Moose bullet for tikka .243

[mxgsfmdpx]

What bullets do they use/recommend?

Whatever cycled well and shot accurately enough.

 

[BLJ]

Whatever cycled well and shot accurately enough.

That aligns with what I’ve read (no personal experience).

Seems like it’s usually a matter of “this is what we had when we saw the moose”.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

If I'm not mistaken, you killed a bull with your 22 creedmoor?

I've had the same experience with what the natives up there use, vs what most people bring. I had a 300 win mag as my "Alaska" gun, one native guy laughed when I told him the chambering. He said he used a 204 Ruger for blacktails and black bear.

Between several members here, and folks I know in person, dozens of moose that I know of personally and have seen necropsies of, have been killed with 6mm bullets.

I did elect for the 80 ELDX, which worked fantastic, but it’s a negligible sample size. The other dozens of big game kills I now have with 80 ELDX on elk and deer showed great results overall, and starts to become reliable “data” for how they kill in general.

It’s always interesting when guys use “big tough” “deep penetrating” bullets that pencil through on moose, and then sit there and complain that their animal makes it half way across a river or lake. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[Treeman_MG]

Between several members here, and folks I know in person, dozens of moose that I know of personally and have seen necropsies of, have been killed with 6mm bullets.

I did elect for the 80 ELDX, which worked fantastic, but it’s a negligible sample size. The other dozens of big game kills I now have with 80 ELDX on elk and deer showed great results overall, and starts to become reliable “data” for how they kill in general.

It’s always interesting when guys use “big tough” “deep penetrating” bullets that pencil through on moose, and then sit there and complain that their animal makes it half way across a river or lake. Hmmmmmmm.

I thought I remembered you posting the moose in the 22 cal thread. I will definitely be taking one of my tikkas, either the 22-250, or the 243, depending on how well the 243 shoots and with what bullets. Most of the people I know think I'm crazy for taking even a 6.5cm for moose. . . .lol. I don't really have any doubts about the terminal effectiveness of small calibers/match bullets.

I really started this because it's winter, work is slow, hunting season is pretty much over, and I thought it would be a fun discussion. Also, just to make sure I'm not missing anything. I switched the 22-250 over to 77gr tmks, as the Hornady bullets, while excellent killers, were not consistently accurate (in my rifle). If the new, heavier tmks are available with enough time before my hunt to validate a good load, that's probably what I will use, regardless of caliber.

 

[Formidilosus]

With big game seasons over, or nearly so for most of us, time for some reloading discussions! I am 90% certain that I will be changing my 6.5cm Tikka over to a 20", 1:8 twist .243, and taking that to Alaska in September for moose.

So, what bullet should I load? I have on hand, 95gr nosler ballistic tips (load for my Dad's 1:9 twist 243), and berger 115 vldh. I will likely be picking up some 95gr tmk, 112 barnes mb, and probably some 103 eldx. From what I have, leaning towards 115 bergers (based on @mxgsfmdpx campaign with them this year), or barnes 112mb (@B_Reynolds_AK ). 95 tmks look nasty as well (@Formidilosus), and the new, heavy tmks might be available in time to work up a load as well (that would probably be what I would go with if they are available and shoot well, but don't want to plan on them yet). Thoughts?

Edit to add: Powder/load suggestions welcome as well. I have Imr 4831 on hand (lots!), h4350, and will probably grab some staball 6.5 as well. Thanks!

The 95gr NBT’s kill well. All of the bullets you listed kill well. If I were making a load specifically for moose with what is on the market now, it would probably be the Hornady 105gr HPBT or 115gr DTAC NR. Both penetrate very well, create enough damage but not nearly as much as something like the TMK.

 

[Treeman_MG]

The 95gr NBT’s kill well. All of the bullets you listed kill well. If I were making a load specifically for moose with what is on the market now, it would probably be the Hornady 105gr HPBT or 115gr DTAC NR. Both penetrate very well, create enough damage but not nearly as much as something like the TMK.

I was wondering if one of the bullets that seem to penetrate a bit more would be the choice. The 105 Hornady is definitely on my list of bullets to pick up.

 

[Formidilosus]

I was wondering if one of the bullets that seem to penetrate a bit more would be the choice. The 105 Hornady is definitely on my list of bullets to pick up.

Yes- but only for me because I don’t want to waste moose meat. No doubt a TMK will kill faster on average, but also cause more meat loss. Being that shots on moose aren’t typically very far and that they don’t tend to take off when hit- I prefer less wasted meat.

 

[Rathunter04]

I have no experience shooting moose with a 6mm but I’ve shot quite a few deer and elk with a 6 PRC using the 108 ELDMs. They have done very well with everything I’ve shot with it.


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[Treeman_MG]

Yes- but only for me because I don’t want to waste moose meat. No doubt a TMK will kill faster on average, but also cause more meat loss. Being that shots on moose aren’t typically very far and that they don’t tend to take off when hit- I prefer less wasted meat.

Amazing how we've gone from "small calibers don't have enough wallop," to "I need to tone down the meat damage" haha!

 

[Formidilosus]

Amazing how we've gone from "small calibers don't have enough wallop," to "I need to tone down the meat damage" haha!

Oh yeah. I haven’t used a TMK or similar bullet on antelope since 2020 or 2021 I believe- too destructive. I use lead free on them.

 

[Treeman_MG]

Since I think I am on the right track for bullets, anyone have any more powder recommendations, and/or pet loads? Thanks!

 

[Alaska92]

Ok. . . .still love to hear your input. Will any of the 6mm bullets I am asking about bounce off a moose? What cartridge/caliber/bullets do you use, and what are your experiences on moose with them? Any necropsy/kill pics with said cartridges/bullets?

I have no experience with moose getting shot with 6mm bullets from myself or others I know. With that said I will bow out as it appears I am the one with no experience.

 

[Matt5266]

Bye!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Wasn’t the 95g NBT designs for elk hunting? I’d take that.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Hmmmm……it’s always interesting to hear/read advice from one that has little to no experience with the given topic in reality. I assume everyone here has a fairly sizable number of dead moose under their belt by the advice given. I believe one person mentioned here, has killed a datum of 1 Alaskan moose. It appears that makes that person an expert statistically. To try to emulate what native Alaskans do out in the bush, could likely be an exercise in vexation. It was mentioned that moose don’t travel very far after being shot…..hmmmm…..just out into the middle of the river/lake.

I’ve killed 12+ (I’ve lost count of all the winter and fall hunts) Alaskan moose and been on at least as many kills that weren’t mine.

I sort of agree with what you’re saying, out in villages there’s some mini 14s guys use but they also blast the shit out of stuff and usually aren’t great shots but you’ll hear lots of stories of 1000yd moose kills and fathers that would give the kid only one bullet and beat the shit out of them if they didn’t come back with a moose. It’s mostly BS. I used to think it would be cool to get in with the native hunters until I actually did for a few years. I saw shitloads of wounded and lost animals and guys who didn’t even bother tracking gutshot caribou after a group of guys emptied their 223s into a heard. Yeah no thanks.

I always laugh when guys make one trip to AK and say “natives use 223s….”, I mean I know lots of natives who use 300s, 338s etc to the extent that I can’t even remember the last time I met some native swearing by his 223. I guess in my experience, I’ve probably seen more 270s and 30-06 than anything else.

Hell, I was at a turkey shoot a month or so ago, it was like 15 natives and 4 white guys, there wasn’t a 223 there. Take it for what it’s worth but I’ve stopped listening to the great native hunters out in the villages.

And guys that make one trip to AK then act like experts are a joke. So many people come up here every year for their once in a lifetime hunt and become “experts” on the native ways and what Alaskans do. These guys are a dime a dozen and they all go home as hardcore Alaskan experts. We laugh at those guys.

And my favorite cartridge for moose is a 375HH just because it’s awesome and there’s no reason to play super sniper while moose hunting. I absolutely love getting near those things. I love big bulls in September.

 

[Dobermann]

Oh yeah. I haven’t used a TMK or similar bullet on antelope since 2020 or 2021 I believe- too destructive. I use lead free on them.

Would that be the same for smallish deer? And what bullets would you use here? (Apologies if I've missed this over the last couple of years!)

 

[Formidilosus]

Would that be the same for smallish deer? And what bullets would you use here? (Apologies if I've missed this over the last couple of years!)

Yes- for meat does, etc. If ranges are shorter, and recovery is not hard- fragmenting copper, and even Barnes, etc are fine. I use a non commercially available bullet that fragments the jacket. It works very well.

 

[gbflyer]

Get a box of 100gr Remington Corlokt and go shoot your moose. If you like loading, hard to beat 100gr Partition.

 

[glock233]

Based on my experience this year, 95 TMK or 103 ELDX. Versus some OTM options you are considering, the polymer tip setup opens up the face a good bit, giving easier expansion. It gives you more confidence vs a Berger 115 if you need to take an extended range shot.

 

[Castle Rock]

I’ve killed 12+ (I’ve lost count of all the winter and fall hunts) Alaskan moose and been on at least as many kills that weren’t mine.

I sort of agree with what you’re saying, out in villages there’s some mini 14s guys use but they also blast the shit out of stuff and usually aren’t great shots but you’ll hear lots of stories of 1000yd moose kills and fathers that would give the kid only one bullet and beat the shit out of them if they didn’t come back with a moose. It’s mostly BS. I used to think it would be cool to get in with the native hunters until I actually did for a few years. I saw shitloads of wounded and lost animals and guys who didn’t even bother tracking gutshot caribou after a group of guys emptied their 223s into a heard. Yeah no thanks.

I always laugh when guys make one trip to AK and say “natives use 223s….”, I mean I know lots of natives who use 300s, 338s etc to the extent that I can’t even remember the last time I met some native swearing by his 223. I guess in my experience, I’ve probably seen more 270s and 30-06 than anything else.

Hell, I was at a turkey shoot a month or so ago, it was like 15 natives and 4 white guys, there wasn’t a 223 there. Take it for what it’s worth but I’ve stopped listening to the great native hunters out in the villages.

And guys that make one trip to AK then act like experts are a joke. So many people come up here every year for their once in a lifetime hunt and become “experts” on the native ways and what Alaskans do. These guys are a dime a dozen and they all go home as hardcore Alaskan experts. We laugh at those guys.

And my favorite cartridge for moose is a 375HH just because it’s awesome and there’s no reason to play super sniper while moose hunting. I absolutely love getting near those things. I love big bulls in September.

Yeah, you here the same crap about native hunters here, they don’t care about gutshooting or blowing legs off.

No mooses here but I had great results with a 22/250 on desert dwelling moose when I ran out of 338s and the number was well into triple digits.