6.5 for moose???

T

tommy88

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
30   0   0
Location
Toronto
This is going to stir up the hornets nest a bit, so be forewarned.

Last year I shot a bull moose (Algonquin variety) with a 7mm-08 at around 100m without any problems. It was a boiler room shot that took out both lungs and heart. Penetration and stopping power was up to par. It went 50 yards before it just fell over.

This info brings new ideas. Many sources say that an ethical kill on moose requires your bullet to be minimum 1000 foot pounds, which would not cause any problems for me since where I hunt, I havnt heard of anyone taking an animal further than 175m....its just too dense.

Looking at ballistics tables of energy at different yardages with different calibers, there seems to be other calibers that are very similar ballistically in 6.5. The reason I want a 6.5 is because I want one centrefire that can do it all, including coyotes. Here in most of Southern Ontario, we are limited to using calibers of less than 7mm for coyotes. I know the 6.5 Swede is a big time caliber in Europe for moose hunting and is almost identical to a 7mm-08 in performance.

Now having much experience with the 6.5s in any caliber, maybe someone could shed some light on how they perform. I know that sectional density and wound diameter play a big roll. And obviously above anything..... shot placement.

The main players would most likely be:

260 rem
6.5x55 swede
6.5 creedmore
25-06 rem

Ill also be reloading them myself since it would be too damn expensive and hard to find ammo for any of them.



Now before we all get ants in the pants about how I'm under-gunning a moose, Id prefer if comments would be more based on facts rather than opinions ( I know a lot of guys who think you need to use a cannon to bring down this brontosaurus). Maybe there's more to the equation than just a simple 1000fpe
 
6.5 Swede is a great round and as usual shot placement is important. Of course manufacturers have convinced too many you need some super mag. round.
 
I am a huge 260 fan but for moose I know of a few that have meet a freezer because of a 25 06 .thy never new what hit them and all ended up right were thy should have including one very large bull .I have seen a few calfs fall to the 243 as well .a moose rib is not that tough so if you hit them were you should all is good .Dutch
 
All of those will work fine for moose. Myself, i'd stick with heavy-for-caliber bullets since your range here in ontario for moose is rather limited far anyway. I've thought of doing the same thing as you but with a nice 30-06 in the cabinet and restrictions on wolf/coyote hunting here in NEO, it doesn't make much sense for me. Cool idea though. :cool:
 
Personally I love the 25/06 and know exactly what it can do. It can easily take moose on favorable shots however as much as I love it I want a rifle that can get the job done in a worst case situation every time not only when all is right. The faster 6.5s are a better option with light varmint bullets for coyotes and 140-160 gr bullets for moose and bear.
May I suggest 2 additional head stamps. 264 wm and 270 wby. I know these are both magnums but they cover everything Ontario has to offer.
 
You have missed the best caliber of all! A .270 WIN will easily meet all your needs and you can find factory ammunition almost anywhere. If you choose to reload there are some excellent light weight bullets available if you feel the need to shoot faster than 3000fps at the fur-bearers.
 
Last edited:
tommy88 said:
.270 is too big for coyotes. Trust me it was one of the first that that I was originally thinking about.

Thanks for the input guys!
Click to expand...

Dead is dead, how is it too big? If its the pelt you are after, shoot a heavy, hard bullet. Kill them with shock and leave two holes the size of the tip of your little finger.
 
My apologies. I wasn't clear. You may not hunt a coyote in most areas where I hunt with a .275 cal or larger. According to Wikipedia, the 270 is a .277 cal therefore making it illegal to use.

....trust me, I don't make this stuff up. For my use it would be an awesome round
 
Swede or Creed either would work for me. Creedmore gives you a bit more room to seat the heavy bullets out a ways over the .260 but the long, heavy bullets loaded into any of them wont have a problem reaching the boiler room under most conditions.
 
tommy88 said:
My apologies. I wasn't clear. You may not hunt a coyote in most areas where I hunt with a .275 cal or larger. According to Wikipedia, the 270 is a .277 cal therefore making it illegal to use.

....trust me, I don't make this stuff up. For my use it would be an awesome round
Click to expand...

No need for apologies.

There have been several threads hashing out this .275 issue in the past. I used to interpret this as you do after reading the regulation. As I understand it after reading several threads on this topic, the 270 WIN is legal in these areas. .277 is the bore size, .270 is the diameter of the bullet. Its no skin off my back, but you may benefit from a call to a local MNR officer for clarification.

Either way, life is too short for one gun. But if there is to be only one, its gotta be a .270 ;)

Be safe and have fun.
 
labrador76 said:
No need for apologies.

There have been several threads hashing out this .275 issue in the past. I used to interpret this as you do after reading the regulation. As I understand it after reading several threads on this topic, the 270 WIN is legal in these areas. .277 is the bore size, .270 is the diameter of the bullet. Its no skin off my back, but you may benefit from a call to a local MNR officer for clarification.

Either way, life is too short for one gun. But if there is to be only one, its gotta be a .270 ;)

Be safe and have fun.
Click to expand...

THIS IS CORRECT. the 270 is completely legal for hunting in southern ontario. Just ask what's in the gun cabinet of every other hunter here in southern ontario with you. For your benefit I searched through my emails and found a response to this question that I asked the MNR when I initally had doubts just as you do now

******************

Hello,

Thank you for your enquiry.

The Ministry of Natural Resources' stance on this section of the FWCA is that we use the nominal calibre of the firearm in determining compliance. That is, even though as you have correctly suggested, the actual dimensions of a .270 calibre bullet is .277, we accept that rifle as being a .270 and therefore treat it as a legal firearm within the restricted areas.

The 7mm is classed as a .284 and therefore is illegal in areas where the .275 calibre restriction exists.
We hope you have found this information helpful.

Regards,

*********************


So please get the 270, it will fit your needs the best. Not that a 6.5 won't but the 270 has more power and more rifle selection and cartridge selection
 
Oh really? Does anybody know if there is a mystical majical 270-08 in exhistance? Im tall, so short actions fit the bill better if its available.
 
People have done the wildcat 270-08 but it's never really taken off. The 270 does everything the 270-08 would do, just better :) most people down here who want to be different usually try to go the opposite direction and push the 270 limits with 270 wsm or 270 weatherby. I think the regular old 270 win is about perfect. Not really sure what you mean by being tall therefore short actions suit you better. The 270 WSM would come in a short action and give you about 100 fps more than the 270 so that may fit your criteria
 
tommy88 said:
Oh really? Does anybody know if there is a mystical majical 270-08 in exhistance? Im tall, so short actions fit the bill better if its available.
Click to expand...

I don't have a mystical magical 270-08, but I have a damn fine shooting 270-08 built by a fine chap by the name of Bill Leeper.
Originally a 700 Ti in 260 Rem, Bill re-barreled it to 270-08 with a Shilen barrel and so far it is superbly accurate with any bullet weight from 110 gr. to 160 gr.
It weighs in @ 6 lb. 4oz. with Talley mounts and a lightweight Leupold glass.
Only one Deer to its credit so far, it is my go-to rifle these days...
 
I'd take a 6.5X55, 6.5-06, 6.5-284, 264 WM or even a 6.5 RM any day over anything firing a 277 bullet ESPECIALLY the 270 Win. I have taken a dozen or so animals with the 264 WM using both 120 gn and 140 gn bullets. The 140 gn Nos Parts I have used mostly and it out performs the 270 by a long margin. Given the ballistics I get with my 6.5X55 I wouldn't hesitate to use it with 140 Parts on any animal of the ungulate persuasion or blackies. Given the right set up on a grizzly I would use it as well but things would have to be totally on my terms, no chance of an "Oh sh!t"

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom