.30-06 for moose

Bench testing moose loads for the .30-06 (and hating every minute of it.) 220 gr Nosler Partitions over H4350. This combo should help me develop a better flinch. Accuracy is about 1.5" with the starting load of 49.0 grains, which is about as far as I got before the rain. Wouldn't be surprised if over an inch of that is my fault, seeing as how the first two went into the same hole and I was not looking forward to pulling the trigger the third time around.

This is why I don't own a magnum.

Question: What's a good moose load for the .243? (Just kidding.)

What powder are you using?

My 30/06 is a dream to shoot with 180 Nosler's. I have not shot heavier bullets.

With most calibers, if you increase the bullet weight, slower burning powder is utilized, and the recoil is less than lighter bullets.

A 30.06 with a well constructed 150 grain bullet, within reasonable range, will kill anything that walks in north america. I like hornady interlock bullets. Bill

Question: What's a good moose load for the .243? (Just kidding.)

I live in AK and although I have no experience with the 243 personally I have seen several moose that were taken with that round. Accurate shot placement would trump a rifle you develop a flinch with in my book. Just me .02 cents

A well constructed 180 grain bullet should perform well on moose at the ranges typically shot.

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My 30/06 is a dream to shoot with 180 Nosler's.

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+1
Mine shoots the 180 Berger Hunting/VLD the same way.

Of course you could load the 220 grain to 30/40 Krag velocities and wipe out close range moose...

Or just shoot from sitting/standing position instead of the bench.

Try the 180 gr. Nosler Accu-bond Much less recoil and It will do the job!!!

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Originally Posted by Eric in NC

Or just shoot from sitting/standing position instead of the bench.

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You mean you don't hunt moose from a bench? ;D

That's the rub. I don't like my '06 much off the bench during load development, but it's not such a tiger offhand. I can't wait to get out of the testing phase. I have some 180 grain loads I worked up for elk awhile back and that's what it is sighted in for right now. But I'm not giving up entirely on the 220s. That rifle likes the heavy stuff. From sandbags, I'd have trouble hitting a tennis ball at 100 yards using 150 gr handloads. I'm going to try GMXs and see how it does with a longer bullet.

I have the necked up version, 338-06. It shoots very tight groups, not sensitive to loading variations. It is actually pleasant to shoot off the bench; not too heavy but does have varmint contour barrel. Tore up a moose last September with 225gr Interlocks. The large bore bullets have surprisingly good velocity; this is only 200-250fps slower than 338 Win mag but easy recoil. This is one caliber I would recommend and do myself again. On the other hand the 35 Wheelen is in the same ballpark but you can buy low cost ammo for it.

The 6.5x55 has been killing moose in Europe for decades...

6.5x55 is on my build list. I'm also going in the other direction with a .358 Win. I'll definitely get a varmint contour barrel on that one and may end up weighting the stock. I literally hike while carrying heavy objects for a living, so a 10-12 lb rifle isn't going to slow me down awful much.

Oddly enough, I really enjoy shooting my .45-70 guide gun both on and off the bench. I have shot someone else's .300 Win Mag off of bags before and it was surprisingly pleasant. It is that rifle, my .30-06, that hammers me every time. I am not alone in the experience. I've had others shoot it and they didn't care for the recoil. I've since restocked it but haven't noticed any difference. Again, it's tolerable offhand and I like the rifle, but working up loads on the bench is not as enjoyable as I could hope.

I got me one of those strap on the shoulder recoil pads made by pace. They work pretty good. 56 grains of IMR-4831 pushing a 200 grain nosler partition from my 06 don,t bother me at all. Without the shoulder pad my shoulder would be bruised up for a week and half. Same thing with my 300 mag. No longer a problem shooting off the bench. ;D

I keep a small towel in my range box. If loads are too stout for my shoulder to handle, I fold the towel in thirds and place it over my shoulder. It makes shooting stout loads a breeze and mimics about what I'd be wearing when shooting during deer season.

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Originally Posted by GaCop

I keep a small towel in my range box. If loads are too stout for my shoulder to handle, I fold the towel in thirds and place it over my shoulder. It makes shooting stout loads a breeze and mimics about what I'd be wearing when shooting during deer season.

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problem = solved

Try a Barnes tsx in 165grn. They are about equal to a 180 grn bullet because they are longer than a regular 165 and will NOT fragment,they just keep penetrating. It's a lot easier on the shoulder and my '06 loves em!