Hunting moose with .280 ?

[hawkeyeshoooer]

I have a 25-06 that Im going to change out to a 280 Rem caliber. Throat so I can load slugs such as the 175 RN Hornaday out to get max powder capacity and my intent is to use this for MOOSE! and probably moose alone although a black bear may slip into the scope on occasion.

Will a 280 fulfill my needs or is it a pipe dream? Dont want some shoulder busting pachyderm killer just something to put an end to a large moose!

 

[jds holler]

I've killed several elks with a 270, and my main complaint is that it often does not exit. I'd expect about the same with your 280 on a moose.

Mooses are huge, but they die from a lethal wound same as everything else. You just don't want them to wander a half mile out into the swamp before they expire.

I predict that you're gonna get a lot of opinion from guys who like me, who have never shot a moose or a 280. jd

 

[CharlieNC]

For moose I screwed on a 338-06 barrel. Recoil was not bad, and probably not too much more than the 280. It was quite accurate and I regret selling that barrel, the moose regretted the timing though.

 

[jepp2]

Will a 280 fulfill my needs or is it a pipe dream?

Bullet selection and shot placement trump caliber. I shot a moose with a 54 caliber muzzleloader (430 gr. Maxi Hunter) and it moved exactly 1 pace.

 

[Barlow]

Shoot it where it lives (heart lung area) and it will die. Barlow

 

[AckleymanII]

Nosler manual #4 has some pretty impressive load data for 160 and 175g partitions.

I shot a 160g Nosler partition in a 24" barrel at 2920 fps with IMR 7828, load right out of that manual.

However, I did not shoot moose, instead deer, elk, and a black bear that I called in with a hand held varmint call.

For deer, I substituted the 160g Sierra BTSP, and this load is a Magic load for dropping large bucks near and far.

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[mikeinct]

If you have a Savage long action..I put together a 35 whelan to shoot the Hornady 250 gr. soft point...interlock #3520.. Shoots lights out at 200 yards..Potent & accurate that old magnum taper Adams & Bennett barrel..I can get you the load data..We never drew Moose tags in NH. as non residents...The terrain you will be hunting will determine the distances you will need to cover..Up there in the northern most lakes/forest region.You can find shots from point blank to 350 yds..We had 4 rifles..35 Whelan..7 mm Mag..30-06 & my old 270 Win. The Whelan was the best ..mike in ct..PS:.We have added a 375 H&H to the line up but it was never put into service either..one other thing about the 35 caliber..We are a two man, two women team..The 35 caliber was so easy to make low recoil practice ammo for..Sometimes you just get too close for comfort w those big critters..we all shot everything offhand for practice a few times up in the great north woods...

 

[okie]

I have not shot a moose. Shot plenty cows and horses. I asked a cow once if the 30.06 did a good job of killing her. She said it did fine. Her grandam had been killed with a 300 mag, and once told her she thought it did a better job than the .30-.30 that killed her sire.
I am sorry.
I couldnt resist being a smartaxx today.

 

[okie]

I have a 25-06 that Im going to change out to a 280 Rem caliber. Throat so I can load slugs such as the 175 RN Hornaday out to get max powder capacity and my intent is to use this for MOOSE! and probably moose alone although a black bear may slip into the scope on occasion.

Will a 280 fulfill my needs or is it a pipe dream? Dont want some shoulder busting pachyderm killer just something to put an end to a large moose!

that .280 will work just fine---

 

[msinc]

My 280's are Ackley Improved versions and the 175 grain Partition, especially loaded with Reloder 26 is a killer. As posted above, the 35 Whelen would also be a great candidate for what you are doing.

 

[Tod Hendricks]

I have shot a few moose, and been involved in many other. Started with magnums, my last was with a 284 and a 180 Berger VLD. Maybe we have been fortunate, they all have dropped very fast. If you hit them in the lungs your 25-06 will do the job very well, its surprising how fast a big moose will wheeze and drop.

As Okie said, that .280 will work just fine.

 

[ClassCat]

Dropped an Elk that dressed at 300 about 6 years ago with a 270 Parker Hale using a 150 grain Sierra Spitzer @175 yards. One shot in the Heart did the trick. Went about 2 steps and dropped. Shot placement is critical,unless you want to chase it 1/2 a mile.

 

[mikeinct]

You guys can call me a big old girl..But I'll tell you.. I have been on many miles of narrow slippery moose trails while partridge hunting up in the North country..A standing broadside shot from any distance is peachy..It is the face to face confrontations that get the hair up on the back of my neck..I'm standing there w only a 12ga o/u shotgun...Stupid dogs, big mean stupid moose...Mike

 

[rammac]

I'm seriously curious as to why so many people seem to be infatuated with the idea of using the smallest caliber possible to kill an animal?

 

[pirate ammo]

You guys can call me a big old girl..But I'll tell you.. I have been on many miles of narrow slippery moose trails while partridge hunting up in the North country..A standing broadside shot from any distance is peachy..It is the face to face confrontations that get the hair up on the back of my neck..I'm standing there w only a 12ga o/u shotgun...Stupid dogs, big mean stupid moose...Mike

find the nearest tree ,climb,I'm already there,,

 

[JRS]

I'm seriously curious as to why so many people seem to be infatuated with the idea of using the smallest caliber possible to kill an animal?

The Swedes and Norwegians have killed many thousands of moose with the lowly 6.5x55 Swede. It's all about shot placement and a properly constructed bullet.

 

[ClassCat]

I'm seriously curious as to why so many people seem to be infatuated with the idea of using the smallest caliber possible to kill an animal?

Why do you consider a 270 or 280 a small caliber ? I believe it is all about shot placement. I personally will pass on a critter that i cannot drop with a clean kill shot.
When i lived in N Y, my Uncle had 13 acres in Catskill. Apple trees on the property. Target RICH enviorment. I watched him drop a 12 pointer with 1 shot from a Ruger #1 in 22-250. Head on shot at 75 yards. The critter jumped about 8 feet straight up and dropped where he was hit. SHOT PLACEMENT !

 

[284winner]

Do not under estimate the .280. It's today's 7 mag. Bullets and powders today give it a huge advantage from years back. There is no animal in North America that cannot be hunted and harvested with a .280 Remington preferably custom reloaded while using the proper bullet for the game hunted.

 

[okie]

Do not under estimate the .280. It's today's 7 mag. Bullets and powders today give it a huge advantage from years back. There is no animal in North America that cannot be hunted and harvested with a .280 Remington preferably custom reloaded while using the proper bullet for the game hunted.

yep---truth here

 

[jepp2]

It is the face to face confrontations that get the hair up on the back of my neck..

Or the hair on the back of the moose neck. This was the second picture I took. She came after me. It wasn't until later I figured out why. First picture everything was normal, second picture about 18" of her mane standing straight up. I didn't realize my camera was flashing her. She was persistent and it took me several minutes to evade her. She was just protecting her calf.