Moose?

[Jakob]

So, my buddy just won a moose tag, so we're going moose hunting this year!.
He's a modern cartridge guy (Still a nice guy, regardless!), but will my .54 Great Plains be enough?

[rich pierce]

Pretty sure Daryl and Taylor can answer this from experience.

[Daniel Coats]

Yes it will when placed properly. I had success with.54 round ball 80 grains ffg 100 yards one shot. Moose only traveled 20 yards after the shot took both lungs the heart and stopped under the hide on the far side.

Your Great Plains bullet should perform just fine.

[Daryl]

Hit him in the right place & done deal.
I'm curious, does the rifle have a round ball barrel or bullet barrel?

[Jakob]

Round ball. Usually hunt (deer) with 90g 2ffg

[Daryl]

That'll do it but somewhat mild on the load imho.
Personally  I would be testing in the 110gr. to 120gr. range for a moose load in open bush.
I'd like to have a 125yd to 130 yard point blank range.
Of course broadside, the kill zone is 30" in diameter.
If a bit high you want it to penetrate the spine.

[Jakob]

Ok, I'll see how it shoots at 120gr.

[Hungry Horse]

 That high lung shot is a little dicey if you don’t have a real good grasp of moose anatomy. That area above the lungs, and below the spine will guarantee you a lotta  tracking, and the likelihood of a lost moose. I’ve seen many deer shot that way that just plugged up, quit bleeding, and got away. Where I live we have a lot of steep hills, so hunters that aren’t used to this type of terrane often shoot the local deer right through the backstrap. Good luck!

Hungry Horse

[smylee grouch]

I always used a 58-110 gr  2f but I know of others that use a 54 and the same charge.  And yes shot placement is every thing and a high lung shot is worse than a double knee shot. 

[Daniel Coats]

I've taken two moose with accurate loads rather than power being the focus. Both required only one shot that was low enough to clip the heart and punch out both lungs. One moose made it 20 yards and the other 20 feet maybe. I was aiming for a 4 inch circle not a 30 inch kill zone. 100 yards was my maximum distance and I practiced a lot with my 80 grain load. Why only 80 grains, because I could shoot the back end out of a coffee cup that's why. 

[MuskratMike]

Aim small, miss small.

[hanshi]

Just my humble opinion but I've always chosen accuracy over power.  Hit right and deal is done.  I've never shot a moose and never will; but I've killed plenty of deer by considering accuracy more important than bore size or power.

[Daryl]

Absolutely accuracy over power. With a good ball and patch  combination, 110gr. to 120gr. will be more accurate than 90gr.  Just as 140 to 165gr. in my .69 is more accurate that 100gr. in that rifle.
Even my 48"twist .50, preferred 110gr. over 80gr.

[smylee grouch]

AGREED, accuracy and if your rifle shoots better with more powder that's The Best load. In a hunting situation you won't notice any difference in recoil.