The Optimal Moose/Elk Round

The Optimal Moose Round


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Danny Boy

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A week ago I put up a poll on The Optimal Deer Round. The top most popular rounds voted:

o .308
o .270
o 30-06

Let see what we have to say about the optimal round for moose/elk – moose and elk only.

Please don’t limit your choice to what you have in your safe to-day, but what you think would be the best choice combining factors such as availability/cost of ammo, recoil, power, accuracy…

300WSM should be volt under 300WM. thx...
 
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If I was ONLY going to hunt moose or elk, I'd probably take my .375 Ruger, just because I can.

However, all those deer cartrides will work fine on an elk, too. The key is shot placement, and bullet construction, the size of the cartridge is less important.
 
If I was ONLY going to hunt moose or elk, I'd probably take my .375 Ruger, just because I can.

Gatehouse:

We are lucky ones who can afford multiple firearms. My preferred round is 300 WM although I often take my Marlin 1895 with me on moose hunts. The 1895 has a shorter barrel and is easier to handle in the woods.

With everything being equal, I have to admit that the bigger the hole the better. However, it is recognized that with the new generation bullets like TSX, the trend will soon be going, if not already here, smaller and lighter bullets. When I use up my 200gr TSX I will switch to 180gr or I may even try the 165 gr.
 
My favorite personal elk/moose rifles are my 338Edge and a 375 Ultra. I shoot them because I can, and I like the margin of error they provide.

That much power is not really necessary, so out of your list I would vote for the 300Win...With the right bullets it hits hard enough and has better ranging/accuracy characteristics than the 338Win.
 
Gatehouse:

We are lucky ones who can afford multiple firearms. My preferred round is 300 WM although I often take my Marlin 1895 with me on moose hunts. The 1895 has a shorter barrel and is easier to handle in the woods.

With everything being equal, I have to admit that the bigger the hole the better. However, it is recognized that with the new generation bullets like TSX, the trend will soon be going, if not already here, smaller and lighter bullets. When I use up my 200gr TSX I will switch to 180gr or I may even try the 165 gr.


There is nothing I would not hunt, including grizzly bears, with a 300 magnum and 165gr TSX bullets.;)
 
.257wby shooting a 100gr Barnes TSX's over RL22 and Federal 215m primers

or

.300wm shooting 165gr TSX's over RL22 and Federal 215m primers

These are my my moose rounds the .257 is back up to the .300wm unless the .300 sells then the .257 will be my moose gun this year although I will likely hunt moose with a bow this year.
 
There is nothing I would not hunt, including grizzly bears, with a 300 magnum and 165gr TSX bullets.;)

You might say that, but I bet serious money that you'd take your 375 if you were hunting bears in thick country.

Be honest!:kickInTheNuts:
 
I have 2 30-06's, and these are the only two big game rifles that I have. I load 180gr Hornady interlocks into both rifles; excactly the same load in each in fact. (Boring, I know, but deal with it guys) I would have no problem killing anything in North America; others may argue, but oh well.
Mike
 
I voted .30-06. Lots of people, myself included, seem to feel it's the upper end of recoil tolerance for the average shooter, and it will certainly kill moose as far as I feel I should shoot them. Plus you seem to be looking for an optimum cartridge for the average shooter, not the average CGN enthusiast-type.
A lot of the replies seem confused between the words "optimum" and "favourite."
For "favourite" I'll pick the .280 Rem or the .300 H&H.
 
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