Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada 30-06 bullets for NF moose

I've been at the ferry terminal at PAB in NL during moose season and got a good look at all the truckloads of US sports coming off the island after moose hunting. The vast majority of the moose I saw there and while there hunting were not even close to the one in the pic you posted.

Hi SuperCub, I am curious, could you post a picture of what you would call an average/decent bull moose in NL?

I went to an NL Outfitter's site and most moose looked like these, decent-sized bodies, but small on antlers. Personally, I shoot the first moose I see, since I have no interest in big antlers, you can't eat antlers.

A two and 2 1/2 year old moose is great eating.

Bottom pic looks like Ralphie from The Sopranos. But he’s ded. I mean Bob Barker dead. 😳

Either one of those moose would be what I would expect to see there. The one I got there was the best eating moose I've ever eaten.

I agree, 2 1/2 to 3-year-olds make the best eating, from my experience, especially if they are grain-fed, meaning they have been eating in farmer's fields all summer.

To me, any moose is a great moose, as well as a trophy!

Sighting in the Sako S20 .30-06 today and at 100 NS 200 yards, 150 grain Vortex TTSX did the best. Also shot Winchester 180 grain and grouping were not as good. That being said, going back out later this week to shoot up some more. A little expensive but what the hell.

I also had a Browning Xbolt Stainless in 300 WSM and the Vortex in 165 and 189 didn’t group well at all. Tried another manufacturer and same issue. Wondering if it’s the gun. Bought it used in LNIB condition.

Cleaned both rifles for another round.

Don't fall into the trap of using a crappy bullet because it's the most accurate. Bullet construction and performance are more important that bug hole groups when shooting at big animals. I'd give up a certain amount of accuracy to know my bullet is going to perform.

Shooting at a moose is kind of like shooting at a pick-up truck.

SO true, as the guide told us your target is 24’ x 24”. I’m heading back to the range on Thursday with the 300 WSM. We had moose called in as close as 11 yards and I shot one at 267 yards with a lever action Browning in 7 mm RM. My son killed one on the run at 25 yards, heart shot.

Gets really intense when you are bow hunting them alone and you call in a big bull at under 20 yards, sure gets your attention!

You say to yourself, "Man I could die today" lol

My brother in law dropped off a box of 165 grain Hornady’s that he reloaded. Last week i tried 3 and the group was 1 1/4” at 100 yards, 2” to the right and high of bull. I’ll tighten that up next Sunday when i get back from Maine.
My. Browning 300 WSM did not like any Federal Fusion in 180 and 165. Looking for Hornady 165’s in my travels this week.

Abby,
You just looking for bullets? I have near a full box of 165 Spire points and more than half a box of 165 BTSP. I don't have any real plans for either, you can have either one if it helps.

Correction on my part, he reloaded Nosler Partitions. I’m in the White Mountains, then Rangeley and Camden Rockport camping, back home on the 16th. I will touch base a few days after i get back. I have a cardiologist appointment in Bloomfield the 19th. We may catch up yet!!

Hi abbydog, It's really interesting how different barrels react to different cartridges hey?

The rule I follow, is I never buy a cartridge because of advertising hype or other people's opinion. I go with the cartridge my rifle loves.

As mentioned my .30-06 loves them Winchester SuperX PowerPoints in 180 gr., never changing. My .300 Win Mag loves Nosler Trophy Grade ABLR's in 190 gr., never changing, although I wished it would love a cheaper shell, them puppies are pricy.

Put and decent bullet into the boiler room, and it's game over. Placement matters more than brand name.

Best of luck with the cardiologist!

I am still surprised the Federal Fusions are not grouping well. I’m going to start from scratch again just to see where they fly now that the barrel has at least a box down the tube.

Hi abbydog, just curious, did you finally settle on a cartridge?

Good luck with your hunt!

just get a old favorite of many hunters for many many years 180 gr. Nosler Partition all bullet manufactures are still chasing to make a bullet as reliable or better as a Nosler Partition bullet including newer type bullets by Nosler bullet company.

Nosler makes great rounds that's for sure!

[quote=pricedo]... an older (late 70s) Canadian friend of mine from Saskatchewan has shot plenty of Canadian moose with his Remington 742 Woodsmaster in 30-06 Sprng ... with few exceptions 1-shot kills ... like most in his age group his eyesight has declined ... the gun is currently topped with an ancient Bushnell Scopechief 2.5-8x scope with "command post" reticle from the 70s

Ha, I still have a Scopechief 4X with "command post" mounted on my old '70s 742. Killed a boxcar full of deer with that combo over 40 years, till I retired it.

To the OP,
If I ever settle on a NF outfitter for 2024, I'm thinking of TTSXs out of my 7-08. A 130 or 150 TTSX should do quite well from an '06.

abbydog
Best to you and I hope your hunt is both successful and a whole lot of fun!
Sure have enjoyed our conversations over the years concerning hunting Newfoundland moose. I have come to firmly believe that the Barnes 165 grain TTSX (Vortex) is the very best in the '08, '06, 300WSM. I have loaded them hot and see the reduced meat spoilage compared to other bullets and the pass-through shots while affecting devastation internally. Nothing that I have shot for a hunting bullet has proven more accurate.
6 days 'till launch! I hope it's a wonderful trip.
Jim

Jim,

I went to the range today and the Barnes 150 grain group a nice 1 1/2” at 200 yards with a new SAKO S20 .30-06. Everything else travelled around the target. That being said I’m going back to the range after the hunt with the other loads i have, all factory.

I purchased a Browning X bolt in 300 WSM STAINLESS. I have tried several manufactures and my brother in laws reloads with NOSLER’s. Not good. One of the guys at the range said he had a Winchester in stainless and took a lot of shooting to dial it in.

I’ll report back after i get back.