Scope Options for Alaska moose

[Sako76]

Vern—I will be hunting 80 fly-in miles from Port Alsworth (direction unknown)! The outfitter is Canoe Bay. I’m probably overthinking this. I have extensive hunting experience. Swamps and rivers and everything in between is the terrain I have been told.

I have shot two moose, one in New Foundland at 260 yards using an Alamo Precision Maverick in 300 Weatherby shooting 200 grain Nosler Accubonds. Scope was a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50 which is my primary elk rifle. Moose was shot lying prone (14X).

The other moose was shot in Maine last year using a Nosler Outfitter in 30-06 using 180 grain Nosler Accubonds at 40 yards using a Bog Pog. Scope was a Leupold VX-R 3-9 Firedot which I used. The moose first came out at 200 yards and when I put the scope on him (6x) it looked like the reticle covered a good part of his shoulder. I then lost sight of him till he stuck his head out between two trees. Both moose died on the spot! I love my APR, it weighs 10.2 lbs and is a little heavy. The Nosler had the bolt open and eject a shell while I was walking through some thick brush and I never knew it! I have the same Nosler rifle in 35 Whelen and shoots great, the bolt is making me hesitant! A buddy had the bolt open on his Outfitter also!

I usually shoot a Nightforce in 5-25, 5.5-22 or 4-32 for elk and mule deer out west. I guess I like seeing them up close. I have three 500 yard elk kills, all with first shot hits (all prone). I have shot one elk at 300 yards with sticks and 5 head of African game from 80 to 156 yards, 4 clean kills and one mess! I do not like shooting off sticks.

I guess I don’t like to be under gunned or under scoped. I have a horse farm across the street and practice on them daily from my living room. It’s been 100 degrees out so the horses haven’t been out, the MOAR on the 2.5-10 covers the sheep at 200 yards on 10X. I just recently bought the 2.5-10 scope. I’m leaning on taking a Legendary Arms Works rifle in 300 Winchester Magnum shooting 180 grain Barnes TTSX, it will weigh about 8.5 lbs with the 2.5-10 NF. The scope is still up in the air.

Just trying to cover all the bases, this is probably my first and last hunt in Alaska . Thanks for your help.

300 LAW shoots like this.

 

[roymunson]

I think any scope that holds true will be sufficient.

I killed mine with a 180 TTSX from a 300 WSM

Take a scope you like. If you like to pull them in close and it won't be a brush shot/close range, a 3-15 will be fine.

I killed my moose 500 yards from camp. The extra 10 oz for that distance pales in comparison to the meat weight you're carrying from an extra distance.

 

[B Harrison]

Vern—I will be hunting 80 fly-in miles from Port Alsworth (direction unknown)! The outfitter is Canoe Bay. I’m probably overthinking this. I have extensive hunting experience. Swamps and rivers and everything in between is the terrain I have been told.

I have shot two moose, one in New Foundland at 260 yards using an Alamo Precision Maverick in 300 Weatherby shooting 200 grain Nosler Accubonds. Scope was a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50 which is my primary elk rifle. Moose was shot lying prone (14X).

The other moose was shot in Maine last year using a Nosler Outfitter in 30-06 using 180 grain Nosler Accubonds at 40 yards using a Bog Pog. Scope was a Leupold VX-R 3-9 Firedot which I used. The moose first came out at 200 yards and when I put the scope on him (6x) it looked like the reticle covered a good part of his shoulder. I then lost sight of him till he stuck his head out between two trees. Both moose died on the spot! I love my APR, it weighs 10.2 lbs and is a little heavy. The Nosler had the bolt open and eject a shell while I was walking through some thick brush and I never knew it! I have the same Nosler rifle in 35 Whelen and shoots great, the bolt is making me hesitant! A buddy had the bolt open on his Outfitter also!

I usually shoot a Nightforce in 5-25, 5.5-22 or 4-32 for elk and mule deer out west. I guess I like seeing them up close. I have three 500 yard elk kills, all with first shot hits (all prone). I have shot one elk at 300 yards with sticks and 5 head of African game from 80 to 156 yards, 4 clean kills and one mess! I do not like shooting off sticks.

I guess I don’t like to be under gunned or under scoped. I have a horse farm across the street and practice on them daily from my living room. It’s been 100 degrees out so the horses haven’t been out, the MOAR on the 2.5-10 covers the sheep at 200 yards on 10X. I just recently bought the 2.5-10 scope. I’m leaning on taking a Legendary Arms Works rifle in 300 Winchester Magnum shooting 180 grain Barnes TTSX, it will weigh about 8.5 lbs with the 2.5-10 NF. The scope is still up in the air.

Just trying to cover all the bases, this is probably my first and last hunt in Alaska . Thanks for your help.

300 LAW shoots like this.

After reading this, you probably should just tell us what you’re going to do so we learn.

You got this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[medvedyt]

My 375 Ruger is topped with a Leupold vx6 1-6 x24. It is capable of 3in groups at 400 yard. A moose sized target looks plenty big at 300yd.

Chances are you will be shooting less than 300 yd, and a scope that reduces to 1 or 2x sure makes finding a huge moose in dense brush a whole lot easier. An illuminated reticle can be a nice feature for aging eyes or low light.

I'd look for something less bulky in the 2-10 range and consider an illuminated reticle. Good luck. Don't forget to come back and post pics of the slob you drop!

while i agree on your analysis a low light scope with an aperture of 24mm is not that much help. i have from the same builder a 1.25-4x24 and a 2.5-10x50 both with a german 4 reticle with a little point illuminated if needed and really in low light in the fall for moose and grizzly or in winter the 2.5-10x50 is way above the smaller scope and it is normal of course.