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6.5x284 bullet choice for deer

Barnes 120 TTSX in my 6.5-284, same in my 7-08 & 7 Mag. ( Lighter bullet - HIGHER speed ) and I NEVER have to track em.
Building a 6.5 Creedmoor - 22" barrel for my Grandson now for some of the same.
 
I use 130 Accubonds. Plenty accurate. The ballistic tips will kill quicker with a lung shot, but I like the insurance of a bonded bullet.
 
They act just like any other target bullet like a berger. They shoot good and kill but you gotta work to find em- most times hours and hours crawling thru briars

I hear you. If I can't back up the truck to get them, I ain't pullin' the trigger. How about the SSTs?
 
I hear you. If I can't back up the truck to get them, I ain't pullin' the trigger. How about the SSTs?

Couldnt get the sst to shoot. The accubonds work good for me in a 280ack i guess ill just try them like mr smith above. If the deer leaves the road i know ive got 5-6hrs of hard labor in front of me. Been that way on that stand for many years now. I wouldnt send a dog into that thicket
 
I want a bonded bullet. The bergers were the second worst performers i have ever tried behind barnes tsx. Ballistic tips generally never make an exit wound like the berger. Both work fine for something like a coyote but i need a deer to bleed out both sides and immediately if they move. The eld-x killed 4 last year for me but they didnt bleed a drop until they fell at least 50yds into a thicket i have to crawl into. I dont want them to leave the trail

I should also add that we’re neck shooters. Cant risk a gut shot at extended ranges
 
Now you got me confused, Neck shots are CNC, they shouldn't be running or bleeding much with any adequate bullet. A bullet tough enough to punch the spine will exit and a NBT might splash on the spine without exits. Miss the spine and you are in for a long tracking with little blood.

Not to start an ethics poop storm but pick an average performing bullet with above average accuracy and pick the best angle to inflict damage and that's about all you need.
 
Now you got me confused, Neck shots are CNC, they shouldn't be running or bleeding much with any adequate bullet. A bullet tough enough to punch the spine will exit and a NBT might splash on the spine without exits. Miss the spine and you are in for a long tracking with little blood.

Not to start an ethics poop storm but pick an average performing bullet with above average accuracy and pick the best angle to inflict damage and that's about all you need.
I hit a deer at the base of head /neck junction with a 130 nosler bt out of a 270. Damn near severd the head from spine.
Some years latter I took the same shot on a young buck head down feeding with a .30 cal
Balistic tip. Results were repeatable.
Before ya jump my ass both shots were under 100 yards. Only movement from deer was 18" downwards, they never knew what hit em.
 
If a hunter is "neck shooting" deer, and they're running off, it ain't the bullet that's the problem...
I've never heard of a deer leaving the scene of an impact in the neck from a rifle bullet. I've seen a deer hit in the neck, barely hit in the neck and drop. Not a hair, hide hit but a solid shot to the neck. Enough to hit, enter and exit with a golf ball size hole. No spine or artery impact either. Deer wasn't dead but dropped from shock and dispatched after the hunter found the deer. Bullet was a .270 in 130 grain. I was there when the shot was fired and deer was recovered. Looked like the deer was hit with a cannon on impact. Front legs went up and the deer went straight backwards and on it's back. No blood hardly but down right there. Arrow hit deer in the neck I've seen vanish and never be recovered. Rifle projectiles vs arrows are two different things. I suppose caliber makes a difference but an average deer cartridge/bullet in my opinion hitting a deer in the neck WILL put it down. Not that I prefer neck shots to body shots but I have used them on many occasions where range and conditions were very favorable. Again my experiences and my opinion. Sorry off topic. Considering the range of the shot, there is a bullet for every scenario. All are very effective if placed properly.
 
I've never heard of a deer leaving the scene of an impact in the neck from a rifle bullet. I've seen a deer hit in the neck, barely hit in the neck and drop. Not a hair, hide hit but a solid shot to the neck. Enough to hit, enter and exit with a golf ball size hole. No spine or artery impact either. Deer wasn't dead but dropped from shock and dispatched after the hunter found the deer. Bullet was a .270 in 130 grain. I was there when the shot was fired and deer was recovered. Looked like the deer was hit with a cannon on impact. Front legs went up and the deer went straight backwards and on it's back. No blood hardly but down right there. Arrow hit deer in the neck I've seen vanish and never be recovered. Rifle projectiles vs arrows are two different things. I suppose caliber makes a difference but an average deer cartridge/bullet in my opinion hitting a deer in the neck WILL put it down. Not that I prefer neck shots to body shots but I have used them on many occasions where range and conditions were very favorable. Again my experiences and my opinion. Sorry off topic. Considering the range of the shot, there is a bullet for every scenario. All are very effective if placed properly.
"If placed properly".
 

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