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Posted By: captdavid your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
I want to limit this to your primary deer bullet. Let's not get sidetracked into deer/elk, deer/elephant or whatever. I hunt deer with a 7x57 using 150 Partitions @ 2700fps, a 280 using 150 Ballistic Tips @ 2900fps and a 30-06 with 165 Ballistic Tips @ 2850fps. My primary deer gun is the 7x57, my shots are seldom over 150yds. This year I'm going to use 175 round nose @ 2400fps. I use the 280 As backup or when shots might be over 200yds. The 06 is my backup, backup or loaner. I have not seen the need for bondeds or monos, but that's just me. What do you use and why if you choose to share. Captdavid
Posted By: baldhunter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
I like 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips 3100fps out of my 7mag and 165 or 168gr Nosler Ballistic Tips 3000fps out of my 30-06.
Posted By: 444Matt Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Sierra GameKings are what I've used the most, never had a bad experience but deer are easy targets for the most part.
They normally are very accurate which leads to confidence in taking shots, performance on game has always been stellar. If I want a tougher bullet the partition is my choice.
Posted By: roundoak Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Whitetails (northern and southern wink grin) 87 grain Hornady HotCor
Savage 99 250-3000

Mule Deer - 154 grain Hornady Interlock 7x57
Posted By: Troutnut Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
165 gr ballistic tips out of a 30-06 behind Imr 4350.
Posted By: JDK Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Whatever Federal stuff into their cheap Blue box ammo.
Posted By: gunner500 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
243 W 100 gr Partition
25-06 AI 100 gr TTSX
270 W's, 150 gr Partitions
7 Mauser 175 gr SGS or Partition
280 AI 175 gr Partition
30-30's 170 gr Partition
30-06 150 and 200 gr Partition
300 Win Mag's 200 gr Partition
300 H&H's 200 and 220 gr Partitions
303 British 215 gr Woodleigh
338-06 210 gr Partition
338 Win Mag 250 gr SAF
348 Win 250 gr Barnes FNSP
358 Win 200 gr TTSX
358 Norma 250 gr Partition
9.3x62mm 320 gr Woodleigh
375 H&H 300 gr SAF
375 AI 270 gr TSX
38-55 WCF 265 gr cast lead
40-65 Sharps 416 gr cast lead
400 Whelen 400 gr Woodleighs
416 Taylor 400 gr Partitions
45-70 Sharps 530 gr paper patch
45-70 1886 505 gr cast lead
45-110 Sharps 530 gr paper patch
458 Win 500 gr Woodleigh
50-90 Sharps 705 gr paper patch
50-110 WCF '86 Turnbull 680 gr cast lead
505 Gibbs 600 gr Woodleigh
500 Nitro 570 gr TSX
577 Nitro 750 gr TSX

I use these rifles large to small to hunt deer, it's great practice for larger game being familiar with differing weapons, these loads will give maximum penetration on any game animal you may pick to hunt with any cartridge listed.

Plus, I've never developed enough talent to shout down a deer and command him to stop running and turn broadsided.
Posted By: NEBHUNTER Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Mostly Ballistic tips mostly. AccuBonds out of 270 Weatherby Mag.
Posted By: StarchedCover Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
This is what's loaded at the moment.

223 Rem. - 75gr. Hornady BTHP
220 Swift - 55gr. Hornady SP
257 Roberts - 100gr. NBT / 115gr. NPT
6.5x55mm - 120gr. NBT / 130gr.NAB
7mm RM - 150gr. NBT / 154gr. Hornady SP
30-30 WCF - 170gr. Rem. CLKT / 170gr. Hornady FP
308 WCF - 150gr. Nosler SB & NAB,/150gr. Speer old version GS
30-06 - 165gr. Hornady SP /165gr. Rem. CLKT /165gr. NBT
338 WM - 200gr. NBT / 225gr. Hornady SP
348 WCF - 200gr. Hornady 200gr. FP
35 Rem. - 200gr. Rem. CLKT
35 Whelen - 200gr. Hornady SP / 225gr. NBT
9.3x62mm - 232gr. Norma / 270gr. Speer Semi-Spitzer
375 WCF - 220gr. Hornady FP
375 H&H - 235gr. Speer Semi-Spitzer
405 WCF - 300gr. Hornady FP & SP
45-70 - 300gr. NPT /Hornady HP & 350gr.Hornady FP

All of these have worked on deer (and a few other things as well).

StarchedCover
Posted By: R_H_Clark Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
I prefer a bonded bullet just in case the buck of a lifetime offers me a less than desirable shot.I might need the penetration on a bad angle.I mostly shoot Accubonds.
Posted By: mathman Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
If it's a "buck of a lifetime" situation that implies the angle is so diagonally steep that you wouldn't ordinarily take the shot, why not just crack his pelvis and be done with it?
Posted By: captdavid Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Starched and gunner, to me that's incredible, not saying I don't believe you I'm just amazed. Captdavid
Posted By: MikeL2 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
.308 165gr federal fusion
30/30 170gr federal fusion or federal blue box
300 Savage 180gr rem core-lokt

Don't need premium bonded or mono bullets for penetration when you throw enough weight at them!
Posted By: battue Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
.223AI--55gr TTSX
.22-250--62gr TTSX
7mm-08--140gr Accubond
.300Savage-130gr TTSX
.308W--130gr TTSX
.308W--150gr NBT
.338Fed--185gr TTSX



.30-06--Don't know yet..Probably NBT's. May even use a partition, just to find out what all the fuss is about.grin
Posted By: Bighorn Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
.257 Roberts- 100 gr. Ballistic Tip
.257 Wby- 100 gr. TTSX
.270 WSM- 130 gr. Nosler E-Tip
.280 Rem.- 140 gr. Nosler Accubond
.300 Wby- 165 gr. TTSX
.50 muzzleloader- 270 gr. Thor
Posted By: donsm70 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
7x57 with 120 gr Barnes TTSX
270 with 130 gr Hornady Interlocks

As to why? I think that is all the lead you need to kill a whitetail.

donsm70
Posted By: WyoCoyoteHunter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
I mostly shoot Sierra's or Nosler BTBT.. Have used Horn. and Partitions, and Accubonds.. But for deer it is the first two..

Use them in everything from my
.22-250 though my 340.. For the .30-30 I mostly use factory, same with the .300 Savage.. In the 45-70 I use Horn. 350 gr.
Posted By: Theeck Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
I recently started using 165 grain Accubonds in my .308 and I have been pleased so far. I have some 150 grain Barnes TTSX but I have not shot a deer with one yet.

I had been using 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips out of my .30-06. I was not satisfied with the penetration so I switched to 165 grain Ballistic Tips in my .308 and .30-06. After a couple bad experiences, I decided that I was done with Ballistic Tips and I switched to the Accubonds.

Posted By: StoneCutter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
12 ga. - 3" Breneke Magnum Crush 1 1/2" oz. slug
.50 muzzle loader - 295 gr. Power Belt HP with three 777 50/50 pellets
30-06 - 180 gr. Rem. Core-lokt
300 Blackout - 110 gr. Barnes TTSX
Posted By: Badgerloader Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
7x57 & 7mm-08 154 gr. RN
Posted By: Westernmassman Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
.308 = 150gr Hornady
7mm/08 = 140gr Sierra
25-06 = 117gr Sierra
358/35 Whelen = 200 gr Hornady RN
Posted By: R_H_Clark Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Originally Posted by mathman
If it's a "buck of a lifetime" situation that implies the angle is so diagonally steep that you wouldn't ordinarily take the shot, why not just crack his pelvis and be done with it?


I might,but I still want to know I have as much penetration capability as possible.I have been known to miss my spot a few inches either way,and in such a case I want to know I can do as much tissue damage as possible.

I shot a mature buck a couple years ago,not a great trophy but a big bodied buck. This one was facing me straight on. I missed a little high and to the left and only took out a small part of the top of a lung. I've tracked deer a long way shot like that before and it was a hard job with little blood, but this time my bonded bullet came out the bottom of his gut and gave me a great blood trail plus enough internal damage to drop blood pressure so that he only went about 150 yards.
Posted By: SamOlson Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
9 out the last 10 bucks...

270 Winchester and 140 Accubonds

300 WSM and 180 Partitions

Posted By: rost495 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
The most fired in the last 2-3 years, Lehigh 194 max expansion at 900 fps from the 300/221.

And a few here and there from the 308 and 185 old bergers.

Other than that I dont' recall much of anything in rifle that isn't loaded with Barnes of some flavor.

Most anything else has left me irritated at some point or another.
Posted By: gunner500 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Originally Posted by captdavid
Starched and gunner, to me that's incredible, not saying I don't believe you I'm just amazed. Captdavid


Well, You are the Captain, and You did have an inquiry. grin

Full disclosure, I've only killed an armadillo with the 577, and have killed with all except maybe three or four on the list, but have carried all on deer hunts.
Posted By: KoolBreeze Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
This season I used a 280 REM with 150g Partitions and high shoulder shots. Shot 6 deer with that combo, all 6 were 1 shot kills, the shortest being 30 yards and longest 200 yards give or take. All but the 200 yard shot (which was also the biggest deer) went down where they stood and he only went 30 or 40 yards.

But I'm thinking of trying the Barnes VOR-TX TTSX in the 280 next year and see how it likes those.
Posted By: 1Nut Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
223: Nosler 64 BSB and 65 SGK
243: 100 Sierra GMK, 85 TSX, 85 NPT, and 95NBTs
260 Rem: 120 NPT and 130 NAB
270: 130 Hornady ILK, 130 NBT, 140 NAB, 150 NBT
7mm-08: 140 NAB
308: 150 NAB. 155 Scenar
30-06: 165 Horn ILK, 165 Horn IB

Most deer by far with the 270 130 NBT. I've not found a bullet that wont work on deer with placement...

Posted By: KodiakHntr Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
223, 64 gr PowerPoint, 55 gr gmx, 50 gr tsx
223 AI 45 gr tsx
223 AI 53 gr tsx, 55gr tsx, 62 tsx, 75 amax
243 AI 105 amax
7/08 139 sst, 140' tsx
280AI 150 ttsx 162 amax

That's just the stuff loaded up from this year, used from my place by myself or immediate family.

Posted By: Bbear Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Accubonds
Partitions or
Ballistic tips

One exception is my 358 Win. That one is fed with the 200 gr SGK's
Posted By: Owl Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Depends on the Deer.

Utah Mulies?
Alaska Black tail
Arizona Coues
Iowa White tail

Utah - 30.06 - 150 gr NBT
Alaska - .338 Win Mag - 225 gr partitions (for the bears)
Arizona- .22-250 55gr soft point, or 7mm Rem mag 140 gr Ballistic Silvertip
Iowa - Muzzle loader- 45gr Hornady XTP in a sabot - Shotgun, Remington Hyper Sonic slugs

Just depends....

Posted By: southtexas Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
120 gr Hornady ILHP in a 257AI. Recently discontinued mad
Posted By: super T Re: your deer bullets? - 02/02/17
Deer, near or far, big or little, good angle or bad, the answer is for me always the Nosler Partition. Notice, I said for me because that's the way the question was framed. And right behind the great Partition is the Nosler BT.
Posted By: Simoneaud Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
I reload everything with Accubonds, love um...
Posted By: T_O_M Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
I hunt fairly close distances in heavy brush most of the time.

I sold off several guns that I'd used for a long time so my specific bullets have changed a bit though the theme is the same.

In handgun, I am shooting 250 grain home cast SWCs in my .44 magnums. I currently have my .454 sighted in for the magnum version of the Hornady XTP.

(With a previous .44 with an oversized bore I shot .433" LBT 300 grain WLNGC to avoid leading. In .41 mag I used RCBS 210 grain SWCs. I'm still ramping up to shoot deer with a .38-40 Buckeye Special. I may use Beartooth .402" 200s or I may order my own mold for slightly heavier bullets.)

In muzzleloader, I used a 245 grain .45 cal TC maxi ball from a Lyman mold last fall.

(In the past I shot mostly PRB from a TC .58, but I sold that. I may try PRB in the .45 "soon" ... next time I draw a tag, about 3 years from now.)

In centerfire rifle, which is probably what you were really asking about, I like partitions. Most of my shooting is at relatively short range and I often have a black bear tag in my pocket since our seasons for both overlap. I just picked up 500 .25 caliber 120 grain partitions for my .257 Roberts. It kills the crap out of stuff without the blowup I got from the 110 grain accubonds.

Tom
Posted By: Old_Doe_Shooter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
I use a variety of calibers/cartridges and I hand-load. I generally prefer a bullet with a sectional density above .250 or as close to that as I can get. I believe many hunters are overly influenced by BC and premium ammo/bullets. Generally speaking high BC and premium or controlled expansion bullets are not of value for killing any deer size game within normal ranges and conditions. Accuracy, expansion and penetration at 2500 to 2900 fps will suffice for 99% of all hunting opportunities and yet be manageable in a hunting weight rifle. The selection of this powder and that bullet and such and such fps is an exercise some require and it can be fun but hardly must for the 99%. Controlling the 1% is way more than I care to deal with in the field.
Posted By: Ole_270 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
For years it was the 270 with 130 Interlocks, that's all I had.
For the last 10 years or so I've been using more 100 gr Interlocks in the 257 Roberts and 250-3000. A few with the 87 Hot Core in a M99 250-3000. A couple with 95BT 243.
This year I got a doe with a home cast bullet in a 38-55.
They all work.
Posted By: moosemike Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
170 Power Point in my .30-30
Posted By: vacrt2002 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
Barnes all calibers
Posted By: paint Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
Usually just standard cup and core bullets, mostly Sierras or Hornadys, with a few Partitions here and there.

They just work for me.

Posted By: LBP Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
55 TBBC
60 Nosler Partition
62 TBBC
63 Sierra
64 Gold Dot
64 Nosler
64 Power Point
65 Sierra Gameking
Posted By: wilkeshunter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
.30-30 - Hornady Leverevolution

.30-06 - 165 grain GameKing

.270 WSM - 140 grain GameKing & 140 grain Accubond

Still doing load development on the Swede.
Posted By: Leonten Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
Out here in commie California, some of the areas I hunt are 100% lead free bullets. I've tried the Nosler E-Tip, Hornaday GMX and Barnes TTSX & TSX. I've settled on both of the Barnes Bullets. I have not recovered one of the Barnes Bullets in any Deer.
Posted By: CougeeMcNugitz Re: your deer bullets? - 02/03/17
Originally Posted by captdavid
I want to limit this to your primary deer bullet. Let's not get sidetracked into deer/elk, deer/elephant or whatever


SideTracks Aside.....

[Linked Image]

Posted By: Hogwild7 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/04/17
.358 225 Sierra SBT
.308 180 Speer Grand Slam
.308 165 Speer SBT
These are what shoot best in the 3 rifles I load for deer hunting. They all hold together and don't bruise up a bunch of meat either.
Posted By: GreenHead Re: your deer bullets? - 02/04/17
.243 - 100gr. Partitions
.30-30 - 150gr. Federal Fusion
.30-06 - 180gr. Federal Fusion & Partitions
.338 Fed - 200gr. Federal Fusion
Posted By: kellory Re: your deer bullets? - 02/04/17
12ga. Rifled slugs, 12ga. Sabots
.50 muzzleloader, and now .450Bushmaster AR.
Posted By: Eastwoods Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
New to this forum.

Wow gunner that is an impressive list. I'm wondering if you can recall a 338 210 gr partition ever meetting up with a deer from your rifle, and if so, what was the performance like? I'd guess that you would not have recovered it. I have been stalling reloading 210 grain partitions in my 338 federal because it would be primarily used for elk if I ever get out west. However, recently I thought I should just load them and use them for deer and that way I can be familiar with them and be ready if I have a chance to go out west. Hoping expansion would be adequate. Muzzle velocity will be approximately 2500 ft./s. Shooting distance would be most likely under 150 yards, possibly out to 300.

To the question:

30-30 150 gr hornaday RN
308 win. 150 grain power point
300 WM 165 grain sierra HPBT
338 fed. 180 grain ballistic tip and Accubond
375 H&H 200 grain sierra flat points ( downloaded with sr4759 to 2270 fps)
Posted By: gunner500 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
Thanks Eastwoods and welcome to the Campfire.

I load the 210 gr partition to 2800 fps in my 338-06 and have only shot one deer with it, but, as you predicted, no bullet recovery.

I actually developed a load for my 338-06 with that bullet from what I read about it here, there are far more men with much more experience with that bullet than I, some even fire it near 3000 fps in 338 WM's, I have never heard a complaint about that bullet.

2500 fps in your 338 Federal should be perfect for ANY animal in the U.S. inside 300 yards, good luck.

Gunner
Posted By: bsa1917hunter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
Originally Posted by 444Matt
Sierra GameKings are what I've used the most, never had a bad experience but deer are easy targets for the most part.
They normally are very accurate which leads to confidence in taking shots, performance on game has always been stellar. If I want a tougher bullet the partition is my choice.


Good post Matt. I know a lot of guys turn their noses up to the GK, but they do work and they are accurate. As are the Hornady btsp and sp interlocks. Deer are NOT hard to kill, any old damn bullet is going to work. An accurate one is one I'd be looking for. Hell even the Winchester powerpoint is a great deer bullet and is damn accurate in my rifles:

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Youper Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
I use Sierra and Horndy Interlock. Maybe not the last word in deer bullets, but good enough.
Posted By: Dave_in_WV Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
243 - 100gr Corelokts
7mm-08 - 120gr Nosler BTs & 140gr Corelokts
300 Savage - 150gr Sierra RN
308 - 165gr Corelokts
30-06 - 165 Hornady flat base
350 rem mag - 200gr Hornady FTX (reduced load)
Posted By: Eastwoods Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
Originally Posted by gunner500
Thanks Eastwoods and welcome to the Campfire.

I load the 210 gr partition to 2800 fps in my 338-06 and have only shot one deer with it, but, as you predicted, no bullet recovery.

I actually developed a load for my 338-06 with that bullet from what I read about it here, there are far more men with much more experience with that bullet than I, some even fire it near 3000 fps in 338 WM's, I have never heard a complaint about that bullet.

2500 fps in your 338 Federal should be perfect for ANY animal in the U.S. inside 300 yards, good luck.

Gunner


Thanks for the reply. Shoot straight. Eastwoods
Posted By: m_gallopavo Re: your deer bullets? - 02/05/17
Light for caliber Barnes in every rifle I shoot......

80 TTSX in .243
110 TTSX in .308
120 TTSX in 280 AI
150 TTSX in .300WSM

Caliber-sized hole in and a double caliber-sized hole out. Everything in between is mush.
Posted By: efw Re: your deer bullets? - 02/06/17
I used to use 100 gr Interlocks in my Better Bob & 165s in my 06 but have changed over to almost all Noslers... 90 gr/6mm, 100 gr/257, 168/308 ballistic tips as well as 110/257 NABs.

Oh and 90/257 GMXs.
Posted By: Blackheart Re: your deer bullets? - 02/06/17
I'm not terribly fussy as long experience has shown that damn near any bullet will kill deer just fine so long as you put it where it needs to go. Usually I use whatever's cheap and readily available so long as it shoots with acceptable accuracy in my rifles. That said, lately I've been using.

.223 - 55 Horn. sp over H4895

Marlin .30-30 - 170 Federal power shok {factory load}

Winchester .30-30 - 150 Rem. core-lokt {factory}

.243 - 100 Horn. interlock over H4350

.30-06 - 165 Win. power point {factory}
Posted By: River_Ridge Re: your deer bullets? - 02/06/17
.243 - 95 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip
.308 - 150 gr. Nosler Partition
30-06 - 165 gr. Hornady SP Interlock
338 Federal - 180 gr. Nosler Accubond
30-30 - 170 gr. Remington Core-Lokt
45-70 - 405 gr. Remington Soft Point

My favorite is the .308 165 gr. Hornady SP Interlock
Posted By: 308ld Re: your deer bullets? - 02/06/17
308 165 NAB

257R 110 NAB

257Weatherby 110 NAB
Posted By: Deflagrate Re: your deer bullets? - 02/07/17
Most shot 8x57 150 Pro Hunter
A couple with 257 Roberts 100 PPU
One with 9.3x57 232 Vulkan
All plain Vanilla, all will take a black bear if he comes by.
Posted By: DakotaDeer Re: your deer bullets? - 02/07/17
Most commonly I use the 130 Barnes TTSX in a 30-06, run fast with Varget.

Posted By: Dancing Bear Re: your deer bullets? - 02/07/17
At the moment;

.243 100gr Hornady IL FB
.308 150gr Hornady IL FB
.30-06 180gr NPT or Hornady IL FB
.338 Win 225gr Hornady IL FB
.35 Whelen 225gr Sierra BT

Up until a few years ago I used a lot of Core-Lokts in the same weights.
Then I got some odd results and have pretty much switched to Hornady IL for economy bullets. I do tend to switch to Partitions or Bear Claws for elk and end up killing an occasional deer with them when seasons overlap.
Posted By: VarmintGuy Re: your deer bullets? - 02/08/17
Captdavid: The last three Deer I have taken here in Montana were all big Buck Whitetails, and all were killed with one shot apiece using the wonderful Nosler 130 grain Ballistic Tips from my Remington 700 Sendero in caliber 270 Winchester.
These 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips are not only wonderfully accurate they are especially lethal on Deer/Antelope sized game.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Posted By: jpretle Re: your deer bullets? - 02/08/17
Last fall, 2 deer w/ the Berger 105, from a 243AI. Used to use Nosler 95's. Never failed w/ them, but just wanted to try something a bit different.
I think i am done buying the 95 Nosler/
Posted By: rnovi Re: your deer bullets? - 02/08/17
My absolute favorite:

.257 Roberts, 117 Sierra Pro Hunter, 2,850 fps.

But I do admit to using a 300gr. Partition from my .375 H&H. smile
Posted By: rost495 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/08/17
Originally Posted by VarmintGuy
Captdavid: The last three Deer I have taken here in Montana were all big Buck Whitetails, and all were killed with one shot apiece using the wonderful Nosler 130 grain Ballistic Tips from my Remington 700 Sendero in caliber 270 Winchester.
These 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips are not only wonderfully accurate they are especially lethal on Deer/Antelope sized game.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Thats the POS hand grenade bullet and cartridge that made me swear to never use a BT ever again. Shot a doe in teh head, nothing left at all, save an inch wide strip of hide and tiny bit of ear base.

I'd be scared to see the damage done if hitting edible meat...
Posted By: Autofive Re: your deer bullets? - 02/09/17
Some people refuse to acknowledge that the ballistic tip has changed drastically over the last twenty years!
Posted By: JimD. Re: your deer bullets? - 02/09/17
It's funny the different experiences we have all had. I've used 130 gr ballistic tips in my 270 since 1986 and never had one not exit and leave the insides like soup. For the hell of it I worked up a load last year with the 140 Hornady spbt which is supposed to be a harder bullet. Shot a buck at about 20 yards in the chest and it did not exit, which surprised me. I killed a nice 10 last week in AL with a 7-08 and 162 amax going 2650fps in a 20" barrel. Hit the deer right behind the left shoulder at about 40 yards. Exit was right side liver. Bullet hole sized entrance and exit. Not alot of internal damage and zero blood trail. Deer went about 100 yards, but was by the grace of God we found him. I've read hundreds of accounts of that bullet being great and/or explosive, but it sucked in my one experience with it.
Posted By: Mogg2112 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/09/17
I use Federal 180gr nosler partition in my .30-06. It's a bit overkill for deer, but I carry a heavier bullet since I hunt deer in black bear country. I have hunted with 165gr before too, but I prefer a 180gr. It seems to be the perfect all around cartridge for the environment I live in.
Posted By: 99in22_250 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/09/17
139 grain Hornady SST on top of 56.5 grains of H4831SC outta my 280 Remington. I like the results.
Rich
Posted By: szihn Re: your deer bullets? - 02/11/17
25-06 115 Nosler Partition
6.5X54 Mann 160 gr Hornady RN
6.8SPC 100 gr Remington
270 Winchester 150 and 160 gr Nosler Partitions
7X57 160 gr Nosler partition
30-30 170 grain Speer FP
308 150 gr WW Power Point
30-06 150 gr WW power point or 150 gr Rem C.L.
7.63X39 123 gr Hornady SP
7.62X54R 180 grain Remington
8X57 170 gr Hornady SST
338-06 210 Gr Nosler Partition
9.3X74R 286 Gr Nosler Partition
375H&H 270 gr WW Power Point and 300 gr Nosler partition
50 cal flintlock Hand cast .490" ball, made from Wheel Weight, air cooled

62 cal flintlock Hand cast .605" ball, made from Wheel Weight, air cooled

357 Magnum. LBT 1787 Gr cast WFN GC
44 magnum LBT 320 gr WFN GC
454 Casull LBT 370 gr WFN GC

There are what I currently own. I have killed deer with probably 15 others too, but I sold or traded them off. This is the current list.

The bullets listed above are what my guns are zeroed for, so if I hunt deer I use what they are zeroed for and see no reason to change. Some are elk, moose, buffalo and bear guns, but I don't carry a different gun if I am hunting elk, moose, bear or buffalo, so I just kill deer with what gun is zeroed with. Most times I am hunting larger game, deer is also open, so I use what I have with me.

The 6.8SPC, the 6.5X54 and the 25-06 7.62X39, 30-30 and 357 mag handguns are only used for deer and antelope and nothing larger, so I would say those bullets are just for deer/antelope, but all the rest can be used for larger game too.
Posted By: Arns9 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/11/17
It's been several years since I've killed killed a deer with anything other than a Sierra or Interlock. Guess they're my favorites, but after thinking about it I've killed many more with Sierras than anything else.
For deer it's Sierra Game Kings or Nosler Ballistic Tips.
Posted By: WyoCoyoteHunter Re: your deer bullets? - 02/11/17
Just bought some 130gr .270 and 150 gr .30 cal Silvertips.. Old, but they worked 50 years ago..
Posted By: scottfromdallas Re: your deer bullets? - 02/12/17
My go to deer bullets are Nosler Ballistic Tips in all my rifles.
Posted By: hanco Re: your deer bullets? - 02/17/17
I like Nosler ballistic tip, because of the different color tips. I use some Barnes and sierras
Posted By: Theeck Re: your deer bullets? - 02/17/17
Originally Posted by Autofive
Some people refuse to acknowledge that the ballistic tip has changed drastically over the last twenty years!


How so? Was there a design change?
Posted By: mathman Re: your deer bullets? - 02/17/17
Originally Posted by Theeck
Originally Posted by Autofive
Some people refuse to acknowledge that the ballistic tip has changed drastically over the last twenty years!


How so? Was there a design change?


In a number of types the jackets were considerably thickened, and I believe core hardness may have been adjusted too.
Posted By: rost495 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/17/17
Originally Posted by Autofive
Some people refuse to acknowledge that the ballistic tip has changed drastically over the last twenty years!


Yes they have. But while they were working on their mistakes, I found Barnes. No need to ever go back and try them again for BTs....

FWIW the BT we shot out of the 270 was much more like 30 years ago by my memory. Circa 85ish as I recall.
Posted By: remington Re: your deer bullets? - 02/17/17
I'm simple, Hornady Interlock and Nosler Ballistic Tips are my go to bullets.
Posted By: DoeSlayer Re: your deer bullets? - 02/18/17
Whatever shoots well in my rifles. That's usually TTSX's, Ballistic Tips and Partitions.
I use accubonds in my 270 and 300 win (140 and 200 grain, respectively).
My favorite deer bullet is the out of production 165 grain Nosler solid base in my 30-06 at 2900 fps. I have a fairly large stockpile of these but use them sparingly.
Posted By: passport Re: your deer bullets? - 02/18/17
308, Federal Fusion, 150 and 165. I find them so good in performance and accuracy I almost dont hand load for my 308 anymore.
Posted By: DonKnows Re: your deer bullets? - 02/19/17
Hunting whitetail in my home state I have used the same rifle for around 20 years.

I have been skunked 2 of the past 20 or so years.

Deer have been shot as close as 40 yds (last year) and as far as 480 yds.

I use a 300 win mag with 180 gr ballistic tips. The rifle has a 29" S/S barrel, McMillan Hunter Class stock, Remington 700 action with a stock trigger set at 2 1/2lbs, Schmidt and Bender 4 to 16 X 50 PMII scope with a 34mm tube, mil dot reticle.

I have all my "come ups" worked out to 650 yards. I use a Leica range finder. I am limited to 650 yards because that is the length of the field that I watch when in my stand.

I use the 180gr ballistic tips because they shoot well for me.

I am just an ole geezer that has been deer hunting for over 50 years and I am a firm believer in being very familiar with one rifle.

Don smile
Posted By: 700LH Re: your deer bullets? - 02/19/17
Way back when Midway had free shipping, they put .308, 150 grain Core-Lokts on sale for under a dime apiece, so I ordered a bunch. They shot good groups, and worked so well on deer, I used them on elk, with excellent results also.
I ordered a bunch more.
Family I reloaded for and myself have killed a lot of critters with those bullets. We always butchered our own, and IIRC have only recovered two. One a final putdown quartering shot elk, diagonal across a river, and one from a buck shot real close into a shoulder.

I am convinced using good made for hunting bullets it is far more important where you hit em, than what bullet you shoot em with.
Posted By: StrayDog Re: your deer bullets? - 02/19/17
30-06 Hornady 178 ELD -X Or Sierra 165 HPBT

7RM 140 TTSX.
Posted By: MadMooner Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
.284 150BT at 3k has been impressive.
Posted By: shaman Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
#1 Hornady Interlock .308 165 grain Interlockt

#2 Remington Corelokt .308 150 grain PSPCL

#3 Remingtom Corelockt .358 200 grain SPCL
Posted By: 10gaugemag Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
22-250 60 grain Partitions.

223, 243/6mm, 270, 30/06-300WM it's usually a Sierra. ProHunter or Gameking depending which shoots best from a given rifle. Never an issue.
Posted By: StrayDog Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
Originally Posted by hotweatherhunter

My favorite deer bullet is the out of production 165 grain Nosler solid base
Mine too! The only reason I can think they would have ever stopped production is they must have been hurting sales of all their other bullets.
Posted By: southtexas Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
Now that you mention the old Solid Base, I miss the:

100gr SB in my 243 (still have a few)
100gr SB in my 257 (none left cry)
120gr SB in my 25/06 (1 box left)
120gr SB in my 264 (out penetrated many CnC 140s)
130gr SB in my 270 (2 boxes left)

Still mad at Nosler... mad
Posted By: DaddyRat Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
150 Nosler ballistic tip in 308

150 Sierra FN in 30-30

No deer has complained about them and they hit where I point them.
Posted By: Deans Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
The past 5-6 years it has been my 7-08 and 120 NBT. Always DRT. If I ever start using my 243 it will be the 95 NBT that gets the call.
Posted By: Stickbow Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
30-06'. 150 Partitions and 165 interlocks.
280Rem. 145 Speer BTSP
280 AI 162 A-max, ELDX or BTSP
44 Mag. 300 grain hard cast.

Out of those above the 280 with 145 Speer BTSP bullets has literally pulled the rug out on everything I have shot with it. Everything was a bang flop. A full load of IMR 4831 CCI 200's and it's the plague out to 500 or so. The AI does too but the 280 was my dads and has a longer streak going.
Posted By: southtexas Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
Stickbow: is your 145gr 280 bullet a hot core or a BT...can't be both.
Posted By: Stickbow Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
Apologies. It is the BTSP. I have some 160 Mag Tip hot cors. Those punch through on deer but do well on black bear. Got them mixed up. Fixed it for ya
Posted By: colorado bob Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
I don't over think it. whatever Walmart has in 30/06 with 180 grain bullets.
Posted By: gnoahhh Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
.30-30= 190 grain flat nosed cast, 11-12bhn, @ 1900fps
.303 Savage= "
.30-06= "
.30-40 Krag= "
.300 Savage= "

See a trend developing? grin

My .22CF rifles that go with me into the deer woods get stoked with 50 or 55gr. TSX's (but no joy yet, last year was the first with them).
Posted By: MallardAddict Re: your deer bullets? - 02/20/17
243 Win - 95 Scenar
257 Wby - 100 ttsx
264 Win - 147 ELD
7 Sherman Short - 168 Berger, 180 ELD
280 A.I. - 140 ttsx
7 Rem Mag - 162 Amax
.308 150 ttsx
30-06 - 180 partition
300 WSM - 155 Scenar
300 Win Mag - 212 eld
338 Win - 210 tsx
338 Rum - 250 Scenar
50 inline - 348 gr Powerbelt

All of those with the exception of the 7 Sherman have multiple kills under their belt. The Sherman I have only had for a week but plans are to go bust a coyote with it in the next week or so just to get it bloody. It will be my primary deer, elk and bear rifle next year as it combines a whole lot of positive attributes in 1 package.

Posted By: Judman Re: your deer bullets? - 02/21/17
I had fairly good luck with 80 gr bts this year via 6mm AI...

I've killed enough critters with hornady 100 gr sp's via 257 Roy it's almost criminal.....
Posted By: Sherwood Re: your deer bullets? - 02/22/17
I topple deer every year with my 30-30 carbine shooting 150 grain Winchester Power Point bullets. They're extremely deadly within typical shooting distances of the forests and foothills. This dandy muley was taken in western South Dakota.

Sherwood

[Linked Image]
Posted By: firstcoueswas80 Re: your deer bullets? - 02/22/17
28 Nosler : 180 Berger hybrid
257 wby : 110 Accubond or 100 TTSX
300 wsm : 168 TTSX.
Posted By: DonFischer Re: your deer bullets? - 02/27/17
Been a good number of years since I've hunted deer but getting ready to do it again. I have shot three deer with the 243, all one shot kills but I'm not comfortable with it. Two with 100 gr Hornady's and one with 75 gr V-Max, that is not a good deer bullet but it does show placement goes a long way.

In my 25-06 I only use the 117gr Hornady. Tried the 100 gr bullet. Killed like lighting but to distructive for my taste.

In my 6.5x06 I've only used the 140gr Hornady, leaves nothing to be desired!

My 6.5x55 All I'm gonna use in it will be the 129gr Hornady

My 308 is dedicated to a 180gr Lee cast bullet! Same with my 30-06!

I dedicate different cartridge's to certain bullet's. for big game it's generally mid to light heavy bullet's. Under 6.5 it's generally heavy for cal bullet's. The 243 I'll never use on big game again. I think the 25-06 is much better suited with a heavy bullet.
Posted By: ringworm Re: your deer bullets? - 03/01/17
125 BT @ 3K+
[Linked Image]
Posted By: mudhen Re: your deer bullets? - 03/01/17
For the last ten years or so, I have been switching to AccuBonds as whatever I had been using was shot up. I still try a few other things each year when I am lining out my rifles, but most everything that I have taken lately has been taken with AccuBonds. I will be trying Berger Hunting VLDs this year in the '06 for both deer and elk.
Posted By: Cigar Re: your deer bullets? - 03/01/17
Old style X bullet 130gr propelled by IMR 4350..
Posted By: shootem Re: your deer bullets? - 03/01/17
Recent years of hunting:
.260......129gr Hornady FB
6.5x55....120gr Speer HC
.270 Win..130gr Accubond
7mm-08....139gr Hornady BT
7x57......140gr Accubond

.50 muzzle loader
250gr .45 cal Hornady with Harvester sabot
200gr .40 cal TC (Hornady) with sabot
Posted By: Elvis Re: your deer bullets? - 03/04/17
I have used a variety of bullets to take deer but one that stands out was the 100gn Swift Scirocco in my .257 Roberts. I took a good fallow buck last year at 20 metres at a slight forward angle. The bullet entered just in front of the left shoulder and lodged under the skin about 6-7 inches behind his right foreleg. It weighed 79.0 gr (79% weight retention) and formed a nice mushroom. Considering the close range and velocity (>3100fps) I thought it held up very well. The buck dropped on the spot. It's only an example of one but I was quite impressed.
Posted By: Chainsaw Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
In muzzleloader-200 grain PR dead center bullet

Grandkids 30-30 single shots -Sierra 170 grain FN

30-30 single shot w Cabelas Lever Action Scope-Hornady 160 grain FTX

308 Marlin Express- Hornady 160 grain FTX
Posted By: castnblast Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
I prefer standard cup and core bullets for deer. Hornady Interlock, Speer Hot cor, Remington CoreLokt etc. 7mm and up. Nosler Ballistic tips are good. I sometimes use Nosler partitions in the smaller calibers like 6mm and .25.
Posted By: rost495 Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
Originally Posted by ringworm
125 BT @ 3K+
[Linked Image]


Damn, what a waste if that had hit a major area like the shoulder.
Posted By: rost495 Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
Originally Posted by DonFischer
Been a good number of years since I've hunted deer but getting ready to do it again. I have shot three deer with the 243, all one shot kills but I'm not comfortable with it. Two with 100 gr Hornady's and one with 75 gr V-Max, that is not a good deer bullet but it does show placement goes a long way.

In my 25-06 I only use the 117gr Hornady. Tried the 100 gr bullet. Killed like lighting but to distructive for my taste.

In my 6.5x06 I've only used the 140gr Hornady, leaves nothing to be desired!

My 6.5x55 All I'm gonna use in it will be the 129gr Hornady

My 308 is dedicated to a 180gr Lee cast bullet! Same with my 30-06!

I dedicate different cartridge's to certain bullet's. for big game it's generally mid to light heavy bullet's. Under 6.5 it's generally heavy for cal bullet's. The 243 I'll never use on big game again. I think the 25-06 is much better suited with a heavy bullet.
Wonder why so much disdain for 243, its proven itself over and over and to longer distances than most would try for me at least...
Posted By: captdavid Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
To my way of thinking, the 243 is not right for most people. I hunted with one when I first started in the mid 60s. I have hunted the hill country of Texas all my life. The deer are small. I have talked to a lot of guides and ranch owners. It is their general consensus that eventually the 243 will let you down. They used to loan 257 Roberts, now it's 7-08s.There are several reasons for this. First, there is little room for mistake in bullet placement. Early on most bullets were iffy. Second, bullet failure. I think a lot of this has to do with hunters going once or twice a year. They go somewhere, buy a box of shell, go to the range, shoot a couple Times, and if its close go hunting. Maybe they mix varmint with big game bullets. Many are young or inexperienced. A lot of this is not the rounds fault. My thought is that one can buy a 7-08, or one of the 6.5s use reduced recoil and eliminate a lot of the problems. Experienced hunters using the best bullets can do ok with the 243, but there are better options. Captdavid
Posted By: mathman Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
From what I've seen on deer, a hit that's bad for a 243 isn't going to be very good for a 30-06 either.
Posted By: rost495 Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
a gut shot is a gut shot.

The ONLY way I can see it making a difference is pure bullet diameter being just say .017 wider and cutting an vessel... and thats a stretch.

Given the right bullet choice, the 243, especially on hill country deer, is never under gunned. I've taken them way out close to 600 with no issues and that with the old 105 speer cup and core. Granted the 80s we were told to start with were the WRONG bullets... I can't even count how many I killed with 90 fmj to save meat years ago because a mentor did it that way...

80 ttsx these days.. its good to way out there.

I"m not going to say larger isn't a bad thing, but its sure not needed.

I could kill the majority of the deer we kill with a bit more patience and a 22lr.

I kill a LOT with a 300/221 and a 194 out to 200 yards at about 900 fps MV... check the lack of energy there...
Posted By: Dantheman Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
32-20 100gr Hornady XTP 1400fps (head and neck shots, spitting distance)

7x57 154gr Hornady SP 2600fps

270 WSM 140gr Hornady SST 3150fps

358 Win 200gr Hornady SP 2450fps

Yeah...I like Hornady bullets. Others are good too, I've used different brands in the past but Hornady are tough to beat for the money.

Dan
Posted By: Bobber257 Re: your deer bullets? - 03/16/17
I hear you on the "super prems" for deer. Good ol' c&c bullets are just fine.

I use 165 Hornady IL in the '06, 117 gr. Sierra P-H in the .257 Roberts and 250 gr. Speer H-C or Hornady SPRP in my .35 Whelen.

Of course the Whelen with 250 gr. bullets sounds like gross overkill but, some of my deer hunting is done in grizzly country and, should I ever get into a p***ing match with brer bear, I would want things stacked in my favor.
Posted By: Sykotik Re: your deer bullets? - 03/18/17
I can only speak to the 30-30 and the 30/06 as those are the cartridges I have used most over the last 35 years.

For the 30-30, Federal blue box in 170 grain. Accurate and Deadly.

165 grain Remington Core-Lokt PSP in the old 760 Carbine. 20 deer or so...Never had one go more then 50 yards. Most just hit the ground where they stood. never recovered a bullet. Don't care. 2 holes are good.
Posted By: CrimsonTide Re: your deer bullets? - 03/18/17
95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in 6mm Remington
129 grain Hornady Spire Point Interlock in 260 Remington
140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in 7mm/08 Remington
140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in 270 Winchester
165 grain Sierra BTSP Gameking in 308 Winchester
170 grain Remington Core Lokt Hollow Point in 30-30 (Factory)
Posted By: Draftmule Re: your deer bullets? - 03/19/17
For many years hardware store
130 Core Lokts in 270 Win.

140 Nosler Accubonds 270 Wsm and
130 Nosler E Tips 270 Wby these days.

Playing with 190 Nosler ABLR 300 Wby.
All fly about 3000.

Posted By: VoiceMan Re: your deer bullets? - 03/19/17
These days I use 150 grain Partitions in 270, but when I was younger I used 100 grain Partitions in 6mm. Because I don't shoot at any game past 300 yards I never had any trouble with either round killing mule deer.
Posted By: desertshooter Re: your deer bullets? - 03/21/17
I really loved the Nosler solid base bullets- I suppose the replacements are Accubonds. I still have some .270 130 solid base left

I use a lot of Speer Hot-core bullets as well, really like the 7mm 130gr for my 7x57 on antelope and mule deer. when things are serious I use the Nosler partitions.
Posted By: GreggH Re: your deer bullets? - 03/22/17
Depends on velocity Im shooting, 3000 fps or less rounds get Sierra Prohunters or Gamekings depending on what the rifle likes. The 7mm Magnum gets 150 BT and 257 Wby gets 100 TTSX. But I am shooting only deer and hogs here in SC.
GreggH
Posted By: xverminator Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
Originally Posted by captdavid
I want to limit this to your primary deer bullet. Let's not get sidetracked into deer/elk, deer/elephant or whatever. I hunt deer with a 7x57 using 150 Partitions @ 2700fps, a 280 using 150 Ballistic Tips @ 2900fps and a 30-06 with 165 Ballistic Tips @ 2850fps. My primary deer gun is the 7x57, my shots are seldom over 150yds. This year I'm going to use 175 round nose @ 2400fps. I use the 280 As backup or when shots might be over 200yds. The 06 is my backup, backup or loaner. I have not seen the need for bondeds or monos, but that's just me. What do you use and why if you choose to share. Captdavid


This thread and a bunch just like them are completely [bleep] retarted.........!



X-VERMINATOR
Posted By: southtexas Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
Originally Posted by xverminator
Originally Posted by captdavid
I want to limit this to your primary deer bullet. Let's not get sidetracked into deer/elk, deer/elephant or whatever. I hunt deer with a 7x57 using 150 Partitions @ 2700fps, a 280 using 150 Ballistic Tips @ 2900fps and a 30-06 with 165 Ballistic Tips @ 2850fps. My primary deer gun is the 7x57, my shots are seldom over 150yds. This year I'm going to use 175 round nose @ 2400fps. I use the 280 As backup or when shots might be over 200yds. The 06 is my backup, backup or loaner. I have not seen the need for bondeds or monos, but that's just me. What do you use and why if you choose to share. Captdavid


This thread and a bunch just like them are completely [bleep] retarted.........!



X-VERMINATOR


why do you say that, and if you think so, why do you bother to read them?
Posted By: ingwe Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
[quote=xverminator retarted.........!



X-VERMINATOR [/quote]

"retarted?"
Posted By: Mule Deer Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
He might be grasping for "restarted," which would be true, given the history of the Campfire. :-)
Posted By: southtexas Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
grin
Posted By: xverminator Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
Originally Posted by southtexas
grin


Oh, FFS!
Posted By: xverminator Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
Every bullet ever made, from the first round ball ever formed by "John Blacksmith" to the highest tech VLD, all kill deer just fine, the rest is just a matter of semantics! Writers and internet boards make a living off of semantics, typo's not withstanding!!




X-VERMINATOR
Posted By: Steelhead Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
For deer anywhere.


[Linked Image]
Posted By: xverminator Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
Originally Posted by Steelhead
For deer anywhere.


[Linked Image]


Says Varmint Grenade instead of Deer Grenade so deer must be immune, right? I know you better than that Steelie. Your just being facetious........
Posted By: southtexas Re: your deer bullets? - 03/25/17
Originally Posted by xverminator
Every bullet ever made, from the first round ball ever formed by "John Blacksmith" to the highest tech VLD, all kill deer just fine, the rest is just a matter of semantics! Writers and internet boards make a living off of semantics, typo's not withstanding!!




X-VERMINATOR


So the question remains , if you find these discussions beneath your superior intellect, why do you waste your time reading these "retarted" threads, and making condescending comments?
Posted By: ingwe Re: your deer bullets? - 03/26/17
Originally Posted by xverminator
[Your just being facetious........


Oh well..if its semantics..

I might as well....

The word would be "you're"......
Posted By: magnum44270 Re: your deer bullets? - 03/27/17
.223- 60gr partition 3000FPS
.243- 95gr partition 2800FPS
6.5x55- 140 partition 2750FPS
.270- 130gr partition 3200FPS
.308- 165gr partition 2800FPS

seeing a pattern here....... have not seen a failure, nor have had any regrets since i switched to Partitions, but plenty of faliures and less than desirable performance prior to.......

these work great on deer or goats
Posted By: Mohawk Re: your deer bullets? - 03/30/17
In order of what gets hunted most by myself and from my loaner to clients.

.270 - 130 Horn IL
7mm08 - 120 BT
6.5x55 - 129 Horn IL
.243 - 95 Partition
.223 - 64 Win. PP
Posted By: desertshooter Re: your deer bullets? - 03/31/17
I don't want to get far off topic, but one bullet that I do wish was still available, is a 10-cent or so same weight affordable practice bullet, Nosler partitions and fancy tipped ELD,SST,Extreme range this or thats, are awesome when actually hunting, and a lot of research and technology has been devoted to them.
but I would love to have something I can goto the range and shoot without breaking the bank for an afternoon of practice with the rifle and bullet weight ammo I want to use on the hunt.
A lot of guys buy into a lot of the high tech stuff, without doing a lot of the basic training-homework of shooting your rifle in a variety of ranges and positions to be proficent- mostly because a box of ammo (or loading components) cost so much.

Unless your deer rifle is a .22 or a .30 cal and you shoot the same weight as surplus FMJ bullets, pulling the trigger adds up fast.

Posted By: Deflagrate Re: your deer bullets? - 03/31/17
desertshooter,
For my 257 Roberts I practice with PRVI 100 grain psp during the off season just to keep my offhand halfway decent. Then I shoot some of my deer load, 100 grain Nosler Partition just before season to make sure I'm still sighted in. My reloads for each hit the same POI out to 200 yards.
Otherwise, I just use Sierra's for everything except 9.3 and 180 AB in 8mm.
Closest you might get to what you're asking for is Nosler Ballistic Tip or AB 2nds from Shooter's Pro Shop.
Posted By: desertshooter Re: your deer bullets? - 03/31/17
Thanks Delagrate, I do the same,bargain ammo when I can find it, and I cast a lot of my own too, but the velocities are so much different, the POI are way different. I keep a close watch on Shooter's pro shop alerts and deals, as well as a lot of other reloading suppliers- I just missed the days when I could just buy reloading components and shoot to my hearts content (well my shoulder's content)for a few bucks, instead of visualizing silver dollars, quarters, and dimes blowing out the barrel each shot smile

It would help too I I just stuck to one gun/caliber that I knew well, but what fun would that be?
Posted By: Deflagrate Re: your deer bullets? - 03/31/17
Originally Posted by desertshooter
Thanks Delagrate, I do the same,bargain ammo when I can find it, and I cast a lot of my own too, but the velocities are so much different, the POI are way different. I keep a close watch on Shooter's pro shop alerts and deals, as well as a lot of other reloading suppliers- I just missed the days when I could just buy reloading components and shoot to my hearts content (well my shoulder's content)for a few bucks, instead of visualizing silver dollars, quarters, and dimes blowing out the barrel each shot smile

It would help too I I just stuck to one gun/caliber that I knew well, but what fun would that be?


We're on the same page.
Posted By: magnum44270 Re: your deer bullets? - 04/09/17

Registered: 03/14/17
Posts: 34
Loc: Gillette, Wy
6.5x55 140grn accubond at 2848fps muzzle, impact at 100yds into milk jugs filled with water, 18+ inches penetration into 4th milk jug
which caught it....ended at 85 grn

Attached picture IMG_20170409_224718.jpg
Attached picture IMG_20170409_224846.jpg
Posted By: gnoahhh Re: your deer bullets? - 04/10/17
Originally Posted by desertshooter
I don't want to get far off topic, but one bullet that I do wish was still available, is a 10-cent or so same weight affordable practice bullet, Nosler partitions and fancy tipped ELD,SST,Extreme range this or thats, are awesome when actually hunting, and a lot of research and technology has been devoted to them.
but I would love to have something I can goto the range and shoot without breaking the bank for an afternoon of practice with the rifle and bullet weight ammo I want to use on the hunt.
A lot of guys buy into a lot of the high tech stuff, without doing a lot of the basic training-homework of shooting your rifle in a variety of ranges and positions to be proficent- mostly because a box of ammo (or loading components) cost so much.

Unless your deer rifle is a .22 or a .30 cal and you shoot the same weight as surplus FMJ bullets, pulling the trigger adds up fast.



Reference my earlier post. I can load a box of .30-06's with my hunting bullet for about $3.50- cartridges which give me .30-40 Krag performance. Plenty of moxie for killing deer, not to mention punching mere holes in paper. I know guys who spend darn near that much each time they pull the trigger with factory stuff.

Of course, cast bullets aren't as glamorous as state-of-the-art jacketed bullets when it comes BS sessions around a campfire or across the counter at a gunshop, especially when the discussion devolves into who has the bigger dick...
Posted By: gunswizard Re: your deer bullets? - 04/10/17
In my .35 Whelen my deer bullet is 225gr. Sierra, .30-06 it is 165gr. Sierra and in .257 Roberts it is 100gr. Nosler.
Posted By: desertshooter Re: your deer bullets? - 04/11/17
Thumbs up for your post gnoahh, casting is a rewarding aspect of reloading and shooting too- really rolling your own, so to speak, but it doesn't get much conversation coverage in the deer camps- simply not glam-tech enough
Posted By: Old_Tucson Re: your deer bullets? - 04/16/17
280 Rem--140gr ABs
270 Win--130gr Nos Parts
.308 Win--150gr Part Gold
.30x.350 Rem Mag--150gr Nos Part Gold
.30-06--165gr Speer Deep Shocks
.300 WSM--180gr Speer Deep Shocks
6.5 Rem Mag--125gr Nos Parts
.350 Rem Mag--250gr Nos Part
.358 Win--200gr Horn RN
7mm STW--160gr Fail Safe

I use Nos Bal Tips and Hornady SPs for practice on all ammo

George
Posted By: GuyM Re: your deer bullets? - 04/16/17
Nosler Ballistic Tips in two flavors:

115 gr at 3120 fps from my .25-06 Rem 700

165 gr at 2900 fps from my .30-06 Rem 700 CDL
[Linked Image]

Both do a great job on deer & pronghorn (and more).

Regards, Guy
Posted By: Deflagrate Re: your deer bullets? - 04/17/17
Have we run out of brands yet?
I like these type of threads. Variety is like spice; I like to see what others like, though I may never try it.
Posted By: hanco Re: your deer bullets? - 04/18/17
I like this kind also. I mostly shoot Nosler and Barnes with a 150 Gamekings for 30 06 and 308's
Posted By: Colorado1135 Re: your deer bullets? - 04/18/17
This is what I use for everything
.243 - 95 NBT killed antelope, deer and elk with it. works great been my go to for decades

2 years ago I got these to try
.308 - 168 VLD killed 3 antelope, 5 deer no elk yet
280AI - 150 NBT 1 bull elk, 2 bison

as others have said, there is little out there that won't kill stuff. I too like to see what others use and why.

I use the above because they can be found on sale at times. so I bite the bullet (pun intended) and I buy a bunch at once. they all shoot great out of their chosen rifles.
I've thought about dabbling with other bullets and loads, but I don't want to retart that process again. you're mileage may vary
wink
Posted By: ExpatFromOK Re: your deer bullets? - 04/18/17
.243 95gr NBT.
Posted By: PaulBarnard Re: your deer bullets? - 04/20/17
Partitions in everything, because I deserve the best.
Posted By: Zengela Re: your deer bullets? - 04/20/17
257 Weatherby Magnum 115gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw.
300 Weatherby Magnum 200gr Swift A-Frame
30-06 Winchester 180gr PP
243 100gr Hornady Interlock sp
22 Hornet 45gr Win sp
32 Win So 165 Hornady Flex Tip sp
Posted By: gerry35 Re: your deer bullets? - 04/21/17
260 Rem - 130 gr Accubond/140 gr Ballistic Tip (have used 129 gr ABLR, 130 gr Sierra HPBT, 140 gr G.S, Partition and Hor Cor and probably others, favourite deer round)

6.5x55 - 120 gr Ballistic Tip (have used 140 gr SST, Interlock and Partition)

264 Win Mag - 156 gr Oryx (have used 130 gr Scirocco and TSX)

270 Win - 150 gr Ballistic Tip (this year 150 gr Hot Cor just to experiment)

303 British -180 gr Speer RN and Hornady 150 gr Spire Point

35 Whelen - 200 gr Accubond (have used 225 gr Ballistic Tip)

I have used the 30-06 a fair bit with lots of different bullets but don't have one currently would look at 165 gr Speer's or Ballistic Tips first.
Posted By: castnblast Re: your deer bullets? - 04/24/17
I don't concern myself with choosing a particular deer bullet. Deer are fairly easy to kill, so I use standard cup and core bullets of medium weight for the most part. I just avoid heavy "hard" bullets more suited to elk and moose and light fragile varmint types.

so 100-120's in .257, 140-160's in 7mm, 165's in .308, mostly i've used Hornady Interlock and Speer Hot Cor and Sierra Pro Hunters and Nosler BT.

I'm much more particular about elk and moose and bear bullets, which tend to be a little heavier & bigger caliber, and almost always bonded, or partitions, or all copper.
Posted By: Hastings Re: your deer bullets? - 04/24/17
.223 62gr Barnes tsx
.243W--100gr Nosler partition
.270W--130 Hornady sst or 150 Win. power pt.
.308W--178 Hornady BTHP MATCH
.30-06--150 Hornady sst, 155Scenar, 178 Hornady BTHP MATCH
I don't see SST mentioned much, but when we deer hunt we must be loaded sufficiently for 300 lb. Russian hybrid hogs and all these loads properly placed work fine for either species. The .270 with the old fashioned 150 gr. Win. power pts. seem to be the most deadly and my old Ruger 77 .270W only produces about 2750fps with a slight over max of IMR 7828.
Posted By: Tom2506 Re: your deer bullets? - 04/26/17
I use a mix of factory and handloads as my mood and possible conditions unfold......
-223 Rem 62gr Federal Fusion
-223 Rem 64gr Winchester Power Points
-243 Win 100gr Nosler Partition HL @2900fps
-243 Win 85gr TTSX HL @3250fps
-243 Win 95gr Federal Fusion
-25-06 100gr TTSX HL @3300fps
-25-06 120gr Federal Fusion
-30-30 Win 170gr Rem CoreLokts
-308 Win 130gr TTSX HL @3075fps
-308 Win 150gr Federal Fusion
-308 Win 170gr Speer FNSP HL @2400fps
-308 Win 180gr Rem RNSP
-30-06 GVNT 220gr Rem RNSP
-35 Rem 200gr Rem RNSP
-44 Rem Mag 240gr JSP Win "White box"
-45-70 GVNT 405gr Rem FNSP
-45-70 GVNT 350gr Hornady FNSP HL @ 2100fps
-.50 Muzzle loader 350gr Hornady FPB Federal 209A primer 110gr Blackhorn 209 @1820fps

Have fun and enjoy yourselves!!
Thanks, Tom

PS I might need to pare the list down some....nahhhhh
Posted By: Sasha_and_Abby Re: your deer bullets? - 04/26/17
.270 Nosler 130gr BT
.223 55gr Corelockts (150 yards max)
Posted By: Hugh Re: your deer bullets? - 04/27/17
.243 85 grn. Partition & 95 grn. BT.
.708 120 TSX 120 grn. BT
8x57 170 sierra RN.
Posted By: stiab Re: your deer bullets? - 05/05/17
All factory for me, cause I only reload shot shells...

.358 Winchester 200 grain Silvertips
.375 Winchester 200 grain Power Points
.243 Federal 100 grain blue box
.308 in Winchester Model 88 165 grain Core-Lokt
.308 in Winchester Model 100 150 grain Federal blue box
.308 in Winchester Model 88 carbine Federal Fusion150 grain MSR
.30-06 in Ruger Model 77 150 grain Federal blue box
.30-06 in Ruger RLS 150 grain Remington Bronze Points
.30-06 in Winchester Model 70 180 grain Power Points or Silvertips
.30-06 in Remington 760 carbine 180 grain Core-Lokt
Posted By: pymi Re: your deer bullets? - 05/06/17
What ever is on sale or what I stocked piled from the 90's when 100 bullets was $9, mostly old core lokts and power points with some federal pulls.
Posted By: sambo3006 Re: your deer bullets? - 05/07/17
The one bullet I have taken the most deer with is the 150 gr BT from a 30-06AI, 15 I believe. Of late the most used bullets are the 200 gr Partition from my 8mm Rem mag and the 130 gr JLK VLD from my 6.5 SAUM. Multiple bang flops from behind the shoulder hits with the VLD, all with golf ball sized exits and lung soup.
Posted By: Sherwood Re: your deer bullets? - 05/08/17
I rarely pass up a legal deer when a good shot is presented. This deer was taken with one shot at about 75 yards or so in heavy cover. I typically hunt with 150 grain core-lokt ammo although 170 grain Power Point ammo is quite accurate and effective, too. The exit hole is clearly visible where it smashed through the chest organs and broke the front leg.

30-30 is a keeper!

Sherwood

[Linked Image]
Posted By: renegade50 Re: your deer bullets? - 05/09/17
Mod 70 ot6. 168gr barnes vortex factory load. 45 cal kodiak pro mag ml. 195 gr barnes ml exp. New ar15. You geussed it i am gonna give the 5.56 70gr barnes vortex factory load a whirl in it for chits and giggles i am geussing it will do its job also...
Posted By: hanco Re: your deer bullets? - 05/09/17
I think all bullets are good if a good shot is made.
Posted By: 257James Re: your deer bullets? - 05/10/17
250 Savage 100gr Nosler Partition
257 Roberts 110gr Nosler Accubond
308 Win. 150gr Nosler Accubond
45-70 300gr Speer HP
Posted By: 10gaugemag Re: your deer bullets? - 05/10/17
Generally a Sierra whether a Gameking or ProHunter. Shot a few Partitions from my 22-250 and they work fine. Also shot a few deer with Hornady BTSP 100 grain bullets from my first 243.


Hit them in the vitals and pretty much the same end result with all bullets, dead within 25 yards if not DRT.
Posted By: Mittenman Re: your deer bullets? - 05/10/17
223 or 223 Wylde Barnes 55 gr. TTSX
7x57mm a lot of of good choices but I shoot 160 gr. Sierra Gamekings just because I like the the idea of a classic old bullet for a classic old caliber and those softer heavy bullets at moderate velocity.
30-30 ususally Federal 170 gr. flatpoints but no real preferences.
Posted By: Skatchewan Re: your deer bullets? - 05/15/17
Originally Posted by ringworm
125 BT @ 3K+
[Linked Image]



YIKES!!!!!!

Too much damage for me!
Posted By: Skatchewan Re: your deer bullets? - 05/15/17
Originally Posted by PaulBarnard
Partitions in everything, because I deserve the best.



Then buy Interbonds, haha!
Posted By: Sherwood Re: your deer bullets? - 05/22/17
I've had very good luck with assortment of hunting bullets over the years. But I really like the performance of Hornady Leverevolution ammo featuring their 225 grain bullet. Accuracy and expansion is phenomenal for this short revolver cartridge!

Sherwood

[Linked Image]
Posted By: cra1948 Re: your deer bullets? - 05/22/17
.224 65 grain SGK
.257 100 grain TSX
6.5 130 grain AB
7mm 150 grain BT
.308 150 or 165 BT 180 SGK
.458 400 grain Speer FN
.410 210 grain XTP
.430 240 grain XTP
Posted By: elkcountry Re: your deer bullets? - 05/22/17
My Daughter's 270 WIN. uses 130gr. Hornady SP over 55gr. IMR-4350 at 3100ish FPS.
My 300 WM uses 165gr. Hornady over 78gr. RL-22 at 3200ish fps.
My Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag uses the 240gr. Hornady XTP over 24gr. H-110.

Elk Country
Posted By: rainierrifleco Re: your deer bullets? - 05/23/17
30-06 180 cor loc
300 wby 200 AB
257 rob 117 hornady RN
Posted By: boomer68 Re: your deer bullets? - 05/24/17
Used a 115gr BT from a 25/06 and this year will try either a Berger or NPT in a 270 Win.
Posted By: JohnChilds Re: your deer bullets? - 05/26/17
Last year I killed my first deer with a 6.5 caliber. I used the 140 Accubond out of a 6.5x55 with very good results, even though that's way more bullet than a deer needs. It did the job and the deer only went about 10 yards.

The 10 deer before that we're all with 140 Ballistic Tips out of a 7-08. The last 8 with that combo died in their tracks. I sure love that combo.

I gave my dad a Remington Model 7 in 7-08 to use in Texas, with about 40 rounds of the 140 BT's. He told me recently how wonderfully well that combos been working for him as well. It's certainly got some mojo. I'd actually gave him that rifle so I had something to hunt with when I visited, but he's now told me I need to bring my own rifle next time I come...lol!
Posted By: hanco Re: your deer bullets? - 05/26/17
I like Ballistic tips a lot, killed lots of deer, turkeys and pigs.
Posted By: CowboyTim Re: your deer bullets? - 05/27/17
Have had good results with Speer HC bullets(200gr in 8x57, 150gr in .308 Win and .300 Win Mag).

Nothing fancy about them, but they work. I'm sure that the deer I shoot are insulted by my lack of high end bullet tech and curse me with their last breath for being too cheap to buy better bullets.
Posted By: hanco Re: your deer bullets? - 06/04/17
Nosler and Barnes, best on the market!!
Posted By: Guybo54 Re: your deer bullets? - 06/11/17
25.06 and the Speer 120gr Hot-Cor
.260 and the Sierra 120gr Pro Hunter
Posted By: walthunter Re: your deer bullets? - 06/20/17
I live here in California and it requires copper bullets in some areas. In near future it will be the whole state. I have been using Barnes in all hunting, they shoot tiny little groups at the target range. And do not eat the lead left by other bullets.
Posted By: AussieGunWriter Re: your deer bullets? - 06/20/17
I like the 150gn Partition in the .30/06.
One of the most accurate bullets I have ever shot and utterly reliable in the field.
Posted By: sisterjim Re: your deer bullets? - 06/22/17
I have 3 in use on deer just now. 243, 6.5x57R and 270. They have been 100% success on the Tasmanian Fallow deer. No doubt overgunning but that's the rules here.
Factory Norma Oryx 100gr in 243, other 2 are hand loads. 120gr Pro Hunter over H4895 35grs approx 2600fps and 150gr Sierra SPSBT over IMR 4831 52.5grs approx 2700fps in 270.
Posted By: 10gaugemag Re: your deer bullets? - 06/22/17
Generally Sierra for me on the Missouri deer. .224 55 Gameking, .243 85 grain Varminter SP, 100 GK or PH, .257 90 HPBT, 100 ProHunter, 117 GameKing, .277 110 ProHunter and 130 Gameking (this is one whitetail hammering SOB).

Partitions in my 22-250 quite a bit, not sure they work a whole lot better than a 55 Gameking but the place I have to use my 22-250 has a lot of 25 yard shots or so and the Partition gives me piece of mind on shoulder shots.

List subject to change at any given time.

Thinking 120 Ballistic Tips in a 7-30 Waters, 125 Accubonds in a 30-30 or 405 Remingtons in a 45-70 this fall
Posted By: Whelen Nut Re: your deer bullets? - 06/24/17
243 = 105 Speer HC
270 = 150 Speer HC
35 Rem= 200 Hornady RN
358Win= 200 TTSX
35Whelen= 200 Hornady SP or 225 Nosler B-tips
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