Moose loads in a .308 Winchester?

In spite of my any load opinion above, a nod is due to Hoyt, Longwalker, BlackRam and other experienced hunters who have suggested or alluded to quality bullets; they aren’t wrong. Cheap cup and cores kill moose very well, but a good bullet like a Partition is certainly hedging bets in your favour if you have them available. It’s certainly not going to hold you back.

The moose I’ve taken realistically could all have been done with a black powder .54 and a round ball, furthest I’ve shot is maybe 80-100 with iron sights, closest a few yards. Shot placement is generally very easy with a rifle on moose, helping the bullet performance.
 
Longwalker said:
I have a different opinion than many experienced moose hunters on here. Not to argue, but I boost my confidence when moose hunting by choosing a bullet that I know for sure will penetrate deeply and not break up when hitting big bones and will also expand adequately even when slipped between the ribs. Not always the bullet that gives the "best accuracy" - "best accuracy" is a silly game to play when choosing bullets to kill really big game with. If a bullet can group under 2"/100 yd, it is "good enough" for my moose hunting and I wouldn't choose a Match bullet or ELD bullet that gives groups half that size in preference to a Nosler partition, Grand Slam, Accubond, A Frame, TSX, or Oryx. I've shot a few moose with .308 and regular 180 grain and one with 165 gr. cup and core bullets, and they did work OK, but can't see any good reason to choose a 150 grain bullet in preference. I certainly don't agree that choosing a target bullet is a good idea for hunting moose. Of course moose have been killed with them. But land one in the centre of the humerus / scapula joint and it would stop dead with no more penetration than 2" or so. I've seen that.
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Exactly...
 
Longwalker said:
I have a different opinion than many experienced moose hunters on here. Not to argue, but I boost my confidence when moose hunting by choosing a bullet that I know for sure will penetrate deeply and not break up when hitting big bones and will also expand adequately even when slipped between the ribs. Not always the bullet that gives the "best accuracy" - "best accuracy" is a silly game to play when choosing bullets to kill really big game with. If a bullet can group under 2"/100 yd, it is "good enough" for my moose hunting and I wouldn't choose a Match bullet or ELD bullet that gives groups half that size in preference to a Nosler partition, Grand Slam, Accubond, A Frame, TSX, or Oryx. I've shot a few moose with .308 and regular 180 grain and one with 165 gr. cup and core bullets, and they did work OK, but can't see any good reason to choose a 150 grain bullet in preference. I certainly don't agree that choosing a target bullet is a good idea for hunting moose. Of course moose have been killed with them. But land one in the centre of the humerus / scapula joint and it would stop dead with no more penetration than 2" or so. I've seen that.
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I certainly wouldn't suggest that the OP ought to use any ole bullet he can find. But there is a very long list of perfectly adequate options, and with that said, the ones that provide him with the most reliable (repeatable) accuracy are going to be the best choices, imho.
 
As soon as you say moose with a 308 165gn nosler partitions come to mind quickly as the most suitable bullet. I have that loaded up for my 308 which ends up being a back up rifle in our moose camp. I typically use my 300WSM but after reading this thread I think it might be time to see if the 308 can put a moose under its belt! I load the 165 partitions on top of varget and they shoot 1"-1.25" groups from my model seven. A young guy in our camp got his first bull last year with a 308 and blue box federal ammunition, one shot in the boiler room and done.
 
I have shot a lot of moose with 165 gr. Nosler partitions out of a 30-06. Load the same bullet in a Win 308 and the moose won't know the difference. If 180 gr. is your preference by all means use them. Using a good premium bullet is wise especially if your stretching the distances. I have always used Nosler Partitions and when Accubonds came out I also used them. Both are an excellent choice for moose and will serve you well if placed right.
 
pete dobinson said:
Hey Kilo, I would use that beautifully stocked 280 A-bolt with those 140 gr accubonds and put one in the boiler room. :)
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Haha!
Pete, I'm taking that rifle and the .308 both to the range tomorrow morning. Testing 165 Hornady/N140 in the .308; IMR 4350 and 139's and 162's in the .280.

That stock is very nice but I'd love to oil finish it. I think Boyd's dropped the ball in the finishing room.
 
I cleanly took down a yearling bull (550lb live) with a 150gr .308 (TC Icon 22" barrel) and 150 yards.
Lots of people in this area swear you need 180gr at a minimum for moose/bear. They also think you need a 270/300WSM to shoot white tails at under 100 yards.
 
From a Remington 308 bolt gun I use to load 180 Hornady BTSP's with 45.4 grs of IMR 4064....was very accurate and deadly on moose. Wasn't great on case life though.
 
Nathan231 said:
I cleanly took down a yearling bull (550lb live) with a 150gr .308 (TC Icon 22" barrel) and 150 yards.
Lots of people in this area swear you need 180gr at a minimum for moose/bear. They also think you need a 270/300WSM to shoot white tails at under 100 yards.
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Unfortunately many of these new to shooting/hunting people are getting this info from the individuals workinng behind gun counters in the stores that are only interested in selling rifles. Many of these sales people today have very little to no actual hunting or shooting experience and will just parrot what they have heard someone else say. I have watched too may of these sales people tell customers, mostly new shooters and hunters including women and youth with no experience, that the best caliber for hunting whitetails is the 300 Win Mag with 180 gr bullets. You rarely see these sales people qualifying the customer in order to determine their needs.
Have worked with and witnessed this across western Canada over the past 10 years. I tried educating those I worked with, but 5 minutes later, they are back doing the exact same thing again. Have also witnessed a lot of lies. This usually disgusts those customers who are more knowledgeable and have watched then turn around and walk out without buying anything; and they don't usually come back. I just shake my head and walk away.
All I could do is ensure that I made sure that I was listening and hearing what customers were saying and getting them something that would meet their needs, budget and hunting style, environment and animal requirements. I sold lots of 30-30's, 260's, 6.5x55's, 7mm-08's, 270's, 280's, 308's, 30-06's, 338 Federals and 358 Wins, in comparison to magnums. many became repeat customers for new firearms and reloading equipment and components.
 
Ardent said:
Dead Right. Took this bull with the cheapest soft point .308 150s I could buy at the time, Federal Fusion. One and done he staggered and went down, personally I’d chamber whatever my rifle shoots best between 130 and 200 grains for .308 Moose loads- and place it well as Dennis says.

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That Kimber is a joy to hunt with and has shot well with everything I have put through it , your range gun should be your go to hunting rifle . Place your shot well as most here will tell you
 
I've used 308's for 4 different moose hunts. can't remember the first load but the other loads were federal blue box 180's on two hunts and on the last hunt I used the barnes ttsx 168 gr load. they all resulted in dead moose.
 
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