270 for moose?

23 August 2005, 21:13

rickt300

I don't know how wary moose are in your area but in Wyoming it is far harder to get a tag than a moose. Factory 150 grain corelokts and power points work just fine. If you must shoot thru a shoulder bone (why?) a bigger cartridge might be better.

23 August 2005, 22:42

boom stick

vapodogs got it right...or use a heavy northfork and go for the lung/heart shot

23 August 2005, 23:18

Alberta Canuck

As a person who shot his first moose 36 years ago with a 7x57 using non-premium 139 gr. Hornady spire-point bullets, I certainly wouldn't say a.270 won't be adequate, particulary with 150 Nosler to 170 gr. (Barnes original) bullets.

I will say, though, that I'd greatly prefer something along the line of a .30-06 with 200 gr. Nosler Partitions or 220 gr. bullets of almost any make. Even bigger bore and bullet would be even better.

A Moose is not hard to kill, but it IS a big animal...mature ones are commonly circa 7' tall at the shoulder and from 1,000 to 1,500 or more pounds live weight...so to kill it quickly on a reliable basis, a little more power than for Mule Deer or even Elk won't do any harm.

23 August 2005, 23:18

Brad

I wouldn't hesitate to use a 130 TSX, 140 FS or ANY 150 grainer on ANY moose.

24 August 2005, 03:19

Atkinson

Years ago I used the .270 and 30-06 on elk and moose and had few problems, but ocassionally ended up on a rather long track...

Today I use the 300 H&H and 338..I like that extra edge on both, particularly elk that tend to make a lot of down hill tracks in steep Idaho, it puts them down quicker and allows me to take a raking shot in the thick timber we have....

24 August 2005, 08:38

fusino

Sure, you can use a .270 on Moose, and if you're a good shot you probably won't have a problem. However if you own something .30 caliber and above, why not use it? I personally would suggest more bullet.

25 August 2005, 06:12

Ursus

Thank you very much for your replies. Much appreciated.

25 August 2005, 07:10

Pathfinder

quote:
Originally posted by jens poulsen:
67 grain MRP
160 grain nosler Par.
Fed 215 primer
Norma brass

If I had to use a 270 then this would be the load I would use without hesitation and never give it a second thought. It does work.

25 August 2005, 09:30

Sabot

Moose are not tough, they are just BIG. Penetration is the key, and a 160 partition 270 at 2800 fps will penetrate exactly the same as a 200 gr 300 Win mag at the same velocity. The size of the hole will make no difference.

25 August 2005, 20:37

Alberta Canuck

quote:
The size of the hole will make no difference.

Given that as an unqualified truth, then any .222 bullet which will penetrate the Moose
would be just as good?

25 August 2005, 22:18

cobra

quote:
Originally posted by Sabot:
Moose are not tough, they are just BIG. Penetration is the key, and a 160 partition 270 at 2800 fps will penetrate exactly the same as a 200 gr 300 Win mag at the same velocity. The size of the hole will make no difference.

Lot of moose in Virginia is there?

26 August 2005, 06:49

SDhunter

Would you consider using a 270 on a moose hunt? What loading combination (Bullet/Powder) would you suggest?

Yes I would consider using my 270 on moose, but I would much prefer to use my 338-06.

I would personally would use the 160 gr Nosler Partition or a Barnes 150gr TSX. BUt, I would guess any 150 premium bullet would work.

26 August 2005, 07:24

LBGuy

I've taken a few moose in past years with a 270 win and 150gr corelokts (before the "premiums" came on the scene). Perhaps not the "ideal" caliber or bullet, but certainly sufficient today if the shooter does his/her part. If you are accurate with your rifle, and have the patience to wait for a good broadside shot, the 270 will kill any moose out there.

26 August 2005, 07:26

Sabot

quote:
Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
quote:
The size of the hole will make no difference.

Given that as an unqualified truth, then any .222 bullet which will penetrate the Moose
would be just as good?

Sorry, I meant the difference between a .308 and a .277 bullet penetrating the same distance.

26 August 2005, 07:28

Sabot

quote:
Originally posted by cobra:
quote:
Originally posted by Sabot:
Moose are not tough, they are just BIG. Penetration is the key, and a 160 partition 270 at 2800 fps will penetrate exactly the same as a 200 gr 300 Win mag at the same velocity. The size of the hole will make no difference.

Only dead ones brought back from Maine...wonder if they wandered in from canada?

Lot of moose in Virginia is there?

26 August 2005, 09:27

Enigma

Hello Ursus,

I hunt moose with some family members every year. One of us uses a 270 winchester and has killed many moose over the last 40 years. Moose are not hard to kill as long as you hit the vitals. One of the guys uses a 308, another one uses a 7mm Rem Mag and I use a 375H&H. All of them work great as long as you don't shoot them in the ass. I also find that as long as you don't push bullets past 2700fps, all of this premium bullet stuff is kind of BS. Premium bullets are better, no doubt about it but most moose in QuÃ©bec are killed by hunters that don't reload and don't know the difference between coreloks and partition. They go to Canadian tire and buy a box of whatever is available. I'm not saying its the way to go, but that is the way it is.

Enigma

26 August 2005, 09:35

calgarychef1

I've seen a lot of moose killed with a 30-30 and none wounded. Just pick your shot.

the chef

26 August 2005, 09:52

seafire/B17G

quote:
Originally posted by cobra:
quote:
Originally posted by Sabot:
Moose are not tough, they are just BIG. Penetration is the key, and a 160 partition 270 at 2800 fps will penetrate exactly the same as a 200 gr 300 Win mag at the same velocity. The size of the hole will make no difference.

Lot of moose in Virginia is there?

NOt the type you can hunt... but I have seen some real fat assed ones there... Several of them were my female cousins....

As they said above, they can be 7 ft tall at the shoulder and weight 1000 to 1500 lbs... especially when they are pissed at that time of the month...

cheers
seafire

27 August 2005, 00:53

Alberta Canuck

Good one, Seafire!!

I gather your cousins aren't members of the AR forums?

27 August 2005, 01:11

Alberta Canuck

quote:
Originally posted by calgarychef1:
I've seen a lot of moose killed with a 30-30 and none wounded. Just pick your shot.

the chef

There is no doubt smaller cartridges will kill virtually anything. I just prefer that the Moose I shoot die about where they are standing when I shoot them...especially if they are standing next to a beaver pond or a muskeg, or a bunch of blow-down. Up along the Little Smokey or around Calling Lake or over in the Swan Hills, where I used to guide/hunt in Alberta there is lots of brush, muskeg, jackstraws, and assorted dense bush. I don't like having to look for or haul those suckers through, over, or around any more crap than I have to.

As you know, moose are rather phlegmatic animals, which basically means they aren't as easily affected by hydrostatic "shock" the same way smaller deer are. So, for "instant" kills, I personally like cartridges with somewhat bigger bullets than the .270 normally has.

Used to have a friend who was a partner in the Custom Gun Shop in Edmonton (Doug Paul), who in the late 60's/early 70's hunted his moose with a .243 Rem M600 wiith Nosler Partitions and he never lost any wounded ones either...but then he was on a Ski-Doo in moderately deep snow and would cruise up beside them and put one in through the boiler room and try to immediately put the next in the back of the skull.

27 August 2005, 02:07

Mikelravy

I'll second the benefit of having them die quickly. I've had them end up upside down in water, ditches full of brush and other spots where cutting them up and hauling them out was just too much work.

29 August 2005, 03:14

KWard

I would go with the 150 grain Nosler partition bullet if I was using my .270 for a moose or an elk, nut since I have a 7mm RemMag and a .300 H&H mag I would most likey have them with me on such a hunt.

30 August 2005, 23:25

Mighty Peace

After seeing the performance of my rifle I got last season that the fiance took over (Tikka T3 LS 270WSM with a Leupold VX3 3.5x10x40 BC) shooting 140gr. Winchester Supreme ammo Accubonds on her large mulie buck and cow elk, I would say the 270WSM is good for moose.

I went and bought the same rifle with a Leupold VX3 4.5x14x40 BC scope. Just sighted it in with reloads: 140gr. Accubonds, Winchester brass, 215 Federal primers, 71.0gr. of Retumbo. This is a compressed load. Groups are 3/8". All I need for next trip to the range is a chrony, but should be around 3200ft/s. Next loads to try will be with Barnes TSX 140gr.

I would think that the 270Win would be just as good shooting moose with Accubonds, Partition Golds, Failsafes or BArne TSX as the 270WSM.

30 August 2005, 23:38

boom stick

http://www.northforkbullets.com/270-150.htm

i dont think you can get a better bullet than this in the 270...just wish they made it in a 180 grain

but seriously...the tough controled and large expansion and good weight retention not to mention accuracy make this bullet deserve sainthood.

01 September 2005, 09:20

MikeyB

How well do the 150gr. North Forks work with the .270WSM?

01 September 2005, 09:47

RMiller

I have an alaska hunting book in which the author says that any talk about the 270 win and moose is just that---- talk.

At work a while back I was talking moose hunting with guy who has shot a couple dozen moose with his 270. I asked him what his favorite bullet was for shooting moose with. He said "150 grain".

I left it at that and just talked more about hunting and less about gear.

I would pick a 130 or heavier barnes x, the 140 failsafe , the 150 partition or the north forks for the 270 win.

I have shot moose with 210 part 338win, 250 part 338win, 165 X 308 win and two with my bow. Tomorrow the season opens and I'll be taking my 300 Winny with 200 TSX's.

01 September 2005, 15:51

1894mk2

Large bullets don't necessarily do better. A raking shot on my last bull stopped on the diaphagm due to inadequate penetration. A bonded 232gr 9.3 bullet that overexpanded. I'm sure that a 160gr 277 partition would have killed that bull.

Yes I will use a heavier bullet next year.

04 September 2005, 05:03

bigbull

I have taken a few moose mostly with medium bores but I have also used the 264 WM w/140gr bullets. I will not recommend light calibers like the 270 for moose in all fairness to the animal, I know that even a 243 will take a moose but in all honestly I would have a hard time justifying anything lass than a 7mm with 175gr bullets, a 30 or 338 would be better if the hunter could handle the recoil.
bigbull

07 September 2005, 09:17

BlackHawk1

An aquaintance of mine shot a moose cow 5 times with a .270 before it went down (details of load used unknown). He was impressed. I'm not.

I have never been moose hunting, but if given the chance, I would probably pick my .375 H&H using 300gr. loads. My .45-70 using 400-420gr. loads would also be considered.

Big animal, big bullets.

08 September 2005, 01:46

Atkinson

I have hunted with the "Im a great hunter all I need for elk is a .270 or 243, even a 30-30" and yes I have shot elk with the .270 and the 30-30....

But, I have had to track a lot of elk down and kill them for myself and even more for others that bragged their poweress with small calibers, it gripes the crap out of me to be around these kind of hunters, sooner or later you will have to follow the bull down into some dark recess that kills you to pack out of.

I use a .338 and I'm glad I opted for more rifle, life has been better and easier...