Favorite 6mm bullet for deer.

[jhopkins]

I like the Sierra 85 HPBT

 

[robinhood]

Barnes 80 gr. TTSX.

 

[timeout]

What kind of Berger 105's are being used?

Orange box 105 gr. Hunting VLD's. They are "the bomb".

 

[timeout]

I've shot several with 100 gr. Nosler Partitions. Bullet weight from remnants I have removed have been remarkably even and consistent. Penetration has been good. I've noticed a number of poor reviews on this bullet in forum threads in the past. Maybe I'm just lucky?

I have switched to the Berger 105 HVLD's and couldn't be more satisfied.

 

[AckleymanII]

I have switched to the Berger 105 HVLD's and couldn't be more satisfied.

One thing you have to remember when you hear a question of "best bullet" is what kind of terrain you hunt in. A guy hunting in the open plains of Kansas may have a very different requirement than a guy that hunts in the jungles in the South. IN the South, if a deer runs 100 yards, it can be a very long tracking job, as deer loose blood, they walk in circles, zig zag, etc. A blood trail is very important for Jungle hunters, and better yet, DRT!

 

[timeout]

One thing you have to remember when you hear a question of "best bullet" is what kind of terrain you hunt in. A guy hunting in the open plains of Kansas may have a very different requirement than a guy that hunts in the jungles in the South. IN the South, if a deer runs 100 yards, it can be a very long tracking job, as deer loose blood, they walk in circles, zig zag, etc. A blood trail is very important for Jungle hunters, and better yet, DRT!

I won't disagree. I will say that internal damage from the Berger HVLD'S I have observed is purely devastating. Most have been DRT. The rest did not make it far. Now a poor hit is a poor hit regardless of bullet, or caliber for that matter. Despite one's ability as a marksman, those will occasionally happen.

 

[AckleymanII]

I won't disagree. I will say that internal damage from the Berger HVLD'S I have observed is purely devastating. Most have been DRT. The rest did not make it far. Now a poor hit is a poor hit regardless of bullet, or caliber for that matter. Despite one's ability as a marksman, those will occasionally happen.

While I have never shot them, I am afraid that the berger 105 HVLD will not break a shoulder and penetrate on frontal quartering shots, or enter the rear of the rib cage and break a shoulder on exit on a rear quartering shot, maybe you can shed some light on this. The 100g Horandy BTSP will and the flat base version is a tad better on these difficult shots. The 95g Nosler partition is supurb from any angle.

 

[Park duck]

Barnes 80 gr. TTSX.

Loads?

 

[robinhood]

In the 6br 32.5 gr. Varget.

 

[Park duck]

In the 6br 32.5 gr. Varget.

Nah I'm about to work up some loads for the 243

 

[robinhood]

In .243 Win. 36.0 to 40.0 (max.) Varget. 3100 to 3350. IMR 4350 is faster 41.0 to 45.0 (Max.) 3150 to 3430 fps. RL19 and Viht N160 good also.

 

[Park duck]

In .243 Win. 36.0 to 40.0 (max.) Varget. 3100 to 3350. IMR 4350 is faster 41.0 to 45.0 (Max.) 3150 to 3430 fps. RL19 and Viht N160 good also.

That's what I'm looking for! I'm starting off with 42 grains. Head to the range tomorrow when all this crazy rain stops down here

 

[timeout]

While I have never shot them, I am afraid that the berger 105 HVLD will not break a shoulder and penetrate on frontal quartering shots, or enter the rear of the rib cage and break a shoulder on exit on a rear quartering shot, maybe you can shed some light on this. The 100g Horandy BTSP will and the flat base version is a tad better on these difficult shots. The 95g Nosler partition is supurb from any angle.

I've only used them one season. I ditched the partitions after observing the damage caused by the HVLD's a buddy harvested the year prior. I shot one buck and several does with the Berger's last year. None shoulder shots. I'm not an intentional shoulder shooter/buster, so I can't address your concerns. Right or wrong, I shoot vitals and sometimes neck. I have been known to shoot between the eyes on rare occasion. If I should misfire and hit a shoulder this season, I'll take pics and report on the results.

 

[AckleymanII]

I've only used them one season. I ditched the partitions after observing the damage caused by the HVLD's a buddy harvested the year prior. I shot one buck and several does with the Berger's last year. None shoulder shots. I'm not an intentional shoulder shooter/buster, so I can't address your concerns. Right or wrong, I shoot vitals and sometimes neck. I have been known to shoot between the eyes on rare occasion. If I should misfire and hit a shoulder this season, I'll take pics and report on the results.

We hunt the rut, they are often chasing does, perfect broadside shots don't always happen, quartering to and fro happen often, along with frontal and running away shots. 80g tipped triple shock works well also, but does not leave as good a blood trail as a 95g partition or a 100g Hornady. Kansas bucks run 200 lbs on the small side, shots are usually 250-350, Nebraska bucks run large also.

80g tipped triple shock load in Rem 700
243 Winchester 24" barrel
80gr TTSX
Winchester brass
CCI 200 primers
45.2gr H4350
2.610" coal
Estimated velocity is 3350-3400 fps

95g Nosler partition
42.0g of H4350
Win primer
Bullet .040 off the lands

 

[timeout]

We hunt the rut, they are often chasing does, perfect broadside shots don't always happen, quartering to and fro happen often, along with frontal and running away shots. 80g tipped triple shock works well also, but does not leave as good a blood trail as a 95g partition or a 100g Hornady. Kansas bucks run 200 lbs on the small side, shots are usually 250-350, Nebraska bucks run large also.

80g tipped triple shock load in Rem 700
243 Winchester 24" barrel
80gr TTSX
Winchester brass
CCI 200 primers
45.2gr H4350
2.610" coal
Estimated velocity is 3350-3400 fps

95g Nosler partition
42.0g of H4350
Win primer
Bullet .040 off the lands

For the most part the rut is over here when gun season opens. We do mainly deer drives during gun season. We sit the first hour or two opening morning and then get out and make it happen. Consequently, not a lot of standing shots for us either. I shot Partitions for many years, but until I find something highly wrong with the Berger's, I'm firmly in that camp. Right now I can't add anything more to this thread so I'll back out.

 

[Coleridge]

I've been using the 70gr Varmagedon from nosler. At 3175fps from the 6-223 the deer just crumple in a pile with a chest or neck shot. Nailed one earlier this year at 430yds with a forward neck shot and she didn't move. If I weren't using those, I'd be using the Sierra match king 70gr bullets.

Adam

Wondering what load and barrel length your running? That's pretty speedy for the 223 case. I shot several deer last year with the 6/223 also, but with the standard 70gr Nosler BT. With 24" barrel I was pushing right at 3100 with a pretty firm load. Bullet worked well but not many complete pass throughs. Could have used a better blood trail on a couple but none went very far at all if they did sprint (most folded). The bullets I did recover held together surprisingly well (for a varmint bullet). Following picture was pretty typical when recovered...

 

[ab_bentley]

Wondering what load and barrel length & load your running? That's pretty speedy for the 223 case. I shot several deer last year with the 6/223 also, but with the standard 70gr Nosler BT. With 24" barrel I was pushing right at 3100 with a pretty firm load. Bullet worked well but not many complete pass throughs. Could have used a better blood trail on a couple but none went very far at all if they did sprint (most folded). The bullets I did recover held together surprisingly well (for a varmint bullet). Following picture was pretty typical when recovered...

24.5gr H4198.
Adam

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

While I have never shot them, I am afraid that the berger 105 HVLD will not break a shoulder and penetrate on frontal quartering shots, or enter the rear of the rib cage and break a shoulder on exit on a rear quartering shot, maybe you can shed some light on this. The 100g Horandy BTSP will and the flat base version is a tad better on these difficult shots. The 95g Nosler partition is supurb from any angle.

Buddy off mine shot 2 blue wildebeest and 2 Koedoes with 95gr Berger HVLD's out of his 243 this past weekend, shooting distances ranged form 80 to 190y. All shoulder shots and only one koedoe went more than 100y after the shot. Non off the bullets exited but the damage was done on the inside. Between 5 of us that shoot and hunt together we shoot 105 amax in a 243 and my SLR and the rest is all Berger Hybrid and VLD's from 95 up to 215gr. Have shot Zebra, Impala, blue wildebeest, Koedoe, redhartbeest, Blesbuck, Springbuck and Warthog with all off them and the performance is very good.

 

[sbhooper]

I don't like explosive bullets, so the Bergers are a non-starter for me. I have killed around 150 deer with the 100-grain Hornady Interlocks in both flat-base and boat-tail. If you are going to use a 6mm/.243 for deer, these bullets work very well and do not break the bank. I also like the 100-grain Partition real well.

 

[timeout]

I don't like explosive bullets, so the Bergers are a non-starter for me. I have killed around 150 deer with the 100-grain Hornady Interlocks in both flat-base and boat-tail. If you are going to use a 6mm/.243 for deer, these bullets work very well and do not break the bank. I also like the 100-grain Partition real well.

I don't make any money off Berger bullets, so it's no matter to me. I am only curious if you have ever tried the HVLD'S? I don't like light beer and I base that opinion on having tasted light beer. So my curiosity has me wondering about the statement of Berger's being a non starter. Thanks in advance for your reply.