Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: steeleywhopper on August 06, 2008, 10:18:38 PM
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I will be going Moose hunting in B.C. again this year and I am wondering if I should move up in bullet weight. In 2004 I went up and shot a moose at about 40 yards, he fell over dead no problem. I was using a 300 win mag with a federal 180gr nosler partition bullet. This moose was very close and not a huge bull by any means. Do you think that I should step it up to something in the 200gr and different bullet style? Any suggestions would be great. I have never lost any animal using the 180gr, just would like to see some opinions.
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If it worked for you in the past I wouldnt mess with it. I'm debating between a barnes triple shock that is slightly lighter or a nosler partian. I havent shot the nosler out of my gun and the barnes TSX shoots real well so I am reluctant to change. I'm interested in teh replies to this though.
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Nothing wrong with the one you're using, but I've always thought a 200 grain Nosler Accubond would be a good bullet out of a 300 mag. It would be an excellent long range bullet due to it's very high ballistic coefficient, but then that may not be of any benefit on your moose hunt. But still, I think that 200 grain Accubond would perform great from 25 yards all the way out to 500 yards.
Another good bullet especially when you're talking moose would be the Barnes TSX. With it being 100% copper, and no chance of it coming apart like your Partitions do, you can actually afford to go a bit lighter, and I would recommend the 168 grain.
Just a couple of options if you want to do a little experimenting. If it was me, I would probably go with the 168 Barnes.
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Chances are you will shoot your moose at relatively short range. Probably less than 300 yards. I used a Barnes TSX 225 grain bullet last year and it destroyed the front leg and shoulder passing all the way through. I'd go to a 200 or larger bullet. I see they make a 200 grain TSX and a 220 grain partition. Either of those would be optimal.
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There is nothing wrong with what you shoot already. But I myself like a heavier bullet. Twas I you, two hundred grainers would be in my magazine. Good luck man!
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Your gonna be hard pressed to make anything any MORE dead with a 200gr bullet out of your 300 winny, than you already do with the 180gr Nosler partition. If your gun shoots your current loads well, I wouldn't see any need to change. I am gonna be hunting Moose in Alberta this fall and will be using my 325wsm with 200gr Accubonds. If I was taking my 300 winny with me instead of the 325wsm, I would be shooting the 180gr Swift scirocco's that I load for it.
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180 gr is just fine.
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180 partition is good.........200 gr partion might be better. But best would be 168gr TSX.
You will likely get a complete pass through with the TSX. And there isn't really a need to go heavier than the 168 gr in a .308 cal. Velocity is your friend with the solid copper bullets, and lighter weight bullets have more velocity. The retained bullet weight will likely be over 95% or 160 gr. A 200 gr partition would likely have 65% retention....or 130 gr.
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Don't change a thing if it shoots good out of your rifle and you have confidence in it. You have plenty of bullet to kill a swamp mule.
I do agree w/ Curly's point regarding the TSX though. I'm a huge fan of that 168 grn bullet in my 300 win. Having said that, I'd still suggest you stick with your setup if it shoots good.
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Velocity and ballistic coeffeciant arent everything. Heavy for caliber bullets typically expand to bigger final diameters, and carry more momentum. the more momentum a moving object has, the harder it is for that object to stop or be stopped.
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well, I have not got any moose under my belt, but I am pretty rich on notched elk tags. I killed my last one, a roosie, with a 257wby....100tsx. killed em with several calibers bigger too. I have found that it is far better to have confidence and a good shooting rifle than a newest latest greatest that is iffy. if you shoot the nozzys well, what are you hoping to gain? big bears......I have a different answer for.
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well, I have not got any moose under my belt, but I am pretty rich on notched elk tags. I killed my last one, a roosie, with a 257wby....100tsx. killed em with several calibers bigger too. I have found that it is far better to have confidence and a good shooting rifle than a newest latest greatest that is iffy. if you shoot the nozzys well, what are you hoping to gain? big bears......I have a different answer for.
well said
