and you know how to shoot.
At reasonable distances, it and its modern twin the 6.5CM work fine within good bullets and sim.
It's like the .30-30 of northern Europe.
Swede is great. The 6.5x55 has MPBR: 260 yards with a 6" kill box, and will carry enough energy down range (1500 ft.lbs) to kill large game at 225 yards, medium game out to 375 yards. The other great attribute of the Swede is it only has 12.9 ft.lbs of recoil leading to more accurate shot placement. With loads from Europe or handloads and a modern firearm these numbers could be improved on as well. This is an all around sensible cartridge. I also like the 6.5-284 Norma, same case length just a tad more velocity/energy and 15.4 ft.lbs of recoil, MPBR: 284 yards (241 yard zero), large game range: 375 yards, medium game range: 525 yards.
I'm so glad to hear you use the term "point blank range" correctly. The Fish & Game Commission of Alaska tells that a .270 Winchester or the .30-06 is all that is necessary for the big game that roams the state. Think I'd rather face grizz or a moose following your advice.
Thank you very much for the information Ron.
Swedes have been taking Elk (moose) for over a century quite successfully with nothing more than a 6.5 x 55. As penetration is vital with such a big animal then high sectional density is important. As you say, you don’t shoot these animals at long range. A 140gr 6.5 will do the job well enough with enough velocity to cause good expansion.
A friend uses a 223 in New Zealand for big reds…neck shoots them for a bang flop drop every time. This’ll work out to 300 yds with a well placed 223 round. I use that little cal to take Muntjac deer and have shot one close to 300yds for a bang flop shot. Hilar placement with a diddy little 55gr bullet did the job.
Personally? I’d take a low recoil 6.5 CM short action or Rem 7mm -08 in a light rifle such as a Mauser M12 or Schultz &Larson Victory or Blazer. Either cal would do the job. In case of bear I’d want a powerful handgun as a backup!
I worked for a man many years ago that used a Savage 99 in .300 Savage and he took a number of big moose with it.
I love this show. I live in AK. The Bears live Where The good moose hunting is. I have used the 338 win mag for 40 years.
I use 8x57 and 9,3x62 for moose. Both of them work just fine.
My choice would be the 30-06 out of my old Ruger M70 MarkII All Weather. The one with the "boat paddle" stock. I have hunted with that rifle for 25 years. I have many other rifles but I TRUST this one in my hands. I know where it will put the bullet if I do my part. So, if bullet placement is the requirement, that is the rifle.
I bought the same “Boat Paddle” in 7RM for elk and pronghorn in Colorado. I had to replace the recoil pad to make the rifle more comfortable to shoot.
M77
I've read that a lot of moose are taken by native Alaskans with the 250 Savage which they consider a big cartridge. 30-30 very common too up close with a 94 Winchester from a canoe. You left out 45-70 Gov't and 444 Marlin. A friend of mine took a nice bull with his 444. One shot at about 200 yards. I don't know which bullet he used, the old 240 grain or the newer 265 grain. Never asked him.
A slow large caliber rifle bullet smashes its way through bone and muscle effectively, even at modest velocities. The author of the video's right though, shot placement is everything and many of the large calibers lever action rifles are enough for just about anything in N. America at woods ranges.
The Eskimos,,used 222rem,on polar bears at one time too,
On four successful moose hunts we used a 30-06, a 270Win. ,a 7x57 Mauser, and a 6.5 Swedish Mauser. All down within forty yards. Good bullets and shot placement is the key.
Great advice from Ron! So many people think Howitzers are necessary to harvest moose, but the Scandinavians have been slaying moose for > 125 years with the 6.5x55 and they have nary a complaint! The 6.5 family of cartridges tend to have very high BCs and SDs for the usual bullets loaded in them. If you think you need more penetration, the Hornady 160gr Round Nose penetrates from Sunday clear to Friday even at modest velocities. I'm looking forward to the day I can use my 6.5 Swede on game bigger than deer.
Can we just say the “best” cartridge for any hunting is the one that’s legal for what & where you hunt and put in the right place …
Which we all know is a 30-06 😜
Yeah buddy! love it! So true!
My uncle Lowell was killing moose with a 30-30 Winchester over 100 years ago. Lost several toes to frostbite while trapping in Canada.
My Grandmother (Grandfather was a logger and not home much) shot moose with a .22LR during the Depression. She'd put 3 rounds in the stomach and then make a cup of tea. Track the moose who, not feeling well, would lie down and stiffen up. When she walked up to it, it couldn't get up and she'd shoot it in the head. Then go get her 4 children to help bring it home. All this with a knee that didn't bend because a hog had rolled her down when she was a girl.
Moose aren't tough, my Dad has taken one every second year since 1963 (year I was born) until 12 years ago when he stopped hunting them because he couldn't bring it out alone.
My first was a .303 Br. All the rest have been by .30-06. next one will be with my Dad's .30-30 because he stopped hunting completely last year.
270 is what you borrowed on your fishing trip, Jack O'Conner favorite round.