Hunting ammo

[1972Pinto]

Hey guys, what kind of ammo are you guys using for deer? I've found that hornady ssts are pretty destructive. And I have only ever used ssts. I'm in the market for some new ammo, and I figured I would ask some of you for some ideas. If you are wondering I shoot 30-06, 7mm rem mag, and 300 win mag. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks 

[elkaholic123]

Are you using factory loads or are you gonna hand load? Nosler Accubonds are 1 i really like, Hornady ELD-X are what I will be trying out this year. Find a good bonded bullet that shoots good in your rifle and go with it.

[bobcat]

For bullets that are easier on meat, go heavier, and slower, or go with premium bonded bullets or 100% copper bullets. The best for not ruining a lot of meat would be the copper bullets such as the Barnes or the Nosler E-tip. That's what I would go with if I were you. But if your rifle doesn't shoot them well, and some won't, try going with a heavy for caliber Nosler Accubond.

[Oh Mah]

I agree they are great,this is out of last years deer,200 yards .308 Hornady sst.all threw front shoulder stopped other side against skin.

[Oh Mah]

other side

[Bob33]

If you find the SSTs are a bit too destructive, you may want to look at bullets designed to retain more weight. The Accubond or monolithic bullets like the Barnes TSX and TTSX or Nosler E Tip are worth checking out to see if they will shoot well in your rifle. Generally speaking, you can choose lighter weight bullets when shooting monolithics. For example, a 150 or even 130 grain monolithic bullet would work well for deer in .30 caliber.

[Oh Mah]

ill go throw it on a scale.

[Magnum_Willys]

Trophy Bonded if you can find it.

Nosler Accubond

Barnes TSX.

[jrebel]

Accubond and partitions are my go to bullets.  Both accurate and both deadly. 

[Oh Mah]

wow. 87.3 from a 150  they do lose a bunch.

[chester]

In those calibers you could do a lot worse then 180 gr accubonds in the 06' and .300 . 160gr in the 7mm
I do like the hornady custom 162gr btsp in my 7mag tho.

[wheels]

30-06 165 gr interlocks hornady

[Magnum_Willys]

Gonna try these in Texas next month 30-06 version

[dvolmer]

Blue box Federal's have put a lot of animals down for me.  Shoot great in my BAR's, accurate, and easy on the pocket book! Lots of hype out there.  placement and practice is the best no matter what bullet you use.

[JDHasty]

I have a quart ziplock freezer bag full of 200 gr Nosler Partition blems that Jack Slack gave me decades ago.  When I run out of them, which may never happen, I might try something else, but would probably just buy some more of the same.  I find them to be a great bullet.

[kselkhunter]

Another vote for Nosler.  And Berger VLDs from HSM, although I switched to gutless de-boning method after using those....designed to start shedding the front petals after penetrating 2-3" and opening....causes severe damage to surrounding organs and a bit of a soupy mess.  It was like somebody set off a grenade inside the chest cavity.  Although this photo of this deer I took with an Accubond from a few years ago may take the prize as my "gross" photo. Accubonds make big exit holes....large enough and with enough force for an organ to end up outside the body still intact.

[1972Pinto]

Man that's gnarly! I haven't even thought about the berger VLD'S. Looks like I need to be using those! my dad swears by his 220 grain corelokts in  his 06 but I don't fall into the same thinking as him. I don't want to have to compensate for drop at 200 yards if you know what I mean

[fish vacuum]

Blue box Federal's have put a lot of animals down for me.  Shoot great in my BAR's, accurate, and easy on the pocket book! Lots of hype out there.  placement and practice is the best no matter what bullet you use.

This. I've shot a bunch of deer at different angles and distances with cheap Federals in .270. The only time I don't like them is when using smaller calibers at close range. I've had them break apart when shooting deer with my .243 at distances under 50 yards.

[hawgwild]

Thinking about switching from 150gr core-lokts to 165gr accubonds in my 308.  I want a round that'll perform well on deer and still be adequate for elk out to 250ish yds.

[JoeE]

I use the Nosler Trophy factory ammo for my 300 WSM and 30-06. I use the 180 accubonds in both. Worked perfectly on several deer, a few elk, three moose and a couple bears. I don't see any need to switch from accubonds.

[Scheindogg]

I don't own 30-06 but my buddy who does who's been hunting about 35 years says he uses Winchester power x and Remington core lokts. He said you don't need to buy the fancy ones when those ones get the job done well 

[chester]

Thinking about switching from 150gr core-lokts to 165gr accubonds in my 308.  I want a round that'll perform well on deer and still be adequate for elk out to 250ish yds.

The accubonds should do really well for you.

[kball4]

Used to shoot 170gr rem core-lokts they seem to do less damage than the 162gr Hornady SST in 7mm rem mag, but accuracy with the SST's is much better.

[fowl smacker]

Berger VLD hunters in 300wsm and 6.5 creedmoor.  I used Hornady interbonds for years though with great success.

[NW SURVEYOR]

I'm still shooting the 160 grain Speer Hotcore in my 7MM and 220 grains in the .338.
I am thinking about loading for the kids .280 with the 160s, should be perfect.
I bought a few hundred decades ago and they are great.
They retain their weight and no complaints from the deer or elk, also, fairly accurate and paid for.
I typically don't shoot the magnums much for practice as I have a 22-250 and a .308 that I use for fun.

[yakimanoob]

Lots of hype out there.  placement and practice is the best no matter what bullet you use.

[yakimanoob]

But if you're curious, last year I used factory Hornady ELD-X 178gr in 30-06.  I'm switching to a 7mm-08 for this year and I want to try the monolithic bullets.  I like the idea of a hot factory load like the Hornady Superformance with a solid bullet.  Hopefully my rifle likes them .

But in a pinch I wouldn't hesitate to use my cheap Pvri Partizan soft points at shorter ranges.  For extended ranges, anything bonded or solid with a good BC/SD that your rifle shoots accurately will do just fine.  If that ammo costs $25/box, then you're paying the marketing departments directly if you buy $40/box ammo.

[1972Pinto]

Thank you guys. Its good to hear some options and experiences with different ammos. Alot of guys on other forums just tell me I'm just a bandwagon follower if I use anything except corelokts or super x ammo. I always tell them corelokts don't group well in my rifles and I don't like the power points for more than 200 yards because of their poor BC.  So far I've been looking at hornady eld-x, barnes ttsx, and HSM berger VLD's. I guess now I just gotta shoot them to see what my guns like. I'm sure it's not going to be cheap, but it's an investment I'm willing to make.

[fish vacuum]

But in a pinch I wouldn't hesitate to use my cheap Pvri Partizan soft points at shorter ranges.  For extended ranges, anything bonded or solid with a good BC/SD that your rifle shoots accurately will do just fine.

My problem with that thinking is that cheap bullets are more likely to fall apart at close range because they're still cooking along near max velocity on impact.

[yakimanoob]

My problem with that thinking is that cheap bullets are more likely to fall apart at close range because they're still cooking along near max velocity on impact.

True enough, but the way I look at it, if a 140gr 7mm bullet falls apart inside the lungs at 2400fps, the animal's not going far anyway and it's job done. 

Disclaimer: I hunt the open country of eastern WA.  I totally see how that strategy could get you in trouble in the dense undergrowth of the west side where 50 yards travelled could mean the animal disappearing.

[fish vacuum]

True. I think bullet selection becomes more important as you move down in caliber. If your 140gr 7mm bullet breaks up, one of the pieces could still be bigger than some brand new .243 bullets.

[rasbo]

I have used the good ol Remington core-lokts for years and they have never failed me..

[Skyvalhunter]

But have you harvested anything?

[Miles]

I've dropped quite a few whitetails with a .243 and 100 grain corelokts.  This was all I used while hunting the thick brushy north woods of NH and Maine.  It was the only rifle I had and I never felt handicapped because I was using "cheap" ammo.   I'll take good shot placement with cheap ammo over trying to plow a bullet through brush and hope to drive it lengthwise through a deer any day of the week. 

[tgomez]

Remington Core-Lokt 180 grain.

[rasbo]

But have you harvested anything?

bears deer yotes bobcats...

[yakimanoob]

But have you harvested anything?

Good trolls bro.