Question on bullet weight for hunting

[texas270]

Loading Accubonds, is a 130 gr or 140 gr more effective for standard range Whitetails?

I used to load 130's and very often the deer just dropped where they were hit. since going to 140's for the BC, the deer seem to be running much further before dropping.

is there anything to this, or just the result of differing shot placement, coincidence etc?

thanks for the input!

 

[ShootnMathews]

If you're shooting the exact same bullet only a different grain I'd say they are both equally effective. Individual shot placement would be my guess at cause for run time. Keep banging them an you'll get those dead right here shots with the 140 also

 

[cohunter14]

At what distance are you shooting them at? What caliber and what velocity? More than likely, it is just coincidence...

 

[texas270]

270 Win with shots generally ranging between 150 and 450 yards.

130's start out about 3,200 fps and 140's start out about 3,100 fps.

thanks

 

[dieseldoc]

My pre 64 model 70 shoots light out with 130 gr sierra bt. No matter what you shoot bullet placement is a must.

 

[WildRose]

270 Win with shots generally ranging between 150 and 450 yards.

130's start out about 3,200 fps and 140's start out about 3,100 fps.

thanks

At those ranges just pick whichever shoots best in your rifle.

I shoot 160gr AB's in my STW's and 180's in the 300wm's out to 1,000.

Farther than that you really need to stick with the highest BC bullets that will shoot well in your rifle for long range precision.

Out to 600yds it's just marksmanship. Beyond 600 life gets complicated, and beyond 1,000 it gets very complicated.

 

[HARPERC]

Unless there was a significant difference in placement, or a noticeable difference in the damage done (an odd bullet or two) I'd say coincidence. The next guy out might have the opposite experience. Deer, like people, are not identical in their physical, or mental makeup.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Not all animals act the same when shot. At the ranges you are shooting there should be no significant difference between those bullets.

 

[WildRose]

Loading Accubonds, is a 130 gr or 140 gr more effective for standard range Whitetails?

I used to load 130's and very often the deer just dropped where they were hit. since going to 140's for the BC, the deer seem to be running much further before dropping.

is there anything to this, or just the result of differing shot placement, coincidence etc?

thanks for the input!

After seeing some of the other replies it seems I failed to answer your key question.

Shot placement is everything. If you don't break the shoulders and/or directly interrupt the CNS (brain/spine) most of them are going to travel till either their lungs fill with blood or they bleed out either internally/externally and as some of the other posters pointed out, they just don't all act the same.

Some animals are simply tougher to bring down than others as well. I've seen Pronghorns do some amazing things in spite of having an absolutely fatal first shot running hundreds of yards before giving it up.

 

[texas270]

thanks much for the input!

 

[HARPERC]

Some animals are simply tougher to bring down than others as well. I've seen Pronghorns do some amazing things in spite of having an absolutely fatal first shot running hundreds of yards before giving it up.

My partners son's been lucky in the draws. 2 moose, a Bighorn, and some deer. All pretty much in their tracks with his .338. First Pronghorn he lowers the rifle expecting to see all 4 legs kicking in the air. Instead he's got an antelope going like hell for the horizon. It only lasted a few seconds, but they can sure cover some country in a few seconds. Big chunk of lung sticking out far side, and plenty of internal damage.

 

[No Fear in Accuracy]

Some animals run away due to rifle noise (bang) and they didn't realized they were hit.

When the animal got hit and he will want to find a place to lie down and hope to heal it. When the animal heard a strange noise (human/rifle sounds), he will continue running.

That's my understanding.

 

[dogbuster0006]

I've got to agree with everyone else on this one. Just depends on the animal, I've seen deer his through the shoulders or right behind the shoulder near perfect shots that drop and a few that were runners. Caliber seems not to be a factor I've personally dropped deer with a 243 shooting factory 100gr loads at 300yd and seen similar shot's with a 300 weatherby the animal ran several hundred yards before expiring. It really does depend on the actual animal some are just more stubborn or tougher than the others. Maybe it has to do with the adrenaline surge they get when hit? If they come in all keyed up for a fight or all nervous I'm by no means a deer whisperer but would make some sense to me.

 

[WildRose]

My partners son's been lucky in the draws. 2 moose, a Bighorn, and some deer. All pretty much in their tracks with his .338. First Pronghorn he lowers the rifle expecting to see all 4 legs kicking in the air. Instead he's got an antelope going like hell for the horizon. It only lasted a few seconds, but they can sure cover some country in a few seconds. Big chunk of lung sticking out far side, and plenty of internal damage.

I shot my first Antelope near Claunch, NM when I was 12.

Hit him four times in the heart and lungs. I was shooting a Rem Semi Auto .243.

I never missed, and my spotter/living bipod told me the first shot was dead through the heart at 140yds, next three through the lungs and he died finally 305 paces from where he was first shot.

I was utterly Amazed. Homer just kept saying, "Hit'm again, "Hit'm, Again...

Being an excited kid I was sure I'd missed all four times and he finally just died of fright till we got up to him.

What a mess HA!