Hello!
I'm an Norwegian guy who hunt for moose every autumn. Here in Norway these animals weigh about 700-1000 pounds(adults), not so very tough but at least heavy enough to demand a serious caliber.
Our minimum is the swedish 6,5*55, which I consider too small and light.
I've used 30-06, 8mm-06, 8*68S, 9,3*62, 9,3*64 and 375H&H(and even a 460 Guns&Ammo just for the hell of it..)
Of about 30 animals taken, my best results has been with the 8mm-06 and the 9,3*62 Mauser. Both with heavy-for-caliber bullets, and thereby low velocity. Is this typical? Are there other opinions out there?

M

It seems like your experience is similar to mine. I have settled on the .35 Whelen for moose hunting, with 250 grain bullets. Exactly in-between your 8mm-06 and 9.3x62 in size and power. I like how the heavy bullets are less likely to be deflected or stopped by heavy bone, and kills are quick.

In Sweden (moose land) the most common caliber is 6,5x55 and wich also are minimum - but i can assure 6.5 always do the job. I took a moose bull last year with my 375 H&H, i used normas African PH ammo - i found the bullet in the opposite shoulder sticking out.

I have shot a lot of animals with my 9,3x74R double rifle. I consider it, and in bolt rifles, the 9,3x62 to be ideal for most all game, with the exception of long range hunting.

It is light for cape buff and elephant, but well handled it has worked on them for me, one shot each.

hy metric

I never hunting moose but others animals ( in all europe) and I used various calbers from the 6.5x55 to 9.3x74 passing for 308 and 30-06 are all optimal calibers !!! But for me is more important shot placement than calbre and is very very important the bullet choice

better 6.5 in the heart that 375 in a leg

bye

b

quote:

Originally posted by expressboy:

...better 6.5 in the heart that 375 in a leg...

The equation is not so simple; there are many other places where the animal can be hit, other than the heart and the leg. I personally prefer more-than-enough cartridges, that can forgive some impact inaccuracy, frequently seen on driven hunts. For that purpose, I use a BAR 300WM or a CZ 9.3x62; my Tikka T3 270WSM is definitely dedicated to chamois and roe deers.

P.S. I forgot to say that it's a general hunting thought; unfortunately, I have no experience of moose hunting.

Metric,

if you are the person that I belive that you are, in reference to that 460 G&A that you have carried I think that you are a well experienced shooter and a rather good shot,

am I right? If so then I reread one of your articles just yesterday,

in my humble opinion there are a few things to consider when hunting moose.

For broadside shots at still or slow moving moose then any and all cals will work, ie those that are legal,

the 6,5 has a great reputation due to it´s humble speeds and long stabile bullets.

Well that covers most still hunting for moose.

For moose hunting with baying dogs the shots are usually with in 30 meters, I belive the average is 18 meters for Sweden,

the needs are towards cals like 8x57, 9,3x57 and the similars, the x62 is considered a bit to much, most dog handlers will not have/allow for shots that are likely to make a complete pass-through for security reasons for the dogs.

For the driven hunts with people or dogs for moose where shots are for most part taken at running/trotting moose at ranges around 60 meters the 9,3 cals and above are preferred in my opinion due to good bone breaking capabilities and some really good bullets,

there really is no place for mag cals, however with good bullet selection they will work but are more muscle/horsepowers than needed.

In Sweden we don´t have a need to put them, moose down on the spot if a shooter knows he has taken a good lung shot or better he will then siece shooting and let the moose walk of and die,

in other places this is not an option hence different shot placement and bigger/heavier bullets and cals.

Well that would sort of summon up my thinking.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by metric:
Hello!
I'm an Norwegian guy who hunt for moose every autumn. Here in Norway these animals weigh about 700-1000 pounds(adults), not so very tough but at least heavy enough to demand a serious caliber.
Our minimum is the swedish 6,5*55, which I consider too small and light.
I've used 30-06, 8mm-06, 8*68S, 9,3*62, 9,3*64 and 375H&H(and even a 460 Guns&Ammo just for the hell of it..)
Of about 30 animals taken, my best results has been with the 8mm-06 and the 9,3*62 Mauser. Both with heavy-for-caliber bullets, and thereby low velocity. Is this typical? Are there other opinions out there?

M

quote:

no place for mag cals

i have shoot 12 moose and all have been shoot with a 338 all of them went from 2 meters to 200 meters after the shot!i have friends that likes the 6,55 too and yes it kills the animals but wery often it takes quiet some long time with a not so good shot before they die!i use that caliber for red deer and reindeer

Just got sorted with an Estonian Friend hunting this winter for Moose bull. We have 02 tags and total cost 500 euros ! He is a resident there.

I plan to bring a 9.3 x 62. I shall report back if it doesn't drop dead and I get charged by a MOOSE......

I dont think its any different than shooting a COW right ???

quote:

Originally posted by donner:

quote:

no place for mag cals

i have shoot 12 moose and all have been shoot with a 338 all of them went from 2 meters to 200 meters after the shot!i have friends that likes the 6,55 too and yes it kills the animals but wery often it takes quiet some long time with a not so good shot before they die!i use that caliber for red deer and reindeer

Do you think the 338 Win did any better than a 9,3x62 or even a 8x57?

I don´t as long as you get above the 6,5x55 level you are gtg.

Btw have you ever seen a moose shot with 180 grains N BT from a 300 Win mag at 20 meters, I have, the cow moose was almost split in half,

my point being at the short ranges were I have hunted for moose there are no needs for mag cals.

The fjaells hunts for moose in northern Sweden calls for extended ranges, 300+ meters at times and yes even there they tend to stick with the 6,5, I belive the thinking is that it´s better to hit the moose then not.

Last I would say that a Reindeer is far more hard to shoot than a moose, but that is just me.

Londonhunter,

use a decent bullet and stay away from the elbow joint in the shot and you will be more than set for that hunt.

Some thing to look forward to I presume.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Husqvarna M98:
Btw have you ever seen a moose shot with 180 grains N BT from a 300 Win mag at 20 meters, I have, the cow moose was almost split in half,

my point being at the short ranges were I have hunted for moose there are no needs for mag cals.

No but the mag calibres can become useable on even short ranges if you stay away from these I would say varmint type bullets like Nosler BT.
For the high speed calibres always use bullets like these bellow and you’ll stay out of trouble even at the short ranges:
Barnes TSX / TTSX
Swift A-Frame
Swift Scirocco II
Speer TBBC
Rhino Solid Shank

Thanks for the advice.

I know from previous experience 9.3 x 62 will do the job (moose) using bonded heads with PLENTY in reserve.

PLACE it well and nothing will get up.

Moose are easy to kill as long as one can abstain from taking shots from bad angles. Simple 6,5x55 will do splendidly, .308Win and .30-06 will do great, and so forth. There is no need to use anything above 9,3 on moose, and this is really not needed unless you track wounded game and really can't abstain from those rear shots for that specific reason.

I have shot a couple of moose with .308 and 9,3x62 and they never knew the difference.

When it comes to scandinavian style moose hunting, using dogs, one is likely to get 4 shots on less than 50 meters for every shot at more than 100.

The difference between 308 win and 9,3*62 on moose is very clear imo! You can clearly SEE the hit with a 286 grain 9,3 bullet, not so with the .308 165/180 grain slug..

M

Well, I use silencers for both my .308 and my 9,3x62, and as they take away the recocil you see the impact of both.

I shot a roebuck last week, range 160 meters, and saw the impact of the .308 bullet at that range (through the scope, or course).

But you are right, the 9,3 impact is more visual but I am unsure if the mooses I've shot with the 308 would have been any deader if I had used the 9,3

The mooses i have shot have walked 0-150m(spine,heart and lung shots).
With both 6,5*55 and 308w. The moose lives ca 10-30s walking 30-150m with a lungshot.