Moose with my muzzy?

[Blsum]

Hey guys I know it's been a long time since I've really contributed much to this forum but I've been reading everything everyone's been posting. That being said I was lucky enough to draw a 49 degrees north early any antlered moose tag with a good buddy of mine. We are both concidering attempting to take our moose with our muzzleloaders since that has been the weapon we have both had the most success with and the weapon I'm most comfortable with. My question is if it were you what bullet would you choose? Right now I have a thompson center black diamond that I've dialed in with a 290 grn Barnes tmz in front of 80 grns of 777 ffffg or 100 grns of fffg. That I'm comfortable shooting out to 150 yards. In fact the last elk I harvested with this combo was back in 2016 with 140 yard head shot on a bedded bull. https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,202359.msg2685887.html#msg2685887   I'm wondering what your thoughts are? Should would try to find a heavier bullet that might carry more kinetic energy down range on such a large animal. Do I even need a heavier bullet? Or should I stick with what I know has preformed great for me in the past on deer and elk.

[huntnphool]

 Shoot whatever you are accurate and comfortable with, no need to overthink it.

[bobcat]

That 290 grain Barnes is perfect! And if it's worked for you on elk, it will certainly work for moose. Now if you had said a 250 grain, I probably would have said step up to at least the 290. And 290 grains in a standard lead bullet would be too light. But in a Barnes 100% copper bullet, I can't imagine needing anything more.

[Blsum]

Thanks phool kind of what I was thinking. Still in shock about this hunt. I just finished reading the thread on your moose hunt. Man sounds like you had quite the adventure.

[huntnphool]

Thanks phool kind of what I was thinking. Still in shock about this hunt. I just finished reading the thread on your moose hunt. Man sounds like you had quite the adventure.

 You guys will be just fine, congrats on the draw!

[huntnnw]

plenty of bullet for moose. For as large as they are they are not very tough animal to take down

[bkaech]

Yep. That sounds like a good combo. I love those Barnes muzzy bullets, they are tough and do their job in a much wider range of conditions than most other easily found bullet.

[grundy53]

Should be just fine

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[Skyvalhunter]

Thanks phool kind of what I was thinking. Still in shock about this hunt. I just finished reading the thread on your moose hunt. Man sounds like you had quite the adventure.

 

[greenhead_killer]

This should be fun. I’m going to do the same on my moose this year. Good luck and keep us posted on how you do

[Blsum]

 Thanks everyone. This should be a lot of fun. I can't wait to get over there and start scouting.  If anyone has taken a moose with their muzzleloader your more then welcome to post pictures and let us know what your setup was

[boneaddict]

I've killed a couple with my longbow, I'm pretty sure you can smack one with the ole stuff pipe.

[X-Force]

Congrats on the buddy draw.

2 smoke pole bulls sounds like a heck of an adventure

[starbailey]

I’m sure that setup will work just fine with good shot placement.
Here’s a little muzzy encouragement 

[highside74]

Imoa moose give up way easier than elk. So using your elk setup should be more than enough.
 

[Jason]

I believe Hershey killed her WA Bull Moose with a smoke pole.

[vandeman17]

I believe Hershey killed her WA Bull Moose with a smoke pole.

affirmative

[h20hunter]

Psh. .... .Hershey is a hack road hunter that got lucky over a pile of apples.....

[Blsum]

I’m sure that setup will work just fine with good shot placement.
Here’s a little muzzy encouragement 

Wow that's an impressive bull. I must have missed the story behind that bull

[starbailey]

Blsum,
That's my Wa state record muzzleloader bull I killed back in 2013.

[lastmk8]

Psh. .... .Hershey is a hack road hunter that got lucky over a pile of apples.....

I'm surprised that didn't get Hershey fired up, hell she barely takes a road to get to the woods.  She must be getting busy with work, but I'm sure she would provide any information she could.  As for the record moose pic on this thread, if I recall correctly, I think Hershey just missed that record with her moose two or three years ago. 

What say you Hershey???.....

[h20hunter]

 

I couldn't last a half day without a pack on her hunts let alone the hunt itself! With fire season already underway I bet she is as busy as ever. Her moose thread was epic. Great animal, had her mom I believe on the hunt....way cool. She is a rockstar,  that is for sure.

[Blsum]

Blsum,
That's my Wa state record muzzleloader bull I killed back in 2013.

Congrats that's an awesome bull. I sent you a pm.

[floatinghat]

Great luck on the tag!

I have to ask FFFF (4F) ? that is a pan powder and very fine grained for a rifle, I would think it burns way too fast.  If it was me with that tag I would shoot 80gr fff t7/vol and a 600gr conical.  For what you posted I would use the FFF (3f) 100gr/vol and the 290gr bullet or the heaviest bullet you can shoot accurately and then figure on about 1200 ish energy just incase the shot isn't perfect.

[steeleywhopper]

I’d do it in a heartbeat. Moose are big but they don’t like bullets very well. A 290 grain Barnes would be in my gun on a moose hunt.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I'd go with your elk setup.  In my limited experience (1 moose), they die easier than elk.  I shot my moose with 150gr .30-06, as that particular rifle didn't like any heavier bullets; two through the ribs was one more than necessary, and he tipped over within 50 yards of the first shot.

[Blsum]

Thanks guys.    I just picked up another box of the Barnes bullets and will be shooting as much as I can to make sure everything's dialed in. I took it out the other day to shoot it and realized that somehow the screw for the front sight had loosened up.  Looks like I need to pick up some blue locktite before the next time I take it out.