Moose Hunting with the .416 Barrett

Slooshark1

Slooshark1

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Well I was moose hunting up in Nipigon last week and my buddy and I went for a drive late in the week and spotted a small bull at about 650 yards away. We stalked him to 160 yards and I downed him with a 225 Grain Barnes X Triple Shock. Everything was great.

However, I keep thinking how much fun it would have been to blast him at 650 yards with a bolt action .50 BMG. Unfortunately, I'm told that you cannot hunt with a .50 BMG in Ontario (and I don't have one anyhow), but I've read that Barrett has come out with a new round that is a shortened 50 BMG case necked down to .416. Does anyone have any experience with this round? I'm sure it would be legal for moose hunting in Ontario wouldn't it?
 
Honestly... I can't buy the ethics of 650 yard shots at a game animal. Too much chance for a small error in range, wind or equipment to result in a wounded animal.

Wasn't it more fun and requiring more skill to stalk to 160 yards?
 
It was absolutely fun to stalk to within 160 yards. However, I would still love to take one at long range. I only believe it is unethical if you cannot consistently hit a target at that range. I would no doubt have to practice extensively before even considering an extended range shot. However, it would be fun, I think. I wouldn't try a long shot like that with a standard hunting rifle because there would be just way too much margin for error. But a big heavy .416 bullet would bust through a moose at that range like nothing.
Now I've only seen the .416 Barrett in a magazine. Has anyone actually fired one?
 
Slooshark1 said:
However, I would still love to take one at long range. I only believe it is unethical if you cannot consistently hit a target at that range. But a big heavy .416 bullet would bust through a moose at that range like nothing.
Now I've only seen the .416 Barrett in a magazine. Has anyone actually fired one?
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Have you seen the video clips of US Snipers shooting the bad guys in Afgahnistan or Iraq with a 50 cal , how much fun would it be to go and clean up whats left of your moose, especially a young bull ??
Hmmm, me thinks not much !
Rob
just my .02 worth and that doesnt buy much
 
As a matter of fact, I did see that video. It was quite gruesome to see a human body disintegrate like a groundhog with a .22-250. I don't know if the .416 would be quite as devastating. And a moose is quite a bit larger than a man. Someone has the first to try. How would I go about even purchasing a rifle like that? I guess I would have to talk to a dealer and have one imported. Big bucks, I'm sure.
 
Well there was a previous member (who will remain nameless) on this site that posted pics after he shot a Mulie with his .50bmg last year and there was not so much meat loss. I think It would all depend on shot placement. Also I cant remember reading about not being able to Hunt with .50bmg in Ontario, they are more worried about the minimum specs being respected. Its not really a problem since not many hunters are really looking to at humping 35 pound 5-10k$ rifles around the bush.

If I had the money I would do it. Until then Ill likely be sticking to .270 win

Oh did I mention the 1k$ plus on reloading equipement for .50bmg ?
 
Slooshark1 said:
How would I go about even purchasing a rifle like that? I guess I would have to talk to a dealer and have one imported. Big bucks, I'm sure.
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You could try Wolverine Supplies, they are a dealer on this site and I believe they carry or deal for Barrett.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Have you seen the video clips of US Snipers shooting the bad guys in Afgahnistan or Iraq with a 50 cal , how much fun would it be to go and clean up whats left of your moose, especially a young bull ??
Hmmm, me thinks not much !
Rob
just my .02 worth and that doesnt buy much
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There is probably less meat damage than when you use a 7mmRem with some 150gr Ball tips,since a .416 bullet is intended for heavy game and therefore wont open up too much and act like a FMJ.
 
In my SHOTshow Report, (link below) I talked breifly about the 416 Barrett.
Unfortunately, the US state dept has prohibited the export of these also, as they use the same bolt face diameter as the already export banned 50BMG rifles.

As for meat damage, the solid construction of the 50BMG bullet does tend to limit the meat damage. Rick from AB Tac Rif** (the so-called unmentionable one) had photos here before he got bounced. Not too bad, considering the 12,000 foot pounds of bonk!
 
Even if you can make hits at long range the time taken to get there makes it much more difficult to solve issues of occasional poor shot placement and time of flight would allow errors due to quarry movement. However, call it 500 yards and I'll through away the argument and that's still a hell of a long way.

I wouldn't worry so much about meat damage as at long range the 416 bullet's velocity would be low enough to expand as it was designed to.

No info on the Barret but it would be a hum-dinger. If you could live with a pedestrian 500 yard Moose gun a lot more calibers would become possible. $3000.00 on a 338-378 Weatherby in an Accumark with good glass would be a start though another 5-6 pounds of gun weight of pounds would help with shooting the beast prone.

A-Square makes their Hannibal rifle in 338 Excaliber which gives 500 yard Moose ballistics as well and has a better designed stock for recoil. The Remington Ultra Mags in a Sendaro would be the cheapest choice and I have been tempted many times to own one or re-barrell my 7mmRem.

You'd spend a heck of a lot to get a 416 Barrett but if you have the scratch Prairie Gun Works in Winnepeg would be a place to start and the rifle would be undeniably cool and you'd be the first in your neighborhood to own one.

Keep us in the loop if you build one!
 
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FLHTCUI said:
Have you seen the video clips of US Snipers shooting the bad guys in Afgahnistan or Iraq with a 50 cal , how much fun would it be to go and clean up whats left of your moose, especially a young bull ??
Hmmm, me thinks not much !
Rob
just my .02 worth and that doesnt buy much
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The best snipers in Afgahnistan are Canadian> Confirmed kill 2550 meters. 50 BMG
 
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Actually, someone posted a pic of a deer he shot with a 50 BMG last year. IIRC it worked out well. Shot it in the killzone, took out a fair chunk, but at least it was all in the vital area, leaving the best edible parts intact.
 
Win/64 said:
The best snipers in Afgahnistan are Canadian> Confirmed kill 2550 meters. 50 BMG
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According to a recent gun mag I bought, They are saying the longest confirmed kill was over 2500m with a M82 50cal and by the US. Go Figures :rolleyes:
 
Takujualuk said:
Even if you can make hits at long range the time taken to get there makes it much more difficult to solve issues of occasional poor shot placement and time of flight would allow errors due to quarry movement. However, call it 500 yards and I'll through away the argument and that's still a hell of a long way.

I wouldn't worry so much about meat damage as at long range the 416 bullet's velocity would be low enough to expand as it was designed to.

No info on the Barret but it would be a hum-dinger. If you could live with a pedestrian 500 yard Moose gun a lot more calibers would become possible. $3000.00 on a 338-378 Weatherby in an Accumark with good glass would be a start though another 5-6 pounds of gun weight of pounds would help with shooting the beast prone.

A-Square makes their Hannibal rifle in 338 Excaliber which gives 500 yard Moose ballistics as well and has a better designed stock for recoil. The Remington Ultra Mags in a Sendaro would be the cheapest choice and I have been tempted many times to own one or re-barrell my 7mmRem.

You'd spend a heck of a lot to get a 416 Barrett but if you have the scratch Prairie Gun Works in Winnepeg would be a place to start and the rifle would be undeniably cool and you'd be the first in your neighborhood to own one.

Keep us in the loop if you build one!
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The 416 Barrett is supposed to stay supersonic to over 2500 Meters. If so, that is quite amazing
 
RobertMcC said:
According to a recent gun mag I bought, They are saying the longest confirmed kill was over 2500m with a M82 50cal and by the US. Go Figures :rolleyes:
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Do a google search "Canadian Sniper 50 BMG" Our military has some fine weapons. We just don't seem to advertise it...
 
Win/64 said:
Do a google search "Canadian Sniper 50 BMG" Our military has some fine weapons. We just don't seem to advertise it...
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I know about the whole story, Im in the military ( seen MCM Tac 50's, PGW Timberwolfs (C14's), Parker Hale C3's ). I was trying to say, That in this mag that the americans were trying to take credit for it. Probley to try to boost their sales.
 
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