Custom load for moose

[mxgsfmdpx]

The "why" is to have more energy when it hits. Elk are tough and moose are bigger and tougher.

Moose are not "tough". Shoot them a bullet that creates reliable killing wounds like your 162 SSTs and watch it die.

Last September...
.80 Grain ELDX.
.2180 FPS Impact Velocity (523 Yards).
.Moose was hit once, moved forward 20 feet behind some trees. Before I could shoot again he dropped.
.Two finger sized wound channel on the entrance side turned into a 4+ finger sized wound channel most of the way through the animal.

 

[ColeyG]

Anything but the SST. I finally convinced a moose hunting partner to ditch those bullets after losing one moose and a terrible experience with another.

Lots of threads out there about poor terminal performance with this bullet.

 

[Jim1187]

I have a moose hunt coming up. I have a 7mm Rem Mag and I am looking to load up some heavier rounds (I use 162gr SST for elk). What weight and bullet do the experts here recommend?

Short answer from me with no experience on elk is if you were happy with the 162 sst performance on elk it wouldn't be any less effective on moose.
You did ask what weight and bullet experts recommend and while I don't consider myself an expert, I have found myself recovering and elbow deep in moose enough to have a bit of an opinion. For the 7 rem mag not much to improve upon with either the 160 partition or accubond. Lighter or heavier wouldn't give me much pause either. If swift A-frame or Scirocco or Norma oryx shot well and was your preference they're good too. I admit my preference is tougher bullets but eld, vld, sst and any other bullet placed in the vital bits won't do anything positive for a mooses long term health.
If you wanted to go lead free I've experienced good results with the 120 and 140 ttsx and 145lrx but the sample size is smaller.
No cartridge seems to consistently cause moose to fall over without either standing there long enough to get a follow up shot or heading for thicker cover.

 

[Chris in TN]

No cartridge seems to consistently cause moose to fall over without either standing there long enough to get a follow up shot or heading for thicker cover.

I've never hunted moose or even saw a dead one up close (I've seen a few in WY but not up close) but I have watched a decent number of videos of other people hunting them and, yeah, they just don't seem to drop in their tracks very often, even with hits I'd expect to put deer/elk on their noses.

 

[ndhuntermanND]

Moose- I'd run a copper bullet or bonded at least.

 

[Yellowknife]

Every time one of these threads comes up, it amuses me how many people comment who have never (or rarely) shot a moose.

Your SST's will work fine, but do make a mess on a shoulder hit. Moose will be dead though, so it's probably academic. If you need to pick something else to make you feel better about a once in a lifetime hunt, then just go with whatever one has the nicest box. I've seen 7 mags be pretty effective with accubonds if that helps, but wouldn't hesitate to use about anything on the heavy end of things. Copper works ok, but isn't needed.

Not sure how many moose I've helped take apart, but it's in the multiple dozens. Some bullets make more bloodshot than others, but the difference isn't huge. Hit them on the shoulder knuckle, and it's always a big mess regardless. Square up on the lungs and it doesn't matter what you smack them with.

Only time I've seen really poor performance was light (150 gr / 30 cal) for caliber bullets at longer ranges or old school heavy for caliber (220 gr) round nose stuff. Penetration was an issue in both cases, but the meat ended up on the pole anyway.

Have a good hunt.

 

[medvedyt]

Every time one of these threads comes up, it amuses me how many people comment who have never (or rarely) shot a moose.

Your SST's will work fine, but do make a mess on a shoulder hit. Moose will be dead though, so it's probably academic. If you need to pick something else to make you feel better about a once in a lifetime hunt, then just go with whatever one has the nicest box. I've seen 7 mags be pretty effective with accubonds if that helps, but wouldn't hesitate to use about anything on the heavy end of things. Copper works ok, but isn't needed.

Not sure how many moose I've helped take apart, but it's in the multiple dozens. Some bullets make more bloodshot than others, but the difference isn't huge. Hit them on the shoulder knuckle, and it's always a big mess regardless. Square up on the lungs and it doesn't matter what you smack them with.

Only time I've seen really poor performance was light (150 gr / 30 cal) for caliber bullets at longer ranges or old school heavy for caliber (220 gr) round nose stuff. Penetration was an issue in both cases, but the meat ended up on the pole anyway.

Have a good hunt.

funny you say so: 3 years ago the quickest moose down i ever seen was with a 308 and 150 grains ttsx but it was only at short range, not even 50 yards: 2 lungs collapsed and never recovered the bullet but i will not recommend 150 grains for longer range at the risk of no expansion especially with stronger bullet.