Favorite mule deer bullet?
- Thread starter nv-hunter
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
For over 50 years I have used Sierra Game Kings in my 25-06 and my .257 Wby (117 gr BT Game Kings) for deer and antelope. In my 30-06 I also use Sierra Game Kings (150 gr BT).
JimP
Administrator
I keep it easy with whatever I am shooting. One bullet one load.
.25-06 a 100 grain Barnes TTSX
7 mm Rem Mag 140 grain Barnes TTSX
.340 Weatherby 225 grain Barnes TTSX
All those bullets have killed both elk and deer except for the .25-06 and I have only used it on deer.
.25-06 a 100 grain Barnes TTSX
7 mm Rem Mag 140 grain Barnes TTSX
.340 Weatherby 225 grain Barnes TTSX
All those bullets have killed both elk and deer except for the .25-06 and I have only used it on deer.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Like JimP...one bullet, one load. Been shooting that way since I started reloading over 60 years ago.
Hilltop
Veteran member
30-06 - 165 grain Hornady Interbond for everything. They haven't ever given me a reason to change over the last 25 years.
JimP
Administrator
It really doesn't take much to take down a mule deer. The skin is thin and while the shoulder bone is heavy just about any bullet made will punch through it.
I personally like controlled expansion bullets as you can see from the above post.
I personally like controlled expansion bullets as you can see from the above post.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,893
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Winchester 150 grain silvertips for me. It works pretty good so far and is very accurate out of my 300 WSM. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk with these out to that range even though some may say it doesn't weigh enough. I wouldnt try it any further than that on an elk an besides I keep all of my shots under 400 yards and under anyways.
Killed a whitetail buck right at 400 yards and the bullet was stuck under the hide on the other side so I know for sure it is good for that range.
Killed a whitetail buck right at 400 yards and the bullet was stuck under the hide on the other side so I know for sure it is good for that range.
My go to the last few years has been the .300 Win Mag ELD-x, 200 grain precision hunter as my all around gun. Kills elk and deer no problem.
However, Ike talked me into the 6.5 Creedmoor recently...
However, Ike talked me into the 6.5 Creedmoor recently...
Hilltop
Veteran member
Yes I strongly suggest that simply to save some meat. Rapid expansion bullets cause more meat loss in my opinion and also increase your chances of fragments in your meat a long ways from the impact area. They do tend to bang flop deer though if that is #1 priority.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
I'm shooting a .243 for everything now due to health related issues. I shoot Barnes TTSX , Hornady GMX and Nosler E-tips. All are 80/85 grain bullets. The Barnes are the most accurate in my rifle.
dan maule
Veteran member
I've used 180 grn barnes tripple shock for many years in my 300 wby. Pretty hard to beat their performance on impact, not the most accurate bullet out there though.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
My .300 Wby shoot 180 gr Nosler Partitions really well.
JimP
Administrator
That's where people need to play around with loads, to find what works best.
When I was first sighting in my, 340 I had some factory Weatherby Barnes 225 X bullets and after the first 5 shots with them I looked at the target and thought that I had a couple of fliers but it was still a tight group.
After looking at it closer I saw that the two that I thought were fliers had actually cut through a existing hole.
That settled it for me and I started to duplicate that factory load as close as I could. I even went as far as pulling a bullet out and weighing the powder load.
I now have a load that shoots a sub moa 5 shot group at 250 yards where it is sighted in at, and my best group at that range is just under 1/2 inch with 225 grain TTSX bullets at 3000 fps
dan maule
Veteran member
I have two 300 Wbys, one doesn't like the barnes, the other does. I am going to try Nosler Partitions this year, I already have them but have not taken the time to shoot them yet.
memtb
Active Member
Wife.....225 TTSX from .338 WM, Me.....250 TTSX from .375 AI. Sorry..... that’s all we have to hunt with!
If anyone asks.....same answer from Pronghorns to Moose! One rifle, one bullet, one zero......all game! We follow the “KISS “ philosophy! If I’m using my handgun, a 400 grain cast bullet will be used for all game.....just like the rifle! memtb
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dan maule
Veteran member
I have found it hard to match the Weatherby factory ammo ballistics. There is not a lot of reloading data out there that duplicates the factory ammo ballistics. Your method of pulling the bullet and weighing the powder is also what I did. The problem I had when I was first reloading was I could not get the Norma MRP, so I settled on Reloader 22 and had to play around a while. At the time, RL 22 was the slowest burning powder they offered that according to the data I could find, came close to factory ballistics. Now I have just stuck with the loads I developed with RL 22. At some point in the future when I have more time I plan on playing around with some of the newer, slower burning powders.
My loads aren't as accurate as you mentioned above, but I am not sure if that is my lack of shooting ability or the ammo.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I use Reloader 25 in my Wby. But my Weatherby is not a factory rifle.
A friend of my Dad's got too old to hunt and gave me the rifle. It was bought from a custom smith in the early 60's. It has a commercial Mauser action. When I got it the barrel was gone so I rebarreled it with a Shilen premium match stainless barrel. I also decreased the freebore, so it shoots a lot different from factory Weatherbys. I get sum moa groupd out to 500 yards, which is as far as I have shot it.
A friend of my Dad's got too old to hunt and gave me the rifle. It was bought from a custom smith in the early 60's. It has a commercial Mauser action. When I got it the barrel was gone so I rebarreled it with a Shilen premium match stainless barrel. I also decreased the freebore, so it shoots a lot different from factory Weatherbys. I get sum moa groupd out to 500 yards, which is as far as I have shot it.