What's your favorite .30 cal bullet for hunting deer?

[langenc]

I am now shooting the 220gr SMK. I am shooting it from a 300WM. Once I have shot up my loaded ammo I will try the 210gr Berger hunting bullets.

How big are those deer??

I like 30-06 w/ Rem Corelokts--150 or 165. 150 are plenty if you hit the vitals-somewhat larger than a paper plate.

I use the 80 gr Corelokts in the 243-3 shots at my sons over 2 seasons-2 deer and a coyote. Large (125 gutted) doe dropped right there.

 

[oldhoward]

Favorite bullet? Humm it depends on what cartridge, and what your rifle likes. I shoot the 300 mags(single shots) a lot for deer hunting, over kill perhaps. However being close to a game ranch, I never know what will show up and normal shooting range is 250 t0 300 yards? I use a 165 grain Nosler partition bullet driven about 3200 fps, at close range it doesn't tear up meat and it woks well on larger game at long ranges. Normally a quarter size exit hole with good blood trail. Works for me but probably not for everyone.

 

[people]

I am now shooting the 220gr SMK. I am shooting it from a 300WM. Once I have shot up my loaded ammo I will try the 210gr Berger hunting bullets.

How big are those deer??

I like 30-06 w/ Rem Corelokts--150 or 165. 150 are plenty if you hit the vitals-somewhat larger than a paper plate.

I use the 80 gr Corelokts in the 243-3 shots at my sons over 2 seasons-2 deer and a coyote. Large (125 gutted) doe dropped right there.

They are standard ND deer. They are pretty big on average. I shot one deer from the front of the front shoulder to the opposite hind leg. This buck just folded right where it was standing. The exit wounds are always nice when the bullet exits.

Here is a coyote I shot at 596yds.

 

[fr3db3ar]

Personally I don't want an exit hole. I don't want a trail. I want so much energy absorbed by the deer that all it can do is fall over DRT. I know their tough but I want to knock them right down, not track them. I get enough of that bow hunting. ;D And then it's usually only about 60 yards.

 

[Larryh128]

I've played with a lot of different bullets, killed a few with 125 gr ballistic tips, they work pretty decent but lack serious punch to break thru heavy bone if needed. The quest was to find a bullet that we could shoot faster, further with most of our shots being to or slightly beyond 300 yds and maintain a point blank aim. We finally settled on the 130 Barnes TTSX OR TSX depending upon your preference. Both are equally good, very accurate, Very fast with the right powder. Varget in an 30-06 will get 3400 fps out of a hunting length barrel. RL-17 in a 300WSM will easily hit 3600+. They are lightning in a bottle. Exit? yes, BUT I think that they're just falling out because the energy transfer is beyond belief. DRT. I shoot these from 53gr on up on deer, they all work. Goodbye cup & core. 25+ critters all DRT.

 

[people]

I like that idea also.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Have not used .30cal on whitetails for many years, but my partner does. He has had real good success with the std Hornady Interlocks and switched to the mid-weight SST once they became available. I have been using the SST in 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm with not the slightest issue from 20-280yds at moderate velocities. Quarter-size to Golf ball exit holes on ribcage shots are very normal. Short recovery times with solid chest shots.

 

[XTR]

I have used Sierra 165hpbt gamekings with great success. The way the Hp tip is shaped kind of threw me for a loop the first time I saw it. but then I shot them, and when they grouped as good and better than the 168matchkings there was no hesitation using them hunting. So far only one deer took a step after shooting. it was my fault, and a far back shot (even farther back than liver) on a deer trotting will do that. two of the biggest deer were quartering to me or straight on shots. it literally sat them back on their butts before they fell all the way. quartering too me shot hit dead on the shoulder, and still exited offside. nice size hole but damage was not crazy like folks think a hp's do. bullet expanded well, but stayed together as far as I know. the rest of the deer taken were head/shoulder shots, same thing. straight down. pic is from exit of the quartering to me shot. exit wound.

I read somewhere that the SGK 165HPBT jacket is heavier than the one on the SGK 165SPBT so that it will work at at magnum velocities w/o detonating on impact. I don't know how fast you were shooting them, might explain why they dont destroy meat like may be expected from a HP

 

[FryeGuy]

XTR,
I think you are right. I think there is an explanation in the sierra book in the front, where they list each bullet. If I remember correctly it does have a thicker jacket. It still opens up, but it doesn't blow up like a grenade as soon as it hits like some light varmint bullets do. it mushrooms out but stays together & keeps on trucking. I have yet to recover one. I used to use the 165 SPBT gamekings. I have also killed deer with those as well. In the limited experience I have with them, I didn't get near as good the penetration the HPBT do (same .308win). In fact, I recovered several of those on opposite side, even on shots that were broadside thru ribcage. they mushroomed out, and did the job (dead deer). I even recovered one I shot a deer with from a 300WSM, but it also took out the opposite shoulder. I have found that in the guns I have had, usually the gun will like one over the other, and whichever one shoots best I will hunt with. they both do the job. I just prefer the HP. having said all of that, my latest .308 win didn't have a preference for either one, but loves the berger 155VLD hunting bullets. can't wait to try them out, but last year I was out of deer tags before rifle season even opened, so maybe this year I can try them out????? I honestly hope to tag out with a bow again!!

 

[FryeGuy]

come to think of it, I even used 125spt sierras one year in a model 600 rem. it wouldn't shoot the 150 or the 165's worth a hoot. like 1 1/2" and bigger. they were all loaded with near max charges from sierra book. I finally decided I had nothing to lose, and tried the 125spt, and the minimum charge in the book, and it came alive. 1/2" groups with 3 shots pretty consistently. so that's what I deer hunted with. it did fine. pass thru shots everytime. I even shot one doe high shoulder to see how penetration was, at about 60yds. went thru and cut a 3/4" oak sapling behind her in half.

 

[1holeaddict]

I have shot whitetails and mule deer with many calibers and many types of bullets. I have been sucked into the premium bullet craze along with many others. I also got sucked into the large magnum and short magnum craze. While spending and spending and spending more and more and more money on chasing a caliber and bullet that was going to stop Every deer in its tracks my 79 year young dad was laughing at me. He would break out his plain jane Hornady spire points that were purchased 40 years ago and sometimes Hornady bronze points. He would say to me there is an inch of fur and a rib bone between you and two lungs. A deer that cant breathe cant go far. After many years i realized there is no caliber bullet combo that will anchor every deer in his tracks. As far as my go to bullets Hornady SST, Remington Core Lokt,Nosler Ballistic tip and partition, and Sierra game kings. They all kill just the same.

 

[XTR]

I have shot whitetails and mule deer with many calibers and many types of bullets. I have been sucked into the premium bullet craze along with many others. I also got sucked into the large magnum and short magnum craze. While spending and spending and spending more and more and more money on chasing a caliber and bullet that was going to stop Every deer in its tracks my 79 year young dad was laughing at me. He would break out his plain jane Hornady spire points that were purchased 40 years ago and sometimes Hornady bronze points. He would say to me there is an inch of fur and a rib bone between you and two lungs. A deer that cant breathe cant go far. After many years i realized there is no caliber bullet combo that will anchor every deer in his tracks. As far as my go to bullets Hornady SST, Remington Core Lokt,Nosler Ballistic tip and partition, and Sierra game kings. They all kill just the same.

For white tails I just went from a 308 to a 7-08. They are too easy to kill at most people's max range. My younger brother has probably killed more deer with the 30-30 that I gave him for Christmas in '98 or '99 than I ever will (I was traveling a ton and he got about 20 extra seasons on me). I have a 7mmRM, it hasn't been in the field since I carried it hunting mulies in WA almost 20 yrs ago.