Here are the preliminary results of the mooserifle survey conducted at a Finnish hunting site www.metsastys.net
So far it�s 495 rifles in 21 different calibers, number of rifles is in parenthesis
308 Winchester 58.6 % (290)
30-06 Springfield 17.0%. (80)
7.62x53R 9.9% (47)
9.3x62 4.6% (23)
45-70 2.2% (11)
338 Win Mag 1.8% (9)
8.2x53R 1.0% (5)
9.3x53R 0.8% (4)
375H&H 0.8% (4)
458Win Mag, 9.5x53R, 9.3X74R, 8.2x57, 6.5x55 two rifles each
416Rem Mag, 378Wby Mag, 9.3x57, 307Win, 7mm Rem Mag, 7x57, 270 Win one rifle each
Some facts:
Year 2001, 66 951 moose were legally taken, which was 97.5% of all the permits/tags given.
The minimum requirements for the ammo used in moose hunting given by the hunting statute are as follows:
minimum bullet weight 9.0grams, 2700 joules of kinetic energy or more at 100 meters, 10.0gram bullet or heavier 2000joules or more at 100 meters.
In the English system these would translate to 139grain bullet with 1991ft.-lbs at 109 yards, and 154.3grain bullet or heavier with 1475 ft.-lbs at 109 yards
I hope y�all find this interesting!
Otto P.
[This message has been edited by OttoDude (edited 01-20-2002).]
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NRA Life member
Where are the 6.5's? I thought they were dominant there.
I wonder if handloads are allowed?
It�s no doubt about the fact that the official military round rule.
We have had the 6,5x55, the 7,62x62 ( 30-06) and the 7,62NATO (308 win.) as our miltary rounds, and thouse three dominates as big game hunting rounds as well. And all three shine as good work horses in the woods.
One step up the ladder the 9,3x62 the 338 win mag the 375 H&H and the 458 win mag, also see some use as moose calibres, and the numbers are increasing according to the sales men in the gun shops.
Arild
Very interresting survey.
Thanks for the link but finnish language is not easy for me. Have you some detail regarding hunting moose in Finland (I'll like it). Website or other links. Thanks.
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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM
Many thanks for this link. RGDS.
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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM
The old 7.62x53R (aka 7.62x54Russian) has been wildcatted a lot - it has been necked down and up, from .22 to .40 cal. Like Boha said, the most often used platform is the venerable Mosin-Nagant. Sometimes Russian singleshot Baikal shotguns and rifles are used for re-barrel projects as well. Tikka also chambers their O/U double rifle for 7.62x53R.
Bearclaw,
the Russians really learned about Finnish marksmanship the hard way; in the winter- and continuation war against Finland, approximately 375.000 Russian soldiers died. Compared to 66.000 dead Finnish soldiers, it�s not difficult to figure out who won that shooting match
Don Martin,
I was surprised too to see the 45-70 make such a good showing. Handloads have been legal since 1993, I�d presume most of the 45-70 shooters handload. And you�re right, after a quick glance at the ballistic tables, the 300 grain factory loads seem to make the minimum energy just barely. I think the 45�s see most of their use in the hands of doghandlers, who often take their game at close range and in very thick brush. 6.5x55s are rare in Finland, but I understand they�re very popular in Sweden.
Ranger Dave,
I reckon that the reason for poor showing of the fast 7mm & 300 mags, is that ranges are usually short, and that a hunter who thinks a 30-06 is not sufficient, will probably make a step up in bore size as well.
BER007,
here�s another link for you http://guns.connect.fi/gow/gunwriters.html
The main writer/editor P.T. Kekkonen is highly opinionated and VERY far from politically correct, but his expertise can not be denied when it comes to history of firearms.
When I get my scanner working, I�ll post some photos and try to introduce the different ways moose hunting is done here in Finland�
Regards,
Otto P.