6mm moose rifle?

[Julius K]

My daughter will be able to moose hunt in 2027. A family member will be able to draw a Maine tag and put her as a sub permittee - legal for her to shoot.

We have a tikka 223 and boxes of tmks. I have to say I’m a little apprehensive having her shoot a moose with it. She has killed a deer with this combo and she shoots it very well. She is recoil shy. This combo has been very positive for her. I think a well placed broadside shot would go well.

I was thinking a 6mm arc (probably a Ruger gen 2) for ease of adjustability and some Barnes lrx, 95 nbt, 100 gr partiton.

6 creed may be a little too much gun for her.

What would you guys do for this young gal… ?


Please don’t answer if you are only going to suggest a larger rifle. Please don’t say wait, because we won’t do that.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

If you play around with a recoil calculator, you can see what might suit your daughter if you have a set ft lbs limit you’d like to stay under. A 6 ARC with 95 or 107 TMK’s would be a sweet combo. Those bullets would have sufficient penetration while providing a larger wound channel than the bullets you listed.

 

[43.6N]

Dasher?
GT?
243 with 95gr TMK?

 

[Walker6]

There’s a few dead-by-.223 moose in here:

Post in thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Feb 15, 2023

Somebody around Page 140 said "No cheat sheet" but I say "Yes cheat sheet"


Page 1 thru 10: Lot of arguing, couple of pictures. Some urban legend type of stuff, I can see why somebody would abandon thread because it looks like it's going to be another 160 pages of memes and shitposts

Page 10 thru 40 though, it gets interesting with lots of pictures of dead things
Form kill pics
Many pics, pic, pic, pic, Moose scapula, 4 elk

PNWGator:
OP's wife shot a moose
A frigin moose, holy shit
I mean, if a chick can do it...

Other...

• ORJoe

• 
• 
• 

I’ve not shot a moose, but I can say that 6Arc recoil is similar to .223 recoil, and that getting a new rifle is fun.

 

[Luke S]

I agree with the recoil concern.

Are suppressors an option?

Have you considered the 88 gr 223 bullets? I have not tried them but they might be worth a look to maybe bridge the gap betweena 6mm and 223. Couple moose in the 223 thread with 88 gr ELDMs.

Based on my 6.5 Grendal experience, I'd shoot a moose in a heartbeat with a 6mm ARC but I would not expect great things if it hit a big bone. It would shatter the bone I'm sure, but I don't know how much farther the framements would go. My one experience on a black bear shoulder was "so so" enough that a follow up would be recommended.

So to wrap up, I'm not sure a 6mm ARC is a huge step up. Maybe. But it's not a "shoot right through from any angle" improvement.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Yeah to echo the above post as well, I’d have no issue shooting a Shiras Moose with a 223 and 88 TMK, especially at the distances you’d be hunting in Maine.

 

[slatebuilder]

With a 6 arc, 95 or 107 TMK’s would be fantastic. Also, Hornady makes 103 ELDX ammo for the 6 arc. That is a nice bullet too. All copper would not enter my thought process in this situation at all, unless required by law.

I realize that moose are significantly larger than elk. With that said, my 13 year old daughter had an elk tag last year. If her tag would have been a once in a lifetime moose tag, we would have handled it exactly the same way as we did her elk tag.

Her 223 is her favorite rifle and the one she shoots the most. We had every intention of using her 223 with 77 TMK’s. That is, until I read the regs. The only reason that she did not take her 223 with TMK’s was state regulation prohibiting use of 22 cals for elk.

If your daughter likes and is comfortable with her 223 have her use it on the moose with confidence.

 

[BLJ]

Full disclosure. Zero moose experience but a suggestion.

Maybe a 22 ARC with 88/75 ELDM factory loads or the 77 TMK hand loads.

Only .020 and 7 grains difference than a 6 and 95’s.

If you’re interested in a RA, a 16” Ranch in 22 ARC would offer heavy for caliber factory ammo without as big of a velocity penalty as the 223 when coming from a 16” barrel.

 

[wind gypsy]

6 ARC, 95 Nosler ballistic tip.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

how about a 243?

 

[Julius K]

Suppressor is a must with this kid, we have an ab10 on the tikka. I did get some of the mags from the guy on here that is making them (amazing) that I maybe could try the 88 Eldm.
All the moose I have seen shot were 308, 30-06, 300 wby, 270. It has impressed me how thick the hide can be. A large bull will weigh 800-950 dressed (a Maine tradition is pulling them out whole). I have stopped doing that, but just mentioned weight because we do know actual weights.

We’ve killed 4 whitetails with the 223. I shot shot a nice buck this fall that dressed 188 on Thanksgiving. But it’s still small compared to a moose!

243 is on the table - I just think the 6 creed may be the better 243!?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

243 is on the table - I just think the 6 creed may be the better 243!?

The *more efficient* .243.

 

[thenodnarb]

Please don’t answer if you are only going to suggest a larger rifle. Please don’t say wait, because we won’t do that.

Sounds like you came here to be validated.
Consider how she'll feel if the shot isn't perfect and you wound an animal you can't recover.

 

[JohnsIsl]

The *more efficient* .243.

6 GT. 33.5gr Varget. 107 TMK. Get a slightly heavier profile barrel and carry it for her. Heavy gun. Low recoil.

 

[Grizzle]

I shot a mature bull moose and muley buck last fall with 88eldm from a 22cm and will confidently do it again although this year will be trying the 88 tmk. I wouldn't discount a good heavy .224 bullet.

 

[Julius K]

Sounds like you came here to be validated.
Consider how she'll feel if the shot isn't perfect and you wound an animal you can't recover.

I will just tell her that you told her this would happen and that I should have listened to you. Thanks for the input!

 

[Wrench]

I wouldn't be afraid to use a partition....but I wouldn't expect much of a blood trail. Shoot as many times as you can.

 

[slatebuilder]

Enjoy the hunt with your daughter, this is very cool for you guys. Good luck.

 

[StupidLightweight]

She should use the .223 and 77 TMK. It will work fine. Moose aren’t hard to kill. Confidence in shot placement is far more valuable than a tiny increase in bullet diameter and weight.

 

[grfox92]

I would eliminate the solid copper bullets from being an option.

6 ark with heavy TMKs or ELDs would be money.

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