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

Our moose in New Brunswick are medium sized. A big bull will run around 1000 lbs.

With the 308 Win, what bullet would you recommend. Typical shot ranges would be 50 yards to a really long shot of 300 yards.

I typically shoot bullets in the 150 to 168 grain range in my 308 and I do handload.

I am looking for opinions.

Really appreciate your feedback.

Colin

Two 168 gr TSX in rapid succession.

168 TSX if you are a believer. If not, 180 NPT. Either can be driven sufficiently flat out to 300 for an animal that size and both should provide adequate penetration.

Expat

I shoot a lot of 308, but I never shot a moose so use a grain of salt here.

I'd get some Barnes TSX or TTSX bullets in the usual weight range, turn up the throttle and find an upper accuracy node with RL15, Varget or since hot weather won't be a problem W748. About 2750 with a 168 Barnes ought to do in a properly hit moose.

I agree with MM.

The only bullet I've used on moose in the 308 is the 180-gr. Nosler Partition. Works fine, although I'm sure many other premium bullets would work fine, as well.

Nosler Partitions are good Barnes Triple Shocks are better IMHO

No need to turn up the throttle or use anything extraordinary, though a 168 TSX would certainly do the job.

Any decent bullet of at least 150 grains will also do the job. I base this on experience with the .270 and 7x57 on moose, and quite a bit of experience with the .308 on various large animals with bullets as light as 150 grains.

Thanks Mule Deer. How do you think a 150 grain Accubond would work? My 308 loves these bullets at 2760 fps but I thought for a moose I might have to go up to 165 grain for a little better "punch".

What bullets are you now shooting in you .308 for deer?

If it is 150-gr, just go with a tougher 150-gr that will shoot well. You are already used to the trajectory, recoil, etc.
150-gr Scirrocco

165-grs fly better out of the .308 than 180-grainers.
165-gr Swift A-Frame
165-gr Scirrocco
.... if you can find them.

At close range, the 180-gr has plenty of speed, and at long range, you don't have to worry about vanilla bullets coming apart. Standard Remington Core-Lokt 165-gr is the place to start.

My personal experience with 30 caliber on moose has involved the 30-06 and 30-30, but I've used a variety of stuff from the 165 HP GameKing, through 180 Weldcores, Ballistic Tips, and Grand Slams; 190 Inter-lockeds, 200 Partitions, as well as 170 and 220 Core-Lokts. I've seen the 308 in action on moose several times and plain old 180 Core-lokts seemed to kill them just fine. You don't need a 308 to kill moose, but it will work.

If I were going to use a 150 grain bullet, I'd use an X in some form. The AB would probably be an okay second choice as long as you are willing to limit yourself some. A thousand pound moose has enough resistance to seriously limit penetration from a number of angles. I have several 225 grain Xs fired out of a 340 Weatherby which moose have "caught". If I were pulling the trigger, I'd certainly like more weight than a 150 in the 308 and would find something that will shoot well enough that way or with one of the copper/alloy solids. Even with copper I'd still use 150 as the lower weight limit in spite of the fact that some folks might point out their even lighter examples. I'll just say I've seen the 223 work a number of times with 55 copper and lead; it works too, not a recommendation though obviously.

I've shot them with 165 grain Nosler Ballistic tips out of a .30-06. The bullets are always under the far side skin perfectly mushroomed. Shots were 25 yards. You sure don't need premium bullets. I have shot a ton of elk with this same load. Never a dull moment, dead right now, no tracking and no bull has taken a step. Bullets are always found under the off side skin. You can expect the partitions and TSX's to zip right through with very little reaction from the animal in my experience. Yes, they die, but they do tend to go a ways. A 165 or 180 ballistic tip will turn the insides to jelly. The hydrostatic shock of ballistic tips with slower rounds on big critters is phenominal. Flinch

I guess my experience has led me to conclusions somewhere between Klik and Flinch.

The 150 AccuBond is a greast bullet in the .308. The only thing it wouldn't do versus a monolithis like a TSX or E-Tip is penetrate big bones as well, so might not be the best choice for any sort of frontal shot. But it sure as heck would do for a broadside or even somewhat quartering shot through the ribs.

My experience differs from Flinch's in that the two quickest lung-shot kills I've seen on bull moose have been with Nosler Partitions. One was with a 9.3x62 with 286's, but the other (and even quicker) kill was with a 150-grain Partition from a .270 Winchester. But I do agree that in general Ballistic Tips will kill quicker. The latest version of the 180 .30 BT has the super-heavy jacket that the 200-grain .338 BT had, so would definitely be a moose load.

Lee 24
It seems that many on this board have decided not to talk with you as you may see by looking at the posts. Since I've never had any contact with you, I thought I would just let you know about it.

Regards,
Dew

I was thinking relative to my usual easy going 168 grain loads that mimic old school high power match ammo at 2550-2580 fps. I only meant to move up to full 308 potential which I've found is better than 2700 with several good powders.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I'd never suggest red lining to anybody.

Pards wife shot a 42" bull in ND this fall, which would be the same as a Canadian moose, can't recall what it actually weighed though. 20" M70 Classic Compact with 130gn TSX's around 2900fps. 110yds, caught a rib in and the off-side blade on the way out. Complete pass-through, twice for good measure FWIW.

I've never had to shoot a moose 300 yards away but I like my 06 with 180 grain noslers. YOu should be fine.

180 Nosler PT's are perfection in 308 - 30 06 class cartridges for elk, moose and caribou. Worked mighty fine on a black bear this year also.

Dew, I hope the trolls don't respond to me, because I am never talking to then, only to serious hunters. If you want to disagree with anyone's choice of ammunition, feel free, but you need not get personal. Just post your direct experience with the ammunition, rifle, or activity I describe.

You can start with your experience with the .308 on moose.
Mine is with the .30-06, at 200 fps faster, which equals 50 yards more reach.