Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 308 Winchester for 1000 lb Moose at 50-300 yard range: What Bullet and Why?

I noticed, not much talk about the Nosler E-Tips
I wonder if anyone uses these bullets.
Oh, I’m sure they sell some.
Take care.

I’ve used:

168 ttsx
200g tbbc
200g np
180g np

Giving the 166g hammers a try this year.

I shot my moose with a 168 TSX (2825 fps) out of a 30-06 at ~170 yards. My 308 win shoots the same bullet at 2725. I doubt the moose would have known the difference.

Around 45 grains of Varget is a good load for the 168 TSX or TTSX. I have recently switched to CFE-223 and am getting good accuracy around 47.5 5 grains and velocities in the 2785 range which gets your 308 awfully close to a 30-06.

Hammerdown,

Have peronally used plenty of Nosler E-Tips on animals from coyotes up to really big bull elk, along similar-sized African game. Have been beside other hunters (including my wife) who used them too, in diameters from 6mm to .30, both in North America and Africa.

Have yet to be able to tell any difference in on-game performance between E-Tips and Tipped TSXs--or Hornady GMX's. Though when E-Tips were first introduced, they did tend to expand a little wider, which may or may not have had any effect on "killing power."

Sometimes one of those bullets shoots a little more accurately than the same-weight bullet in another brand, but my latest experiments with 100-grain E-Tips in my NULA .257 Weatherby Magnum resulted in 200-yard groups around half an inch.

Mule Deer
Thanks for the information.
I might try the 150 grain E Tips in one of my 308’s hunting in CA requires none lead ammo.
Take care.

I have zero moose experience, but can report the results others have had. A friend shot a New Brunswick moose with his 300 Weatherby and a 180 grain TSX. The guide was impressed. An acquaintance from the range shot a moose last year with his 308, using a 200 grain Nosler Partition. I was surprised at his choice of bullet in a 308, but it worked just fine.

Buffalo Bore lists the 150 grain TTSX as the best bullet in the 308 for the really big stuff. Based on the penetration I have seen with guys using that bullet it would be my choice in the 308.

For moose I'd be inclined to the heavy slug side for max penetration and strive for optimum placement as well. Used 30 caliber stuff on prior outings, but if I go again a 45-70 will come along.

Light for caliber is what Barnes recommends . 150 gr. is about right for the .308/30-06. Moose aren't that hard to kill. Barnes TTSX bullets retain almost their entire weight when recovered, penetration is outstanding.

The last bull moose my wife shot was with a 30-06 loaded with 150 gr TSX at 2800 fps. Dropped at the shot and stayed there. Complete penetration. That's 308 ballistics.s

I think sierra's tipped game king is a pretty good choice.
You'd have to plug the numbers for yourself, but when I ran them them in a ballistic calculator, they were still doing 1400 fps at about 415 yards with 16" barrel velocities.
When I talked to the folks at Sierra they said they should still open up at velocities as low as 1400.
I'm sure with a longer spout you'd be well into the high 5 yardages.

Moose are not difficult to kill if you get any decent projectile into the vitals. One of my buddies that I load for kills moose every year sometimes multiple moose every year (party hunting) with Hornady Interlocks 165 gr BTSP with 57 grains of IMR4350 powder out of his '06/ Velocity is about 2800 fps. Most of his moose are one shot kills, and none of them run more than a few yards.

Shot placement is the key.

Same bullet/cartridge I have used many times on moose... I have yet to recover one. I do not want to ever recover bullets. I buy them based on their ability to make two holes...

Which: 165gr Federal Fusion !

Why: 'cause it's worked 3 times outta 3 !

If I were still toting a 308 Winchester along rivers here in Alaska, I'd be using some sort of 200 grain flat-base, lead core bullet.

If a 1:10 ratio on the rifling:

Alliant 2000 MR gave 2450 fps-2550 fps with three different 200 grainers from three different rifles with barrels from 20"-22". Same thing with reloader 17. Trajectory to 300 yards, was excessively flat and precise, compared to the generous-sized kill zone of a moose.

With most moose hunting, boat tail bullets contribute nothing, advantage wise. Most shots are in close.

Since the little 308 is lacking capacity compared to other cartridges like the 30-06, stick with flat based, lead core bullets, rather than eating up powder space. A flat base 200 grain lead core bullet is not overly long, but they penetrate fairly well. They expand reliably at 308 velocity.

Quartering-towards, head-on and quartering-away shots are not something Id pass up. Penetration is more important than velocity or range.

I dont consider moose as easy to kill as some folks claim. These odd-angles encountered, theres a lot of animal that bullet must past through.

In my world, if a moose isn't anchored closely to where I pull the trigger, recovery could get tricky.

If 1:12 twist, which is common with the 308, I've seen this twist fail to stabilize certain 200 grain bullets. A 180 grainer would be a safe bet there.

Maybe Big Stick is moderating and he does neither. LOL

I’ve not shot a moose yet but would gladly use my 308 and 168TSX. I use H4895 and get about 2700fps. I shot a large zebra stallion ( among many other animals) at nearly 300 yards with it. Shot through the shoulders and was under the hide on the far side. Looked perfect.

Ben

150 TTSX at 2,950 is on the short list for my September moose hunt here in coastal Alaska.

165 BTSP