Choice of bullet for Moose hunt

topcat265 · Sep 8, 2024

Since there's no thread for a Moose hunt (unless I missed it), I posted this in the Elk hunt section.

Next month, I'll be headed to Newfoundland for a moose hunt. I have chosen two bullets to work with. The first is the Barnes 190 grain LRX BT. The second is the Berger 245 grain Elite Hunter. The caliber rifle is a 300 PRC.
The rifle seems to like the Berger better as it is a bit more accurate.
What I find surprising is that the Barnes has over 200 ft-lbs more energy than the Berger.
I know the Barnes will break through bone as it is a monometal bullet.
Most likely all shots within 500 yards, so I am not concerned about the tighter spread of the Berger.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
T

1wildcatfan · Sep 8, 2024

If that's your two choices, I'd go with the barnes.
Me, I'd go with a 200 gr Partition or A Frame bullet.

topcat265 · Sep 8, 2024

1wildcatfan said:
If that's your two choices, I'd go with the barnes.
Me, I'd go with a 200 gr Partition or A Frame bullet.

Thank you. Can you let me know why you like those over others? I won't have time to test those now, but I can in the future.
T

338 dude · Sep 8, 2024

1wildcatfan said:
If that's your two choices, I'd go with the barnes.
Me, I'd go with a 200 gr Partition or A Frame bullet.

Nosler partition

Laguna Freak · Sep 8, 2024

topcat265 said:
Thank you. Can you let me know why you like those over others? I won't have time to test those now, but I can in the future.
T

Nosler Partition and Swift A Frame are very strong, high weight retention, bone crushing, deep penetrating, controlled expansion, monster slayers that will be all you need inside 500 yds. I've never hunted New Foundland but all moose I've encountered from Maine to Montana were well under 300 yds and frequently in or near pretty heavy cover.

1wildcatfan · Sep 8, 2024

topcat265 said:
Thank you. Can you let me know why you like those over others? I won't have time to test those now, but I can in the future.
T

Bullet construction. .

ducky · Sep 8, 2024

topcat265 said:
What I find surprising is that the Barnes has over 200 ft-lbs more energy than the Berger.

Not surprising at all, the Barnes is 450 fps faster at the muzzle. It's all about math, down range your Berger will probably surpass the Barnes. You just need to plug it into a ballistics calculator to find out where that happens.

SnakeRiverEric · Sep 8, 2024

Both will work fine. I shot a NWT moose last year with a 128gr copper rose by McGuire with my 270WSM, 1 and done. Have a great hunt.

Triple BB · Sep 8, 2024

Any decent bullet will work. I shot my moose with a 180 grn Accubond. The thing stood there for 5 or 6 seconds and fell over.

memtb · Sep 8, 2024

I unabashedly a Barnes fan…..but, for only a bit over 31 or 32 years! So for me……I guess I'd settle on the Barnes!

memtb

memtb · Sep 8, 2024

topcat265 said:
Thank you. Can you let me know why you like those over others? I won't have time to test those now, but I can in the future.
T

Before the Barnes monos…..I was a Partition fan. And I suppose for nostalgia's sake, they would be a good choice.

My only negative on the Partition is that on a very close range, high velocity shot, they will often shed all of the lead back to the partition with the jacket then folding rather tightly back against the remainder of the bullet……and yes, I've seen it! You now have a bullet with only about 65% to 70% of it's original weight with a substantially reduced frontal area. But, that remaining piece will penetrate rather well.

In the above scenario, the Barnes will generally retain near 100% of its original weight, have a quite large frontal area with pretty sharp knife-like edges giving a great deal of penetration! memtb

Chranah · Sep 8, 2024

memtb said:
My only negative on the Partition is that on a very close range, high velocity shot, they will often shed all of the lead back to the partition with the jacket then folding rather tightly back against the remainder of the bullet…

^ agreed
During rut, moose are notorious for throwing caution to the wind. We used to accidentally call in moose by cutting wood with chainsaws. The reason I say that, is I've seen moose killed up close and you'd want a bullet that can perform at all velocities. I'd go with the mono with your two choices given, although I'm a firm believer in the ELD-X, from experience.

Jmalloch · Sep 9, 2024

I've hunted moose in Newfoundland and Alaska with 300 RUM. My gun also likes the Bergers a little better for accuracy and
I still shoot them for deer. They are an awesome bullet but almost never have an exit hole. I shoot the 190 Barnes LRX for larger animals like bear and moose. They have great weight retention and more often than not will give you 2 holes making trailing
easier.

MagnumManiac · Sep 9, 2024

Not that Moose are hard to kill, but I would choose the Barnes over the Berger. My 300RUM has only ever seen 180g TTSX so far, have shot half a dozen deer, no recovered bullets to date and they just work from any angle. Deer here are 600lbs.
If a 30-30 is capable on moose, I don't see any issues…

Cheers.

Choice of bullet for Moose hunt

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