Neck shot Bull Moose. Bad Round????

[PA BEN]

Just shot my Washington Moose yesterday But!!!!! I took a neck shot at 37 yds. He was facing away, I leveled the cross hairs on the center of his neck and touched it off. Didn't even buck, just ran, I pumped two more in him, and put him down. I thought I missed the neck shot??? But, when I boned out his neck, I found a hole, stuck my finger in it and found the bullet in the neck bone. Perfect mushroom, but just a hole in the bone?? Was this a bad round?? 175 gr. 7MM-REM. MAG. At 37 yds it should have droped him.

[boneaddict]

I assume you noticed how thick the neck hide is on the bull specifically down the back of it.  Then the neck muscle of a rutting bull on top of that is like Rock.  Then the fact their vertabrae is immense.  Probably not a bad round, but not really a good shot choice.   

[DOUBLELUNG]

I agree with you both.  The larger the animal, the broader the shock cone of the expanding bullet - a bunch of energy expended before the bullet or shock gets to the spinal cord.  That said, I'd have expected the shot to drop him.

I finished off my moose with a .30/06 round (don't recall what ammo, it was in 2000) point blank to the back of the neck below the skull.  I didn't look for the bullet, but it didn't exit.

[WDFW-SUX]

This is a good example of why KE is king.  heavy bullets going fast kill better than lighter ones going slow.  300 mag 180 grain breaks his neck IMO.

[boneaddict]

I know nothing of 7mm, the rifle boys will have to sort that out for me.  I honestly think a 180 Hornady in an 06, and or 300, would have done the job, but the energy expanded to go through that hide is immense at that particular spot on a bull.  Their neck hide is probably one of the toughest of any game animal ANYWHERE, ESPECIALLY right down the backbone.  Its a good inch thick or more.  You made the shot and it served its purpose and you got your bull.  Thats what counts.  I wouldn't blame Remmington though.

[Wea300mag]

I have to admit I would have thought the 175gr 7mm would have done the job too, especially at 37 yards.

 

[PA BEN]

The hide was 1/4" thick maybe 3/8's at the most, about 9" of meat, the bullet held together good and a perfact mushroom and was about 1" into the bone. Didn't even crack the bone. What impressed me the most, was how he took the shot. One tough animal.

[boneaddict]

hmmmm......  They are tough animals!

[mossback91]

I just think that moose was a *censored*

[fremont]

I have to admit I would have thought the 175gr 7mm would have done the job too, especially at 37 yards.

Good info on the hide.  That said, I too would have probably made the same mistake.  Thanks for sharing.

[demontang]

I would have though it would have put it down  . I dont think that I would have went out with a 7mm but thats just me, and I have a 338win for the big stuff.

[Red Dawg]

I would not worry about it. Like everyone has said you are shooting one bad ass animal. With that being sais where are the pics.

[catwithboost]

To make you feel better I shot a spike deer last year in the neck and found it in the neck bone. It went about 40yrds before it dropped and was still alive. With 7mm mag and 154gr bullet.

[PA BEN]

I've shot deer in the neck with 243's, 30-30's, 308's and 7mm-08's. They all have dropped in there tracks.

[wastickslinger]

How long you gonna make everyone wait for pictures for crying out loud.