Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Bullet suggestion for extra large Canadian Whitetails?

I know that it was likely a fluke, but I had a c & c 180 (.30-06) fail on me several years ago. The 180s were factory loaded at almost 2900, first box tried worked well as to accuracy, so I went back and bought 10 more boxes. Then after using that load for several years, I made a perfect "Texas heart shot" on the south end of a north bound mule deer just before the went over a ridge at something under 200 yards. The first shot (no entry wound) shattered both the pelvis and the bullet. another neck shot sealed the deal. When I dressed and butchered the deer, all I found were fragments of lead and jacket material.

I had the same experience with a c & c 100 grain .243 breaking up several years prior on a quartering frontal shot. Fortunately, one of the larger fragments hit the spinal cord. I solved the .243 problem with 100 grain Partitions. I have found the solution for .30 calibers to be bonded, Partitions, or TSX. I am sure there are others. Good bullets are very near the cheapest part of the hunt. I agree that it doesn't take a magnum howitzer to kill a deer, but I have also been guilty of doing that when young and dumb. Good hunting, jack

RD: There isn't a thing wrong with a 300 magnum for deer hunting up there....some guys are "one rifle for everything",and a 300 magnum does that nicely,of course.

But these are generally pretty experienced hunters and many who go up there don't meet that description,assume a 300 mag (or larger) are required, or that they need one for the purpose, which simply isn't true.

I don't know of a deer hunt in North America where a 280AI would not be darn near perfect,and likely lighter and more manageable than any 300 magnum.

...and MUCH better than a 270!

ST: Haha! I never said THAT!

Gotta toss the 280AI boys a bone now and then....

BOb..thanks for the bone..even though the bone had very little meat on it..lol

i think my little 25-06 would just smash them giant whitetails with aliitle 117gr interlock

Yup, it would.

Ive used 200 grain 30 cal speers in my 30/06 for decades
but like the others have said shot placement and bullet construction is more important than caliber or bullet weight
Ive used a 6mm rem and 257 roberts on the lower range of power and about all the semi popular calibers up to 378wby-to-458 LOTT at one time or another deer are just not that hard to kill, Ive seen at least 5 ELK killed real dead with a 257 roberts and a couple with 44 mag revolvers so Id be far more concerned with shot placement.
but that being stated I can in good conscious recommend those 200 grain 30 cal speer bullets for ALL deer & elk big game hunting when using a 30/06 you can get good accuracy with 4831 or WW760 and a 215 federal primer in most 30/06 rifles Ive tried.

oldguns: LOL! My only point was that 140 gr bullets will work really well on those Canadian whitetails from a 280AI; and it matters not at all whether they measure .277 or .284,or are fired from a 270,280,or a 280AI.Results will be exactly the same.

The bucks won't like any of them.

I like accubonds. Something about mature deer. They allways seem to die hard. Good shot placement paramount.

I have seen two big mule deer,(one of which was mine) dropped in their tracks by .308" 150 gr. Accubonds. Both were one shot deals with excellent bullet performance. Mine was at a lasered 202 yards with a 300 WSM. My buddy took his with a 300 RUM at a greater distance but I don't recall the range. Both were within easy 30-06 range, which is what the OP mentioned using. My buddy and I both used accubonds because both of our rifles shot very well with them. If your rifle likes 150 gr. Accubonds then I'd bet you are gonna like how they work on deer, be they Mulies or big Canadian whitetails. It really is all about good shot placement.

Is good shot placement not paramount on immature deer?


fwiw- I've shot quite a few mature deer that weighed over 200lbs. They died about the same as any of them.

Biggens

The biggest deer are not armor plated and I still believe that NO deer really requires a 30 caliber rifle. I still use fairly rapid expanding bullets on any deer regardless of size because they just aren't that big and aren't that tough.

I've shot a few 200 lb+ deer here on the hill. 30cal Corelokt 150gn. bullets on two and a 50 cal maxi-hunter in a front stuffer for the other. They fall over and die... I've also had little deer run, w/ both bullets, who knows.

I plan on trying that in sask next november

Never been up that way-I'm thinking that should be addressed-or shot one of those really big hogs down here.

However, I think I have a couple rifles that with good bullets would be adequate: 7mm-08, .308W and a .30-06 that while not a favorite would be a good choice. From Bob and a couple others descriptions, I would place considerable thought on which one handles well and I can get into action quickly if needed and make sure I was up to speed on doing so.

Then again an acquaintance has been up there someplace and uses an obnoxious .300 Jarrett rifle, big scope and all. Has done ok shooting out of a blind when they come into the bait pile and swears that it is perfect.

I would use a 180 gr Partition and never give it a second thought.

180 grain Nosler partitions or accubond out of your 30-06

TFF.

A few weeks back, I was with my buddy when he downed a 220lb whitetail (dressed) with a .243 launching a 105 Speer. It was over about as fast as anything I've ever witnessed.

When I got to the deer, I was shocked by the lack of armor plating.