is tikka t3 varmint .300 wm to much for deer in south australia

[tiger1234]

Hi lrh people bought .223 and .308 12 months ago done a bit of target shooting with .223 and .308 best was 1/2 inch at 300 metres with .308 . just bought tikka t3 varmint in .300 wm for hunting deer in south australia want to know best factory ammo in 180gr for up to 600 metres +

[liltank]

Anything in a boat tail design in 180+ grain bullets. Not to much for deer.

Tank

[Long Trang]

Not too familiar with South Australian deer. But, if they're similar to the deer in the U.S., it's my understanding, you're looking for a minimum of 700 ft/lbs of energy upon impact to kill the deer.

Factory loads are typically designed for the upper end of the velocity for the specific caliber. For 180 gr loads, you're looking at nearly 3,000 fps muzzle velocity. According to JBM, a 180 gr projectile will bleed off enough of it's energy to deliver 1,435 ft/lbs of energy having crossed 600 yards, twice as much required to drop your deer.

If you were to reload, and chose 180 gr projectiles, you could charge them at the lowest and deliver 927 ft/lbs after firing 600 yards...far more acceptable if you want the meat.

I've heard of stories of hunters shooting deer with 300 WinMags and blew the haunches clean off the animal. The 300 Winny is capable of taking all North American big game. This includes moose, Kodiak and polar bear. Imagine what it'll do to deer!

BTW...for sh*tz and giggles, the boat tail has no effect on terminal ballistics...only exterior ballistics (helps with accuracy).

Good luck.

[backyardsniper]

A 300 win mag is one of the finest long range hunting cartridges available IMHO. Plenty of energy to anchor animals at long ranges with a properly placed shot. Overkill is a very overused word. However Underkill is a very underused word.

You can't kill it too dead but you can damn sure kill it not dead enough.

[budlight]

You ask for the best factory ammo. I have non reloading friends that I have hunted with that use these.

http://www.winchester.com/Products/r.../SXP300WM.aspx

http://www.winchester.com/products/r...s/default.aspx

http://www.winchester.com/products/r...s/default.aspx

[Long Trang]

Backyardsniper,
I agree with everything you said 100%. True, there are far too many individuals who don't take the moral consideration to learn the dynamics of what they choose to hunt with. And, you're right, the 300 WM is one of the finest long range hunting rifles available to the hunting public. I own one myself and have quickly learned just how powerful that caliber is.

However, the OP's question was: is the .300 WM too much for deer... and he asked for the best factory loads in 180 gr. Of course, the 180 gr 300 WM will kill the deer...dead as a doornail and quite spectacular I might add. A 20 megaton thermonuclear warhead would certainly kill a deer as well. What I was stating (and I used JBM Ballistics for a reference) was that, if he wanted to eat the deer, he should consider a lighter load that would still certainly kill the deer. With a little research, he could find a load (factory even... maybe a lesser grain) of less energy at that distance, kill the deer with certainty, yet not blow a good portion of that precious meat across the countryside to feed the dingos.

[backyardsniper]

Quite true Mr. Trang. I believe if i were in this guys shoes i would go with the 300 win mag with the 165 gr factory load and try to stick with double lung shots, although that is easier said than done. Often in the hunting world you take the shot you got. Shoulders arent the best eating anyway