.270 caliber for moose

[Roper]

In another post regarding the .270 cartridge I had made a comment that the .270 was the minimum load for moose. I suggested that caliber acceptability started with the .270 and moved up from there. Quite a few people dissagreed with my opinion. I may be out to lunch with that opinion.
Yes/No?

[exocet]

it's finte, use heavy grain ammo, shoot responsibly ie vitals, know your own and .270s limits. ive taken moose and bears with it.

[sgb]

My uncle's shot upward of 13 moose with a 270. A 270 is fine for moose.

[Hunter300]

I agree with you 100%.

Main reason is just the attitude, skill and seriousness of alot of hunters these days.

Most people will sight in a rifle when they buy it, then hunt for the next ten years without ever firing another shot.

People think if they can hit a piece of paper at 100 yards that its good enough. For me if my rifle could only hit a paper at 100 yards, I'd start a bon fire and burn it. I need my guns to almost be punching the same hole at 100 yards for it to be "good" in my books. I take my hunting very seriously and I have a very high respect for the animals I hunt. I couldn't take it if a moose or bear got away from me injured and died a slow painful death.

In saying that, most people that I've met (up here) can't shoot worth chit, and basically spray and pray. So if someone is going to hit 'em a little far back or low or whatever, might as well hit 'em hard IMO.

I'm sure I could kill a moose with a .22, but would I say that's the minimum caliber? Absolutely not!

I agree with your statement of a minimum .270 caliber for moose.

[deermedo]

I have a trapping partner who has dumped many a moose with a 243. I am talking about 35 years in the bush and no losses yet. In his opinion its all about knowing your gun, waiting... for the proper shot and it may not present itself, practice lots, and if it's risky Forget it!!
This guy has poked them in the nose straight on, boiler room on the side, head shots, and hump shots with a 243 Colt and a 3x9 Redfield with wicked results. Personally I shoot a 300WSM now with a scope but I shot a 308 peeper for years until the eyeballs started to show their age. Back in the day my father was a 30-30 man probably like most of yours and I don't remember any woundings growing up and we were raised on wild game. I remember conversations like "Why the hell would anyone one of them cannons" referring to a 303. These guns today (my 300 included) shoot way farther than most hunters should attempt in my opinion.

[HuntCamp'r]

My opinion - Waiting for the ethical shot is an important factor, in deciding what the minimum caliber is.... With the proper shot, a 22-250, 243, etc etc, will easily kill a moose, if your shot is good. If you feel that busting through shoulder blades, breast-bones, tail-bones etc is something you want to do, a larger caliber would be warranted..... But I think if that kind of hitting power is "mandatory", then arrows would not be acceptable either..... Each to their own.. Everyone knows their own style, skill level and patience.

[bigpole]

nothing wrong at all with a .270 for moose hunting

[Camocruzr]

I wonder what Jack O'Conner would say about a 270. All the magnum, short magnum caze is just marketing. Love to load a dummy round stick it in your clip and watch the flinch show. Each to there own but the 270 is a killing machine in the right hands.

[terrym]

The .270 has and will continue to kill moose every year. A moose is like the tire on a front end loader, put a hole in it and it will slowly deflate and die. Pound for pound i find a whitetail deer much tougher than a moose. Use your .270 and dont worry what others think. The late Jack Oconnor harvested moose and elk easily with one before the days of hunting penned in ranch game for television shows with attractive hosts.

[HuntCamp'r]

I think some of us are misunderstanding Roper's question here... He's not asking if the 270 is acceptable... He's asking if it should be considered the "minimum". I had to go find the other "270" thread to understand what others were disagreeing with, but....... It appears that some disagree that 270 is the minimum.... and that there are smaller calibers that are just fine for moose hunting.

Personally I would choose my .270 for moose... because I'm comfortable that it will do any job I ask it to.. and I like the gun.... but if someone is comfortable with something smaller... I'm fine with that too.