.30-06 ammo for Moose?
I have been drawn for a Bull Moose tag this year. This will be my first Moose hunt. I have a .30-06, and I usually just hunt deer. I have been using the (Federal) Fusion 165 grain bullets (link to ballistics). I imagine that I would want to use something with more energy behind it for a Moose. I have read that people suggest a 180 grain bullet. I have heard that some people feel that a 165 grain SPBT will do the trick as well. I normally hunt deer in the bush. I usually am closer than 100 yards before taking the shot. I'm not sure it this will be the case when hunting a Moose. I'm not comfortable taking a shot over 200 yards (maybe 250 yards if the conditions are good). I want to make a clean kill, without excessive damage to the meat or prolonged pain for the animal. What ammunition do you suggest? |
Moose Ammo
I take them with 165 Accu Tip Boat Tails from Remingtion. Your Federal Fusion is premium ammo as well and if you hit him in the "basket" he is going down and fast. If you are really concerned go to 180 in the same bullet. You will find that the ballistics are not that much different. Energy = Mass X velocity. Big bullet slower speed or smaller bullet faster speed equals just about the same yield at the hitting end within reason.
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You don't need a howitzer for moose, like the US forums they are convinced they need a .458 or 416.I've dumped truck loads with a .270 and 130gr Hornadys.Any 30-06 bullet from 150 up will work fine as long as it's of stout construction you'll have no problems............Harold *moose arn't tough like elk
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You should be fine
In Newfoundland hundreds of moose have been taken and are still taken with a .303 British (usually 180gr). Also popular are the .30-30 and .270 (average shot under 100yds).
So you are good to go with what you have in terms of power.:cool: However, equipment aside, if you drew a moose tag around Drumheller (wide open), then you might want to get more comfortable at 200 yds. Moose might not have too keen of eyesight but that snout can pick up scent easy on flat windy prairie. As it has been said many times shot placement is paramount and not believing in your skills at longer ranges may handicap you when the time comes to sqeeze that trigger. |
Good Point
That's a good point.
The difference in energy at less than 200 yards is nominal. Load No. Grains M.E. 100 y 200 y 300 y 400 y 500 y F3006FS2 165 2852 2458 2109 1800 1527 1287 F3006FS3 180 2913 2540 2206 1907 1640 1403 It would be nice to use the same ammo for Deer and Moose. I just wonder if it is a good idea. |
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Ha ha that is so funny, because it is true. I read an article by a guy hunting moose in Newfoundland and he adamant that the .300 win mag was the absolute minimum for moose:rolleye2: |
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I better start exercising :o ... that area is 'muscular power only', and the rifle season is Nov 1st to Nov 23rd. |
You'll need some snow, a couple of Crappy Tire toboggans, and some able-bodied friends willing to be paid in moose.
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I've used the Federal Premium 180 gr. Barnes TSX. Great penetration, won't come apart if you hit bone (my experience the tipped bullets go to pieces when you hit the shoulder bone and almost never leave an exit wound - if you're in the bush a big blood trail is very nice to have) and it leaves an exit wound 99.9% of the time which makes any needed tracking much easier. It also expands nicely and retains almost 100% of its weight. It also shoots as flat or flatter than 150 and 165 grain bullets and because it's long for its weight is acts like a 200 grain bullet when it hits. It's all I use now in my 30-06 for everything from deer and elk to bear and moose. Not to mention I've also had very little blood shot meat with this load. Its also fairly accurate out of my gun.
Hit the moose in the shoulder and it will break the shoulder, take out the lungs and break the off shoulder and will exit. Good luck |
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http://www.barnesbullets.com/product...ed-tsx-bullet/ |
Stubble,
As I stated, in my experience, plastic tipped bullets have gone to pieces when hitting bone. I am sure others have not had this experience. Should have also specified that my exp. was with the Nosler Ballistic Tips. I agree the MRX looks great. Haven't tried it yet to see if its more accurate but I have little doubt that this will work as well as the TSX. Let's face it though, there is not another tipped bullet out there built like the MRX either. |
You can always count on me, FatBuck! (and I have a Crappy Tire toboggan to boot!) :lol: You know how to get a hold of me if you have some heavy pulling to do.
Congrats on the draw, BTW. Hope you have heaps of fun with your hunt! Stinky |
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And the ballistic tip just happens to be one of if not the lightest constructed plastic tipped big game bullets available.Even Noslers own accubond is much tougher. Quote:
http://www.winchester.com/products/c...?bn=16&type=69 Another tipped bullet that won't likely come apart. http://nosler-bullets.com/?p=3&bullet=20 And yet another tipped bullet that will not likely break up on bone. http://www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/notes/0712/ |
first moose i got was with a 257wby with 100gr barnes x at a 100'n some yards.
the next was with a 7ultramag 165(?)gr if your the least bit nervous, go 180gr and move in. lf you shoot the boiler room at a quartering away shot, meat damage will be small...the main circ pump is about the size of a ice cream pail, the air management system is the size of a five gallon pail giver hard!!! |
Your 165 gr Fusions should do the job just fine. If you prefer the additional thump, a 180 gr will do nicely.
Don't worry about a long range shot with moose. I have only ever seen one moose taken at long range, and that was by one of my army sniper buddies. All others were well within 100 metres. |
I would not hesitate to use the 165gr fusion,but if you do want a tougher bullet,consider the loads with the nosler partition,trophy bonded tip,or the barnes tsx.
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/rifle.aspx Any of these will be fine in 165gr or 180gr.And as previously posted,using a heavier bullet will not add any significant energy,especially at closer ranges. The only way to really gain any energy is to go with a load like the Hornady light magnum.It will add a bit of energy,but the bullets used in these loads are not as tough as the bullets listed above.With big game like moose,a tougher bullet is more important than a little extra energy. https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_ses...bb152612e888c8 |
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I actually have a box of Federal Premium VitalShok 165 GR Nosler Ballistic Tip (P3006Q), and a box of Hornady "30-06 SPRG 165 GR INTERBOND". I just havn't tried them yet. |
why Change
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I'd have to check the logs, but I think it is somewhere around 30 moose killed by different people using handloaded ammo made by me, using 165 grain Game Kings, either from 308 WIN or 30'06.
They flat out work..... Cat |
I've taken 2 moose and an elk with my .30-06 and 165 grain Interbonds (factory loads). They performed flawlessly. I only recovered one, and it looked like one out of a magazine ad.
This year I'm going to use my .270 WSM with 140 grain TSX handloads. When I start handloading for the .30-06, I will either use 165to 180- grain TSX bullets. |
Call me old fashioned but in my .30-06 I have always used Winchester 180 grain powerpoints,yes I have tried other brands and grains but I stick with what my rifle shoots best.:)
Oh....btw...I use them for all my hunting...deer,elk moose,bear..I never had a critter tell me that I was using the wrong ammo..:D |
IMHO no need to move up a bullet weight.
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Start.
Shoot moose behind shoulder with 165gr 30-06 boolit Watch moose die, FAST. End. |
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Kill moose. Tag moose. Think of all moose meat in freezer.:) High five hunting partner.:D Realize how much work it will take to get moose home to freezer.:cry: Clean moose. Get moose to truck,usually hardest job.:( Get moose home. Cut up meat. Put meat in freezer. The End.:D |
Everybody KNOWS that part :D
I was exemplifying the simplicity of killing a moose with a 165gr 30-06 boolit :D Moose aren't that hard to kill, unless you flub your first shot in a bad way. Double lung em, they don't go very far! |
I have shot many moose with my 30/06 with the 165 grains bullets. You will have no problem. Stick to what you are used to and make a clean shot.
Good Luck. |
yup
you bet 165 gr hornady has killed me many moose
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"Line inside of wife's minivan with tarp." :D And then, after the Put meat in freezer step, you usually have to add "Scrub blood stains out of minivan's carpet before the wife finds out..." :lol: Stinky |
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