best whitetail deer bullet

[NorthernWhitetails]

Well standard old Corelokts have gotten it done nicely for decades now...... I had fantastic luck with the old Nosler Solid Base in the 1980's on deer, and again had great sucess with their Ballistic Tips until 6 years ago when they starting going crazy with their prices....... I decided to try the Hornady SST bullets that were designed explicitly for deer only when they were on the drawing board, we have since had Stellar performance from them in 25 Cal, 270/ 30/06 on deer sized game from 50/400 yds
They flat work, have high BC for long range situations and are fairly priced , in 45 years of loading for
Deer have not seen anything better!

 

[Greyfox]

has anyone been using the Berger hunting vld for deer hunting?I have been using the vlds in my 6.5 and get really tight groups at 300 yds.They shoot tighter than the accubonds and ballistic tips that I was using for deer hunting.Accubonds seem to be too tough for deer,or at least 8 or 10 that I have harvested with them.Make no mistake about it,they are going to give an exit wound.
Guess I just wanted to try the Bergers after what I heard about them.
would like to get some info from all you shooters ot there.
Thanks,Jim

I have been using the 140 Berger and JLK VLD's in my 6.5x284's, both of similar construction (using the J4 jacket) or over six years. I have shot s few dozen deer and antelope from 50 yards to 1200 yards. Outstanding performance with just about all game DRT. The few that ran at the shot were down less then 50 yards away. Give them a try!!!

 

[105amatt]

has anyone been using the Berger hunting vld for deer hunting?I have been using the vlds in my 6.5 and get really tight groups at 300 yds.They shoot tighter than the accubonds and ballistic tips that I was using for deer hunting.Accubonds seem to be too tough for deer,or at least 8 or 10 that I have harvested with them.Make no mistake about it,they are going to give an exit wound.
Guess I just wanted to try the Bergers after what I heard about them.
would like to get some info from all you shooters ot there.
Thanks,Jim

Ive taken a deer with the 115grn, 6mm and the 185grn 30cal Hunting vlds. Both did an excellent job, drt.

Matt

 

[SansSouci]

I've always used Sierra Game Kings for deer over the past 40 years I've been reloading. Both in my 30-06 and 7mm Mag.. Killed deer from 30 yards to over 350 yards. Most were bang flop, the farthest any of them ran was 45 yards and that was my fault, a bad hit.

^^^Great answer^^^

 

[SansSouci]

This is an oft asked question. As far as I know, there ain't a bad bullet for deer. I've never killed white tail, only mule deer. Hit 'em where they're supposed to be hit, and hope you're cleaning knife is sharp.

I've killed mule deer with bargain basement factory cartridges and Partitions. Sierra GameKings are hard to beat.

A buck-a-bullet won't kill deer any deader than far less expensive bullets.

 

[220s]

Another who favours conventional cup and core projectiles for deer if using anything like a suitable cal. If I was chasing deer with a 22cal then would look at a premium or mono and run partitions in my 240wby for our sambar (500lb).
Premium bullets certainly have their place but aren't needed if your using a sensible cal for deer and often don't kill as quickly as conventional bullets on smaller species.

 

[RevJim]

I've killed far more Texas whitetails with Corlokts and Power Points ( with a smattering of Silvertips) than any other bullet. Back in the '70s, when Federal loaded their 165 Game King in the 30-06, that "was" the Premium Bullet, ha. I used it exclusively in my dad's old Mod 742, (1) because I liked the "idea" of the 165 in the 30-06 and (2) the old rifle shot them into 3-4" consistently at 100, compared to the 5-6" with the others. It was no big deal as all the deer I shot were under 75yds! ha. I started handloading in '77 and "then" the Hornady 139sp was pretty "Premium" in my .280! Now we have all kinds of boutique bullets, and true, with the exception of a few, will open up on deer nicely,or shock the crap out of them! ha. I really liked the way that old 165 GK did on hogs though, it held together but hit them a "lick" (pow!) They are still great bullets in my opinion.

 

[farmboykjb5.9]

Depending on which gun I'm loading for, my favorite bullet for whitetail are the SST's but I like the BT's too, but don't be a hater of the GameKings their always my go to bullet especially when I can't get the BT's or SST's to group. Maybe it's just me but Sierra's are the easiest bullet to get to group.

 

[slickyboyboo]

Topgun 30-06, you do not have to have a bonded to kill a deer. I am aware that I misprinted interlock for interbond. The only reason that I said a bonded bullet was " Some shots as close as 20 yds". Have a Hornady SST, Nosler BT or Berger blow up on you at a deer at 20 or 30 yrds and see how you feel. It is a very gruesome sight.

I've shot a pile of deer between 10 ft and 50 yds, with a 165 Nos BT from my 300 WM, running right at 3100 fps, and I've never had a problem with killing deer quickly. Shot placement is the key, don't shoot for the shoulder, put it behind the shoulder in the boiler room, and you have nothing to worry about and a very short, if any trail to a dead deer.

 

[264WM]

100gr Sierra HP at 3700fps at base of ear 264WM no blood trail no movement dead in tracks.

 

[Rugerfreak]

Shot three deer with my 6.5 Grendel using Hornady 123gr SSTs. One Mulie buck 253yds quartering away. Bullet exited shoulder. WT Doe through both shoulders 100yds.WT Doe broad side lung shot 150yds. SST worked as advertised.

Did it leaves a huge exit hole?

 

[Elkbugle0]

heard lots of good things about berger vlds and elite hunters

 

[Calvin45]

Normally I'm the one resurrecting dead threads .

 

[motrapper]

5 Year old thread but a good topic since 3 days ago I shot a 7x7 whitetail at roughly 240yds with a 200 grain ELDX and it Blew the F up and no exit.
It only went 35 yards ran slow but like it had not been hit. The last 5yds it jumped into a cedar wind break and for 40 minutes I did not know if it was still going.
But it was dead inside 5 yards of the Cedars. Still causes stress LOL a 200 grain bullet at 240yds ***????