6mm and moose

I have heard of people using them but I have heard of people killing big bulls with a 22 rim fire:ar15:, still not right and likely illegal even back then. A little light as you would have to get a perfect shot but it would be ok for calves if you didn't own a larger caliber. Just my personal opinion.
 
The smallest I've ever heard of anyone(of my friends) taking a decent size moose was with a 6.5x55 swede. But then again, ive personally seen one dropped with a long bow...
I use a motto that has served me fairly well I think: If just enough is good, and more is better, then too much should be just right!
Hence why I pack a 45-70 :)
 
upnadam said:
Have any of you guys shot or seen a moose shot with one of the 6mm cartridges.
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I have shot two moose with the 6mm Remington and the 100 grain Partition.

I would like to put it on record that I am NOT recommending the 6mm's for moose or Elk size game.
I personally believe that better choices are from 6.5mm up.

In both cases, I was hunting mule deer, and the moose presented an easy, almost perfect presentation.
One moose was a calf, the other a young Bull.
The shots were about 80 yards and 150 yards.

Believe it or not, both of those bullets exited the rib cage of those moose.
Both were basically Dead right there.

While these were apparently successful moose kills with a 6mm, if one is using these "marginal" chamberings to hunt moose
they must be prepared to hold their fire if the presentation or range is other than ideal.
Also, Premium bullets are mandatory in such small bores.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
I have shot two moose with the 6mm Remington and the 100 grain Partition. I would like to put it on record that I am NOT recommending the 6mm's for moose or Elk size game. I personally believe that better choices are from 6.5mm up. In both cases, I was hunting mule deer, and the moose presented an easy, almost perfect presentation. One moose was a calf, the other a young Bull. The shots were about 80 yards and 150 yards. Believe it or not, both of those bullets exited the rib cage of those moose. Both were basically Dead right there. While these were apparently successful moose kills with a 6mm, if one is using these "marginal" chamberings to hunt moose they must be prepared to hold their fire if the presentation or range is other than ideal. Regards, Eagleye.
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(emphasis mine)

This ... yet again.
 
This is a dissertation from another thread regarding bullet constuction however, read this and insert caliber where ever bullet construction is referred to and the meaning is the same.


Most who read this forum much know I have a little experience at harvesting game. I have never taken even one head of game with a Berger bullet, so I will prefix all that follows with this caveat.

My criteria for bullet performance is it must make it to the vitals regardless of the angle and range the game I'm hunting presents itself. Many of my hunts cost extreme amounts of money and sometimes there will only be one opportunity. Some of the animals carry $10-20,000 trophy fees and a wounded animal is a paid for animal. So you can see I'm very motivated to make sure my bullets will meet my criteria, even above the normal hunting ethics of a clean kill.
It has been my experience that you cannot embark on a hunt and KNOW the game you are persuing will present a 400 mtr broadside shot, it may jump up from behind a rock at 40 mtrs and run straight away. Will I pass up this shot.......no I will not in most cases. Some may have ethical problems with this but so be it. I'm sure you will agree that a Berger bullet cannot be expected to perform in this extreme scenario, I have however used Nosler Partitions, Swift A-frames and Barnes X, TSX and TTSX, in this precise scenario with success. A couple of times have been my own doing where I failed to place my first shot correctly (yes, it does happen) and my only follow up shots have been at the south end of a northbound critter. Other times it may be the only opportunity at an exceptional trophy, hard quartering away or straight away and the aforementioned bullets have performed, not always perfectly, but well enough to have anchored or debilitated the animal so a subsequent shot was allowed to dispatch it.
Now, as is spouted "ad nauseum" on these pages shot placement is the "end all, be all" in harvesting big game cleanly, ethically and efficiently and I agree. HOWEVER it don't always work out that way and bad shots are made, I don't care who you are or how many head of game you have shot, sh!t happens. A gust of wind, a little (God forbid) flinch, an unseen twig, an untimely step of the quarry, and AH SH!T, we got a bad hit. Following up any game, let alone dangerous game, is an iffy proposition, I'm sure you'll agree. This is not the time to be wondering if your chosen bullet is up to the task, you are likely going to be presented with a less than optimum angle or shot and you must take it, even if the best you can do is slow it down more or inflict more damage. This gentlemen is real world hunting, not perfect shot keyboard theories.
This is why I have never taken one head of game with a Berger bullet, I always prepare for the worst case scenario. It is also why I tend to shoot larger calibers than the size of game I hunt would normally require and it is also why I tend to use the upper weight range of bullets in most of my hunting rifles. I also know that there are no guarantees that even the bullets mentioned won't fail occasionally (I had a batch of 30 cal 200 gn Parts fail in Africa), but when I hear many, many tales of match bullets failing on game from what I believe to be reliable sources, I do not have to reinvent the wheel and I sure as h3ll, don't want to find out for myself on a $60K hunt.
There have been too many reports of Berger and SMKs failing, for me to risk the outcome of a very expensive hunt with significant travel involved, just to see for myself. If this is bigotry by heresay, then I am guilty.
I do trust, however that you can see my position.

Douglas

NOW ASK YOURSELF IS A 6MM AN APPROPRIATE CALIBER TO INTENTIONALLY GO HUNTING MOOSE WITH?????????????
 
In 1965 I shot two moose with a .243 and 105 grain Speer bullets. One through the heart at 300 yards plus, the bullet was in the far shoulder. One at 75 yards just behind the head. I didn't find the neck shot bullet but the longer shot bullet was recovered. The bullet did not perform well, hardly any expansion at all. Almost like a solid point. Looking back, that Speer bullet was too constructed too heavy for .243 velocities.

Large game can be shot with a .243 but bullet choice is important and as with any cartridge - bullet placement... with the right angle presenting itself.
 
I shot a large bull elk at 70 yards many years ago when I was young and didn't have a bigger rifle. It was standing broadside and dropped in it's tracks, but I wouldn't try it again. Bullet placement is very critical even with a larger caliber.
 
My father has shot a few when I was very young with a 243, because that is all he had at the time due to a house fire...He said it did a good job, but he quit using it when he got a 760 Carbine in 30-06....
 
If you are going to use a 6mm shoot 100gr Nosler Partitions, 90gr Nosler E-Tips or a 85gr Barnes TSX. Everyone says it too small but how many moose/elk have been taken with a bow and arrow?
Take out their lungs and they will die. I have seen a few taken with a 243 Win and 100gr Partitions now. I shoot a 6mm Rem. I use my 3006 and 180gr Partitions mostly but if deer hunting with my 6mm and a moose/elk gave me a shot I would take it. No lungs, no breathing= dead.
 
I know a lady who hunted most everything with a .243, and she harvested moose with it just fine. However, she was a crack shot, didn't mind letting an animal walk away if the perfect shot wasn't presented, and never shot past 200 yards.

I would not reccomend 6mm anything for moose if a person had a choice.

Just to stir the pot, I've heard from a handful of people that the 25-06 isn't marginal for mooose, and is a reliable freeezer filler.
 
The only 6mm bullet i would trust too shoot a moose is one that is being pushed by a .240 Weatherby. Other than that no dice!

If you are going to use a 6mm shoot 100gr Nosler Partitions, 90gr Nosler E-Tips or a 85gr Barnes TSX. Everyone says it too small but how many moose/elk have been taken with a bow and arrow?

Just an FYI...a broad head on an arrow causes devastating damage far superior to any 6mm bullet.
 
A cement head that came to our moose camp once shot a small bull with his mini 14...took all 5 rnds then once we found the crippled animal it had to be shot again to finish it off. The bull had been hit with all 5 .223 rnds and none had any penatration that would offer a kill. .243 does offer a much better bullet selection but without proper shot placement its barely marginal for moose.
 
My brother has used a 6mm in the Model 600 for years now. He has taken five moose with it at ranges all under 175 yards. He uses 100 grain bullets almost extensively. He does this because he is physically handicapped and cannot handle much recoil. He is an excellent shot and has never had any problem collecting his moose. I would agree with most that it is far from an ideal caliber for a large framed animal but with proper bullet placement, it will do the job. What's important here is despite his limited mobility, he gets out and hunts every year, for either moose or deer.
 
HOSSONE said:
Comparing a .223 and a .243 is pretty far fetched. The .243 is alot closer to a moose dropper than a rinky dink little .223.
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The .223 (insert just about any known projectile or weapon here) is quite capable of killing moose too. They are really not that hard to kill, given a shot to the vitals.

But is it a good choice? Would any sensible person suggest it as a good moose hunting cartridge? I think not.

This general topic comes up here just about daily. And the correct answer is always the same.
 
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