30-06 maximum moose range

My Browning BBR , in .30-06 is sighted in for 300 yds. & I get a 3" group on a good day.
That puts it up 6" @ both 100 & 200 yds. approx. Used this for about 20 years with perfect
success . After 300 yd. the bullet starts to drop too much for an ethical shot . ,,,,,,,,,, Frank
 
hoytcanon said:
Well... I don't condone it necessarily, but one of my oartners at work shot a bull at 650 yards with a .30/06 and 180 grain Partitions... to be noted, he fired 5 times and there was only one hole in the hide... I need say no more.
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So one shot will kill a Moose with that combination at 650 yds.

We are not discussing someone's inability to shoot straight.
 
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Depends how far the Moose is from the timberline because it will head for cover. The more wallop the less it will travel before piling up. With a 30-06 if the bullet impact speed is much under 2500 fps good luck finding it.
 
Since most factory ammunition does not quite make the advertised 2700 fps velocity, the 30-06 is impaired somewhat if you are using the store bought product.
However, if one is reloading, 2850 is a very realistic MV figure, and does make the 30-06 a 500 yard+ moose rifle.
I sight mine in +3"" at 100 yards. This means I will be almost 3 feet low at 500, a fairly do-able holdover, or if one has a CDS or equivalent, easy.
Velocity at 500 is about 2000 fps, good for expansion, and Energy remains above 1600 FPE, plenty for Bullwinkle.

However, as several have noted on here, many "hunters" should not be poking away at anything alive much beyond 200 yards, since they have no idea where
their bullet would hit, and even if they did, chances are they would not place that projectile properly.

Practice at all possible ranges, from field positions is absolutely necessary before any long shots are attempted.
Regards, Dave.
 
It's is amazing how within a few short years .. Everyone even without any practise is a long range hunter/shooter. I had a buddy out last fall and he was boasting how he was going to shoot a elk at 400yds??
Never even shot at that distance before? We first had to zero his rifle at 100 yds then he was a little shocked when he was 24 in. low at 400 yds.
General Craig Boddington's rule of thumb has been 100 yds for dangerous game and 200 for everything else.
He has moved that a bit further out with better optics and bullet ballistics.
Most everyone at work is a long range hunter and they may shoot a couple of rounds a year!!! All big talkers... I just shake my head and walk away..
 
The more important question is, how good is one at putting a bullet (of any caliber) where you need to beyond 200 yards?

That said, and IMHO, and in light of all those shows featuring sniping critters at ridiculous ranges, beyond 350 to 400 yards gets into the serious realm of ethical hunting. Personally, I'm about ready to cancel my subscription to Wild TV, primary among reasons being the promotion of hunting as merely killing unsuspecting animals with $5,000 to $10,000 sniper grade weaponry, and making it look all too easy, especially to young hunters who are clueless about any of what's involved, not to mention the sport and tradition of hunting itself.

Actual conversation over a counter with a young newbie to hunting: "I want to build a hunting rifle that shoots out to 1000 yds!" After a couple minutes I couldn't contain myself any longer. "You ever shot targets at 200 and 300 yards?" "Ummm...no." "I'd suggest learning how to do that first, it's tough enough." "...???...yeah, I guess you're right."

Sorry...just venting.
 
My blood really gets boiling whenever I hear any one talking about hunting head shots..
How many animals have had their jaws blown off to have a long painfull death...

Another one is trying to hunt with the minimum caliber they can get away with..
.243 for moose bear, black and grizzly
Then they spout off about shot placement garbage, What ever happened to fair chase and hunter ethics and decency. I hardly watch Wild TV anymore also..
 
chuck nelson said:
So one shot will kill a Moose with that combination at 650 yds.

We are not discussing someone's inability to shoot straight.
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Don't confuse my points... I answered to OP in my opening sentence (1)... I qualified for those others reading this thread (2).

1. Yes, one shot with a handloaded @ Max, 180 Partition round will kill a moose at 650 yards...

2. Five rounds were fired at that bull, only one struck it, the bullet was found floating inside the chest cavity, it did not impact the inside of the offside chest wall and it entered between ribs... it barely expanded, but it did kill the bull within 150 yards, where it laid down. It was a couple hours before the party could reach the bulls position on the other side of a small, marshy lake... and I think that delay was a very good thing.
 
again I dont want all these variables for people to argue about just some straight answers. By the sounds of it no one should be owning a 300 win mag for moose hunting because according to everyone you will not make that far of a shot to use the extra reach a 300 wn mag has lol
 
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GUB said:
My blood really gets boiling whenever I hear any one talking about hunting head shots..
How many animals have had their jaws blown off to have a long painfull death...
Click to expand...

Years ago, while hunting a doe ran out in front of me with he bottom jaw hanging straight down, obviously the result of a bullet, likely either offhand shooting at a running deer or an attempted head shot. It was quite shocking to see, and by the time I realized I needed to end the suffering (considering does were out of season), she was long gone. Felt terrible about the experience.
 
the_reaper_33 said:
again I dont want all these variables for people to argue about just some straight answers. By the sounds of it no one should be owning a 300 win mag for moose hunting because according to everyone you will not make that far of a shoot to use the extra reach a 300 wn mag has lol
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Variables should be considered in practice. More emphasis on practicality and less on theory.

A 300 WM shoots flatter and has more wallop than a 30-06. So in the hands of a competent shooter a Moose shot properly at extended ranges with a 300 WM should pile up with less ground covered compared to being hit with a 30-06 - in theory.
 
the_reaper_33 said:
looking for opinions on what the maximum range a moose can be killed with a 30-06 180 grain bullet. I know people will argue different scenarios or bullet selections or why shoot moose that far. just looking for straight answers not looking to argue lets say in a perfect scenario standing broad side standing in a clearing 300,400,500,600+? yards away to take the arguement sake out of this.
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I have actually saw a moose shot at 600 yards with a BSA model 8 before we even thought of using a scope. Factory Winchester 180 grain bullets were all we had to shoot but a well placed shot, through both lungs, and the moose died without taking a step. When I skinned the moose there was the well mushroomed bullet under the hide on the others side, much like a 175 Win PP at 175 yards when launched by a 30-30 Win. Years later I had an opportunity to shoot a moose in the exact same spot with my 270 using 130 grain Win PP's and the only thing different was that the bullet passed through and I did not recover it.

With a range finder and a scope tuned to compensate the bullet to 600 yards a 30-06/ 270/7-08 will kill a moose, to 600 yards, with one shot. Of course the moose should be offering a broadside shot, the wind should not be a factor and you and your rifle capable of shooting at least 1MOA. A moose has a big heart/lung area and seldom go more than a few steps, if any at 600 yards, before bleeding out through both lungs.
 
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