Prime 10 Moose Cartridges and Bullets

In the case of appropriate cartridge choice, most folk function underneath the belief that the bigger an animal is, the extra horsepower they want in a cartridge. So it goes with moose, the place the sheer dimension of those ungulates causes many potential moose hunters to instantly wipe a swath of efficient and completely appropriate cartridges from consideration. Assembling a listing of the very best cartridges for moose a subjective job, and greater doesn’t imply “greatest” in each context.

If it have been all about penetration and energy, why cease at something in need of the .50 BMG? I do know a man who’s killed them along with his Barret M82 and a 647-grain Barnes TSX. That will be boring, and the reality is that many potential moose hunters on the market may have already got what can be greatest for them. There’s extra to it than muzzle power, and though i’d make no declare that these are the very best moose cartridges in each means, it’s a strong illustration of confirmed selections from which any hunter can discover a appropriate choice for them. This checklist won’t require you to go purchase the newest rifle or booming cartridge, however it’s stuffed with confirmed performers. In case you do your job, they’ll do theirs.

What Does a Moose Cartridge Must Do?

In my 22 years of dwelling in Alaska, I’ve tipped over round 15 moose myself and watched in all probability one other 30 go hooves-up. Moreover, I’ve various kin and buddies that may account for one more century’s price of punched tags and moose-killing knowledge.

If there’s something I’ve discovered through the years of taking pictures and dealing with moose, it’s that selecting when and the place to shoot them is rather more essential than the caliber stamped in your rifle barrel. Moose are typically wimps, and also you don’t essentially want a heavy magnum rifle to get the job performed shortly and effectively. No matter caliber, you’ll be cussing your self should you select to take chancy photographs by the comb or contact one off on a bull that’s standing in a swamp. Virtually no calibers will drop them of their tracks with a double-lung shot, however they’ll almost at all times take a couple of steps and easily fall over—whether or not the shot comes from a .243 or a .300 Win. Magazine.

To be efficient, a moose cartridge must have affordable penetration and hearth a bullet that can typically maintain collectively on the velocity it leaves the muzzle. In case you discover that underwhelming, sorry. It’s the reality. Shoot a moose by each lungs they usually die, shortly, each time.

Many will argue about the necessity to penetrate toes of muscle and bone to kill a moose at any conceivable shot angle. There may be some validity to that, however there’s additionally the matter of accountable shot choice and meat salvage. The common moose hunter is equally involved with not destroying meat as they’re with getting a moose down. Hit a bull within the shoulder blade or bone of the hind quarter with a .300 RUM or perhaps a .300 Win. Magazine. up shut, and it’s usually goodbye to a deer-sized portion of meat.

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Moose can current some shot angles which can be deep and hard to penetrate, however should you observe any little bit of moral restraint, you’ll usually have the choice of both a direct frontal shot into the delicate stuff at shut vary, or a broadside shot at a moose’s exceptionally massive lungs and easy-to-penetrate ribs. When deciding on ammunition for moose looking, simply just be sure you’re utilizing a bullet that can maintain collectively on the velocity your cartridge is taking pictures. Every of the next cartridges has certainly one of my favourite corresponding ammunition selections listed, however there are different good selections for every cartridge, and plenty of of those hundreds can be found in a number of cartridges.

.30-06 Springfield

Ammo Alternative: Remington Premier 150-grain Swift Scirocco

The ’06 is previous and boring, however I can’t discover any strategy to justify it not being included on this checklist. It has taken an unimaginable variety of moose and continues to take action. I don’t at all times abide by the “what labored for grandpa” concept, however on this case, I do. In regular instances, you could find ammo nearly anyplace, and it flat-out will get the job performed. Within the north nation, the place moose dwell, you desire a versatile rifle, so that you may as nicely pair it with the last word all-around cartridge.

There are a lot of wonderful bullet selections for the .30/06, and most will gravitate towards the 180-grain choices. That’s nice. I’ve at all times most popular 150-grain hundreds in my .30/06, and the moose can’t appear to inform the distinction. A few my most dramatic ass-over-teakettle-flipping moose have been a results of utilizing 150-grain Hornady interlock bullets, however the bonded 150-grain Swift Scirocco is usually extra correct and has wonderful weight retention. After killing over 30 moose, it’s remained my uncle’s favourite moose medication in his Winchester M70.

.243 Winchester

Ammo Alternative: Federal Premium Important Shok 100-grain Nosler Partition

Sure, you might be studying this appropriately. Blowhards will inform you that the .243 will merely bounce off a moose’s ribs, and that it’s better-suited for mice. Many don’t even take it into consideration for deer. Nevertheless, it’s one other of these quiet cartridges, and a favourite of many Alaska Natives, that has put moose down for many years. In actual fact, it’s nonetheless the go-to rifle for a lot of rural Alaska hunters. It’s an ideal selection for younger or smaller-framed hunters—or a hunter that has nothing to show. It’s on this checklist due to the sheer quantity of moose it continues to take yearly.

Bullet selection is very essential in small calibers just like the .243. You desire a bullet that can increase quickly however retain weight. With the proper bullet and easy, good shot placement, the .243 is a really efficient moose gun. The 100-grain Nosler Partition is “previous dependable” for the .243, and also you’ll usually discover it underneath the pores and skin on the off-side of a broadside bull. Shoot them by each lungs they usually’ll normally take a couple of steps and fall over lifeless.

.270 Winchester

Ammo Alternative: Hornady Superformance 140-grain Hornady SST

Very similar to the .30-06, the .270 Winchester is an all-around workhorse. There may be nothing flashy about it, however flash doesn’t kill large bulls. Referred to as a perfect cartridge for medium-sized sport, the .270 is extra gun that most individuals give it credit score for. It can nonetheless get the job performed loads nicely on a moose. It doesn’t garner a lot attraction from immediately’s tinkerers and cartridge snobs, however it’s nonetheless the most effective all-around selections. It’s a type of cartridges that matches the invoice for somebody who solely needs one big-game rifle.

There are many nice bullet selections for the .270 as nicely, each in 130- and 150-grain. You possibly can’t go fallacious with any good bonded or monolithic bullet, and most delicate factors will get the job performed tactfully. Throughout quite a lot of calibers, I’ve had wonderful outcomes with Hornady’s SST through the years. Individuals knock it for fast growth, however the jacket is mechanically mounted to the core in two spots, and I’ve had extra pass-throughs than not. I’ve at all times seen nice penetration at quite a lot of velocities and calibers with this bullet.

6.5 Creedmoor

Ammo Alternative: Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain Hornady ELDX

There at the moment are three certainties in life: demise, taxes, and posterior irritation from the 6.5 Creedmoor. Arguably, this spot belongs to the 6.5×55 Swede, however for modern practicality, I’ll nonetheless go for the Creed. The 6.5×55 Swede has actually performed the legwork of creating 6.5mm cartridges as viable moose killers, however the Creedmoor is a extra environment friendly bundle. I’m certain this nonetheless wouldn’t move muster in Sweden, however the Creed is not-debatably the most well-liked chambering of any latest looking cartridge within the U.S., and it kills moose simply in addition to the Swede.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is superb at a couple of issues and does a whole lot of different issues nicely. It’s on the decrease finish of the moose spectrum, however it’s going to tip them over nonetheless. My favourite bullet within the cartridge is the 143-grain ELDX, and scientists are nonetheless making an attempt to determine whether or not that bullet in my Winchester XPR in 6.5CM, or local weather change has performed extra injury. The ELDX will get a nasty rap for supposedly blowing aside on impression. It’s one thing I’ve by no means seen, particularly on the modest velocities of the 6.5 CM. Like all accountable hunter ought to, take good photographs, hit each lungs, and get out the knives.

.308 Winchester

Ammo Alternative: Remington 150-grain Core-Lokt Tipped

It’s debatable that the .308 and .30-06 needs to be an either-or matter, however for me, they each belong right here. Very similar to its predecessor, there isn’t an excessive amount of to say concerning the .308 that hasn’t already been mentioned. With trendy elements, it could actually carry out fairly near what the .30/06 at all times was and it places meat away simply in addition to it ever did. Frankly, anybody who tells you it lacks the wallop to get the job performed doesn’t know what they’re speaking about. I do know of a whole lot of moose, and even a number of large Kodiak bears, that met their finish shortly with the .308.

The .308 has a variety of bullet weights and wonderful choices accessible. Within the midst of the latest ammo scarcity, the .308 was one of many few cartridges with a good choice nonetheless on the shelf. I examined 11 completely different rifles and quite a lot of ammo in .308 in 2022 and I’ve been impressed with the Remington 150-grain Core Lokt Tipped. It was probably the most persistently correct manufacturing facility looking ammo I examined, and the mechanically mounted core and jacket appear to carry collectively nicely. A latest bull moose {that a} buddy killed took one shot by the ribs with the 150-grain .308 load, took two steps, then nosed into the bottom. The bullet handed by and wasn’t recovered.  

Ammo Alternative: Winchester Tremendous X 180-grain Energy Level

 It’s straightforward for People like me (even in Alaska) to get slowed down with what we use, and we prefer to assume that cartridges just like the .30/06 are the undisputed kings of the North American continent. Nevertheless, in Canada, the .303 British has maintained an identical position for a lot of moose hunters. You’ll by no means see one right here in Alaska, however this previous, medium-sized 30 caliber has possible accounted for as many moose as any. Being a navy cartridge, its use and availability in Canada was very similar to our personal beloved .30/06.

I can’t converse for Canada, however you’ll have a hell of a tough time discovering .303 British ammo in moose nation stateside. It’s a easy, modest-velocity cartridge that started off utilizing black powder, then cordite. It’s a bit slower than the .30/06, and easy cup-and-core bullets like Winchester’s Energy Level are simply the kind of ammo that’s put moose within the freezer for many years within the .303.

.300 Winchester Magnum

Ammo Alternative: Winchester Expedition Lengthy Vary 190-grain ABLR

For a lot of people, we’re simply now attending to what they may contemplate the naked minimal for moose. The .300 WM has firmly established itself as a nice cartridge for moose (and the rest on the North American continent). I’d wager that for people dwelling within the extra populated areas of Alaska, this may even beat the .30/06 and .243 in precise area use. To get probably the most of it, I’d advocate utilizing 190-grain or heavier bullets. Under that, you aren’t gaining a lot over the .30-06, and cartridges just like the 6.8 Western and 6.5 PRC keep extra power past 400-500 yards.

My favourite bullet for the .300 Win. Magazine. is the Hornady 212-grain ELDX, however it’s not provided in a manufacturing facility loading that I’ve been capable of finding. For manufacturing facility moose ammo, I discover Winchester’s 190-grain ABLR load to be powerful to beat. The ABLR expands reliably, shoots nicely, and is extra rigidly constructed than the ELDX. It’s usually not a good suggestion to shoot moose at lengthy distances due to the hellholes they may die in. Nevertheless, should you do want to succeed in on the market, both of these bullets offers you nice penetration. The final moose I shot with a .300 Win. Magazine. was a contact over 400 yards and the only shot caught underneath the disguise on the again aspect of his ribs. Restoration was uneventful.

.338 Winchester Magnum

Ammo Alternative: Federal Premium 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip

I personally discover the .338 Win. Magazine. to be a little bit of an “in-between” cartridge that may’t make up its thoughts whether or not it needs to be a “regular” rifle, or an actual heavy hitter. I can’t argue that it’s not a preferred all-around Alaskan rifle, however I really feel it’s overkill for some sport, however doesn’t fairly carry the authority that large magnums (.375 and up) do. For moose, nonetheless, it does an ideal job, and it does that job yr after yr.

The .338 Win. Magazine. was at all times straightforward to seek out ammo for right here in Alaska, and, after a two-year disappearance, it’s coming again because the ammo scarcity fades. The .338 is an authoritative moose cartridge in quite a lot of bullet weights, and most select bullets within the 225-grain vary. I actually just like the slight bump in velocity of the 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip, and my rifle shoots it nicely. The bullet is hard sufficient to deal with absolutely anything, and the final moose I shot with it was quartering-to at a brief 25 yards. He didn’t go far.

7mm Remington Magnum

Ammo Alternative: Federal Fusion 175-grain Bonded Gentle Level

The 7mm is one other American staple cartridge. It’s been round a very long time and carries some station with nearly everybody. As with many of those traditional cartridges, which means they’ve confirmed themselves. There are a number of nice cartridges provided in 7mm, and new ones just like the 7 PRC are incrementally transferring the ball ahead, however the seven magazine can nonetheless maintain its personal. In regular instances ammo is in all places, however like others, it’s nonetheless comparatively scarce proper now. This cartridge is not a flashy new magnum, however it’s going to nonetheless reduce gravy. If my father-in-law’s previous 7mm named “Thumpy” might speak, it will inform of extra moose placed on the meat pole than most individuals might fathom.

As with others on this checklist, there are many nice choices for moose ammo within the 7mm Rem. Magazine. One comparatively underrated looking load (in lots of calibers) is Federal’s Fusion. This 175-grain load usually isn’t as correct (or as costly) as some premium choices. Nevertheless, it’s an ideal bullet for the cash. When you could find it, it’s moderately priced, and the bonded delicate level Fusion bullet gained’t disappoint.

.338 Lapua Magnum

Ammo Alternative: Hornady Match 285-grain ELDM

Many moose hunters discover it odd to shoot farther than 100 or 200 yards, however for some, it’s the alternative. Capturing moose at lengthy distances may be an ill-advised enterprise, however some hunt in areas which can be well-suited for it. There are extra environment friendly long-range cartridges which can be wonderful for moose, however I can inform you for a proven fact that the .338 Lapua Magazine. will knock the hell out of them. Rifles chambered in .338 Lapua usually aren’t the brush-busting, swamp-wading type, but when your model of looking fits it, it’s going to put moose down with authority, and is the go-to selection for a number of moose hunters I do know right here in Alaska.

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I usually wouldn’t advocate match bullets for taking pictures moose, however that is one exception. Between a couple of members of the family, now we have killed a couple of dozen bulls with the 285-grain ELDM bullet from 175 yards to over 600 yards. With these heavy bullets, the .338 Lapua isn’t screaming quick, and even on the nearer ranges, the bullets appear to carry collectively very nicely. In case you have considerations, use a bullet just like the 270-grain ELDX.

Last Ideas

Although many hunters imagine that larger is best in the case of moose, the reality is that moose aren’t very exhausting to kill. They may not hit the bottom in dramatic vogue, however one shot by the lungs will kill them as shortly as the following. There are legitimate causes for selecting large cartridges, however mild-recoiling, correct cartridges are not often a poor choice. What issues most is taking a cartridge that you’re assured in and may shoot nicely, making moral choices, and selecting good shot angles and conditions.