Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Best deer bullet for meat retention?

12 gauge soft lead round ball.

The bullet is only one part of the equation, velocity is a big part, distance the shot is taken at, and where you hit the animal. I remember one client that shot a 250 pound black bear quartering-on at 20 yards, with a 7 Rem Mag and a 140 SP bullet, the bullet hit the shoulder and fragmented, which is expected considering the ultra high velocity, ultra close distance and soft bullet and poor shot placement... well if you don't like eating bear, the shot placement was perfect because we could only save a couple roasts, the bear was basically a fur sack of jello.

Match your bullet to the velocity to the distance and then do your part on the shot placement.

The last few head of game I have shot have been with a Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier in .358 Winchester with 225 grain Partitions... shots from 20 yards to 150 yards, deer, bear, moose... combined, I don't think I lost an ounce of meat.

Best deer bullet for meat retention?

The one that hits ribs on both sides and retains 65-75%.
ie: deposits a lot of energy inside the chest cavity.

Just my opinion.

165 grain Sierra BT

Not, I used those Federal premium 30-06 ammo loaded with Sierra 165 BTs back in the late '70s and early 80's. They would leave an exit hole like you've never seen.

.40, .45 or .50 round ball from a tradition flintlock

+1 for the round ball. I used to shoot five whitetails most Falls with the .54 cal. Can eat right up to the hole!

Largest projectile with slowest speed. That's why muzzleloader or dangerous game rifles do well in meat preservation.

aim between the front legs, a bit above the breastbone, as pharma recommended. load 308 or 06 at about 2500 fps. i've never shot one past 100 yards.

Shooting them in the head.

this

For sure not a 257 Weatherby at close range. One can do a heart shot and blood shock the loins.

Not this... hitting the shoulder you might lose 10 pounds of meat... attempting head shots and you will more often than not lose 100 pounds of meat.

Head shots may not be unethical, but they are highly risky and often go wrong... just put one through the boiler room and be satisfied with losing a few ounces of rib meat.

I limit myself to 300yds but the vast majority of animals I've shot have been well under 250. At that range I have shot chest shot's for years. Last deer I shot with my 25-06 and a 100gr bullet was turned to soup inside. Went to heavy bullet 117gr and damage went way down but the deer normally walk off a few steps and lie down dead. With my gun's and they way they shoot and the range I'm willing to shoot, to save meat I think my best shot is a neck shot just below the head aways. Did that years ago and never lost a deer but reading to much got the better of me. Thing is my worst shooting rifle will do 1 1/4" at 100yds At 250 that's still not a huge group and certainly capibile of hitting that target with a 1 1/4" rifle. Been thinking that using a 1"- rifle to hit a 3-4" target at 200-250 yds means I've no need for that accurate a rifle!

All copper Barnes TTSX & or 50 cal Cast bullet from muzzle loader have done really well for me. Not to over look archery.