338 WM or 300 WM for moose

[300 Driver]

What are the opinions out there...

I've booked my first trip to AK for next September. Fly-in hunt. I'll be hunting moose in area 20A. I am not comfortable shooting game over about 800yds at this time.

I am trying to decide if I will carry a 338 Win Mag or a 300 Win Mag. My 338 shoots 225gr Cutting Edge D62s at 2848fps avg. I have an itch to buy a Browning Xbolt Hells Canyon speed in 300WM. I may need it no matter what rifle I take.

At least one member of my hunting party will be bringing a 300 WM as well. Not sure if having common ammunition is of any actual value. What LR bullet would you guys load in the 300? I have experience with 215 Bergers in my WSM, but I'd hate to see a charging bear with that bullet I think...id hate to be charged by a bear either way.

Any additional advice from experienced AK moose hunter is always appreciated too!

 

[Alaska2006]

Either one will be effective on moose or griz. I've killed griz with a .280 one shot dead right there. I've also killed them with my .338. Hit either of them good and they will go down.

 

[300 Driver]

Thanks Alaska!

What bullet were you using?

 

[Alaska2006]

I use 215 Bergers in my 300
162 Hornady in my .280
225 Hornady in my .338 i think the are 225s would have to look to be sure
168 Berger VLD in my 7STW and 7 mag

Started loading Berger 230 OTM for my 300s and they shoot well but a bit slow at 2,850 FPS

Good luck on the moose hunt 20A north of Fairbanks? I cant remember

 

[300 Driver]

20A is southwest. Supposed to be dropped off near Roosevelt Creek.

How do you like the 215 hybrids for Moose? I love them on deer, just not certain if they are tough enough for moose.

 

[Alaska2006]

I wouldn't be afraid to slug a moose with one.
Not sure where Roosevelt is. Hunted bou and griz off the Denali highway a bit, between Wells Creek and Nenana Glacier, closer to Cantwell than Paxon. I'm guessing you'll be closer to the Paxon side.

 

[Gene R.]

Hands down 338 with 225 cutting edge.
800 yds is cool. But as big, no gigantic as moose are they can come out of thin air upclose. I would prefer a very well constructed bullet for up close. Moose are not super hard to kill, but **** are they thick of muscle and bones. That being said, 338wm, 225yds , dead center just behind scapula and a 210 partition finger hole in, golf ball out and 20 yds later dead moose.

Gene

 

[HARPERC]

......Hands down 338 with 225 cutting edge........

Sounds like it's ready to go, if you just want to buy a .300 that's fine as well.

 

[Capt RB]

If it were me in bear country or walking and stalking with the 300 WM I would have a 200 accubond in the chamber. Setting up and overlooking is different however in the alders or along the bottoms I'd feel better having a bonded or partition style bullet or even an X bullet. Something that will not blow up on a head or shoulder of a charging bruin really close

 

[SansSouci]

I've never killed any moose. I hope to fix that within the next couple years. If I were clairvoyant and knew when my desert big horn sheep number will come up, I could make other plans. But for now, desert big horn is my priority.

The biggest animal I've killed to date was a HUGE bull elk that went better than 900 pounds. One 160 grain Partition through that old boy's heart left him dead on his hooves. That Partition blew a through-and-through tunnel through that AARP bull's chest. From what I understand, elk are supposed to be much more difficult to put into dirt than are moose. I dropped him with a 7MM Rem Mag. I coulda dropped him with a .30-30 Win.

I'd bet that a .303 British with a 180 grain bullet will kill the biggest moose every single time. Here's proof: Boone and Crockett Club | Wildlife Conservation | Deer Hunting | Elk Hunting | Big Game Hunting | Wildlife Conservation | Deer Hunting | Elk Hunting | Big Game Hunting

Thus, either your .338 Win Mag or your .300 Win Mag will kill any moose. But so will an '06. And so will a .303 British.