Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear Big Game Caliber

I have several rifles that I deer hunt with. My favorite is my Remington 700 BDL in .280 Remington. I wanted a rifle I could use out west that I could set up for longer shooting ranges so I bought a Browning Hells Canyon LR in 6.5 Creedmor. I set it up with a bipod and a Leoupold VX5HD 3.x15x56. It seems to be a great set up for antelope and possibly elk but I don't believe it is practical for black bear or moose. I have little experience with hunting large game other than whitetails. I am considering getting either a Hells Canyon Speed or a Christensen Arms in 7 Mag. Would this caliber be adequate for anything in the lower 48 to include moose? Or will my beloved .280 do the trick? Also, I will be applying for a moose tag in several states next year.

For black bear, moose or about anything short of grrizz Id think that 280 stuffed with some 160 grainers would probably be fine.

I’d take that 280, and never look back. The 6.5 will likely work just fine, also. Since you don’t have a 308 or ‘06 to sling heavies, that 280 and 160s would be just as good. I’m no black bear expert, but I know plenty are killed with 243s and 30/30s, each year…..so they’re not overly hard to kill. From what I gather, moose don’t often know they’re hit…..even if it’s by a Mack truck…..but then, they die fairly quick with most any good bullet in the right place….from 243 on up. That’s at least according to my Canadian guide buds, who should know.

Black Bear and Moose aren't in the same bracket. .280 might be considered overkill for a Black Bear by some. Any good deer caliber is all you need there. The Moose on the other hand... is the largest land mammal in North America. I am not sure many realize how big a full size moose really is.

Let's talk moose from personal experience. You could kill a moose with a .22lr with good shot placement such as a head shot. Probably the same with your 9mm pistol. Bow&Arrow - Check that box too. They aren't armor plated and don't shoot back so this is a huge advantage.

However, considering you probably aren't going Moose Hunting several dozen times in your life I think I would shoot something that I knew was going to Anchor the Moose I shot at. That's straight from personal experience. Paying thousands for a story about the one that you couldn't get a clean shot on isn't my thing. I can't call artillery in on a moose but I would if I could.

Shoot one with a .340 Weatherby and it will know it's hit because it will die where you can see it most likely if not where it is standing.

Many Guides out in the western states think a 7 mag is too light for Elk. Not everyone subscribes to this tune where you don't need something that they themselves are not comfortable shooting due to recoil or lack of availability, etc. Energy is Energy. That can't be substituted with a bonded bullet despite some magical thinking.

It would not surprise me to know that more Moose were probably killed with a .30-06 than any other cartridge. Maybe 10 fold.

But that doesn't mean that's what I'm taking. If I am presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity and fail... it won't be because I was trying to shoot one with a .243 that would be ridiculous if even legal to attempt.

Minimum for me would be .338-06 or .35 Whelen and go up from there. 7 mag would do it with good bullets. .338 Win Mag would be a confidence builder that's when they start putting a hurting on a Moose.

Id go with something in 200grain range bullet...300 win mag would be sufficient along with many other calibers depending on shot placement...I would just want something heavy tho if it was me

The 280 will do it with the right bullets. 160 -175 gr well constructed bullets will kill an elk or moose all day. This ain't the time to pick up a box of coreloks or federal blue box. Buy GOOD bullets. John Nosler designed the Nosler partition after a bad experience with cup and core bullets out of his 300 H&H magnum. Hint...

As for a the 6.5 Gheymoor, the Scandinavians have been using the old 6.5x55 with 160 gr bullets for a hundred years to kill moose.

But, I would always recommend a 338 Win Mag for larger critters because it's the greatest cartridge of them all...😁

The biggest reason to carry a gun like a 338 in moose country is because there are other critters like grizzlies in some of these areas. If I was facing an angry bruin, I would not want to be standing in skinny jeans holding a 6.5 Gheymoor.

This. And being it's your go to rifle, that's a no brainer to me. A heavy for caliber partition or a Swift A-frame going around 2800 fps should be lights out for an elk , moose or bear. Then there's the benefit of you putting that bullet where you want it , which is very important.

For heavy large game i would use 30 caliber or larger like a 338 rum

7mm STW

I appreciate all the input from everyone. I just don't want to be undergunned with a once in a lifetime opportunity. That is if I draw a tag.

270 will do it. But I wouldn't take one. Goatkiller is spot on. 300 WBY Mag and up for moose.

Would I use a .264 caliber on moose? I would.

Would I use a .264 caliber on bear? Nope I don't care that uncle frank uses a .223 with 55 grain softpoints bears can hurt ya. I'd either use a .308 or just invite Wes (Au338) along so he could use that .338 Stone cold stunner with 285 grain bullets.

Get ya a 6.8 western/ 270 WSM souped up!!!

I lived in AK for 27 years and killed several moose and bears during my time there, both hunting and professionally. Neither are particularly hard to kill, unless they get fired up. Hunting, I've killed moose, brown and black bears with 30/06, 300 Win Mag, and 375 H&H, and have seen all of them killed with various calibers. Professionally, I've killed probably dozens of moose with 40 S&W, 45 acp and 5.56. All of those had been hit by vehicles or were nuisance animals in semi urban areas. Problem bears were also shot with the 375. The rifles you have will work fine for either moose or black bear with quality bullets, but buy something heavier if you'd like.

There have been a couple of comments about the danger of bears. No doubt, bears can be very dangerous, but don't discount moose. Moose hurt people every year and I've had them be way more aggressive that any bear.

Here's a couple of pics. The bull was 55" and was killed with the 375. The brown bear was a nuisance bear one of my guys killed with a 458 Socom or a 450 Bushmaster, I can't remember which.

[img]https://imgur.com/tGJFlLg[/img] [img]https://imgur.com/DbLpb2P[/img]

I’d carry whichever rifle is lighter. You’re gonna tote it way more than you’re gonna shoot it. Unless you’ve been banking moose points for years, odds are pretty strong that you won’t draw anyway. Good luck though. That $2k+ tag cost keeps me from applying every year.

I'm in a similar situation and contemplating the same thing. I am leaning toward a 280 AI or 7mm mag. In your case, since you already have a 280 I would just take it to a gunsmith and have it rechambered for 280AI and be done with it. 280 AI and 7mm mag are VERY close, but the 280 will have less recoil and muzzle blast

Factory Hornady ammo w 162-grain Hornady ELD-X, the 7mm Mag. runs at 2940 fps and the .280 AI runs at 2850 fp

I would shoot a 175 Partition in the 7 Mag and the difference between that and the 280AI with the heavy bullet is pretty much zero in the real world. 7 Mag is easier to find ammo for in general but that is the only real advantage. If you could load a regular 280 hot it would make me feel better but that would depend on the gun. You might wind up 2500-2600fps with that and that's getting slow for my taste but certainly would kill something. The issue is you don't know where the accuracy will be until you shoot a whole bunch. It can be done. It's just easier to start out with something that already has the desired amount of horsepower. There is no replacement for displacement. Elmer Keith said it best "I like one-shot kills where possible and prefer to do all my hunting before I shoot."

338 Lapua

I’d feel comfortable hunting most anything with my 280 but if I got the chance to go moose hunting no way I’d waste an excuse to buy another rifle.

I’ll never reject an “ actual excuse “ to buy a new rifle. That being said if I was looking for a North America BG rifle I’d go 338win mag #1 or #2 300win mag. Based on being able to find ammo and performance. However i also wouldn’t hesitate to grab my .280 or 35whelen if I was unable to acquire a larger round.