Big deer hunt - help me pick the cartridge

NeedForSpeed

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Going to Missouri in Nov for for my second annual deer hunt. I hear the white tail there are really big with bucks over 250-300 lbs. Im told that most shots would be within 10-150 yds on the property we are hunting with nothing more than 200 yds. Last year I shot my first deer with my 6.5 Creedmoor and a Hornady ELDX 143 gn projectile. Im contemplating whether I should shoot the Creedmoor with that round or a Barnes 127 gn projectile to ensure an exit hole.
The other option would be a 300 win mag with a 180 gn Barnes or 165 gn Ballistic tip but my friends tell me that those are overkill for a soft animal like a white tail. Im also working on a load for a 215 gn Berger Hybrid target but that seems like a lot more than the energy required. Looking for some experienced input in making the decision. Thank you in advance.
 
Either will work. Sounds like you are confident in the creedmore, I would say buy ammo and shoot it. At those ranges, there are infinite cartridges.
As for the 300 WM, there is no such thing as overkill. Shoot what you are confident in.

I have never put a Barnes, or other mono into an animal, but from what I have read, Barnes can be unpredictable leaving blood trails. That is a concern for me as I am in VA and it can be pretty dense woods too.

If this is an excuse to buy a new rifle, then go big!!! I am having a 300 win mag built now, gunsmith sent me the pics and the groups last night.
 
Either will work. Sounds like you are confident in the creedmore, I would say buy ammo and shoot it. At those ranges, there are infinite cartridges.
As for the 300 WM, there is no such thing as overkill. Shoot what you are confident in.

If this is an excuse to buy a new rifle, then go big!!! I am having a 300 win mag built now, gunsmith sent me the pics and the groups last night.

^^^This!^^^
Dont't complicate it unnecessarily, pick one and go with it.
 
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No such thing as overkill if you shoot them through the lungs. Shot lots of big whitetails (not that big though) with 300WM and 180gr Barnes TTSX. Sounds like you will have plenty of opportunity so no reason to take some crazy quartering shot that could lead to a gut shot animal or ruin meat. I own a 6.5 but haven't hunted deer with it and may not; just got it to play around with. According to some on here, though, it is good for anything up to moose and polar bear ;)
 
Either will work. Sounds like you are confident in the creedmore, I would say buy ammo and shoot it. At those ranges, there are infinite cartridges.
As for the 300 WM, there is no such thing as overkill. Shoot what you are confident in.

I have never put a Barnes, or other mono into an animal, but from what I have read, Barnes can be unpredictable leaving blood trails. That is a concern for me as I am in VA and it can be pretty dense woods too.

If this is an excuse to buy a new rifle, then go big!!! I am having a 300 win mag built now, gunsmith sent me the pics and the groups last night.

I already have plenty of rifles from 243 to 300 win mag My two best and most accurate rifles are the Creedmoor and Win mag. I definitely am most consistent with the Creedmoor but more than good enough with either at those distances.
 
Decision, decisions...If I take out my 308, I say man I am going to make this my one and only rifle...next weeks it's the win mag, week after, the RUM...then I shoot my sons 243 and think, man it is so nice to just shoot small capable rifles.

I'm sure grampa would laugh and say just take the 30-06, it's my only rifle and all I ever needed...

Think I'de take the 300 WM.
 
People kill 600 lb elk with 140 grainers out of the Creedmore.
As far as 250-300 lb bucks in MO... baloney. The avg MATURE buck is inder 170 lbs here and 170 is pretty heavy in MO. People over estimate score and weight consistently. There are the rarities that break 200, but they are just that... rare.
I have hunted deer in Missouri since the 70s... so I have an idea. Don't over think it. A .243 or 30-30 will kill any deer in the state, and they have with regularity. The pile of racks range from in the 130s to 160s. Only a few of these deer broke 200, although they all feel like 400 lbs. when dragging them out! Lol One of the biggest bodied whitetails I ever killed (not pictued) was at 520 yards with a 120 gr pill out of a 7mm08... a pretty close brother ballistically to the 6.5.
 

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