So I ended up buying a new deer rifle(it should be here later this week).and due to my wife's rule of one in, one out, my .257 weatherby had to go...of course as luck would have it, I sold it 3 days before General deer season. This left me with just my .223 SPS tactical. I had it sighted in with 70 grain Berger VLDs. Not being one to take odd angles/long shots, I knew if I was disciplined I would be ok. Today was opening day, and after spending the day calling coyotes, we setup on a field edge for the last couple hours. The long and short of it is that with 1/2 hour of light left, a decent size doe ended up in my scope. I shot her tight to the onside shoulder, just over her heart. She ran about 80 yards and fell over. Upon cleaning her up, I was impressed by the performance of the little gun. Typical Berger performance, small entry, exploded through the lungs, then blew the off side shoulder to pieces. I was a bit worried before I went out with this light combo, but I came away impressed.

Stopped reading at that. That's [bleep].

Good shootin....congrats

Agreed......hope he was kidding and wanted to sell the other rifle to fund new one. Not truely because a wife's rule.

It's not all bad...swapped out a Vanguard .257 in a Boyd's stock for a custom 700 in 6mm in a McMillan edge...

My wife says(direct quote), "Honey, you can spend all the money you want on guns and ammunition."

I get sick of all these posts from guys claiming you can kill deer with .22 centerfires....

My wife told me I had to down size my horse if I wanted a new rifle....

Bad ass. Congrats.


Travis

I am in awe of your masculinity and total am truly grateful for your thoughtful and productive contribution to this thread. You are truly my Internet hero. Thank you!

My masculinity is so amazing my wife left me.

Did you take any dogs with that VLD combo? What speeds are you running them?


Travis

My Father In Law have me a gun cabinet. At the time, I had few long guns to fill it.

We were sitting on the couch. My (then) girlfriend said, "We need more guns to fill that cabinet up!"

I married her months later...and now have to buy a much larger safe...

Congrats on the deer and thanks for the feedback!

They are only running 2700 fps...any more and I start to get pressure signs/groups open up(24 grains of varget seated .005 off the lands)
I haven't shot a Yote with them yet...it was the perfect day for calling, -16 not much wind...and we went 0 for 6 stands...
from what they did on my deer I would bet on seeing pass through a with small entry and exit holes.

Good deal. Rancho had me wanting to try these in my AR. This will be my winter project.

Hunting was weird here as well. Must be the moon...



Travis

About a month ago I shot an armadillo at around 100 yds with a 16 inch barreled AR-15. 70 gr Berger vld & 25 grs of Tac. Hit him broadside & it was very ugly.

Don't forget fellas she owns half the money and all the puzzy.

Did you get an exit on the doe or a blood trail? Thinking of bullets for my son's 223.

A couple fragments exits...it really blew the heck out of the offside shoulder, massive damage, so there's wasn't anything left
To make it out.
Blood trail was minimal, but wasn't needed as she was easy to follow in the snow, and I watched her fall.
I don't think it's an ideal setup for everyone, but worked very well for what I asked of it.
If you want picks of the entry,exit shoot me a pm and I can email them.

What is the twist on your SPS?

They're 1-9".


Travis

Putting together my first AR, and from what I'm reading, seems the 70gr LVDs are the way to go when restricted to AR Magazine length. They'll likely be the first thing I try.

John

I have mine loaded to 2.29 COAL and they are .005 off the lands.