If you want a little piece of US History, why not pick the 260 Rem? I'm not a European effectino. Based on the 308 case which will be around forever, known for accuracy, short bolt, new rifles, rated for higher pressure loads than the 6.5x55. I dont think most of us playing with the 260 or 6.5x55 would pack it for moose, but Elk on down definately are in play, especially with the premium bullets available today, and the tried and true......

That depends on where you choose to hunt for Elk.

Many states have caliber reqirements that the 260 won't meet.

Like PA Requires a minimum bore diameter of .277 to hunt Elk.

AllanD

Well Oregon doesn't have a requirement that stops one from using a 260 on elk.... and a 260 with a 125 grain partition or a 129 grain Hornady... is as good as a 270 with a 130 grain partition any day of the week....even in Pennsylvania...

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Well Oregon doesn't have a requirement that stops one from using a 260 on elk.... and a 260 with a 125 grain partition or a 129 grain Hornady... is as good as a 270 with a 130 grain partition any day of the week....even in Pennsylvania...

cheers
seafire

I completely agree that any differences between a .265" diameter bullet and a .277 dia bullet each weighing between 125gr and 130gr
is more illusion than anything else.

Frankly, I like the 125Partition from my Swede.
I can get them into a single hole at 100yds
but they easily shoot into 1MOD at 200 & 300yds

And No, "MOD" isn't a typo, it's Minute-Of-Deer, a FAR more important criteria for rifles that are aimed at MEAT.

In PA there is also a Minimum bullet weight of 130grains for elk, so it's a perverse situation
where a 270win with a 130gr is legal but a 264WinMag with a 140gr or a 257Wby with a 120gr isn't legal.

the rules are the rules and they vary from place to place, I was just posting a caveat....

He should check the rules before a firm decision is reached.

Many people will claim that the 6.5x55 is sucessfully used on Moose in Sweden that doesn't tell the whole truth....
In sweden there is less stress placed on shooting bulls, most people shoot "dry cows"
or "Second calves", so they are shooting at a generally smaller animal.
6.5x55 is the MINIMUM legal caliber for moose in sweden, but not the most popular.
It has been eclipsed by the 30-06 and
the 9.3x62, both far more appropriate to moose than the 6.5x55.

As I've been told by a professional Moose guide (Maine) the important thing in killing a Moose is killing it where the heavy bastard is accessable, so anything you want to use better be damned lethal and you'd better keep shooting until the animal is DOWN and you are sure it is going to stay that way, instead of running off
to some patch of chin deep water.
Though that advise is based on the legal requirement in Maine to bring the animal INTACT
to the checking station, That's right, I said INTACT, as-in ONE-PIECE (field dressed).
You CANNOT quarter the animal to transport it
(IF that doesn't sound like an ugly, UGLY job I don't know what does.)

If I were shooting at a Moose I'd either use a 30-06 with 180's (I don't think 180gr bullets are needed for Elk) or the 358NormaMag built on a Springfield that's somewhere in the back of the gun safe...

My brother has repeatedly stated that if he ever got a Moose tag for Maine he'd want to be sure (Short of nuking the animal from orbit
so he'd use his Rem700AWR in 416Rem.

Tracking a wounded moose into chin deep water
is not my idea of "having a good time".
Dragging it back out of that chin deep water
is even less appealing than being "volunteered"as a body/stunt double for the X-rated sequel to "Fudgepack Mountain" :O

AllanD