What bullet for Moose/Elk? More details within.

[JimPag]

why limit the 6.5x55 to 140grain? Hornady makes a 160, and sierra used to as well. I still have a couple of boxes of the sierra 160smp. I shot a bison that was on the small side (under 1,000lbs easy) with a 6.5x284 with a 160grn. It had a short barrel, and I had to seat bullets deep to fit the mag length, so speeds were down to the same as a swede. I hit the bison right in top of shoulder. It broke the upper shoulder, went thru the thick of the spinal cord, then thru the opposite shoulder too. there was no bullet recovery, but that wound channel was freaking crazy. I couldn't believe the size of the leg bones, spine, etc. and there was a golf ball size would thru it all. Not sure about on a moose. I did watch some videos recently on you-tube of swedes shooting moose, which was really cool.

Both Hornady and Sierra discontinued the 160's years ago.

 

[FryeGuy]

I guess Hornady started making them again. They have the 160 grain smp available now. In fact they are on sale right now. I saw them the other day, which is why I am trying them in my gun.

 

[JimPag]

I guess Hornady started making them again. They have the 160 grain smp available now. In fact they are on sale right now. I saw them the other day, which is why I am trying them in my gun.

Yup. Sure looks like they brought them back.

 

[Cold Bore]

Still have two recovered Nosler partition 270 bullets from a large bear I used them on. Keep them as a reminder.

The reminder??? Next hunt was an elk hunt where I used a 225 Hornady in my 338. Damn bear took three of those 270 Partitions and still run straight at me for a good 75 yards before a third one through the front shoulder into the spine put it down just feet from me.

Not really sure what your "reminder" point is, but there is no comparison between a large bear and an elk, nor is a sample of one each very empirical data.

 

[SigSavage]

why limit the 6.5x55 to 140grain? Hornady makes a 160, and sierra used to as well. I still have a couple of boxes of the sierra 160smp. I shot a bison that was on the small side (under 1,000lbs easy) with a 6.5x284 with a 160grn. It had a short barrel, and I had to seat bullets deep to fit the mag length, so speeds were down to the same as a swede. I hit the bison right in top of shoulder. It broke the upper shoulder, went thru the thick of the spinal cord, then thru the opposite shoulder too. there was no bullet recovery, but that wound channel was freaking crazy. I couldn't believe the size of the leg bones, spine, etc. and there was a golf ball size would thru it all. Not sure about on a moose. I did watch some videos recently on you-tube of swedes shooting moose, which was really cool.

I was not aware I could get a higher grained bullet than 140.

 

[SigSavage]

I guess Hornady started making them again. They have the 160 grain smp available now. In fact they are on sale right now. I saw them the other day, which is why I am trying them in my gun.

I only see the 160gn Interlock Roundnose 6.5's on the Hornady site.

 

[SigSavage]

MAY WANT TO GIVE THE NEW 6.5 HORNADY 143GR ELD-X BULLET A TRY HIGH BC I THINK THEY WOULD HANDLE EITHER!!!! THE 6.5X55 WOULD BE MY CHIOCE !!!!

At less than 400 yards those bullets shed 40-50% of their mass. I would be concerned about penetration.

 

[SigSavage]

I'd rather use a Swift A-Frame over a Nosler Partition any day of the week. They are more heavily constructed than the Partitions and usually retain 95+% of their weight vs Nosler's 60+%, so they will penetrate deeper. Prove it yourself. Dry newspaper is a great media for testing how a bullet will hold together. I've read a number of horror stories from professional hunters who have had bad experiences with Partitions on Dangerous or Heavy boned game animals.

I can't find a loaded 150gn A-frame bullet, and the only one made for either of my guns is .270, which I don't have dies for. I would consider getting dies I suppose if I could actually find the bullets in the first place. Even at the Swift site they are on B/O.

 

[WSM01]

Matrix makes a.264" , 160 grain bullet with a good BC
Berger just came out with a .277" , 160 grain bullet but it needs a faster twist than most factory barreled 270's

 

[1newmexkid]

Well, I guess I'll be the fly in the ointment! I had the wonderful opportunity to live in Wyoming and hunt elk for 16 years. I saw elk and moose killed using a .243 by long time elk and moose hunters. I consider myself a decent elk hunter and I would never hunt elk or moose with anything less then a 300 WIN Mag. With the smaller calibers, everything has to be just right. I have no idea of your abilities. Any elk or moose can really absorb bullet energy and I personally want all the knock down power of a heavier caliber rifle. I loaded Swift A-Frame bullets for my 300 and never lost an elk. So...Can you kill them with a .270? Sure you can but, I would rather carry a .30 caliber or larger rifle any day.

 

[savagedasher]

I know Barns 165 GR tsx with a 308 penetrates a water buffalo head and only lost 5 GR .Larry

 

[th82457]

I have taken a very large Alaskan Bull moose with a 300 WSM with a Barnes 165 TSX at a lasered 410 yds. He took two steps and flipped over. Bullet passed through his chest at the top of his heart. I have also taken a bull elk with a 338 Win Mag @ 200 yds using a 225 Barnes bullet, he dropped on the spot - he was hit facing me in chest - I found the bullet under his hide at opposite hindquarter fully mushroomed & intact - it had traveled the full length of his body. I have seen three other bull elk shot with .300 or .338 Win with Partitions and similar results. Another bull shot at 100yds. with a 280 Rem & 140 Barnes though hit perfect ran about 75 yds in the timber before dropping. I am a fan of .30 cal and above for these larger beasts, because I do not like chasing them in the country they live in. I have seen two bulls get away from likely poor shot placement with a 7mm Mag & a 270 - if hit right they would be just as dead as a larger round, but my preference is still a larger hole in & out on these large animals. Obviously, shot placement needs to be good no matter what round you choose, but bullet construction needs to be stout also.

 

[wboggs]

I guess Hornady started making them again. They have the 160 grain smp available now. In fact they are on sale right now. I saw them the other day, which is why I am trying them in my gun.

Woodleigh also makes a 160. Have used them in my 6.5x55 at 2700. Superb bullet.
Bill

 

[SigSavage]

Woodleigh also makes a 160. Have used them in my 6.5x55 at 2700. Superb bullet.
Bill

I have seen those Woodleighs. I Also found out Lapua has a 155 grain, and Norma has 160s in the Oryx, Alaska and Vulkan all as loaded rounds, all in 6.5x55. Norma also makes the Oryx and Vulkan in .270 as loaded rounds but I'd be damned if I could find them for sale anywhere

I'd really prefer not to use the 6.5 if I could avoid it for 2 reasons. The first is that the chamber has been shortened by about 1/4" to specifically shoot Berger VLDs for long range precision. Factory loaded ammo may not fit it well. That would mean working up a hand load for a round that I may never even use (a bit of a PITA, and reason #2).

When faced with both these factors, it is really hard not to go with the Nosler Partition that I already have, unless I can find some loaded Norma .270 ammo for sale sometime between now and the time when I may actually use it.

 

[wboggs]

I have seen those Woodleighs. I Also found out Lapua has a 155 grain, and Norma has 160s in the Oryx, Alaska and Vulkan all as loaded rounds, all in 6.5x55. Norma also makes the Oryx and Vulkan in .270 as loaded rounds but I'd be damned if I could find them for sale anywhere

I'd really prefer not to use the 6.5 if I could avoid it for 2 reasons. The first is that the chamber has been shortened by about 1/4" to specifically shoot Berger VLDs for long range precision. Factory loaded ammo may not fit it well. That would mean working up a hand load for a round that I may never even use (a bit of a PITA, and reason #2).

When faced with both these factors, it is really hard not to go with the Nosler Partition that I already have, unless I can find some loaded Norma .270 ammo for sale sometime between now and the time when I may actually use it.

Shoot the Nosler partition or Barnes TTSX in the factory .270 and never look back. You won't have to apologize to anyone. Just choose your shot which you should do with any caliber. Your animal deserves that and you will be a better man for it.

 

[FN in MT]

It's all about PLACEMENT.

But one must use a bullet designed for the task. Of a diameter and weight SUITABLE for the task.

I've been in on the demise of probably forty plus elk. From big bulls to cows. Taken from handgun/bow distances to 555 yds. Watch your angle shots, pop both lungs and you are quickly dealing with a dead elk.

None of these idiotic neck or head shots.

 

[wboggs]

It's all about PLACEMENT.

But one must use a bullet designed for the task. Of a diameter and weight SUITABLE for the task.

I've been in on the demise of probably forty plus elk. From big bulls to cows. Taken from handgun/bow distances to 555 yds. Watch your angle shots, pop both lungs and you are quickly dealing with a dead elk.

None of these idiotic neck or head shots.

Well said, the advice of an experienced hunter. Bill

 

[jkl]

I have hunted Alaska 8 times. Taken moose and caribou and been party to many others. The outfitter requires 338 win mag minimum as there is a large brown bear population in his units. I used Hornaday 225 on all of my animals. They all were down in a step or 2. My largest moose measures 72" cured out, I shot it at 20 yards. The biggest problem with a poorly placed shot is you are not the only one tracking it in a short period of time. Meeting a bear while dressing or packing an animal gets ugly fast.

John

 

[riflewoman]

A couple of thoughts.

First a boatload of "Elg" (same animal as moose) have been killed in Scandinavia with the 6.5X55.

Second of the two I'd opt for the 270 with a 150 grain Nosler Partition. When I was growing up a family friend was an avid meat hunter in British Columbia. He killed his moose nearly every year with his 270. He hunted in Wells Grey provincial park in those days and it was a bad year when he didn't get his moose.

 

[Tommie]

Remington used to offer a 270 load with 140 Swift A-Frame bullets. Bonded partition bullet: awesome. I can't picture anything (short of a angry brown bear) surviving a well-placed hit with one of those bullets.