Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 30-06 Mule deer bullet?

I like this bullet and it's what I'd use.

You’ll be in grizz country, I’d go with the Partition or TSX for self defense.

I shot a lot of deer and a few elk with y .308 with 165 Ballistic tips. And a few with 165 accubonds.

Lefty

While we have grizzlies moving in there are not many here. Doesn't mean I don't think of them when in the local mountains because they can wander and one was killed south of Lewistown last year for killing cattle and ranchers have mentioned seeing them over the years, but I wouldn't worry too much if in the breaks or plains. The F&G has been doing a decent job of keeping people informed if a griz moves in. Saying that, if I was in the Snowies or Belts I would consider something tougher than a NBT, but anywhere else I wouldn't worry about it. Currently I doubt a person would have to consider it around the mountains near Lewistown anyway.

We were in Reed Point this weekend. They were saying a hiker bought the farm via grizz over by Red lodge not to long ago. First I’d heard about it.

Hard to beat Nosler partitions.

But I am a fan of HotCors too. Killed a big bull elk with 180 grainers at just over 400 yards once and bullet performance was impressive.

Literally anything from a 125 Gr Ballistic tip up will kill mule deer. Start with the 165 you have and learn where it shoots out to a distance passed your general comfort level and be confident .

You guys are great. Thank you

Sierra 180 grn spt
Can't remember their official number.
Click on Midway USA and click on the bullet you are interested in and read the reviews.
Some good info there, SOME.
Good luck

In case no one else has said it...this is your huckleberry

That should work superbly well. There are so many 165's and 180's that will work. Regular ol interlocks and Winchester powerpoints do wonders too..

Can't ever go wrong with a Nosler Partition

Fussing over gear is part of the fun.

Have fun.

The only mule deer buck I’ve seen shot was with a 168gr ballistic tip I loaded for a friend over IMR 4350. Worked perfectly.

I've surely done well with the 165 Nosler Ballistic Tip and a stout charge of H4350. Seeing 2950 fps and sub MOA groups. Has brought me elk, black bear, mule deer & pronghorn. Nice combo.

Fun topic, lots of us have hunted mule deer and thoroughly enjoy doing so.

Regards, Guy

I've been using 165g whatevers on mule deer for about 40 years. The reason I went to them was I read at the time that this weight bullet in the 30-06 had as flat a trajectory as the .270 (the add didn't say which bullet), but hit harder. Funny thing is they didn't kill mule deer any deader than 150s. They are nicely accurate in all the rifles I have tried them in and getting around 2900 fps isn't too hard to do. And they should stabilize in that slow twist rifle you have, he says jokingly.

I always have favored a 180 grain bullet of good construction. Go forth and fill an ark.

They are just deer. I have used 125-220;s in .30 cal. Many others with 24 and 25's. Even a few with my .22-250.

180 cor-lok will kill any deer you shoot

About anything will work on a Mule deer. I know of many killed with a 22lr.