Author Topic: Moose hunting, where do you draw the line for cartridges? (Read 2186 times)

John Y Cannuck · « **on:** June 27, 2003, 01:37:46 AM »

Lets keep this civil please.

How small a cartridge would you be comfortable hunting with?

I have hunted with the 6.5X55 for moose. Didn't connect. I was comfortable as long as it was a close shot. But when a big cow (no tag) stepped out of the bush around the long swamp I was watching, at 300 yards, I wasn't too comfortable.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2003, 06:01:57 AM »

Even though I'm aware of the reputation of the 6.5X55. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with a cartridge with a bore smaller than 7mm, and energy levels below 7X57, 7mm-08 and .300 Savage and cartridges of that class. I also wouldn't feel comfortable with a 7mm or .30 calibre magnum shooting hard bullets - I've seen too many bad situations with those combos.

Ron T. · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2003, 05:09:54 PM »

John

Im sure a moose could be killed with a .243 Winchester using the right bullet put in exactly the right place. But THAT doesnt make the .243 a moose rifle.

Your 6.5X55 is a fine, long range deer cartridge and it will kill a moose just as will the .243, but THAT does NOT make it a moose cartridge either!

When I stood by my downed 1400+ lb. moose with a 5-foot antler spread that stood OVER 6-feet at the shoulder with a liver the size of a wash tub I felt that my .338 Winchester magnum using my handloaded 210 grain Nosler Partition bullet wasnt too-much-rifle to use.

But had I hit that moose with my .300 Savage using a 180 grain Nosler Partition, it would have killed that moose just as dead just as fast if I had the same bullet placement as I had with the .338 magnum.

I believe any reasonable .30 caliber (.300 Savage, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield) firing a relatively heavy (180 grain minimum), high-quality bullet at with the reputation of giving good expansion and excellent penetration (like the Nosler Partition bullet) would be adequate for a large moose. You dont really need a .300 Whiz-Banger Super Magnum. Moose havent suddenly grown armor plate, but they are big, tough animals that cling HARD to life.

Therefore, a larger diameter, deep penetrating bullet is the key to making a good kill on such large, tough game. Something of a larger caliber would, I believe, be better something like a .35 Whelen or a .358 Winchester using a 225 grain or a 250 grain Nosler Partition would do the trick as well.

Of course, I know from first-hand experience that a .338 Winchester Magnum shooting a .210 grain Nosler Partition bullet @ 3,020 fps works. Those large moose antlers decorating my big fireplace prove that.

Strength & Honor

Ron T.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2003, 10:07:29 AM »

Yup, 338WM works very very well, been there done that.
But there are still countless hunters in my home Province of Ontario that go armed with the 30-30, and the 35Rem for example. (very close shooting here)
There was an article about a young lady that did take one with a 243 in "Ontario Out of Doors" a while back (seven shots I think)

Please don't compare the 243 to the 6.5X55 they are worlds apart.

Ron T. · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2003, 10:58:43 AM »

Ohhh... I agree, John...

There's a big gulf between the .243 and the 6.5X55mm... really no comparison. That said, I still don't consider the 6.5X55 Swede a "moose cartridge", but given the bullet placement I had with my .338 magnum, even the little "Swede" OR a .243 (that is what I meant to say, if I didn't make that clear) would have downed that big moose.

I'm not trying to set myself up as a "moose" or a "bullet" expert, but I have seen the results of many cartridges on many different game animals shot from a variety of ranges under different circumstanses and I've form opinons based on the facts I've seen.

Almost ANY rifle bullet, if placed in EXACTLY the right place, will kill almost ANY game animal... given enough time. But THAT factor alone doesn't make that cartridge truly "suitable" for moose, does it?

What I am talking about is a "moose cartridge" which, day-in and day-out, will HUMANELY take a moose with those "less-than-perfect" shot placements we get in REAL LIFE hunting situations.

I don't believe a .30/30 is an adequate moose cartridge either, but given good bullet placement and relatively close range... YES... even the venerable old .30/30 will kill a moose.

Where, in your opinion, do the "moose cartridges" begin? Where do you think we should "draw-the-line" on "moose cartridges"?

Ron T.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2003, 02:13:08 PM »

Yup, that was my question.
I've used the 338Wm myself, it's deadly, no question. But I wanted an opinion on the lightest you'd feel comfortable with, not what will do the job, as we all know just about anything will. I'm comfortable with the 308 Win, the 300Sav, and with the 303British myself. I don't know if I'd want to go any lighter. All three of the above have excellent kill records in our bush.
The 6.5X55 has killed a pile of moose in Scandanavia. But their moose are a touch smaller. I doub't I'd be comfortable with it afield again.

The deerslayer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2004, 04:17:28 PM »

I wouldent go any less than the 270 energy wise.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2004, 04:41:44 PM »

I posted this thread a while ago, I'm hunting out of a new moose camp now, with an old timer, that hunt's with a BLR 308. He likes the gun, but he swears that his old 30-30 dropped moose faster :eek: :eek:

Huntinbull · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2004, 10:33:08 AM »

John Y,
I think that a 6.5x55 with a heavy for caliber bullet that is tough and features controlled expansion will work fine out to 200 yards. I think a 160-170 grain soft point travelling over 2500 fps will work wonders on moose at 0-200 yards, due to the great penetration of the long, heavy bullets. Those long bullets retain a heavy shank that keeps drivin into the moose, penetrating deep.
..
Huntinbull

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2004, 11:31:49 AM »

Yeah, that's what I thought when i took it out, but when a really BIG moose steps out, and it's a bit farther away than you'd like, it's too late to run back and switch rifles. Under 200, I agree it has worked fine before, and will continue to.

panman · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2004, 04:31:13 AM »

270 is plenty.pan.

Rmouleart · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2004, 08:18:15 AM »

I would not go less than a 270 either, Its our responsibility to kill our game quickly and efficiently as possible, so there is not further suffering, I want to see his legs give out and drop to the ground, don't always happen, but its what I would like to see, Last year I saw a young woman hunter down a huge moose in Alaska, she hit that big moose at 180 yards and he dropped like a bad habit, she was using a partition bullet, worked well. But I prefer 30 cal's or bigbore's for big animals, My Marlin 450 guidegun fits the bill just right;) Man I can't wait to try it out on a big bull moose. When hunting big dangerous game be very selective when selecting your caliber, never undergun your self, or it may be your demise. Id rather be over gunned than undergunned any-day of the week.
Aim small hit small. RAMbo.