Last year I snagged a stainless Winchester 70 in .300 WSM for a price I couldn't pass. I already had my custom stainless Ruger MKII in .35 Whelen as my moose rifle but I figured I could justify the .300 WSM as my long range big rifle
. I was trying to decide between the 168gr and 180gr TTSX just when the new Barnes LRX came out. A 175gr would be a good compromise and the LRX (long range X) would be perfect since this was going to be for longer range.
Just like last year, for this year moose hunt I brought out both the Whelen and the .300 WSM. Once we hit the gravel road, I reached for the gun case to get out a rifle just in case we would see something on the way up and it just happened that it was the .300 WSM that was in easy reach.
It was new area where neither of us had been before and we had a group cow/calf draw. The first day was more driving around exploring than hunting. At 5pm I spotted a cow and a calf on the other side of a small creek and just like that, our moose hunt was over before it had even started. I shot the big cow and my buddy the calf. Range was about 75yds , cow quartering away, she took one step and tipped over. Not much of a long range test!
During butchering, I found the bullet and two petals in the front opposite shoulder. Recovered weight with the two petals: 146.7gr.
Observations: - The lungs were a pudle of goo in the chest cavity during gutting. I have shot moose before with the TSX and usually what I have seen is a 1"-1.5" hole drilled throught the lungs not the jello often seen on smaller game like deer. May have something to do with the claim that the LRX is made to open a lower velocity for long range.
- The large shoulder bone (humerus?) was pulverised. Shards of bone and bone dust everywhere.
- Lots of bloodshot meat in the opposite shoulder. Not that surprising considering that bone was struck and the speed of impact.
. I was trying to decide between the 168gr and 180gr TTSX just when the new Barnes LRX came out. A 175gr would be a good compromise and the LRX (long range X) would be perfect since this was going to be for longer range. Just like last year, for this year moose hunt I brought out both the Whelen and the .300 WSM. Once we hit the gravel road, I reached for the gun case to get out a rifle just in case we would see something on the way up and it just happened that it was the .300 WSM that was in easy reach.
It was new area where neither of us had been before and we had a group cow/calf draw. The first day was more driving around exploring than hunting. At 5pm I spotted a cow and a calf on the other side of a small creek and just like that, our moose hunt was over before it had even started. I shot the big cow and my buddy the calf. Range was about 75yds , cow quartering away, she took one step and tipped over. Not much of a long range test!
During butchering, I found the bullet and two petals in the front opposite shoulder. Recovered weight with the two petals: 146.7gr.
Observations: - The lungs were a pudle of goo in the chest cavity during gutting. I have shot moose before with the TSX and usually what I have seen is a 1"-1.5" hole drilled throught the lungs not the jello often seen on smaller game like deer. May have something to do with the claim that the LRX is made to open a lower velocity for long range.
- The large shoulder bone (humerus?) was pulverised. Shards of bone and bone dust everywhere.
- Lots of bloodshot meat in the opposite shoulder. Not that surprising considering that bone was struck and the speed of impact.
