I would like some opinions about 180 vs. 200gr. vs. 220gr bullets for short range (under 200 yds.) shots at moose. These will be shot out of a Rem 700BDL 30-06 Ack. imp. with a 24" barrel. I am thinking about a moose tag for next year and the area is very dense with the occasional meadow. My current load is a 180gr. Hornady SP at around 2950fps. I am really leaning towards the 220gr. RN either from Hornady or Sierra. I may also look at the 200gr. Grand Slam. If anyone has some experience or advise to offer I would love to hear it. I will NOT consider the Partition, X, or Failsafe for personal/political reasons but that is for another topic someday! Thanks for the input, Elk Country
Posts: 180 | Location: Northern Colorado, USA | Registered: 26 March 2002
Elk Country Why not Partitions or Fail Safe? Curious minds want to know. That being the case I would try the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, which I have used, or the Swift A Frame. A buddy of mine used a Swift A Frame in a 416 Mag to take a moose and the bullet was recovered perfectly expanded just like their ads. For any shots 200yds and in I like heavy bullets, in your 06 I would pick the 200 gr. I do not think these bullets are made in 220gr. in 30cal. but do not know for sure.
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002
I see no reason to use any bullet heavier than 180gr for moose.A premium 180gr bullet will offer all the penetration that you could possibly need.Heavier bullets provide nothing more than extra recoil.I have taken all of my own moose and elk with 180gr .308" bullets and 140gr .284" bullets.
Posts: 3104 | Location: alberta,canada | Registered: 28 January 2002
I think your right on the money! Before I got to the part about you considering the 220 grn RN that is EXACTLY what I was thinking, it makes sense. Especially for a close shot at a Moose from an AI chambered 06. That big fast expanding bullet will do some real damage even at a slower velocity and Moose arent that difficult to get a close shot at. I dont think people realize just how little velocity is required to get beautifull performance from a SP bullet, the heavy weight should put it right there. That is what I would use! A faster 180 at that range would punch right through.
Posts: 10189 | Location: Tooele, Ut | Registered: 27 September 2001
Hello: It's snowing here and I'm going to fill my moose tag in the morning. I'l be packing my 7mm Rem magnum loaded with 162 gr. Hornady BTSP and fully expect one shot in the boiler room will do the job!!! Griz
quote:Originally posted by stubblejumper: wstrnhuntr-A lighter faster bullet of similar construction will expand more and do more damage.The faster a bullet travels the more it expands.
Similar construction yes. Not so if the lighter faster bullet is a spitzer and the heavy a RN. The Rn is probably the fastest expanding bullet on the market.
Posts: 10189 | Location: Tooele, Ut | Registered: 27 September 2001
The 220 gr. Woodleigh round nose expands on contact almost, and will go though a moose half the time, will stop on the off side the other half...and it does not blood shoot a lot of meat..Kills em quick.
Posts: 42232 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000
Thanks for all of the great responses guys! I surmise from the posts that the 220gr. RN would be good, but is my original 180gr. Hornady load adequate for the job? Would there be enough of a decisive advantage to the heavier bullets to justify the added time and tweaking needed to develop the heavy bullet load? Wstrnhuntr- Do you have any data or experience with 220gr. RN bullets on game? Elk Country
Posts: 180 | Location: Northern Colorado, USA | Registered: 26 March 2002
quote:Originally posted by stubblejumper: wstrnhuntr-Could you name one roundnose for me that expands faster than a ballistic point or sst.
Yea, nearly all of them. The Rn in essence and compared to a spitzer has already began the expansion process before it ever hits the target, although you are correct in that a BT style will expand extremly fast.
Elk Country,
Ive used them with the lowly 300 savage in the Pinion Pines, they are fantastic for their intended use. The 180s will certianly do the job and if you think you may need to shoot from a greater distance then they might be better. The principle design of a RN is made to accomodate lower velocities, much more so than is the norm today. A RN will still expand at velocities well below 1000 fps. Not that your gun needs a low velocity bullet, but combining that concept with a large for caliber bullet at moderate velocities makes for a mean mix. A 220 grn .30 cal bullet being somewhat large for caliber will give you much more of a rainbow trajectory (less so with an AI), but all the energy of the heavy bullet will weigh in on the Moose providing you can only hit the mark, it will have to absorb much more punishment from a big RN. The spitzer is more versatile reguarding distance but if you are confident in your ability to get a close shot then you can likley count on a one shot kill with the RN.
A non premium bullet that I always admired is the Speer 200 gr Spitzer. It has a Ci of .556 which is as good as it gets. I know you are shooting at closer range and don't need a spitzer but Speer bullets get overlooked here. I think they are an excellent choice for game.
Start that bullet out at 2700 fps and at 200 yds it will hit with 2500 FPE! That's a very interesting load!
I knew I asked the right group of people! All of your posts are very interesting and they make my decision of the intended load that much harder. DonMartin29, I just happen to have some of those 200gr. Speer SP hot core bullets. I have given them a serious thought and it may boil down to the bullet that gives me the best accurracy. I'm sure my 180gr. load will work just fine but that means I wouldn't get to tinker with another load! We all know we have to tinker or we wouldn't spend the time on this great forum looking at other's "projects"! Elk Country
Posts: 180 | Location: Northern Colorado, USA | Registered: 26 March 2002
I shot my moose last year with a .300 Win. Mag. using Speer 180 grain bullets. No trouble whatsoever. My bull maybe travelled with 15 feet at the most. I'll be using 180 grain Fail Safes next year for moose in my new .300 WSM. I'll use the same combo for brown bears, as well.
Posts: 1005 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 23 August 2002
Woodleigh is your answer they make a round nose 220 gr .308 cal bullet with a BC of .367 and an SD of .331. For the type of shooting your doing they would be perfect.
Posts: 7505 | Location: Australia | Registered: 22 May 2002
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That being the case I would try the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, which I have used, or the Swift A Frame. A buddy of mine used a Swift A Frame in a 416 Mag to take a moose and the bullet was recovered perfectly expanded just like their ads. For any shots 200yds and in I like heavy bullets, in your 06 I would pick the 200 gr. I do not think these bullets are made in 220gr. in 30cal. but do not know for sure.
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