What moose cartridge?

More expansion often means less penetration, because of the increased frontal area. For example, out of 8 bullets shot at 50 and 400yds from a 300wm only one had more penetration at 50yds then it did at 400 (and the only one that penetrated more at 50 had a smaller expanded diameter!)

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammo/ballistics-test-best-300-win-mag-loads-market/

Considering the 400yd impacts are in the 2300-2400fps range, which is comparable to 308 speeds at normal hunting ranges, i feel like an argument can definitely be made that a 308 will out penetrate a 300wm with the same bullet.

(I'm not arguing a 308 will kill better, with lower energy and less expansion, just pointing out that more velocity doesn't equate to more penetration with fast moving, expanding bullets)

True, but expansion will max out at a certain point and that is where more power shines. For example, if you run a TSX into something at 2000fps versus 2400fps you will get less expansion and possibly deeper penetration. But you will get less tissue damage and less shock transmitted which ultimately kill animals. Now you can always make up for less penetration with increased pre-expansion frontal area - meaning go up in caliber. In Zimbabwe we ran low on soft point ammo for the 375 Ruger I was hunting with so my brother an I both resorted to using solids to take several animals. But, happily, a .375" hole isn't that bad considering (I reserved the last few softs in case I saw a beauty Kudu). He lung-shot his Impala and I shot both my Impala and Civet using solids. My impala gave me a delightful Texas Heart Shot and looked back over his shoulder allowing me to shoot him, essentially, from corner to corner, ultimately breaking his neck. The civet took a solid through the ribs as he tried to vacate the district. Sure, a 270 with an expanding bullet would have worked fine, but a bigger non-expanding bullet did the job just as well because it punched and equal (or probably bigger) hole.

It's akin to driving into the side of a bus in a Jetta. If you hit two buses in the same place with two Jettas the faster one will penetrate more due to the construction. Even though the damage to the faster Jetta will be greater, it will still penetrate and do more damage.

Damn, that sounds like something for Mythbusters. I'd watch it, for sure!
 
Funny how moose huntin' turns into African critter collecting. Whole 'nuther scenario. If I were to hunt in Rhodesia, I would be using a scoped .308 FN FAL for everything legal to take with 'er just because.;)
 
:agree: I would not hesitate on plopping moose with a 30-30 inside of 100 yds. or so, let alone a .308. Too many folks these days go for the high power stuff when it ain't actually needed for hunting meat at sensible ranges.

Yup!! My father was raised on moose meat for many years that was harvested with a 30-30. I can still hear my Grandfather chuckle when people would say a 30-30 was too light for moose. He always said out to 100 yards its as effective as any other rifle.
 
True, but expansion will max out at a certain point and that is where more power shines.......... Sure, a 270 with an expanding bullet would have worked fine, but a bigger non-expanding bullet did the job just as well because it punched and equal (or probably bigger) hole.

It's akin to driving into the side of a bus in a Jetta. If you hit two buses in the same place with two Jettas the faster one will penetrate more due to the construction. Even though the damage to the faster Jetta will be greater, it will still penetrate and do more damage.

Damn, that sounds like something for Mythbusters. I'd watch it, for sure!

When will expansion max out though? Clearly its not in the difference between 308 and 300wm, because at least according to the test I linked to if you use a good bullet, you will usually get better penetration at 308 velocities.... So what do you need to max out expansion, a 300 RUM? 300 'bee? 30-378 'bee? Alternatively, what is too fast for even the higher end bullets?

Also, basically everyone knows solids penetrate better. Thats because they don't expand, so the frontal area doesn't get bigger, which would tend to reduce penetration. Its not like a Jetta vs a Bus, because the faster Jetta will usually penetrate the bus farther because of the way the jetta collapses - it is not designed to peel back and get significantly wider. With the bullets tested, they all expanded to close to (or more than) 200% of the original diameter. In this example, the Jetta is closer to a solid in performance than an expanding bullet...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying penetration is the only thing that matters, and I'm not saying the 308 is the ultimate killing machine or anything, I'm just pointing out that everything has its trade-offs. (also, comparing my lowly 270 to a 375 isn't exactly a fair comparison lol)
 
Shot placement and a good bullet is why you don't need a cannon to kill a Canadian moose.

This went through a moose's heart at over 300 yards and he dropped on the spot. 7mm-08
I feel the 7mm/08 is an underrated cartridge. Being the modern equivalent to the 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) which is a world wide and proven game getter since the late 1890's. Most people do not shoot 30 calibre and larger magnums well. If you cannot drop a moose with 308 Win, 30/06 class cartridge, you used the wrong bullet and/or made a poor shot. But if you like a magnum and can shoot it well, fill 'er boots.
 
I feel the 7mm/08 is an underrated cartridge. Being the modern equivalent to the 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) which is a world wide and proven game getter since the late 1890's. Most people do not shoot 30 calibre and larger magnums well. If you cannot drop a moose with 308 Win, 30/06 class cartridge, you used the wrong bullet and/or made a poor shot. But if you like a magnum and can shoot it well, fill 'er boots.

:) Amazing the effect the media and manufacturers hype has on just about all of us, ;) to some degree anyway.
 
I feel the 7mm/08 is an underrated cartridge. Being the modern equivalent to the 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) which is a world wide and proven game getter since the late 1890's. Most people do not shoot 30 calibre and larger magnums well. If you cannot drop a moose with 308 Win, 30/06 class cartridge, you used the wrong bullet and/or made a poor shot. But if you like a magnum and can shoot it well, fill 'er boots.

The 7mm 08 is under rated as a hunting round... I shot my moose at 328 yards... on a separate hunt another hunter bagged a moose over 425 yards with their 7mm 08. These were laser ranged distances.

The little red dot on the horizon was the shooting position...
Dennis_and_Moose_1.jpg


Moose_being_cut.jpg
 
The 7mm 08 is under rated as a hunting round... I shot my moose at 328 yards... on a separate hunt another hunter bagged a moose over 425 yards with their 7mm 08. These were laser ranged distances.

The little red dot on the horizon was the shooting position...

I wanted a 7mm-08 for my first hunting rifle. Ended up with a 270 for three reasons: A Lee classic loader doesn't exist in 270 (ended up with a hand press and dies anyways lol), 7mm08 ammo isn't readily available at Walmart/CT, and finally the Savage Axis I bought are all long actions regardless of caliber, so I figured I might as well make use of it.

I literally had a 7mm08 Axis wearing a camo stock in my hands one day. Damn near walked out with it, but I was out of town for the weekend and didn't want to leave it in the truck while I was busy with a hockey tournament.... I still think its an amazing round though, I'll likely get one in the future, probably in a gun much nicer than the axis which I'll cherish and love forever and ever.... Or I'll get a 7mm rem mag and say fkkk the slow 7mms. lol
 
The 7-08 and the 7x57 are basically ballistic twins when loaded to their potential.
Some of the newer powders will make amazing velocities at safe pressures.

I regard my 7x57 very highly. It actually gives up very little to the 270 Winchester
in terms of practical field use.
My present 7x57 is a M700 Classic, but I have owned Ruger 77s so chambered as
well as a Winchester M70 Featherweight.

I am not sure of the total count of game I have taken with the 7x57, but it is a
substantial number.

Back to the 7-08. I witnessed a cow elk shot at 450 yards with the 7-08 and the 140
Accubond. Two shots were fired, and both were solid lung hits. She went absolutely
no where. Did a small circle where she stood, and keeled over. One cannot ask for
much more than that. D.
 
I had a bad case of magnumitis back in the 70's and scoffed at my buddies who hunted with standard caliber rifles.
Experience later taught me, for 99% of hunting scenarios the standard caliber rifles are just a effective as the magnums.
 
The 7mm 08 is under rated as a hunting round... I shot my moose at 328 yards... on a separate hunt another hunter bagged a moose over 425 yards with their 7mm 08. These were laser ranged distances.

The little red dot on the horizon was the shooting position...
Dennis_and_Moose_1.jpg


Moose_being_cut.jpg

Great photos, thanks for sharing. I have a similar sized saw, a Homelite XL 12, that has seen similar 'duty'. In addition, that is, to cutting camp firewood and attachment as power for a Lewis powersaw winch I have.

UPDATE:
A little search through an old hard copy photo album and here's what I refered to earlier.

Moose 1



Moose 2



Yarding Moose with the Lewis Winch



'Butchering' with the Homelite XL 12



Work at the meat pole.

 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom