150...165...180 grain ??

kentucky hareraiser · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: 150...165...180 grain ??

which grain do es everyone use to hunt whitetail deer and why... just curious i guess .

Pitt55 · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

Because I hunt deer and moose I use 165 or 180, whatever works best in the rifle of choice. In my 308 the 165, 30/06 the 180, 300mag the 165.
Don

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

I lean toward the heavier bullets in a particular caliber because, should I mess up the first shot, I want to have plenty of penetration for a follow up shot that might not be at an optimum angle. I’ve been whitetail hunting with the following:

.260 Rem with 140 grain bullets (129 grain bullets did not exit on a broadside shot)

.280 Rem with 160 grain bullets

.45-70, and I don’t think this one makes much difference with bullet weight, although I want to work up some loads using 350 grain bullets.

.50 ML with 348 grain bullets

I do plan to try the lighter bullets again too; 129s in the .260 again and 139s in the .280.

chambered221 · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

None of the above !!!

120 gr. B-Tip in a 7mm-08 and 95gr. B-Tip or SST in 6mm Remington.
Why ??? Because all 3 put deer down with the crack of the gun !!! Very Happy

wiersy111 · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

Most of the shooting I have had the last few years is from a few feet out to 200 yards.
7mm-08 140gr BT
.270 130gr BT
30-06 150gr
7mm Rem Mag 139gr SST
.257 Weatherby 100gr or 120gr
45-70 350gr or 405gr
I have also loaded heavier but these are what my guns prefer.

PaulS · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

From the range of bullet weights I'm going to take a leap and say its for a 30 caliber - 308 or 30-06.

The most accurate bullet I have ever fired in my 06 was a 165 grain SPBT and they have taken white tails, black tails and mule deer with ease.
In the 308 I load 150 grain SPBT - with the same effect.
If you do your job a 130 HP will do the job on any of the above too - you just have to put the bullet where it will do its job.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:50 am Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

If we are talking about whitetail only, I would opt for 150-grain bullets. If larger game might also be on the tag (elk, mule deer and etc.) I would choose a good 180-grain bullet. Either will work quite well on whitetail but the 180 gives a little insurance on bigger game.

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:59 am Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

White tail and black tail with .30 WCF I use a 170 grain HCFN. For the same game as listed and elk in .30-06 I use a 165 grain BTHP...

slimjim · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

I've become a user of Barnes Triple Shock Bullets. I'm achieving higher velocities at the muzzle and, because they have good weight retention on impact, their terminal perform is argued to be equivalent to lead-core bullets that are 20 to 40 grains heavier. My deer loads are,

110gr TTSX for .270 WIN (3450+ fps)
130gr TTSX for .308 WIN (3100+ fps)

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

How far out do you expect these light bullets to reach?

moose2 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

For whitetails and Mule deer I primarily use my .257 Roberts loaded with 117 gr. Sierra Prohunters. It works for me.
For elk I use my 30-06 loaded with 180 Sierra Prohunters.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

.308 win ( My main deer cartridge ) 150 grain Accubond. I have used 130 grain hornady spire points with success it doesn't take a heavy bullet to kill a whitetail. Lighter bullets create more shock.

Joe

fnuser · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

I like 165 in 30-06 and .308 but like really heavy bullets in lighter calibers like pumpkin said.

Grumulkin · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

What I've taken deer with are:

222 Remington - 70 grain
22-250 Remington - 55 grain & 70 grain
25/06 - 115 grain
270 Winchester - 130 grain
308 Winchester - 150 grain
30/06 Springfield - 165 grain
300 Weatherby Magnum - 165 grain

All of those bullet weights worked well. The most important part is putting the bullet in the right place and of less importance is how much the bullet weighs.

chambered221 · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject: Re: 150...165...180 grain ??

No 12 gauge with a pumpkin ball ??? Maybe I got the wrong state !!!