Hunting Alaskan moose with a 10mm

[gofastman]

/flame suit on 

could it be done? with a mechtech or longslide and a HOT, HOT, HOT hardcast load?
My uncle invited me to stay with him up in AK for a little while to get some work around the place.   he said he'd take me moose hunting I'm by far most comfortable with my mech tech and g20 as far as being able to hit a target.

[DM1906]

Could it be done? Sure.
Advisable? No.
At best, no more than a back-up weapon, or extremely close range with no better option available in a survival situation. I wouldn't do it, on purpose. No way. They don't go down easy with big magnum rifles, as it is. Any story to the contrary is the exception, not the rule, or just a story.

[gofastman]

Could it be done? Sure.
Advisable? No.
At best, no more than a back-up weapon, or extremely close range with no better option available in a survival situation. I wouldn't do it, on purpose. No way. They don't go down easy with big magnum rifles, as it is. Any story to the contrary is the exception, not the rule, or just a story.

Oh really? I didn't realize they were so tough, I thought they were just a lot bigger, not necessarily much tougher/harder to kill than a whitetail

[DM1906]

Moose are up there with the largest, most aggressive, territorial, and toughest kills on this continent. Nothing remotely close to scrawny little whitetails. 3rd, after polar and brown bears, but not by much.

[Ramjet]

They kill them with archery equipment.

Mechtech and a good 200 grain hard cast or that Hawk i just tested would be a good round would it be enough if you are close and you put inot the boiler room should be. Respect the limitations but really I would take something else. Like a good 358 Winchester, 338 Win Mag, 375 H&H.

[DM1906]

.... And the natives killed them with spears, sticks and stones. There were, however, a bunch of hunters in the party, and their motives were quite different.

Archery is a completely different game. I've yet to hear of any DRT kills with an arrow (not that they've never happened, just I haven't heard). Most are never found.

At best, you'll be able to top about 900 FPE, and a KO of 16, at the muzzle. That doesn't get you half way there for either. At even 25 yds, it's dismal. The 10mm Auto is a lot of things, but it just doesn't fit in this picture. The bullet won't matter as much as a dozen other factors, which also don't fall in your favor.

[Ramjet]

Did you read my last sentence?

[DM1906]

I did, and no offense intended. It seems you get it, and I didn't mean to insult your intelligence.

Just continuing the discussion, as to why I think it's a really bad idea to rely on the 10mm for this. Just trying to keep it real.

[Ramjet]

No problem , I agree with you lots of much better choices especially in handguns.

460 S&W

500 S&W

475 Linebaugh

Even the 454 Is a much better choice in a handgun.

Then consider the many great wildcats and TC contenders.

Yup 10mm really really bad choice.

[cwlongshot]

If you get close, use good ammo and bullets, pick your shots and make them good, the 10 will do the job just fine... 


Like most animals in the USA the 30-30 has killed more than any others. Its of allot less power then the ''experts'' say is needed too. 

CW

[Ramjet]

yea but CW with my suggestion he has and excuse to go buy another handgun and that my friend is a good thing.

[The_Shadow]

I would air on the side of be humane and use something else besides the 10mm anything!  Bragging rights don't = humane kills! Sorry!      If you're on a trophy hunt, don't screw it up by wounding the animal and possible loosing it because it ran off. May run to an un-accessible area, where you may not retrieve it.    Could it be done yes!  There is a video of a moose being shoot with a 10mm. (can seem to put my mouse on it)  There was a guy that shot a moose that was terrorizing his dog, using the Glock 20 with FMJ's, he was questioned by Alaska State Troopers in the show.

All that said, If I was hungry and it was all I had to shoot with, I would take my chances with the 10mm.

[DM1906]

If you get close, use good ammo and bullets, pick your shots and make them good, the 10 will do the job just fine... 


Like most animals in the USA the 30-30 has killed more than any others. Its of allot less power then the ''experts'' say is needed too. 

CW

Just how close do you really want to get to a 7 foot tall (shoulders), 1,500 pound bull? Alaskan moose are of the largest on Earth. I wouldn't hunt moose with a .30-30, not that you couldn't. Still, it has more than twice the bullet energy of the healthiest of healthy 10mm Auto. Comparing moose to any common "deer" is just silly. Cows aren't as large as bulls, but still at least 3-4X that of any whitetail, and all attitude if she's got a calf nearby. Bulls don't need a reason. If you're close enough to get a pistol shot (with something as puny as the 10mm), you're too close. You won't have enough bullets, and you're dead before you reload. This animal can run at 30 MPH for 100 yds, after having it's lungs blown out. I don't mean any disrespect to anyone in this discussion, but it's just silly. A wrong turn here will get you killed. Moose kill more people than black bear, brown bear, grizz, and wolves combined. Probably gators and sharks too, but I don't recall hearing about them in the stats. I haven't checked, but it may not even be legal to hunt moose with an auto pistol, for the reason Shadow pointed out. Many/most states have minimum power requirements for taking game.

An exaggeration? Perhaps, but just a little.

[REDLINE]

could it be done?

Yes.

with a mechtech or longslide and a HOT, HOT, HOT hardcast load?

Yes, but not necessary to that extent.  A 200XTP @ 1200 FPS or more should work with proper shot placement too.  It's my understanding that Elk have tougher hide/muscle/bone to penetrate than moose.  And it's not like all Bull Moose are 1500 pounds either.  Adult Alaskan Bull Moose RANGE from 1000-1600 pounds.  Of course that's not to say you won't end up running into the one that hits 1601 pounds.  And with some beginners luck, who's to say.

My uncle invited me to stay with him up in AK for a little while to get some work around the place.   he said he'd take me moose hunting I'm by far most comfortable with my mech tech and g20 as far as being able to hit a target.

Sounds awesome with a chance of a lifetime opportunity.  I know I'ld love to hear your Moose VS 10mm success story no matter what anyone else says.  That will be waaaaaaaay more exciting than all the everyday Whitetail Deer stories and such!

You'll certainly want to be prepared physically, mentally, and equipment wise, but at the end of the day if you set your mind to it you should have at least a fair chance of success without getting dead in the process.  Sometimes it more difficult fighting off the wolves and grizzlys after the kill.

Anyway, if it works out, Good Luck!

[gofastman]

Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate the calm, informative responses.

I have been to AK a few times before and I have seen quite a few moose, but I dont have any experience with hunting game bigger than jackrabbit (shot it with an AK74, funny story) or the killing power of the 10

I guess Id better load up a few hundred mild .454 rounds and put in some seat time with the Super Redhawk.
Maybe a .454 Rossi would be a good purchase  I have also been pondering a .480 SRH