Bullet choice for moose/brown bear in 300 mag

[Vance in AK]

I decided to play with the 300 Win Mag when I found a sale I couldnt pass up on a Ruger American in the go wild cammo (I could do without that) with the muzzle brake & ceracoat. Evryone I talked to that had one in other calibers said they shoot amazing so...
I wan t to build a handload for the gun that I will use all the typical alaska critters. Moose, black & brown bear, & caribou.
I was initially going to try the 210gr Nosler Accubond LR but am reading about sketchy performance on heavier animals at closer ranges.
I put a Vortex Viper HSLR 4-16 on it.
On paper with my Ruger precision in 308 I'm comfortable at close to 1k yds so I don't mind the idea of stretching things a bit with the 300 on some animals in the right circumstance.

Thanks!

 

[BCsteve]

I’m a Barnes fan and I’ve shot all my moose in the last 15+ years with TSX, TTSX and LRX. That’s from 7mm Rem Mag, .300 WSM, .35 Whelen and .375 Ruger. I shot a big cow with the 175gr LRX in my .300 WSM and she dropped on the spot. I’d try one of the two .30 cal LRX.

 

[mcseal2]

Nosler E tip treated us well on our moose. Probably not much different than the Barnes in performance.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Barnes LRX, Nosler partition, Hornady eldx.

 

[AK_Skeeter]

Barnes TTSX 180gr reloaded with IMR 4831

 

[AKDoc]

Another Barnes fan here! I handload for myself and children.

I know you're specifically talking .30 cal....my son has taken mountain goat with 168gr TSX's out of a 30-06, and black bear with TSX 180's...I've taken several caribou with TSX 180's as well. He took his first brown bear last fall (9ft) with a 210gr TSX out of a 338-06 (one shot through the heart at about 40 yds). My daughter has taken mountain goat and sheep with 120gn TTSX's out of a 7mm-08. I've shot several spring black bears (spot and stalk) with a 100gr TSX out of a 257WBY, and a bunch of moose and a couple grizzlies with 270gr TSX's out of a 375H&H.

We've only recovered a handful of bullets, mostly from headshot bull moose and the 168gr out of my son's mountain goat.

 

[RichP]

Nosler Partition, 180g, H1000. I don't remember how may grains right now. The moose I shot in October was dead before he hit the ground!

 

[WCS]

I've become a fan of the 175 gr Barnes LRX in my 30-06. In my 300 wby I've had great results on moose with 200 gr Accubonds, 210 gr Barnes LRX, 200 gr Swift A-frame, and the 200 gr Nosler Partition. I'd say find whichever one your rifle likes and run with it.

 

[Coulee Kid]

I am a barnes fan too but I know partitions and trophy bonded bear claws are also good bullets for heavy boned animals.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Hard to go wrong with a 200g partition. In my 06, I like to load 200g partitions, 200g ELDx and sometimes 220g partitions but usually I stick with the 200g bullets. In my 375HH, the 260g accubond is absolutely awesome as is the 270gLRX .

For moose and bear, Id feel just fine with any of the ones I just listed in either my 06 or my 375.

 

[6mm Remington]

Accubonds
Partitions
E-tips
180 or 200 grs. would serve you well.

 

[mcseal2]

Question for you guys shooting the LRX?

Some of the videos I've watched where they shoot that bullet into gel or water show one petal breaking off at times and the bullet changing trajectory as it penetrates. The side the petal breaks off of has less resistance as it pushes through whatever it's shot into. Do you ever see that on game?

Just curious, I've been interested in that bullet but have not yet tried it myself. Thanks.

 

[kscarrington]

I run hand loaded Nosler ABLR, typically 210 grain for moose, and 168 for caribou/sheep. The 210 grain worked phenomenal on 2 caribou, one at about 425 yards and the other at about 150.

 

[BCsteve]

Question for you guys shooting the LRX?

Some of the videos I've watched where they shoot that bullet into gel or water show one petal breaking off at times and the bullet changing trajectory as it penetrates. The side the petal breaks off of has less resistance as it pushes through whatever it's shot into. Do you ever see that on game?

Just curious, I've been interested in that bullet but have not yet tried it myself. Thanks.

No different than the TSX or TTSX. I’ve never noticed any deviation when or if petals shear off.

 

[blackdirtdiaries]

Check out the 175gr Controlled Chaos from Underwood Ammo/Lehigh Defense

 

[ResearchinStuff]

ABLR is a softer bullet designed to open at lower velocities/longer range, and would not be my choice for a close range encounter with a bear due to questionable penetration at high impact velocities.

For exclusively close range work I'd use Barnes TSX or TTSX, Partition/A-frame in the heaviest weight I could find
For across the course work I'd use 180 or 200 gr Accubond, 180 gr TTSX, etip, or a hammer hunter
For exclusively longer range work (>~200 yds) I'd use Berger 215 Hybrid

 

[Salmonchaser]

My limited experience with the ABLR in 6.5 and .30 is it much more frangible inside 200 than a traditional Accubond. I’m only talking 3 deer with each but I was surprised. I’ve used .250 gr Accubonds from 30 to 500 yards on elk with great results. For an all around Ak load in a 300 I would start with 180 or 200 Swift A frame. I want a bullet that can, particularly on a follow up shot, run north and south or south to north on a big bear, at close range. Not much anecdotal evidence against the AFrame in that regard.

 

[FLAK]

I took 200gr. Partitions .

 

[Vance in AK]

Thanks for all the input guys.
A lot of good stuff to filter through!

 

[Snyd]

Hey there Vance!

I've taken several moose with 200gr Accubonds in my 325wsm. Loaded to 2950fps. Excellent performer. Here are several I've recovered from distances of 100ish, 300 and 365. The 300yd broke the spine, hardest bone on the beasts. Others broke shoulders. All bullets retained 70% of thief weight just like nosler says they will. They all weigh 140gr. I've not killed a griz with it but did kill one with 220gr Sierra Gameking. But the 220gr GK's was designed for the 8mm Rem Mag so has a thicker jacket. I'm not so sure about the 30 cal. Can't go wrong with the Accubond though. Super accurate as well.