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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,168
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,168 |
The front of the rib cage, forward most rib before the neck. The point being it went in his south end and came out the north.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,147
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,147 |
I mostly shoot Nosler ABs and Partitions into medium game because I know that they will work and that gives me peace of mind.
I won't shoot anything made by Sierra at game animals after having failures with the 85 grain .243" and 90 grain .257" BTHP Gamekings where they disintegrated on contact.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,273
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,273 |
I don't like Hornady SST or Nosler ballistic tips. Too fragile. They over expand and fragment. I don't trust them to penetrate on sharp angled shots or to drive through heavy bone.
I don't care for TSX all copper type bullets either for the exact opposite reason. They seem to expand very little at all on whitetail deer. I am amazed when I read the accounts of people online who talk about how these bullets consistently drop deer in their tracks. Those folks must be launching them at about 3700 fps because at more standard velocities I never saw that happen. In fact if I had to sum my experience and the experience of my friends with them up in one sentence it would be: "never has so many well hit deer ran so far; bleed so little; and been so hard to find.
For deer sized game I like standard lead tipped cup and core type bullets. My favorite is the Hornady Interlock. They have been accurate out of all my rifles and the lead alloy in them seem to be just the right level of hardness to give good penetration while still expanding enough to kill quickly. I have never recovered one in a deer. Even the 117 grain Interlocks out of my 25-06 have always exited the deer I have shot.
Last edited by Todd_Bradford; 06/01/20.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,820
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,820 |
That's a pretty broad statement about the Ballistic Tips if you're including current issue.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,758
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,758 |
150 BT in .308 (from close in to 400 yards)
200 Hornady Interlock in .358 Win (150 yards and in)
129 ABLR in 6.5 CM (from close in to 400 yards)
In practice those have all been perfect matches or deer bullets in the listed rounds at the ranges listed...I'm sure the ranges could be expanded but that's what I can testify to. I couldn't ask for better performance than they have provided.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,273
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,273 |
That's a pretty broad statement about the Ballistic Tips if you're including current issue. If Nosler has gone back and made them tougher then they have my apologies. But I operate under the rule of burn me once and you won't get a second chance.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,096
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,096 |
For 243, 25-06, 270 or 7 rem mag; Nosler Ballistic Tips. Never a failure from 30 yards to well over 300 yards. All DRT.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke 1795
"Give me liberty or give me death"
Patrick Henry 1775
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,914
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,914 |
6mm, 7mm, 308 and 6.5mm ballistic tips here since the early 2000’s, never a failure. Quarter to, away and through both shoulders.
Ballistic Tips are my favorite bullets, Hornady is a close second and then Speer.
When I die I hope I don't start voting democrat.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,531
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,531 |
I don't like Hornady SST or Nosler ballistic tips. Too fragile. They over expand and fragment. I don't trust them to penetrate on sharp angled shots or to drive through heavy bone.
I don't care for TSX all copper type bullets either for the exact opposite reason. They seem to expand very little at all on whitetail deer. I am amazed when I read the accounts of people online who talk about how these bullets consistently drop deer in their tracks. Those folks must be launching them at about 3700 fps because at more standard velocities I never saw that happen. In fact if I had to sum my experience and the experience of my friends with them up in one sentence it would be: "never has so many well hit deer ran so far; bleed so little; and been so hard to find.
For deer sized game I like standard lead tipped cup and core type bullets. My favorite is the Hornady Interlock. They have been accurate out of all my rifles and the lead alloy in them seem to be just the right level of hardness to give good penetration while still expanding enough to kill quickly. I have never recovered one in a deer. Even the 117 grain Interlocks out of my 25-0l6 have always exited the deer I have shot.
They're not like they were, th
Ballistics Tips are not like they were years back. They have made them better. I had a similar experience with older Ballistics Tips. I lost a deer because of it. There was blood everywhere but no deer. He jumped the fence onto posted land and that was that. But they're new and improved. Nosler got it right now. They penetrate just good enough to get through bones and tough skin into the boiler room and then do their damage. I also like Sierra Game King. They penetrate just right then do their damage and fell the deer, and hogs. And they're cheaper than NBT. But I agree with you on the solids on deer. Nothing frustrates you more than to know you hit the animal good and he runs off.
Last edited by Filaman; 06/01/20.
What goes up must come down, what goes around comes around, there's no free lunch. Trump's comin' back, get over it!
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,186
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,186 |
My little CZ 527 in .223 loves the 50 grain Nosler BT. For my 257 Roberts its the 90 grain TSX. All but one animal has even moved. I've probably killed more deer with that round than any other. 7 mm RSAUM it's the 140 TTSX. Everything drops straight down and it' super accurate. 6.5X55 Swede is the 130 Accubond. 6.5 PRC i'ts the 130 Swift Scirocco. My .270 Win loves the 130 Speer Grand Slam and my 7RM loves the 145 grain Grand Slam.
I haven't been a big fan of Sierra Gamekings. It's been several years ago, but I shot a big west Texas mule deer 4 times with the 140 Sierra HP in my 270. I switched to the 130 gr. Gameking next year and shot another west Texas muley, this time in the neck. The bullet broke apart on impact and all I found was some small pieces between the shoulder blades. I haven't shot Sierras at game since then.
The only factory ammunition I shoot is the 75 gr. Speer Gold Dot in my AR.
The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,473
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,473 |
I like the good old Hornady Interlock, mainly the 150gn in my .308 and the 129gn 6.5mm in my Swede and Creedmoor. The 174gn .303 RN also ploughs right through everything.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,997
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,997 |
It's much more about placement than what you hit them with.
I am continually astounded at how quickly people make up their minds on little evidence or none at all.
Jack O'Connor
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,820
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,820 |
That's a pretty broad statement about the Ballistic Tips if you're including current issue. If Nosler has gone back and made them tougher then they have my apologies. But I operate under the rule of burn me once and you won't get a second chance. I'd like to see the deer I'd be afraid to shoulder punch with a 165/168 out of my 308.
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 442
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 442 |
Hornady 165gr sst in my 30-06 is my go to. Big holes and good blood trails. I tend to rib shoot so I’m not concerned with meat loss. They do make a mess of shoulders tho.
Sierra gamekings or prohunters in my 25-06. No issues from 10-400 yards and I run them fast.
My dad and brother like the plain Jane hornady interlocks.
My bad experiences were early ballistic tips in 30-06 and factory 35 Remington 150gr corlockt. That was about 20 years ago and haven’t tried them since
Craig
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 789
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 789 |
Have more experience with the .308" 180 gr Rem PSPCL than anything else. Launched at .308 - .30-06 muzzle velocities it's reliable and quick down to impact speeds of 2000 fps (maybe lower, for all I know), and whether shoulder is struck or not.
At impact velocities above 2800 fps (.300 Win or Roy) it's more placement-sensitive, insofar as remaining intact and full penetration are concerned. Then, it still does a good job killing, so.......
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,512
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,512 |
In our .308's I like Winchester Power Point 150 grainers (component bullets that I load to my own specs). Accurate as all get out and just plain WORK.
In our .300 Mag's I like Speer Grand Slam 180's Always 2 holes. Never explosive.
Only abject failure I've had on a deer was a 140 grain AccuBond from my 7-STW. 275 yard shot on a whitetail doe. Placed tight behind the shoulder. 7mm hole in............ 7mm hole out. Complete failure to expand. Deer ran 150+ yards leaving zero blood. Just lucky to have had several guys at my disposal to fan out and eventually find her.
Wollen nicht krank dein feind. Planen es.
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 330
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 330 |
My worst experience on mule deer was with 165 grain Sierra Game Kings in a 30-06. Those suckers are fragile bullets and blew BIG holes in deer with very little penetration. As soon as I switched to Partitions, no more problems. Now I only shoot Partitions whether I'm shooting 270 Win, 25-06, 7X57, 243 Win or 30-06.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,692 |
Simply put what are your favorite deer bullets and why? Any ones that failed or you would never use again?
What is your preferred factory deer ammo Federal Blue Box, 130 grain 270 WCF's. Federal Blue Box, 100 grain 243 WCF's. Federal Fusion, 165 grain 308 Win. Federal Non-typical 150 grain 270 WCF. Remington Corelokt's... 100 grain 243 winchester 130 grain 270 WCF 165 grain 30-06 springfield. Hell. A harsh word will kill a whitetail.
"The number one problem with America is, a whole lot of people need shot, and nobody is shooting them."
-Master Chief Hershel Davis
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,692 |
Oh, I see that you asked two questions. If I were asked my favorite deer bullet, it would be the Nosler Ballistic Tip. Across bore diameters, it works as advertised. When the operating envelope is under 3k fps, the Ballistic Tip is king.
"The number one problem with America is, a whole lot of people need shot, and nobody is shooting them."
-Master Chief Hershel Davis
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 33
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 33 |
Favorite bullet - 243, 25-06 and 270 I go with Partitions. Tried and true for a few decades now. Bigger than 270 I usually shoot the Accubonds now. I used to run Partitions or the plain old Hornady Interlocks in everything but over the last few years I've really learned to appreciate the Accubonds in my 7mm's and 30's. Especially the 300wm with 180 AB's. Antelope, white tail, a couple of mulies and last year's cow elk all dropped with 1 shot each, ranges from 150 to 445 yards. Can't tell you much about weight retention as they were all clean pass through's with about 1-1/2" exit holes and surprisingly less meat damage than I expected. Since none went more than 30 yards I'd have to say I couldn't ask any more for performance.
Favorite factory loads - I love everything about Nosler ammo but the price these days. They shoot at or under an inch at 100 in just about everything I own. They give me under 1/2" in the 300wm and around 4" at 600 if I bring my good eyeballs to the range that day. Lately I've switched to Fed Premium with the Noslers. Groups are nearly as good with quite a bit of savings.
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