• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Best Bullet for Moose?

I will be heading to Northern Ontario the beginning of October for Moose and Bear, and decided to take my 270 Winchester short mag rifle. I know there are dozens of options for bullet choice but I would like some feedback from anyone regarding preferred choice of bullet and bullet weight for Moose who has had experience using the bullet on large game.

I'm considering the Berger VLD but I'm concerned about penetration. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
Minimum 150 gr, Nosler Partition, Barnes or Speer Mag tip or Grand Slam, something that will hold together, a Moose is a big dude and can be tough. Think about a larger(30 or 338) caliber. I smacked a big black bear in British Columbia thru both lungs with a 338 Nolser partition and he ran 200 yds, (away from me-Thank God) before he dropped.
 
I concur, stick with the heavy premiums and the270WSM will do the job just fine. STAY OFF THE SHOULDER!!! Keep your shots tight behind the shoulder and hit both lungs, there is a lot of meat and bone on a moose shoulder and the same goes for the bear. Lots of guys like to "break them down" with shoulder shot, I have personaly seen a 7 ft black bear stop a 200 gr partition from a 300wm on the shoulder, destroyed it to be sure, but did not make it to the vitals, distance was a factor. The bullet did not fail, the shooter did. I know I will raise a lot of hackles with my next "opinion", but I have no use for the Burger bullet in heavy game. They are designed to penetrate a few inches then come apart, that could mean a single lung hit in a moose, you have to hit both. And just a word of advice, from experience, DON'T SHOOT MOOSE IN THE WATER!!!!!!! And don't stop shooting till they stop twitching. Good luck, good hunting, and have a good time :D
 
having taken moose, elk, caribou, black and griz i will say from my experience, the 270 in on the lower edge for the weight/tough, size animal you are after.

if you stick with that cal. then by all means get the Nosler Partition or simulay heavy construction, and stay away from the shoulder area, remember the hearts are in the lower chest, i have shot a mature Yukon moose at 180 yd, with 300wm 165 partition shooting downhill at a 45 degree angle, broke its back just behind the front legs, it went down, then began to crawl into a river using front legs only, shot it in the withers from center back to front chest clean to skin, walked up to it and it was trying to get up.

not my best kill but i offer it as an example of what you can encounter

i changed to 180s in the 300wm as a minimum

Bob
 
Thanks to all who have responded, it's appreciated. I know many readers prefer the 30 calibers for moose and while I do own a 375 H&H Colt Sauer, I just think it's a bit much. My guide has indicated that shots will be from 20 to 100 yards. I just think a 150 grain, 270 pill at 3100+ feet per second should have the ability to provide adequate penetration and killing power.

I was reading about the Winchester supreme elite XP3 with 150 grain bullets are available in the 270 WSM. For years though I have always chosen Federal ammo and never regretted my choice. Unfortunately they do not offer the 270 WSM with 150 grain Nosler Partition bullets.

Am I expecting too much from the 270 WSM? should I just take the conservative route and bring the big bore? I've shot several black bears with my 7-57 Mauser and never had a problem. Shooting one with a 375 H&H just seems a bit much.

Thanks again for everyone's responses.
 
When you feel the bears teeths chewing on your butt you'll wish that you brought the big bore ;)
 
I forgot to mention, the berger bullets are out of the equation. On more than one occasion I've had bullets disintegrate at high velocities when they hit a heavy shoulder bone and never reach the vitals. I definitely want a bullet that has the ability to punch through bone if I inadvertently place the shot a little too far forward.

Let's just say if I'm fortunate enough to find myself in close quarters with a rather large bull moose with a generous set of horns, I might just be excited enough to forget to take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger properly. I also don't shoot as well if I've soiled my britches!
 
You will have less meat loss with the 375. If shot will be that close I would go with "big, fat, and slow", more penetration! What ever you do DON'T HIT THE HEART! I love them for a victory meal after all the work is done, salt and pepper over a fire is the best. Don't forget the tung, corn it, and you will make the best Ruben sandwich ever. If you like liverwurst, save the liver also, moose liver will make lots. Have a blast!! Moose is good eats!
 
i fully agree - the eatin of moose is out of sight, all parts mentioned.

hi speed smaller pills just dont get my attention - angry BIG animals do. as said above, bigger and slower is better.

bob
 
I just happen to love liverwurst, I guess I need to find a good recipe for it. Someone was reading my mind when they mentioned the tongue, corned beef is a favorite and the tongue will be properly processed. In spite of thirty plus years of hunting I've never taken advantage trying the heart of deer or any other game. Again, suggestions and recipes are appreciated.

Thirty years ago a friend had me over for dinner and moose stew with a wonderful think crust was the main entree. I love stews and this was by far the best I've ever had. I've never had the opportunity to fill my freezer with moose meat but if I'm fortunate enough to connect I can promise you that I will take advantage of every piece of meat.

Lastly, bear is also on the list and I have never had bear meat. I have heard of people curing the hams in the same manner pig hams are processed. If anyone has recipes for bear meat I'd enjoy trying it.

Thanks.
 
You got some good advice. Listen to it.

Could add the Barns X to the Nosler Partition as a bullet choice for your 270. They will work. My past experience with the 375 H&H is ... job done.

You decide.
 
The only way I do bear is sausage, I have tried lots of stuff with bear and sausage is the way to go. As to recipes for heart, salt and pepper, done, cook to medium rare and enjoy. As to your meat, it might be a good idea to send to processor and have them do everything including shiping. Most in moose country make great sausage, with there own recipes. Processing moose is one hell of a job, and I do it my self. The seasonings I get from a small grocery store here in town that makes sausage, I tell em I want to make 50# if this and that, they measure out the mixins and sell it to me. I also cut all bear 50% with pork shoulder when I do sausage, moose 30%. Bear fat is gross, I do here it is good for baking. I use it to lube patches for my muzzle loader, slick stuff. If you are planning on taking the 375, please practice with it and make sure you are not scared of it. Wear a sissy pad if necessary and don't shoot more than a hand full during a session. Flinches are extremely hard to get rid of, trust me, it took me a lot of shooting with a 223 to get over the one I had from my 300.
 
One more thing, take a fishing pole! Some of the best fishing I have ever had was while hunting moose. Remote lakes, streams, and rivers don't get pressure, so the rainbows, cutthroat, grayling, and others are awesome. I never go on a remote hunt without my 4piece ugly stick, reel, and bright green rooster tails. I would say take a .22 pistol, but you are going to Canada, grouse, ptarmigan, and snowshoe hair are great for the pot in camp. I need to plan another moose hunt, haven't done it in a couple years, look out Yukon river!!! ;D
 
dont waste you time on bear unless you trim it very very lean, and then spice it up add beef fat ground, the two, black and griz i have taken were not worth eating without this precaution.

on the moose, caribou elk, eat like stake or beef however you like it. In Alaska there have been times i have see moose and carabou for sale in the grocery store meat counters. cheeper than beef imported from the lower 48.
Bob
 
Man, I wish that I were you! I was born in Tok right after AK became a state, moved away way too soon and miss it more than I can describe....some of the most beautiful (and unforgiving) country than you can imagine.

If you're wed to the .270 WSM, go for the 160 grain Nosler Partition. Otherwise load up your .375 and sleep better at night.
 
I'd be using the 375 option if it were a once in a lifetime hunt, just in case he didn't give me that picture perfect broadside or quartering away shot @ <100yds. But, that's me :)

An adult moose from Northern ONT can be a formidable critter. An adult male will weigh 900-1100# before you pluck the feathers off of him and he has a very heavy bone structure. A .375 isn't really "a bit much" if you look at his shoulder knuckle. A 260-300gr bullet of heavy construction, moving at moderate velocity (2500-2700fps), would ruin his whole day and it wouldn't matter much what angle he presented to you. Make a good hit and it will croak him fast so that he doesn't amble off into the kind of nasties that you see in your worst nightmares.

The Accubond, Partition, Woodleigh, A-Frame or just about any of the full copper bullets would be up to the task.
 
We used to go up to Northwestern Ontario fishing every spring and became friends with the guy that owned the resort. One day we were talking about moose hunting. He was allowed 6 moose tags then and guided for his hunters. I asked him what he preferred in the way of guns and shot placement. He said either a 30-30 or a .303 British. That was a surprise. As far as shot placement he said.....in the neck, anywhere in the neck....don't shoot behind the shoulder and don't shoot one way back in the bush. He liked to shoot them near the water's edge.

I am just tossing this out to see what moose hunters think of his opinions.
 
I'd carry your 375 if I were you. If it were me and I was planning on no more than 100 yards (hell inside of 200 yards) I'd carry my 45-70 and push jacketed 405s at about 1800.

If you get presented with a shot quartering shot you're going to have to shoot through a whole lot of heavy animal to get to something vital, or pass on the shot. I don't shoot a 270 so I don't really know what's offered, but you're going to use it I'd look for the heaviest bonded/A frame bullet it will shoot.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
166,239
Messages
2,214,263
Members
79,464
Latest member
Big Fred
Back
Top