I am a 44Mag fan, shot a lot of deer with it - rifle and handgun, but would prefer something more powerful for an animal as large and muscular as a moose.
Coyote222

 

Its true that isnt the ideal caliber but with 50 yards and good shot placement it would absolutely do the job. I saw a buffalo put down at 35 yards with a 44 mag super redhawk.

 

True this! You have to be a surgeon. Personally I would rather have a 444 marlin. But then I hand load and can load it down to 44 special speeds when I want.

 

Granted - moose certainly are large animals - but they aren't exactly armored plated. If you can kill them with bows and arrows - you can kill them with a .44 magnum if you can get close enough. :tee:

 

You beat me to it Red Leg as I was going to make the same comment.HGunt them like a bowhunter,get close and place your shot.

 

My now deceased Canadian friend used a 32 Winchester special to hunt moose. His son used a Marlin 44 magnum.

Papalote

 

My now deceased Canadian friend used a 32 Winchester special to hunt moose. His son used a Marlin 44 magnum.
Papalote

Ummm - you kinda make it sound like that 32 Win wasn't enough...

 

Plenty of moose taken with 44mag handguns, get close enough and place your shot with that 44 levergun and the work begins! But you'll have plenty of good eats in the freezer!

Good luck
Blood

 

I once watched two Canadian Indians kill a large cow moose with two shots from a stevens .223 bolt action.

 

What do you think Elmer Keith's answer would be?

 

Get off your backside and go shoot the darn moose. is what he would say.

 

In the hands of an expert - hunter and shooter - there's little question that a 44 Mag can do the job.
However, I think you owe it to the moose to bring enough gun to do the job under less than ideal conditions.

 

My Dad killed several Moose with his .35rem Marlin, but never at more than 100yds. So I would expect 44mag would do as well with good shot placement.

 

Sometime in past history, a hunter in Maine bagged a moose with an 1894 Marlin 41magnum. Guess he didn't know it wasn't enough gun. Neither did the moose.

Jeff
NRA Life

 

Keep hearing since the 60's about the power of the 44mag handgun. Considering the advancements in bullet design in the past 50 (?) years and the velocity & accuracy increase from a long barrel rifle. And considering, from what I've seen, how close you can get to them thar Moosk, I'm a figuring it's possible. But of-course, I'd take a 444 for Moose meat.
When I get to Cabala's next week, I always like to look over those "trophy" critters they have on display and figure out what caliber lever should work on it.
I think that when you encounter one "in the wild", they tend to look a lot bigger.

 

It'll do it, but 150 yards is a long poke to get enough penetration. Moose ribs and shoulders are thick and heavy.

I say 'yes' but sneak up on him!

 

Back in the '70s, they shot everything that walked, crawled, or flew with the .44 mag out of a handgun. I feel sure the .44 mag will do the job, but you got to get close enough to put the shot where you want it. Doing so will only make you a better hunter. Nowadays, most seem to think that only a 1000 yd shot is what it takes to take down game. I prefer to get as close to my target as possible. To me, the closer I can get, the better of a hunter I am. If I can get close enough, I'd rather stab 'em with my knife, and save the ammo. I've never even seen a moose, but I carry a really big and sharp knife for the time that I do see one. Now, that would be braggin' rights.......:biggrin:

 

I with you on that one Pete!!! If you cant get close its not really hunting, its just shooting! I have been telling my wife for years that if a Dr ever tells me that I only have so long to live I want to go to Kodiac Island with a very big knife and hunt me a bear!!! Either he will be my dinner or I will be his.... If I got him, I think I would have the best bragging rights of all time.

In normal hunting, I would not take a 44 Mag to hunt moose (just my opinion) but in a survival situation I would take a shot at it with a BB gun if I thought I could take him down long enough to run up and stab him.

444 to me would be a better choice of moose and that is why I want a 444!!! I already have the 44 Mag

Edit: dont get too close to a moose!! they kill more people in Alaska then brown bears...

Doc

 

It will KILL at 200 yards but 150 is max I'd go with it for accurate shots. 200 is my max with 30-30. shooting beyond 200 yards in a hunting situation isn't fun imo. You have to be able to get within 200 yards or something's wrong.

 

Like Wyostillhunter used to say... Hunt close, then get closer. Good shot placement, from a reasonable range, with an appropriate hard-cast bullet, and I reckon a .44 Mag from a carbine would do just fine on a moose. If that moose knows you're there, and has his dander up and his adrenaline flowing - - then I reckon more gun would be necessary. If the critter is mindlessly munching on some chow, the wind is in your favor, and you play your cards right, then a .44 Mag should do the trick pretty nicely.

 

Just saw this on Backpacker Magazine, sounds like you can get really close to them for a good shot......

">> Moose In summer, scope for these behemoths (they can tower six feet tall and weigh more than 1,200 pounds) at dawn and dusk in marshes, willow ponds, and rivers. Approach them from downwind, but stay at least 50 yards away—moose will charge humans who seem to pose a threat"

 

I've never hunted moose but I have seen them pretty close in the past few years while camping/hiking. I am sure the ones I saw were of average size so what I have to offer this thread is this ... they are huge! I am a fan of the .45 colt with 250 gr cast bullets and I would still choose one of my .444's or my 45-70 GS.

What DWB said is what I am thinking also. If a good hunter gets close, it would be no problem taking one with a .44 mag. But for me, I'll go big or stay at home ... :biggrin:.

 

No prob the .44mag will work but like you I say it's a 150yrd gun I would call it a 100yrd gun,but the 30/30 has killed a bunch of moose.
First dead Moose I seen was taken with a 6mm the biggest Elk I seen shot was done with a .250Savage.
I shot a Big Mule Deer once End to End with a .375H&H I was hunting Elk when the Muley steped out of the Trees thing was he was 240 yrd away.
If I am hunting in Timber really any gun will work! Remember a leg shot is a leg shot a lung shot is a lung shot, one will put him down the other will not.
I bet the old .303 Killed more Moose in Canada than a .300win or .338.

 

What bullet weight in .303?...... That's the one cartridge that I've never owned a gun for.

I think that .303, .30 Govt. (.30-40), and .300 Savage are a lot more cartridge than people give them credit for....

I wished I had a good Savage 99 in .300 Savage....

 

around here i can get 150gr or 180gr easily. hornady makes a load too but not sure as to the grains. .303 is a great calibre but it's older and not a new "magnum super whizz banger" still ballistics are pretty darn close to a 30-06. my grandpa gave me my .303 british lee enfield and one day ill pass it on to my boy. great rifle and its downed plenty of moose. also thanks again to everyone who responded to my thread. lots of knowledge and insight on this forum and im happy i joined.

 

The short answer is "yes" a .44 Mag will take a Moose.

The long answer has things in it like heavy bullets, shot placement, bring enough gun, SHOT PLACEMENT... In a pinch? Nothing better at hand? A 300 grainer through the lungs will kill 'em. However, a lightly constructed bullet in the wrong spot and it's gonna get ugly, quick.

If you are in a situation where you want a .44 as a "do all" utility rifle... And MAYBE take a moose if the opportunity presents it self, then I would concentrate on a lot of shooting with a cast 300 plus grain bullet.

If not? Get a bigger cartridge.

 

I wished I had a good Savage 99 in .300 Savage....

They are pretty nice guns!! I have one but cannot shoot it very often as I dont have alot of ammo for it.... I think Im down to 6 rounds.
I got the rifle from my FIL before he passed and it was one of his favorites, he used to take it hunting in Northern Calif before I ever met and married his daughter.


Doc

 

290 LFN BTB in a 44 is as good as a 444 just keep it at or under a 100yds

 

Moose are rather easy to close in on. Be that as it may big diff tween 38 and 44 mag. Shooting the 44 mag well is hard to do. Try hitting a 6" plate at 50 yds with the 38. The 44 mag will take moose further away if rifle is used but handgun skill and power lessens the range. Try shooting a 357 mag then 44 mag to see if you think you can master the cal. Remember 44 spec. fire in the mag just like the 38 spec in the 357. Can be fun. have fun and bangaway.

 

Do it! 44mag is enough!