I have the opportunity to hunt moose in Maine next year, depending on if I can draw a tag. My only big game rifle is a Ruger Mark II in 7x57 Mauser, topped with a 3-9x40 Leupold. I figure a 175 grain Partition loaded to 2500-2550 fps and shots kept within 200 yards should be sufficient to bring home the "bacon". Thoughts?

I wouldn't hesitate to take that load and rifle out after moose. I've only shoot 2 moose myself and they were both shot with a 375H&H but I hunted quite a bit with my 280 and 175gr Partions. I just happened to be carrying the 375 when I ran into both of the moose. Good luck on the drawing.....your rifle should work just fine.

Jarrett

I have never heard of anyine losing a moose (Although my experience is limited to the shiras Moose). While they are big animals, and it probably will not drop first shot, it probably won't go far. While I wouldn't recommend this cartridge for Elk, I think it will be fine for Moose,

That will be a great mid-range moose load. Lots of penetration, which is needed on moose. Maybe a 160 gr. Fail Safe or Barnes X would be other solid choices.

If it helps Finn Aargard reccomended this combination for moose. I myself went to a 175gr Swift A frame as it grouped to the same POI and I didn't want to be tempted to use it as a regular load (I've bought my deer load in bulk)at $2 a bullet I acheived that aim!

44.5gr VVN160 seated to base of cannelure MV 2450fps with more to come.

My 9.3 didn't break so I didn't use it.

Hey, didn't you know that 7mm Magnum is the minimum that an elk can die from? A 7x57 is hardly a 7mm Remington magnum, how do you expect this slow, lumbering cartridge to kill something way bigger than an elk? I can't believe how naeve that is, lots of guys have told me that my .30-06 is a bare minimum for the mule deer I hunt. Of course, they wouldn't believe if I said my biggest mule deer buck was taken with a puny .243 and Nosler Partitions.
If you didn't pick it up, the first half of this post is sarcasm. The 7x57 with a 175 gr. bullet will certainly take a moose if you put the bullet in the right spot. I don't know that it will penetrate it from one end to the other, but I'm sure the Partition will break a shoulder and keep on going. It's all about bullet placement. Use your 7x57 and smile for the cameras.
Yardbird

Don't be afraid to use the 7x57 on moose. I do not own this caliber myself but have shot many, many moose with what the gun writer's say is not even close to ideal,the .308. Granted, lately most of the moose my brothers and i shoot have been with .375 h&h, only because of the brown bear in the area where we hunt. My sister inlaw shot her moose with the .308 this year. Moose are not the die hard animal people think they are, 99% of the time they just fall over dead. Last year my brother did have his moose go about 30 yards, hardly a tracking issue.If ellephants can be taken with a 7x57, so can a moose. Good luck. P.S. One trick i have learned is to shoot only the moose who can't read, that way they won't know that there not being shot with a super magnum and they just fall over.

Dogger,
People have been tipping moose over with 25-35's and 30-30's for many decades. Neither would be my first choice but neither would I turn down a moose with either one. I shoot a Ruger 77 MKII in 7x57 and would feel perfectly comfortable with the load you have chosen. They say "beware the man who owns but one rifle, he probably knows how to use it". Enjoy your hunt, tell us all the details, and shoot your 7x57 with confidence.

GSF1200, I hope your hunting skills exceed your powers of reading comprehension. In my original post I stated that I have only one big game rifle, not only one gun.

To all the others who responded with replies worthy of this great forum, thanks for your feedback!

Cheers, Dogger.

GSF1200, as I carefully reread the post I can see your point. I must confess I took it the other way. There is sufficient ambiguity for a reader to take it either way. As my English teacher used to say, "This is the sort of diction up with which I shall not put". In any case, you are back in my good graces and I hope I am in yours. When in your neck of the woods I will buy you a beer!

Cheers to all!

Dogger

Dogger,
Those people from that part of Louisiana can't read speak or write English anyhow so don't feel bad about ambiguity.