Can the 30-06 show enough might to drop moose.
- Thread starter LeePeterson
- Start date
If you look back in time you will find that most moose in north america were killed with a .303 british or a .30-06. I doubt that many of them were dropped at 350 yards. Stick with a 160-168 grain bullet, keep your shots within 300 yards, and you will be fine. If you want to shoot a 200 or 220gr. bullet, buy a 340 wby.
I've shot a lot of moose with a 30-06. At first I used 200 grain store boughts, later when I got into reloading I used mainly 180 grain Winchester Silvertips which I also used for White Tails .
For the last 8 years or so I've shot about 10 moose with 140 grain Hornadys out of a 280 Remington .... some were shot at distances slightly greater than 300 yds . I use the 140s on deer also ...so I've had quite a bit of hands on experience shooting this bullet from 20 yds. to out past 400 .
It's not so much what you use as where you put the bullet .
For the last 8 years or so I've shot about 10 moose with 140 grain Hornadys out of a 280 Remington .... some were shot at distances slightly greater than 300 yds . I use the 140s on deer also ...so I've had quite a bit of hands on experience shooting this bullet from 20 yds. to out past 400 .
It's not so much what you use as where you put the bullet .
an interesting point to add to in this discussion about the effectiveness of a 30/06 might be that the tiger skin I am advertising for the widow of my late hunting partner in ''exchange of all other stuff''was shot with a regular 308-and long before ''premium' bullets were in common use.He shot two with this rifle -one of which hangs in the bengal room of the Empress hotel here in Victoria
Ivan Smythe
CGN Regular
- Location
- Northern BC
i was once told by a fellow who had recently arrived from Rhodesia(Zim.) that a .30-06 with the right-bullet-for-the-job loaded and in the hands of a COMPETENT hunter would take any game in North America and most of what Africa had to offer. he believed that all of the new magnum over-bore cartridges were being adopted by men who were compensating for ever-diminishing hunting skills. he pointed out that at one time our own inuit hunted polar bear(quite successfully) with .30-30's. so as he summed up "develop your skill and competence, know your rifle and only make shots you know you can kill with." i believe that if you are going to do an animal the dis-service of shooting it you should pay it the courtesy of killing it cleanly.
good luck and good shooting,
i.
good luck and good shooting,
i.
Penetration is key. Moose don't always stand sideways like a picture book illustration.
I suggest a 180 gr or 200 gr bullet. 200 will do less meat damage.
Shoot a well aimed shot just behid the shoulder and then sit quietly for a minute or two. The moose will go about 50 yards, lay down and die. If you fire more shots or starting running to him, he will get excited and run away.
One well aimed shot with a 180 or 200 will do the job.
I suggest a 180 gr or 200 gr bullet. 200 will do less meat damage.
Shoot a well aimed shot just behid the shoulder and then sit quietly for a minute or two. The moose will go about 50 yards, lay down and die. If you fire more shots or starting running to him, he will get excited and run away.
One well aimed shot with a 180 or 200 will do the job.
I second GANDERITE's post. Moose are stubborn animals, and if pushed they will soak up lead unless it's a spine shot. Place a 180 or 200 or 220 for that fact in the right spot and sit back and sharpen your knife and get ready to grunt and groan to get it loaded. Good luck, Eric
limit time
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Cliffs of Dover
well said!
Well the magnum bashers will jump all over this little piece of obviousness. Two of the oldest and most common cartridges in existance have killed more game in an era when game was more plentiful and found in your back yard. And everyone hunted to eat. Whoda thunkit?
If you go back further, there have been more moose killed with a spear or bow and arrow than all firearms combined.
So fricken what?if i was you, i would use 200-220 SP that would have lots of punch! at 200 yards the 220 sp has the energy of 1708 and the velocity also at that rage is 1870 really that is more then you need, but if you want to get'em in 1 shot i would use one of thise two
Well the magnum bashers will jump all over this little piece of obviousness. Two of the oldest and most common cartridges in existance have killed more game in an era when game was more plentiful and found in your back yard. And everyone hunted to eat. Whoda thunkit?
If you go back further, there have been more moose killed with a spear or bow and arrow than all firearms combined.
The point that is being made is that a magnum cartridge is NOT required to fill your tags. Often those who run magnum calibres are compensating for their lack of skill. Personally, I would never run a magnum. The recoil is punishing and only serves to exaggerate ones flinch. The ammo is expensive, the report is painful and the choice in bullet styles and weights is limited unless you reload.
TDC
The point that is being made is that a magnum cartridge is NOT required to fill your tags. So? The thread is about the 30-06. Why do we need to keep dragging magnums into it?
Often those who run magnum calibres are compensating for their lack of skill. And you took a poll to determine this? "Often those who haul big-assed knives to the gopher patch are compensating for something too." Hardly a fair statement to make, huh?
Personally, I would never run a magnum. The recoil is punishing and only serves to exaggerate ones flinch. You have a flinch? Lot's of guys lose that with experience.....
The ammo is expensive, the report is painful and the choice in bullet styles and weights is limited unless you reload. I won't even bother with this......
TDC
I have taken and witnessed upwards of 30 moose taken with the 30-06 & think it is one of the ultimate moose rounds out to 300-350 yds. 180 grain fail safe bullets are great, with lots of penetration and minimal meat spoilage.One moose a big 14 pt was shot end on and the bullet penetrated the entire length of the moose then exited.
A good friend of mine recently took a moose with a 180 grain Barnes Triple Shock and when he hit the moose at a little over 175 yards it looked like the moose was hit by a train. It hit the ground very hard and didnt get back up.
