Ok, guys, I have killed moose with 180gr, and 165gr. I didn't get a pass thru with either and both was over 200 yards. Why do I need a 200gr bullet out of a 30-06?
You don't!!!!!..............you could hunt moose with a .243 too.....
In all likelyhood the 200 grain bullet may not exit a moose as well but I've seen it exit a gemsbok which isn't a whole lot different in size and and to me an exit hole makes it a lot easier to track a (even fatally) wounded animal. Certainly it may penetrate deeper than the lighter bullets and that's a good thing in my opinion.
A lot of moose have been killed with a 170 grain slug from a .30-30 but that was the best they had then.......we have some mighty fine bullets available to us today in bonding technology and the .30-06 is a clear step up from a .30-30.....I just prefer to use the best I can get as a handloader and to me.....for moose...that's a premium 200 grain bullet.
A core-lokt 180 will also do the job but when I invest a pile of cash in a big game hunt I'll use the best stuff I can shoot.....and if my gun of choice is a .30-06 (which is certainly adequate) I'll opt for the heavier bullets.....is there a big difference?...NO!...but there IS a difference and I want it as my personal choice.