.270 vs Moose?

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rickymo

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Indian Arm, BC
I will be going on my second moose hunt this coming season, (and possibly an elk hunt as well) and I don't feel like my 308 would be ideal. Usually hunt mule deer, and I have had mixed results with 308. Going to be picking up a 270 soon as I have always been interested in this caliber. How do you think it will be for moose? (they are pretty tough animals)
I borrowed my fathers 300 win mag last time. It worked pretty well, put a massive hole in poor beasts heart, yet it still managed to walk ~100m.
I'm already set on getting a 270, so please don't try to convince me into getting something different.
I would just like to know about others experience and luck with 270 and moose.
 
I've shot lots of deer with .270 and have taken it Moose hunting but never had the opportunity to pull the trigger on one. Shot placement is key no matter what you are using. I'd lean towards a premium bullet in 130-150gr.
 
As always shot placement will rule the day, but the 270 can do the job just fine.
 
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If you're having "mixed results" with a 308 on just mule deer, it makes me think you might be doing something wrong... and I don't mean to be offensive by saying that, it's just that a 308 is literally twice the gun necessary for deer. Perhaps poor bullet selection? Poor placement? Long shots with poor hold over?...

All of which would present themselves with a 270 just the same. The terminal performance between the two is nearly identical. The 270 might carry a few percent more energy. The 308 creates a few percent bigger wound. I mean, if you want a 270, and need an excuse, then by all means, carry on. But a 270 is no more effective on a moose than a 308 will be. My last moose was with a 308. 168gr ballistic tip. DRT. My neighbor got one 2 years ago with his 270. DRT.
 
I took a bull moose a couple years ago with my 270, one shot dropped him in this tracks. Its truly all about shot placement. I was using 130 grain, neck shot. I really like the 270 caliber it's great for moose and deer. Also finding bullets for a 270 is very good, if you don't reload.
 
A move to a .270 from the .308 for moose hunting is, at best, a sidways move, and maybe even slightly backwards. If I had both available, I would pick the .308 with 180 grain bullets for moose hunting. The differences are almost all just "on paper", but I would feel better with the heavier bullet for the heavier game. If I had only a .270, I would go moose hunting with it without a second thought. Your plan of getting a .270 because the .308 is somehow producing "mixed results", and expecting something more decisive doesn't make ballistic sense.
 
Either would do. I have eaten a lot of Moose shot with 308. My First Moose was taken with a 243, never took a step.

That being said 243 was what I had. Now I have choices, between the two I would take 270. 30-06 family case, more power. Would a Moose be any less dead, killed by a .308 150 gr, or a .277 150 gr??
 
hoytcanon said:
A friend of mine has taken more than 50 moose with his M70 .270 using Remington factory ammo.
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X2. I've taken 2 with .270 Remington Core-Lokt 150gr PSP. Neither one went 25yds after a shot in the boiler room at 150M. The only difference for consideration is size difference between western and eastern Moose,western being on average 400lbs. heavier.
 
when i say 'Mixed results" with 308. My shot placement is there right where it should be, but I never seem to get good penetration, and give the animals quick deaths. With a typical heartxlung shot at ~200M.
I usually shoot this stuff.
553294.jpg

Most of the guys I hunt with all shoot magnums and the deer usually drop dead on the spot.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Mixed results with a .308...how so ?
Either one will drop a Moose and with a good choice of bullet it will do it very well.
Indian Arm , hmm they have an LEH back there yet?
Rob
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Allegedly there are doing a draw for elk this year. not sure how many get it, I imagine not allot.
You also need permission from the local Indian band since its mostly their land now.
don't quote me on that tho, its just the talk of the town. no idea if its true or not.
 
rickymo said:
when i say 'Mixed results" with 308. My shot placement is there right where it should be, but I never seem to get good penetration, and give the animals quick deaths. With a typical heartxlung shot at ~200M.
I usually shoot this stuff.
553294.jpg

Most of the guys I hunt with all shoot magnums and the deer usually drop dead on the spot.
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Interesting.

Most of the complaints are the opposite: that the bullet is too hard and penetrates like an fmj because it doesn't have enough speed to expand that thick copper shank past 100 yards. Mind you, most reviews are very good, but those that do complain, complain of the opposite problem you describe.

An example of a review:

After shooting 5 deer: 3 with .308 and two with .270, both with the Trophy Bonded tip bullet, none of them ever expanded. Both exit and entrance were the size of the projectile. 3 of the deer didn't leave a blood trail until after running 100 yards and one of those deer was not found until a week later when someone else happen to stumble upon it, shot was perfect and was only 150 yards away from where I shot. VERY DISAPPOINTED in these rounds and are retiring them from hunting forever.
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Also, you seem to be pretty keen on those magnums... So why the 270 if I may ask?
 
I recall reading somewhere years ago 1600ft/lbs of energy at impact with the shot in the proper place is required to drop a average moose. I have always considerd this to be a generalization and not a absolute as I hear accounts of a 300WM going through both shoulders and out the other side without a dropping a moose . A good expanding bullet will up your 1shot/kill percentage .. I use a 150Gr Partition in my .270 for Moose..It is good in power for 300 yrds or less and more than that i dont shoot anyway ... Dont see so good anymore.
 
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