Has anyone got experience using a 270 on moose? What is a good load? What would you consider practical ranges for the 270 on moose?

TIA

Russ

Had a buddy up here (Alaska) that used one for years. He used the 150 grain Nosler Partition and typically took heart/lung shots, taking care to avoid the shoulder/leg bones. He got his every year that he got a shot. I don't know what his exact load was, though. I can't speak how far he actually killed moose, but know of at least one kill of just of about 225-250 yards. Placement is key, probably avoiding those big bones helps a lot.

The Alaskan/Yukon variety of moose is a bit larger than its eastern cousin, so I'd feel comfortable in taking the 270 stoked with a good premium 150 grain bullet such as the Nosler Partition, North Fork or Barnes TSX.

One thing worth mentioning, I think. Moose, at least in my experience and that of my hunting buddies, aren't really that hard to kill, but they take a long time to die. I have seen them go down as if poleaxed, but more often than not, they'll flinched or take a few steps then trot off a ways and stop. They are just big animals and they take time to expire. A lot of people take that to mean they need a bigger rifle. I have noticed larger caliber rifles do seem to put them down quicker, but the 270 Win did a fine job for my friend.

Welcome to the forum notso. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

I'll agree with alyeska. I spent five years in Alaska and did a moose every year. There don't seem nearly as hardy as elk are. As long as your do good shot placement and use a premium such as the Nosler mentioned you should do fine.

It's once there down that the job begins. Try not to shoot one in a swamp. I won't tell you the nightmare that was.

Over the years I've had one hunter who used a .270. As with alyeska, I'm not sure I can positively recall his actual load, but I do know that we talked about it before the hunt. I always point them to a NP bullet, so I'm sure I did with him. He whacked a big heavy bull, at around 140 yards, and the one shot to the lungs was just what the doctor ordered. I'd use a .270 with an appropriate bullet with no qualms. Funny thing, I have a couple of guides that always say "A big bull will carry off a lot of lead." They are right to some extent. That's why I like the lesser leads used in the .270, .280, or sevens!

Practical range w/ .270: Your ability to shoot accurately combined with suitable terminal f.p.e. of 1500, and shot placement. That is, no Texas heart shots at 300 yards, but I can't see why a broadside into the lungs at that range wouldn't put bullwinkle down. Have fun.

Thanks for the quick and helpful replies!

I had assumed that with the right bullet and good placement that the 270 would be adequate for moose. From what I understand we are going into Quebec for them but I don`t yet have any more detail. I also have a few other guns including a model 77 MKII in 30-06 and a Herter`s J9 in 300 Win Mag that ought to do the job but I just like my model 700 270 a little bit better than the others. I have made shots over 300 yds on woodchucks with this gun and feel pretty confident using it although my friend who is leading this pack of newbie moose hunters says that we may be faced with a long shot on powerline right-of-ways so he leans heavily toward the 300 Win although he has killed many Ontario moose with a .308.

Given a choice of guns/calibers for moose, what would any of you recommend as an ideal choice?

I'd use any one of those three, and from what you say, it sounds like maybe you are most comfortable w/ the .270. Use it, and have a great time.

I would feel very good with my 25-06. I used a 308 when I lived in Alaska. Just use a good bullet.Q

Nothing can withstand punched out lungs. They all work, but take what you shoot best.

Not exactly but friends in AK suggest the 165 gr in 30-06-If caribou hunting they use 150s. Soak up lead yes-but bullet in heart/luings and they are dead but it does take them a while to realize it.

Hey Bud, a very good freind uses a .270 for moose here in NH. He just has to shoot them on land, not swamp. 150's take them easy!

Hey Bud, a very good freind uses a .270 for moose here in NH. He just has to shoot them on land, not swamp. 150's take them easy!
Last year a friend of mines 10 y/o kid got a moose permit and asked me to make him some reloads that would work well in a .308 and I thought it was a bit light because he wanted to use 150 gr bulletsand nothing more. Anyhow I loaded him up some Sierra Game Kings 150 gr. They went up the forks somewhere and his son shot a moose broadside and the moose just went down right there, dead as a doornail.

Any how a .270 can throw a 150gr just as fast as a .308 so I wouldn't see the problem with taking one with well aimed shot placement.

I personally like to use my 300WM.

BTW I use a 140 Barnes Triple Shock in my .270 last year and took a nice doe a 200 yard and the bullet did a phenomenal job. You may want to try one of those. My Ruger M77 liked 58.5 gr of RL19 which is actually .05 gr more than the Barnes manual tells you to load but I tested it all the way up to 60gr without any signs of pressure. I would definitely start out low and work your way up no matter what you end up with. Good Luck

Thanks driftpin.

As I stated earlier, my friend who will be taking us hunting normally uses a .308 with a light bullet(165 gr.) for his moose harvesting which is done at close ranges, infact he claims that he shot one on the run at about 5 yds. The fact that the moose was running up the small knoll that he was atop and straight at him makes it a more interesting. :D Dead with one shot though!

I believe that he is planning on using his .270 Weatherby for this hunt so I figured if there is a .277 bullet good enough for his cartridge there must be one for my favorite gun.

Thanks driftpin.

As I stated earlier, my friend who will be taking us hunting normally uses a .308 with a light bullet(165 gr.) for his moose harvesting which is done at close ranges, infact he claims that he shot one on the run at about 5 yds. The fact that the moose was running up the small knoll that he was atop and straight at him makes it a more interesting. :D Dead with one shot though!

I believe that he is planning on using his .270 Weatherby for this hunt so I figured if there is a .277 bullet good enough for his cartridge there must be one for my favorite gun.Just a note on that I was able to push out a 140gr Barnes TS at .270 Weatherby velocities, which I found out real quick that Weatherby owners will calll you a liar, tell you you're chronograph is off and call you ever name in the book. :D The only bullet I was able to do it with is the 140 Barnes TS though. Good luck hunting.