I have killed several elk with 140gr bullets out of the 7mmstw, mostly monometal bullets, and the performance was excellent.
300 wsm or 6.5 prc for moose hunt?
- Thread starter jzerebeski86
- Start date
The 140gr Accubond has worked well for me, I smashed a moose @ 275 yards with one a few years back and it was down in its tracks. It did hit heavy bone though. Your experience reminds me of another moose I shot with a Berger 195gr EOL from my 280AI, lung shot on a 2pt bull that was on its feet for way longer than it should have...damage to the lungs was extensive but the result was a slow kill.
I’m surprised the accubond didn’t pass through on my last moose there, no rib going in but hit a rib on the off side. The lungs had a 1-2 inch hole through them, but were still pretty intact.
Dads elk a couple weeks ago, he used a 168gr vld from my 7 saum, shot was just over 300 yards, pretty devastating in the lung area.
My partner took a goat a few days ago with a 300 prc and big Hammer bullet at 370 yards, that was pretty impressive too!
How far was your shot with the 280ai Mark? Do you think my situation might have been different if I had a little more distance I wonder? Every other time I’ve used the accubonds, it’s been a positive experience, but at slower speeds (30-06 and 375’s)
125 yards +/-. MV was 2675 fps with the 280AI 195gr Berger
I'd imagine the higher the impact speeds, the more expansion the bullet will have and the larger diameter the wound channel will be. More distance and lower impact speed should reduce wound channel, increase weight retention and more penetration. I've never been able to wrap my head around the theory of high speed/close range = no time for the bullet to expand. Bullets don't work on stopwatches lol
I have to laugh when I hear someone spew that nonsense that the bullet was moving too fast, and didn't have time to expand.
I'd use the .300 WSM just in case you get that quartered-to angle, would have more confidence in a heavier bullet getting through to the vitals. Otherwise wouldn't matter.
For quite a few years my moose rifle was a .25 WSSM and it worked great. Poke em in the lungs, down in a few steps. Why some choose to live longer with same shot placement and internal damage as others I don't think we'll ever figure out. Probably has more to do with the adrenaline level of the animal at the time it's shot than it does with the bullet type. Anyone who's hunted for a while has seen some unexplainable things happen.
For quite a few years my moose rifle was a .25 WSSM and it worked great. Poke em in the lungs, down in a few steps. Why some choose to live longer with same shot placement and internal damage as others I don't think we'll ever figure out. Probably has more to do with the adrenaline level of the animal at the time it's shot than it does with the bullet type. Anyone who's hunted for a while has seen some unexplainable things happen.
one explanation I heard for that rapid vs delayed death after a good kill shot was from a Dr
He figured it had to do with the blood pressure level, systolic or diastolic, higher pressure = more trauma
He'd say 'ah, just half a heartbeat away on that one' )
idk
He figured it had to do with the blood pressure level, systolic or diastolic, higher pressure = more trauma
He'd say 'ah, just half a heartbeat away on that one' )
idk
Both will work just fine for moose, as long as you place your shot accurately in the vitals.
That being said, other factors come into play, some of which have already been stated above.
Which rifle are you more comfortable/confident with?
Which is more accurate with the ammo you have chosen?
What is your limit for accurately placing bullets on target from field positions? Stay within it!
What environment are you hunting? Thick, dark timber or open prairies/fields/meadows?
How long is your average shot going to be? Short shot? Long shot?
These should assist in determining what retained energy you will have at the target. Deer = min. 1000 ft.lbs., and moose 1500 ft.lbs.
Bullet construction can be important on quartering shots where heavier bone is/may be encountered (monmetal or bonded) ...but many moose and deer have been successfully taken for decades with good old cup and core bullets.
A moose is a larger animal, but usually not that hard to kill...but like ay animal, each is an individual and some just have tougher constitutions and are more tenacious of life.
Deer, while smaller, can be more tenacious of life, so there are wily old whitetails that succumb to the 243, then there are the old warriors tat soak up some lead, and make it a ways before expiring.
In the end, which would work best under the worst shot presentation vs which will be best under perfect conditions...hope for the best and prepare for the worst...there is no such thing as being "too dead"!
I have taken many moose and deer with both the 300 (Win and WSM) and with 6.5's (Swede, and CM - still working on first with my 6.5PRC). They have both worked fine)
Have a great adventure!
That being said, other factors come into play, some of which have already been stated above.
Which rifle are you more comfortable/confident with?
Which is more accurate with the ammo you have chosen?
What is your limit for accurately placing bullets on target from field positions? Stay within it!
What environment are you hunting? Thick, dark timber or open prairies/fields/meadows?
How long is your average shot going to be? Short shot? Long shot?
These should assist in determining what retained energy you will have at the target. Deer = min. 1000 ft.lbs., and moose 1500 ft.lbs.
Bullet construction can be important on quartering shots where heavier bone is/may be encountered (monmetal or bonded) ...but many moose and deer have been successfully taken for decades with good old cup and core bullets.
A moose is a larger animal, but usually not that hard to kill...but like ay animal, each is an individual and some just have tougher constitutions and are more tenacious of life.
Deer, while smaller, can be more tenacious of life, so there are wily old whitetails that succumb to the 243, then there are the old warriors tat soak up some lead, and make it a ways before expiring.
In the end, which would work best under the worst shot presentation vs which will be best under perfect conditions...hope for the best and prepare for the worst...there is no such thing as being "too dead"!
I have taken many moose and deer with both the 300 (Win and WSM) and with 6.5's (Swede, and CM - still working on first with my 6.5PRC). They have both worked fine)
Have a great adventure!
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
For me it wouldn't even be a conversation...300 WSM with 180gr Partitions. My first moose was shot at 300 yards and he soaked up a magazine-full from my 300 Winchester standing perfectly broadside. When we walked up on him I was empty so my buddy handed me his 7 Weatherby, just in case. He was very dead, and probably would have been if I was using a different caliber, but I appreciated the extra oomph for the distance of the shot. My last moose was shot with a 30-06 and it took one hit, fell over, and died right next to the trail.
Like most animals, each moose is an individual and you never know whether you'll get the bang-flop moose or the bullet-sponge moose, or whether he will walk out at 50 yards or 350. Hence my preference to hedge my bets with a little more cartridge than perhaps is necessary.
Like most animals, each moose is an individual and you never know whether you'll get the bang-flop moose or the bullet-sponge moose, or whether he will walk out at 50 yards or 350. Hence my preference to hedge my bets with a little more cartridge than perhaps is necessary.
