Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Barnes 300 Blk 120 Gr TAC-TX for Elk

After much research and deliberation, I'm taking my Ruger American Ranch 300 blk elk hunting later this month in CO for 2nd rifle OTC bull. This is strictly a timber hunt: sitting in ambush first/last shooting light and tracking in between. My previouse two bull encounters were at 25 yards and visibility is only 100 yards.

Wanted to bring the shortest rifle possible for carrying and quick handling since I backpack hunt in the snow at 10,000'. Will share results when I get back next month. Curious to know if anyone else has experience hunting elk at close range with the 300 blk.

Really?

Spend all that money for a tag and haul a 300 blk for the job? JFC HOLY FUG..MB

I presumed this was a thread about loading that bullet in a 308 or 30-06

Good chance you'll be taking a quartering away shot on a surprised animal...I'd maybe go for a cartridge that holds 45-58 grains of powder instead of 28 grains. I've blasted lots of deer and pigs with 300 BLK and 6.8 and they work well but the wound channel is not like the wounding you get from a faster moving bullets.

I’d use a 12 gr cork in a 300 whisper if forced to do so. That way there’d be no wounded animal. Seriously 125 gun bullet at 2k FPS? Guessing here, I used to own one. Not saying it wouldn’t work in some situations but the animal deserves better. Seems a stunt at best. I do know I hunted many years with handguns and they can kill above their energy. I hit a whitetail in the ribs at 25 yards with a 7mm T/CU. It was a decent buck and a 125 gr Balistic Tip at 2k FPS. Lost that animal after a loooong track. Best guess it blew up on a rib and only got one lung. Was out of a TC 14” Contender

Shawn

Doubtful anyone here does.

It’s less powerful than a 30-30.

I’d rather hunt with a 243 than a 300 BLK.

Not much to say that hasn’t already been said! 🫢 memtb

Man, I love the 300 Blackout and the TAC-TX bullets through them, but that's really pushing the envelope for game that large. 😬 I've squeezed 2250-2300fps with the 110s from a 16" barrel, but in both the rifles I've had they shoot better at the more sedate 1950-2000fps range.

You're basically talking 25-35/25 Rem level ballistics. As with those cartridges, it can and has been done, but there are a lot better tools for the job out there.

Will a 120 grain bullet from a 300 Blk kill an elk? Yes, but only if everything goes right.

Would I hunt elk with that rifle and bullet? NO!! I have too much respect for an elk.

Stupid idea.

I agree. Years ago I did it as an youngster with the 300 Whisper. Stupid practice. Very stupid and I should've had my head examined.

Otherwise I've used 30-30 up close and the old 30-40 in the woods but these are a good step up but I should've never taken 300 Whisper after elk. Today I'm older and my light tackle is 270win and 308win.

To the point. I like your style.

Thanks for the feedback, fellas. Sounds like more opinions than experience in this case. The only reason I'm going down this road is because 300 blk with modern solid copper 120gr bullets retain 100% of their weight and penetrate the same as 30-30 Win with 170gr CoreLokt (which has killed a pile of elk in the timber).

I'm hunting with a suppressor that is 8.4" long, so barrel length is the main concern here. My 300 blk has a 16" barrel and my 308 has an 18" barrel. Plus 308 seems overkill at 25 yards, considering I've killed elk at 500 yards with similar cartridge.

How is 300 blk any different than elk guides who carry a 243 Win and 100gr Partitions that only have 60% weight retention? The 120gr TAC-TX gets 20-25" penetration in gel at ranges that I will be shooting at.

Not to mention this 300 blk load meets the CPW regs just like the 243 Win ("you must use a rifle that fires expanding bullets with a minimum caliber of .24 cal. or 6mm, a minimum weight of 85 grains that delivers at least 1,000 ft. lbs. of energy at 100 yards")

And…..exactly how familiar are you with hunting/killing elk?

If you have the slightest of a moral compass, you attempt to take game animals as cleanly and humanly as possible…..not fuel an ego trip! memtb

The closest experience I have was a 7mm T/cu with a 120 gr NBT at 30 yards on a large whitetail buck broadside. I had good lung blood for a while then it dwindled to small spots. I believe I hit a rib and didn't get penetration to both lungs. Never recovered the buck. This was from a 14" Contender with a scope and is very accurate with that load. We tracked the deer for a very long way before we lost all blood. If you know you can do it' why ask an internet forum for others experience? You had to know the answers you would get. The mono bullet will help if you get the expansion you need. I would still feel better with the 30-30 170 gr but I have no elk experience with that either. I did kill a bull with a 230 gn 54 cal round ball at 110 yards.

Shawn

I haven’t looked but is it legal to hunt there with a suppressor?

Personally, I wouldn’t even think about it.

1. The question was totally stupid to begin with. There are any number of rifles better suited for Elk that weigh less than a Ruger American in 300 B/O.

2. Anyone who can hunt with a suppressor and does not is crazy as a pet coon.

Just another pot stirring post with no redemptive value.

The reason very few people have experience shooting elk with 300 BLK is fairly obvious. Even on deer and pigs it's an acceptable, but marginal cartridge, especially out of an 8" barrel. My 9" AAC barely gets 2100 fps with a 110 TTSX. Wounding is narrow. The 110 gr V-max is a much better killer, though it usually won't exit. Between myself and my hunting crew down here we've dropped 100+ does and pigs with that caliber (though if you want split hairs, none with the 120 TTSX, only the 110gr version) and most of us drifted back into larger calibers.

I've run 30 cal 180 grain bonded bullets into elk at 2100 fps (600+ yards). The bullet barely made it through the near side shoulder. If you think there's a magic difference between a 120 TTSX and a 180gr bonded nosler at the same speed, you're going to be disappointed.

A 243 partition of any weight blows a huge frag cloud ahead of it *as long as it's going fast enough*. All bullets are dependent on speed for disproportionate to caliber wounding, but mono bullets are really dependent.

Both are poor choices for your intended purpose.

A well-placed shot at under 100 yards should do the trick.....eventually.

But, before the elk expires, he will have too much time to run down into some god-forsaken hell hole you will have to find him in, and get him out of.

That may not be the case. The 120 grain 7mm Ballistic Tip is actually a pretty stiff bullet. Given the small cartridge and relatively short barrel the impact velocity may have been short of what it takes to dramatically upset that bullet on a pure lung shot.

You could be correct, I’ve no idea as I never recovered the deer. The bullet was probably moving at ~2k at 30 yards. I guess I thought it would have opened up. I love that gun but I wish I had been using one of my larger bore revolvers for that hunt. I parted with a 14” 7/30 Waters barrel I wish I had kept for a bit more speed.

Shawn

Robert Ruark: “Use Enough Gun”.

Good book, good advice.

Now, how much gun is “enough”?

Good question.

DF

There is a reason everybody has more opinions than experience, it is because it is a STUPID idea. As long as you want light weight and short length why not just take a .22 revolver and load it with shorts. One well placed shot between the eves should do it!

Well I guess conventional wisdom says it can’t be done. Only one way to find out! I’ll post results when I get back and maybe we’ll all learn something new.

I was born and raised in CO. Took my first elk 17 years ago. I used to spot and stalk and now I still hunt/track. The old farmers I hunted with as a kid swore by their 6mm Rem/243 Win because they were more accurate with a light-recoiling rifle. They never shot far enough to holdover above the elk’s back and put one bullet in the rib cage. They used to say “Ya just gotta let the air out.”

I’d be shocked if a 120gr Barnes to the rib cage doesn’t do the trick. I’ll bet this year’s bull tag on it.

You should have led with that post, it’s much more confident than the first. Obviously you wanted controversy. Good luck to you this season

Shawn

Seeing as how I have a pair of 243's with 100g Partitions that have accounted for 14 elk, I guided elk hunters for a few decades (although I never carried a 243 or any other rifle while guiding), and have killed far more elk at less than a 100 yds than I ever will at over 300 yds, I figure I'm plumb qualified to comment.....

I think the TAC-TX would be a good choice of bullet and makes up for a lot of other sins. Like using a 300 Blackout. I have a acquaintance who has killed two elk with a Contender in 6.5 something or another with the TAC bullet. It sounded to me like the bullet opens up a lot more than the usual copper rifle bullets.

I have long preached on here that moderate expansion and deep penetration is the secret to elk. Nobody listens but I still do it....

But...having started following my father elk hunting 60 years ago here in Colorado and beyond, I also know a guy can spend the entire day still hunting through the spruce-fir-quakie elk jungles and never see further than 60 yds, and then break out onto the side of a canyon, side of a mountain, or across a ravine and see elk 400 yds away.

Elk are generalists, you've got a specialty set-up. I certainly wouldn't disadvantage myself with such a rig. If I have a hankering for a bigger challenge I break out the Black Widow recurve with Port Orford cedar arrows.......

Only one way to find out huh? Soooo….you’re willing to risk wounding that elk, unethically causing it to have a slow painful death…just to see if it can be done?

I’m no better than the next guy on here but I won’t be experimenting on a live animal just for kicks. The animal deserves better than this.

OP is a damned fool pot stirrer.

Next he'll tell us why Biden is the greatest US President ever.

He's going on ignore, you all should do the same.

Hmm. So you post on the fire seeking other’s knowledge but then get butt hurt when everyone tells you it’s a dumb idea.


Almost like you weren’t really looking for advice.


As others have said, you’re just looking to stir up [bleep].


It’s a free country. Do as you wish.


In my experience, thick timber is where, more often than not, you need maximum penetration. But you’re not going to listen anyway, so I’m just talking to the trees.


Have fun. I’m sure you won’t come back on here and tell us when one gets away from you. We’ll only hear about it if it actually works.

Thanks for the insightful post. Yes, this is a specialty setup, similar to my heirloom Marlin 1895 ltd-v 45-70 that’s sitting in my safe in mint condition. I’m running a red dot on the 300 BLK for quicker close-range target acquisition and weight reduction vs scope. I don’t take pot shots at animals. Not even prairie dogs. I will only use this rifle within its limitations, which ballistically appear to be 200 yards max on elk.

Yes, that’s my understanding as well based on researching the TAC-TX vs TSX/TTSX. The former is designed for double-diameter expansion at 300 BLK velocities. The 110gr TAC-TX appears to be the most popular bullet among hog hunters with many videos online showcasing its effectiveness on hogs.

Must be a popular idea there’s Guys from Colorado posting this question all over the internet, unless all those people are you. I wouldn’t think so, you seem pretty sure of your combination.

My daughter carried my sons cz527 in 76239 one year. We were hunting area where shots Could be 20-150 yards. I had no problem using that in that close proximity As it has ballistic of 30/30.
Your blackout has “muzzle” velocity of 30/06 at 500 or 600? yards with 165 grain pill. which most consider that a stretch for the ol 06..
I’m sure it will work in right situation, Elk aren’t bullet proof, but in hunting things don’t always go as planned.

It’s easy to tell who hunts elk to fill the freezer & who hunts to stoke the ego. I’m sure if by some fluke you are successful you’ll never stop posting about it encouraging more egotistical jackasses to give it a try.

Please let us know how it goes. Since you own a 45-70 & 308 it’s purely an ego thing. You could probably pay a hooker to scream a bunch during & tell you how great you are instead of having some poor elk suffer unnecessarily - but you do you.

I didn't hear anybody say that.

Elk have been taken with everything from 44-40, patched round ball, arrows. Using the 300BO kind of puts you in that same camp, and same philosophy of use. It can work, but a lot can go wrong also.

Fair enough. Correction: "Conventional wisdom says it shouldn't be done"

Glad CPW determines what cartridge is legal rather than conventional wisdom. Using the best ammo available for this application will hopefully mitigate things "going wrong."

Elk are very tough animals, can you kill one with 300 BLK, yes but many things can go wrong, rather use something more powerful, wouldn't want to wound it, lose it and let it suffer for a few days and die miles from where it was hit and not get your animal.

Elk

deserve a proper cartridge & clean kill

Big & tough they are

Oh

and yes....have two 300 BLK's

An Aero Precision AR & Ruger Ranch

Despite all the lectures to the contrary, my guess is the round will work fine within its velocity window.

Me - I respect animals and don't view them as a platform to test theories or express ego. Therefore I wouldn't use a cartridge like the 300 BLK. As a "backpack hunter" myself, I like something more like the 6.5 CM, 7-08 or 308 Win. All have sufficient "power" out far or up close for a clean, humane kill, and have a reserve of power when things don't go quite as planned.

My .02

Pretty much same/same here. 16" AR, and Ruger American Ranch bolt action. It's a neat little round. Also have a couple boxes of the Barnes 120gr TAC-TX on the reloading bench.

Yes........the Ruger 300 BLK is a kool rifle/cartridge to mess around with

Agree with Brad...my last Utah late bull I used a 308 & 180 gr Swift bullets

Two quick shots @ 90 yards and he never left his bed

pic....Ruger BLK.......great close cover coyote rifle with 110 V max or Noslers

Years ago I used a 7 br for deer alot, I switched from 120 gr Nosler to 140 gr Nos BT because it killed better with more expansion. Seems counter productive but the 120 gr bullet is tougher and Does not work as well out of single shot pistols.....

Nice pic.

Mine,

Looks like mine.

I heard that it "takes one to know one" Mr. Pole (Larry Root)
You're pretty well known for trolling and stirring the pot.

Hmm. I have never even used a 270 to shoot an elk ( I like more power) but plenty of people have. If we are talking about a 300 blackout, seems like he would be fine out to a max of say 200 yards. It should still have about 1700 ft lbs at 200 yards. Yes he will have to pick his shots carefully but I can see it would work very well if he is careful about shot placement.

The 300BO will push the 120gr TAC-TX to about 2200 fps in a 16" barrel.

That's 1300 ft-lbs at the muzzle, about 1080 ft-lbs at 100 yards, and 900 ft-lbs at 200 yards.

Oh wow. I thought I was looking at ft lbs and was really looking at velocity. At those corrected numbers, I have to concur with everyone: the 300 BO is not an elk cartridge. At 100 yards or less, IF you make a perfect double lung shot, it may prove to be adequate. But unless I could hold the muzzle at point blank range, no way would I use that rifle.

Pigs are reported to be tough, and the are: I have killed a ton of them, but they are not anywhere close to as big and tough as an elk. And if I shoot a pig and he runs off to die: so what. They are in the same category as coyotes.

As stated: they WILL die….. eventually.

I'd like to think any legal elk cartridge (300BO/762x39, 243 Win/6 Creed, etc) used within its effective range (and appropriate bullet!) is far more lethal than an arrow. I have a retired uncle who guides dozens of elk hunts for friends and family. He gave up archery elk years ago when he arrowed a cow in the rib, ran out of arrows chasing her, finally caught up to her when she got hung up in some rocks, and finished her off by driving the broken shaft into her lung with his finger. He's hunted with a rifle ever since. (I have nothing against archery hunting elk btw).

LOL.


CPW knows everything. It’s as good as the word of God. I’m so glad they settled it and we don’t have to discuss further.

So true, CPW allows a 300 BLK, but not a 22-250 or Swift. I'd rather use either of those on elk than the 300 BLK...

That doesn't make any sense to me. How exactly would 22-250 be better for elk at close range than 300BO? Be specific, please.

I've killed elk like most of you or we wouldn't be on this thread. Most of us already know that killing power for larger game animals like elk is a function of penetration and wound channel. Penetration is a function of bullet sectional density and weight retention. Wound channel is a function of caliber and bullet expansion.

Assuming 22-250 is using the heaviest controlled expansion bullet available, it probably would penetrate similarly to the 300BO with Barnes 120gr. But the 300BO would leave a much wider diameter wound channel, making it a far superior choice over the 22-250 for elk.

No sense arguing with this loon, he knows it all. I'm blocking and moving on so as not to stroke his BIG ego!

Do yourself, (and the Elk) a favor and leave the 300 with the 8.4" long suppressor at home and bring your 308 with the 18" barrel. The 308 is plenty short to maneuver well in the brush. And even if there is a slim chance of breaking out into an opening and spotting an Elk out just past 200yds you will be glad you have it. I wouldn't risk an opportunity that may present itself. They are not always where you think they are gonna be. I killed a Bull Elk at 286yds thinking where I was hunting my shot would be under 100yds. I'm glad I had enough gun. Just saying, Its your tag. Good Luck.

Hmm. SD for a .224/70 is .199 and for a .308/120 it’s .181.


So the 300 BLK is losing the SD war and really sucking hind tit when it comes to velocity and energy. Sure, it wins in frontal diameter, but velocity is what really churns up their insides and creates tissue damage outside of the actual path of the bullet.

The 300BO has plenty of velocity for "churning" inside its effective range (just like the 45-70). I took my first elk 17 years ago at 500 yards with a 338-06. The 210gr Partition was going approx 2,700 FPS at the muzzle and 1,950 FPS at the elk. I hit her broadside in the heart twice before she tipped over dead in her tracks. Both bullets recovered against the hide on the opposite side with perfect mushrooms.

The 300BO is going 2,100 FPS at the muzzle and is still going 1,887 FPS at 100 yards with a bullet designed for double-diameter expansion out to 300 yards.

Good post Godogs57. We have all heard the stories of the lowlife poachers using 22magnums on elk. Like the op's choice, it can be done, but is not optimum. Somewhat reckless in his views. He obviously doesn't care if he wounds an elk or many elk. That is way more unethical than shooting an elk at 600 yards, as far as I'm concerned. Maybe ethics are not as much of an issue with some "hunters" guys, as I know a lot of elk get wounded by arrows every year. I'd rather be in the bring enough gun/weapon camp, than the other.. YMMV..

I’d tell you about RPMs and all copper bullets, but it would fly right over your pointy head.


If you’re so sure of yourself, why did you come here seeking validation for your decision? I whacked my first bull with a 7 mag. Sure as heck didn’t need to ask around about how it might work, since it’s a solid elk cartridge. My guess is, you’re not as confident in your mind as you act on here. When you didn’t get the approval from everyone, you raised your hackles instead of reconsidering your choice because you took it as an insult.

For the elk’s sake and not your own, good luck.

To me this is like saying:

“I am not challenged by killing an elk with my bow using sharp blades any more. I want to make it more challenging. I am going to shoot an elk with a trocar point but no blades. I will only shoot out to 30 yards when I can shoot quarter sized groups. And I will
Wait for a broadside, leg forward shot so I can shoot him right through the heart. And a trocar is more accurate! Elk hearts are big! That will leave 2 holes in the heart and will surely kill him!”

If I had to choose between a 300 BO with a supressor and a 308 due to 2” of length or weight, I would leave the supressor at home. Ear protection is very light.

Stupid idea, elk deserve better. Leave that girlie gun home.

Found this review on Midway for the Barnes 120gr in 300BO

I concur! This is a good combination for short yardage with a deer. You have killed elk, you know they are bigger, much bigger.

It is obvious that you can’t be talked out of this, so I will stop trying.

So you scoured the net looking for an elk testimonial and that’s the best you could come up with, huh?

Hell, if it’ll take down a whitetail it must be good on elk too.

You’re good to go, then!!!

I wish CPW would follow that logic. You can kill deer all day long with all kinds of bullets in a .223. IIRC, someone on here used a 204 Ruger to kill a muley a few years back. Those must be good on elk too!!!

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to find out whenever I cash my Colorado points in. Maybe I’ll show them some Midway reviews from anonymous internet strangers and lobby CPW to change the law so I can hunt elk with a .204 Ruger. Do you think they’ll find it compelling??

If not, I’ll try an 85 gr ballistic tip out of a .257 WBY at 3800 fps. Nosler lists it as a “varmint” bullet, but CPW says it’s good to go, so I shouldn’t have anything to worry about!

It doesn’t hit 1800 fps until 700+ yards. DAYUM!!! I’m not a good enough shot to hit them twice through the heart at long range like you can, but I’ll sure try!

Laffin!

You KNOW the 308 will work but you DON’T KNOW if the BO will work…….Why is there even a question about which to use?

👍

You asked and didn't like the answer. Why bother?

Here is a thread showing gel test results for 30-30:

https://www.okshooters.com/threads/30-30-winchester-wcf-ballistics-gel-results.333709/

Here is a vid showing gel test results for 300BO:

Free country and you can do what you want, but if I owned a .308 I'd use the .308 Win. The .308 just opens up more opportunities, when things don't go as planned. I've rarely had a hunt go as I planned it in my head.

Legality doesn't directly correlate to whats ethical. If by chance CPW questions your legality, and uses Banes ammunition as a refrence you wont be legal in Colorado. Hunting big game with the .300 BLK as rated by manufacturer the Barnes Vor-TX ammunition with 120 grain Tac‐X bullet only has 949 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards. So no, you're not as legal as a .243 Win.


If you're going to quote the reg, you need to quote the whole reg. Plus if you find yourself in legal trouble with the CPW over this cartridge do you want to afford the legal fees just to prove the internet wrong? It's so much easier to use the .308 Win and not have any worries.

Thanks for catching that! Guess I'll have to buy some 120gr bullets for handloads and soup them up a fuzz.

Bullets are on order now. Thanks again for your help, @taylorce1!

What bullets did you order?

Barnes 120gr TAC-TX:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...amp;utm_content=product-description-link

If you want to thank me use the .308 Win.

You really missed my whole point. .308 is easily legal, the .300 BLK is questionable at best. Even if you make it legal in your mind, it won't make it ethical IMO.

I don’t usually speak in forums but I actually signed up on this one because of this topic
I live in north idaho and hunt public lands all over the panhandle My ethics varies if it’s safe ok if it’s legal it depends on why it’s illegal but if there is a good chance that I can’t put the animal down quickly and humanely that’s not ok with me
The only requirement in idaho for big game is that it is center fire cartridge so you would be legal
Due to the covid cash and the biden bucks I had the money to get bunch of ar stuff 300blk being one of them soon as I saw it nah that aint going to happen so it is looking for a new owner didn’t waste the time putting it together I opted for 6.5 grendel after looking at ballistics and some of these gel videos it actually looks usable well I killed a old bear with it but it took four rounds 129gr eld hornady I think the two middle ones could have been me
First one broadside lungs 130yrds
Last yr I took shot at bear again 130 yards dont know why but that’s where I see most animals
He just trotted off
In the fall elk season same story on two different elk
Ten years ago I built another bolt rifle 500asquare seventy five paces 577gr barnes bullet 2500fps broadside back edge of the shoulder five by five bull
Took forty five minutes in the dark to find him upside down in bunch of blow down trees and brush because I heard his last breath moan
They are tough and they don’t deserve to be wasted or tortured
Also I don’t give up easily on finding animals anywhere from four hours to ten trying to find any sign and there are christmases without snow so it doesn’t make a hole all the way through not much chance of blood trail
Even 308 win hog hammer cartridge small muley 75 yrd broadside took three rnd the one I found on far side
Except for rifling marks you could have reloaded it
So I am back where I started with not using anything smaller than 250gr and 375+ caliber
77 is too old to walk very far just to see if the animal is there
I want to know I need to dress one
Bigholes

Impressive vid showing quartering toward shot on a Russian boar with Barnes 110gr out of 300BO:

Tracker,

You seem to miss the point above. Barnes shows 949 ft/lbs at 100, under the required 1,000 ft/lbs at 100 yards even with the 120 grain.

This is the data the game warden will see.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/product/vor-tx-rifle/

fwiw - watched the video. At 3:15 and a while afterwards, the pig is still not dead, even with that being a small pig likely under 100#. Pretty unimpressed with that result. btw - that is a basic wild pig like we have a bunch of here.

I shoot a lot of pigs every year (and have them for breakfast most mornings) and see a lot shot. The .300 BO can work and also seen it not work. The .308 provides more consistent terminal results. An elk is a big step up.

Your .308 with a 150+ TTSX sure seems like a better choice.

Here are a couple of pig videos. Compare these to that .300 BO video with a much smaller pig.

First a .308 with a Barnes TTSX 130 grain, a 200#+ pig, then a .308 with a 175 SMK, about a 150# pig. Notice they both are dead and go straight down.

A Man Convinced Against His Will, Is of the Same Opinion Still...

His handle does seem to be well chosen.

I am not convinced he actually ordered bullets to work up a “hotter” load with. And how does he prove that is is legal to a game warden?

Don't have to convince the game warden since most 300BO supersonic ammmo meets the requirement. Here is the order:

No, most do not meet the legal requirements. There are very few .300 BLK supersonic factory loads that meet the 1000 ft-lb requirement at 100 yards. Just spend some time doing some actual research and you'd know this.

How do I know? I hunt and shoot the .300 BLK in a RAR and AR-15. I only use it out of state where I don't have to meet ft-lbs requirements.

Looks like this park ranger thought the 300BO was a good choice for an elk population control hunt:

http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96196

Bull only went 10 yards after one shot.

I really like the 180gn Barnes TSX in .30-06. I know it's a little heavy for deer, lol, but my ol' Valmet seems to shoot the heavier bullets better...

I agree with the other guys, though. At that close a range, I bet it hit some bone (several times) and had a rollercoaster journey through the deer.

If you have to ask about a marginal cartridge, you probably already answered your own question.

Hmm. The guy promised pics and never delivered. So don’t know if legit post or not.

I think he's got a few more weeks before the season ends.


Okie John

The link/ post was from 2015!

I stand corrected.


Okie John

Still tracking??