That would be a really fine moose load.
Moose hunting rifle recommendations
- Thread starter OperatorWill
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That would be a really fine moose load.
I have loaded a test ladder of charges and I will chronograph it with my magnetospeed chrony in 4 to 6 weeks. I have also included a test ladder with IMR 7977 for comparison. IMR 7977 is easier to get for me.
The 200's will definitely work , but I'm with SuperCub , I'd go with 180 NP's . I've used them on a few Moose out of 30/06's and 300WM's , worked perfectly and they're a little more versatile . That being said , if you have a stash of 200's , they are definitely up to the job .
I have shot 3 moose with the 30-06 and the 200 Partition.
My load was 58.5 grains of Norma MRP, fired by a CCI 250.
Out of a 24" tube, the chrony says 2710 average.
Kills moose very well indeed!
Have also shot a number of moose with the 180 Partition, and the 165
Partition. All worked well. D.
My load was 58.5 grains of Norma MRP, fired by a CCI 250.
Out of a 24" tube, the chrony says 2710 average.
Kills moose very well indeed!
Have also shot a number of moose with the 180 Partition, and the 165
Partition. All worked well. D.
That is an amazing load! I would like to duplicate that in my rifle ... I may be able to get close with the same caliber, barrel length and bullet that you have. I will try my Hodgdon's Superformance powder, since I have stock of that, and I have WLR primers and Lapua and Nosler brass. My rifle is a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in 30-06 Springfield and it has a 24" barrel with a decent amount of free bore. I will use my MagnetoSpeed chronograph to get some good muzzle velocity numbers this summer. Once I do some reloading and testing I will post my results. Thank you for your post, I am inspired to do this load.
I'm leaning more and more to switching over exclusively to heavy 210gr Accubond Long Range loads for my shortened to 22" stainless T/C Prohunter in 30-06.
I was using RL22 for 2550fps but been thinking due to the short barrel I'll be giving RL17 a try would be awesome if I can improve my velocities to 2600 - 2650fps.
If you get the 338 and end up flinching then practice with a 12 gauge shotgun and the cheapest slugs you can get. I started out with a bad flinch and I did this a number of years ago. A couple hundred Winchester econo slugs (come in 15 pack) fired out of a Remington 870 with a 18 1/2 barrel and now I regularly shoot 458 win mag, 416 rigby and 300 RUM. I hunt with 300 win mag and 300 win short mag. I now have zero problems with recoil.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
About the only thing I’ve learned in terminal ballistics as the volume of game shot increases, by my clients and their guides or in my own adventures, is speed kills as long as half or more of the bullet holds together. Muzzle velocity is not the first place to look, impact velocity is, I like to see it at 2200-2400+ at the animal. That can handily be a .308 at all reasonable hunting ranges, so we’re not talking all magnums and 28 Noslers.
If I had to pick a cartridge with the most outsized performance on game relative to recoil, it’d be several but they all have speed in common; .270 Winchester, 7mm Mag, .270 WSM. .300s, .338s, the bigger 9.3s, and .375s do it too at the cost of greater recoil.
My suggestion is to get a normal rifle you can shoot well in a hardware store shelf chambering, you couldn’t go wrong with a .308, .270, 7 Mag, or .30-06.
If I had to pick a cartridge with the most outsized performance on game relative to recoil, it’d be several but they all have speed in common; .270 Winchester, 7mm Mag, .270 WSM. .300s, .338s, the bigger 9.3s, and .375s do it too at the cost of greater recoil.
My suggestion is to get a normal rifle you can shoot well in a hardware store shelf chambering, you couldn’t go wrong with a .308, .270, 7 Mag, or .30-06.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Good group, but I kinda' question the 7mm Mag in that group. To my way of thinking, that's a member of the 'next'/group category up. They'd include the, 7mm Mag, 300 Win Mag and the 338 Win mag.
A .30-06 with good 180 or 200 grain loads is a proven combination. So is a .270 with quality 150 loads but if hunting primarily moose, I would choose the .30 caliber based solely on preference. Very few of us can shoot well enough to need a longer range round and at some point I stop calling that hunting, however that is a personal opinion and not a judgement of anyone else. My .300 H&H is a nice round in a wonderful pre-64 rifle but in reality I bought it for the rifle and nostalgia rather than the need for more speed so I load it to be a Super 30 and not to its full potential. Being a gunnut, I like the 9.3x62 as it delivers a good smack at any range I'm comfortable to shoot at a game animal. When hunting purely for the love of hunting, I'm likely to have some old rifle I love in .33, .348, .45-70, .30-06, or the .300. Any of them will have a quality bullet and are deadly within their intended ranges. A bull taken at 30 steps with a .45-70 is personally more memorable than one taken at 300+ long steps with a .30-06 or the .300 but that's just me. Come to think of it, I would like to bag one with my .54 flintlock. Getting close is what puts the hunt in hunting to me.
So to actually answer your question, I recommend a quality .30-06 loaded with 180 NPs or perhaps one of the newer, super bullets. 2750 fps is a very easy goal and gives great ballistics. When you can accurately shoot father from field positions, then get something that adds the additional speed you need. As always YMMV.
So to actually answer your question, I recommend a quality .30-06 loaded with 180 NPs or perhaps one of the newer, super bullets. 2750 fps is a very easy goal and gives great ballistics. When you can accurately shoot father from field positions, then get something that adds the additional speed you need. As always YMMV.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
That makes sense too, it’s definitely just my personal line, not a rule. 7 Mag sells nearly as many hunting cartridges as the .30-06, and has the same recoil as the -06 at 180grs. .300 Win represents the next notch up to me, I just think of 7 Mag as the big .270.
It has that magnum bark though compared to a .308.
Good comment Ardent.
"My suggestion is to get a normal rifle you can shoot well in a hardware store shelf chambering, you couldn’t go wrong with a .308, .270, 7 Mag, or .30-06."
Manageable recoil and what you see on the shelves at your LGS.
"My suggestion is to get a normal rifle you can shoot well in a hardware store shelf chambering, you couldn’t go wrong with a .308, .270, 7 Mag, or .30-06."
Manageable recoil and what you see on the shelves at your LGS.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
That makes sense too, it’s definitely just my personal line, not a rule. 7 Mag sells nearly as many hunting cartridges as the .30-06, and has the same recoil as the -06 at 180grs. .300 Win represents the next notch up to me, I just think of 7 Mag as the big .270.
The '06 is one that's proven itself for may years. I do have and have used one that was handed down from my Dad. A lightweight model 4000 Husqvarna with very nice wood. This I've agreed to hand down to my Granddaughter in Sherwood Park,
WHEN that day in time arrives. She's one of the few other right handers in the family. Oh, in the 'Magnum' group mentioned previously, I have three, just a little off of centre of todays beaten path. Primarily the result of the combined efforts of Norma ammunition and Schultz & Larsen rifles, and the three are in Schultz & Larsens.
- 7x61 S&H model 68DL
- 308 Norma Magnum model 65DL
- 358 Norma Magnum model 68DL
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Can't argue with that. While it 'may' seem to be somewhat of a ho hum calibre choice, it has earned its place as one of the best.
