6mm and moose
- Thread starter upnadam
- Start date
Twenty five odd years ago I picked up a Rem 788 .223 that some slimy salesman sold to an unsuspecting lady as a moose rifle for her hubby.The well meaning gesture did not go unnoticed by hubby as he knew it was no moose rifle. he went out and bought a box of Rem FMJ's and sighted in.Opening morning he cracks a bull in the hump at 75 yards then walks up and toques him with a finisher.Open sights.I bought the gun and remainder of the box of shells.As he was now looking for a larger caliber.Harold
Seems like this thread keeps getting repeated every few months not necessarily about the .243, just lighter rounds. No one that I know who has killed some moose(including me) considers the .243/6mm class of cartridges suitable for moose. You can kill one easily under certain conditions but personally I prefer a chambering/rifle combo that will kill a moose under ANY conditions that may be encountered. Here we have a short season and a draw system for a moose tag and some years you only get one kick at the can. I would prefer not to waste maybe my only opportunity having to pass up a shot due to my rifle's limitations or worse wounding and losing a moose. My 2 cents.
Sometimes the difference between meat in the freezer and none means taking a shot that is much less than the ideal presentation.
I recollect deciding to take just such a shot when I was in possession of a very desirable, but rare, tag for cow Elk in the BC interior.
Keep in mind, it was a 9 hour drive from home to hunt this area, as well.
My son and I had decided to hunt the last 3 days of the season, and had seen elk, but always ½ mile or more away, and no way to stalk.
On the last day, we wake up to rain falling, and a very dreary day.
Two Elk were spotted in an area we felt we might be able to approach them without spooking them.
About the time we did get within decent shooting range, a wayward breeze brought our scent to them, and they were on their way.
The only shot I had was the infamous "Texas Heart Shot" - 2 Elk running straight away.
At the time, I was packing a 700 Remington, rebarrelled and chambered in the "new" [at the time] 7mmSTW
The load was the 160 Partition, chased by enough H5010 to make 3300 fps at the muzzle. [27" Pac-Nor]
I held the crosshairs at the root of her tail and let one fly. She made it about 50 yards and slid on her nose in the wet snow.
The other cow, veered at the shot and swung sideways. I worked the action, and led her a bit and shot again.
This elk dropped within 25 feet.
I recovered the remains of the Partition from the front neck area of the cow running straight away.
The bullet that hit the broadside Elk exited.
The THS hit about ½" to the left of the tailbone, and coursed up through the Elk, missing the stomach somehow, but angled down
through the liver, diaphragm, and through one lung from end to end.
Recovered weight? 109 grains.
This shot would not have been taken if other circumstances had prevailed, or if I was shooting a bullet that could not
be trusted to make the trip through that Elk.
Definitely not a shot for a 6mm, using ANY bullet!!
Regards, Eagleye.
I recollect deciding to take just such a shot when I was in possession of a very desirable, but rare, tag for cow Elk in the BC interior.
Keep in mind, it was a 9 hour drive from home to hunt this area, as well.
My son and I had decided to hunt the last 3 days of the season, and had seen elk, but always ½ mile or more away, and no way to stalk.
On the last day, we wake up to rain falling, and a very dreary day.
Two Elk were spotted in an area we felt we might be able to approach them without spooking them.
About the time we did get within decent shooting range, a wayward breeze brought our scent to them, and they were on their way.
The only shot I had was the infamous "Texas Heart Shot" - 2 Elk running straight away.
At the time, I was packing a 700 Remington, rebarrelled and chambered in the "new" [at the time] 7mmSTW
The load was the 160 Partition, chased by enough H5010 to make 3300 fps at the muzzle. [27" Pac-Nor]
I held the crosshairs at the root of her tail and let one fly. She made it about 50 yards and slid on her nose in the wet snow.
The other cow, veered at the shot and swung sideways. I worked the action, and led her a bit and shot again.
This elk dropped within 25 feet.
I recovered the remains of the Partition from the front neck area of the cow running straight away.
The bullet that hit the broadside Elk exited.
The THS hit about ½" to the left of the tailbone, and coursed up through the Elk, missing the stomach somehow, but angled down
through the liver, diaphragm, and through one lung from end to end.
Recovered weight? 109 grains.
This shot would not have been taken if other circumstances had prevailed, or if I was shooting a bullet that could not
be trusted to make the trip through that Elk.
Definitely not a shot for a 6mm, using ANY bullet!!
Regards, Eagleye.
I have shot moose with 257 calibers with no problem. But normally pursue them with much bigger cartridges. I prefer some extra in my performance.
C-fbmi:
wow, you have spent some serious money on hunting!
Wwwwwoowwww!
Even if I had a billion dollars I wouldnt pay 60,000 dollars for a hunt.............................WELLLLLL maybe! Lol!
You have some good points.
Some people who Do use .243"calibers on moose do so by financial restraints (only gun they can afford or have) or just like the challenge. Either way, we are all responsible For what we shoot bullets at! And those that do take risks like that best take responsibilty for thier actions.
C-fbmi:
wow, you have spent some serious money on hunting!
Wwwwwoowwww!
Even if I had a billion dollars I wouldnt pay 60,000 dollars for a hunt.............................WELLLLLL maybe! Lol!
You have some good points.
Some people who Do use .243"calibers on moose do so by financial restraints (only gun they can afford or have) or just like the challenge. Either way, we are all responsible For what we shoot bullets at! And those that do take risks like that best take responsibilty for thier actions.
A few years back on last day of week long fruitless hunt we came across 2 young Bulls facing us at 251 yards on very narrow bush road.
Those were the only Bulls we saw on this trip.
I was glad I had my 338 Win Mag with 225 TTSX and 14x magnification scope for this shot.
I would not attempt this shot with 6 mm under those conditions.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
In a little less detail, your point seems to mirror one made by a favorite and well known individual, Elmer Keith who was a known advocate of using enough of a calibre to accomplish the task at hand
.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
A straight on shot (facing you) is not that bad of a shot.
I've seen lots of moose shot straight on with common hunting calibers (.270, .308, .303 brit etc) and they go down just fine. It's not a broadside double lung, but I wouldn't pass on a straight on shot to wait for a broadside unless I was shooting with a bow or something.
The other thing is that a straight on shot invariably gives you the opportunity for a second (most likely broadside) shot, after the first shot impacts the animal, in case you need another shot. But like I've said, I've seen moose set right on their butt from a 215 gr 303 brit in the center of the chest at just under 200 yards.
I've seen lots of moose shot straight on with common hunting calibers (.270, .308, .303 brit etc) and they go down just fine. It's not a broadside double lung, but I wouldn't pass on a straight on shot to wait for a broadside unless I was shooting with a bow or something.
The other thing is that a straight on shot invariably gives you the opportunity for a second (most likely broadside) shot, after the first shot impacts the animal, in case you need another shot. But like I've said, I've seen moose set right on their butt from a 215 gr 303 brit in the center of the chest at just under 200 yards.
Obviously I'm not a meat hunter cause the only thing that I have hunted for those kind of dollars that may have worked out to a reasonable dollar/pound animal was the elephant! If you are an obcessed sheep and African hunter as I am, this is what it costs, Altai Argali, Marco Polo, Bongo, Lion, Elephant each hold a price tag in that neighborhood.
Money is overrated anyway, I'd rather hunt.
Point of the dissertation is I like to be prepared for a worst case scenario when hunting. Best layed plans can "go south" in a heartbeat and the last caliber I would want to be chasing a wounded moose around with is a 24 cal, I don't care what bullet is in it. 9 times out of 10 it may work perfectly BUT, in my opinion a 90% recovery rate on hit game is unacceptable. My son took a large Yukon moose 2 years ago with his 243 too, the shot presented was just behind the ear at 80 yds, instant lights out. He was actually hunting wolves and coyotes the last few days of the season and happened to have his tag still for moose. Again an opportunity shot with a 99.9% chance of success so BANG.
100yds or less not an issue...
To just come upon a moose @ 251 yards on very narrow bush road, the likelihood of a solid rest is pretty small, as is the size of the vitals, being not alot bigger than a football on end...Risky!
As would waiting with your rifle trained on your target for it to turn broadside..Then your target is 18''-22'' which dramatically
lowers the risk of a bad shot @ 251yds..
I have an issue with people saying it's the only gun they can afford. If you can afford a 243, you could have afforded a 30-06. If the gun was given to you then trade it for a 30-06. If you are not willing to do either of these then maybe you just shouldn't hunt moose. Why should the game animal take all the risk because you're not willing to or cannot arm yourself appropriately. I've read this too many times on here that "moose are not hard to kill" and that is true to the extant that 1 well placed shot will usually do it. I NEVER worry about that one well placed shot, that scenario is a given...dead moose. HOWEVER it has been my experience they are also one of the toughest animals if that 1 well placed shot doesn't happen to be the FIRST one. I can also tell you that if one gets a little too exuberant too quickly, even after a well placed rib shot that a bull can travel for miles if you spook him and he gets his adenaline up, something a buddy and I did when teenagers. It is too easy to get complacent and forget that a moose has a lung capacity of 5 gallons or more and if left alone they will usually lay down but if you push them too soon you can be in for a long day or night.
450 yards broadside, and 311 yards quartering towards me, both taken with a 7mm STW and partitions, one shot kills. Point is sometimes you can not stalk to within 50 yards and shoot them in the head/heart with a 243. The quartering towards shot went in facing shoulder, through both lungs while taking out top of the heart, and exited behind the other shoulder out the ribs, broke the shoulder all to heck.
I have also shot a large bull at 60-70 yards with a 100 grain 243 with a perfect standing broadside shot from a rest, the bullet punctured the facing lung and was recovered in the gut pile once we tracked that moose over a mile. The bullet had hit a rib. Never again for me!
Bullet choice is the most important, but if the choice of chambering and caliber is less than ideal, bullet choice might not be enough to make consistent clean kills.
We need a sticky around here so people stop asking if their 223's and 243's are good for north America's biggest game.
I have also shot a large bull at 60-70 yards with a 100 grain 243 with a perfect standing broadside shot from a rest, the bullet punctured the facing lung and was recovered in the gut pile once we tracked that moose over a mile. The bullet had hit a rib. Never again for me!
Bullet choice is the most important, but if the choice of chambering and caliber is less than ideal, bullet choice might not be enough to make consistent clean kills.
We need a sticky around here so people stop asking if their 223's and 243's are good for north America's biggest game.
I hunt any game I hunt with a round that will penetrate far enough for a shot from the rear to be effective. I want to make it clear that I have never shot a game animal from the rear unless it was already wounded. But it has happened, even though (so far) never was the original wounding shot my own. But the ability to make a killing shot from "dead away" on an animal that may still be a few hundred yards away is one of the criteria I insist upon when I choose a cartridge and bullet (which is even more important) for a specific hunt.
The fact that a 6mm CAN kill a moose is no reason to suggest it is in any way appropriate to take as your choice of cartridge if you are intentionally going moose hunting.
The fact that a 6mm CAN kill a moose is no reason to suggest it is in any way appropriate to take as your choice of cartridge if you are intentionally going moose hunting.
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
To the OP, if thats what you have (6mm/243) and you can shoot it well and confidently, go for it and don't let anyone tell you it's no good. Get some good quality bullits and don't look back.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I had a 30 page essay wrote on why not to use the 6mm that bordered on obnoxiousness to some of the quotes. I deleted it all not really being in the mood for a
slinging match tonight with my fellow nutters. I do appreciate each and everyone, and respect each ones opinion absolutely, of course though not agreeing in anyway shape or form.I will say this,....read the story of the Elk/Moose rounds performance EagleEye mentioned in his hunt, and remember to "Never bring a Boy to do a Man's job", you may not like the results.
