Alaska Moose Hunt

T

trailhound

New member
I've got a friend who is going on a moose hunt and wants to use my rifle. Is there a minimum grain bullet that can be used. I have a 338 Win Mag and usually shoot 175 gr Barnes X bullets in it. I suggested a heavier bullet to him but he thinks it will be enough. He is an excellent shot and not afraid of a large magnum. I just don't feel this is a large enough bullet for such a large animal. 225 or 250 grain?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I use a 270, my dad uses a 7mm mag. I bet my dad has shot at least 10 moose up here. I only remember 1 that took more than one bullet.

I have shot one moose with the 338, I think i used a 200 something grain bullet. It fell right down.

I really dont think moose are all that tough. Id just pick an accurate round and stick with that. I would still use a good big game bullet though such as partition, or a hornady interlock.
 
I have been on several moose hunts here in Maine, and all but one has gone down from a single shot using a 300 win magnum using 180 grain nosler partition bullets. The only other one was shot with a 30-06 using 165 grain bullets. They go down pretty easy with good shot placement.
 
I use a .338 Win Mag, not for the required take down of the moose, but for the regreted encounter with brown bear......7mm mag or 30-06 will do the job with proper shot placement..............


Loren
 
Like above, I think shot placement is key. Bullet performance is important, but it all pivots on shot placement. I'd be more comfortable with 220's in a 338 for Moose, but the smaller good quality bullets will do the job if the hole is in the right place!
 
i shoot 250 gr out of my .338 mag for moose, like these guys said its shot placement but a little more lead couldent hurt . where ever there are moose there are Brown Bears , big ones.
 
I've shot ;ots of moose with a 7mm Rem mag and 160 Nosler partitions. Kills them graveyard dead. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Not to many hunters up here use the Barnes 175 in the 338 Win. The 225 Barnes TSX is very good as well as the 225 and 250 Nosler Part in the 338 Win mag.

Good choice of cal. one of my favorite for Alaska as well as the 30-06 with 180 Nosler Part have served me well.
 
The ability to deliver accurate shot placement is the key. I've taken moose with 300 Win, 338, 375, 416 and 50 Beowulf and they and others will do the job if used correctly. I seen moose take some very well placed high quality bullets from some very powerful rounds with no apparent effect. My experience with over a dozen Alaska moose is that it is a long ways from a bang flop deal. I've seen a couple go down easy but most didn't. What ever caliber/bullet combo you choose should reflect the very real possibility that you will be dealing with a brown bear before the deal is over. Also if you are not on the highway system or are not using a vehicle and packing out everything on your back you may want to cosider how effectively you can put a moose down where you want them. I decided to go from a 338 to a 375 while butchering a moose that had ran about 50 feet after a good hit and decided to give it up in the crotch deep ice water of a beaver pond. I decided a 416 should replace the 375 after a couple growlers offered to help with the meat. If your ability to handle them is the same I would recommend bigger.
I can honestly say out of everything listed above only the 416 Remington effected my ability to shoot it well. I reload everything and a good well constructed bullet like the Nosler or Hawk that can penetrate bone and break them down where you want them is my choice.
 
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