BTHP for hunting deer?

Sierra bullets

Pilothunter,

In .308 Sierra makes a 135, 150, 155, 168, 175, 180, 190, 200, and 220 grain HPBT MatchKings. And, 160 and 165 (my favorite) grain HPBT GameKings. The major difference is a uniform copper jacket thickness for the MatchKings. BC for the 168 gr MatchKing ranges from .405 to .462 depending on velocity and for the 165 gr GameKing it is .404 to .419.

When I shoot my 165 grain HPBT GameKings through my .30-06 Remington 700 I get exceptional and consistent accuracy at 100 yards. I quit hunting many years ago but my last mule deer was shot with the GameKing with excellent penetration and expansion. No bullet or fragments wandering throughout the deer's body. Now I use the same bullet for target shooting.
 
A buddy and I went antelope hunting a few years back. I was using my 7mm mag with 145 grain Speer BTSP's, and he was using a .308 with ~165 gr BTHP's made by Sierra.

We both got antelope, but his bullet wasted a whole lot more meat than mine did. For stuff I'm going to eat, I really like a well constructed soft-point bullet.

Daryl
 
Daryl, Sierra's boat-tail bullets are admittedly more likely to "over expand", and I guess that's particularly true for the hollow points. The flat-base bullets don't have that problem. And, apparently, the 180-grain SPBTs work okay at all velocities.

But you're not supposed to hit an antelope in the eating part. :D:D:D
 
But you're not supposed to hit an antelope in the eating part.
Click to expand...

That's just it; neither of us did. Marc's buck looked like a grenade had gone off inside of it, and he took a head on chest shot. He used them because they were "slightly more accurate" in his rifle.

Mine was broadside, and I might have lost 4 ounces of meat.

I used Sierra boattail bullets for a lot of years, and I know for a fact that they're fragile and cause some severe meat damage. I was using soft points, and they just didn't stay together very well.

For what I want from a bullet, Speer work pretty well. I usually use SPBT's for deer and such, and switch to Grand Slam bullets for the bigger stuff. In a pinch, I've used either for either purpose, and the Speer BTSP's work well enough even on larger critters.

Not trying to downplay anyone's favorite bullet by any means. I'll tell anyone to use what they're confidant with, but that's what's worked for me.

:)

Daryl
 
"Marc's buck looked like a grenade had gone off inside of it..."

Stipulating a neck or a heart/lung shot, I've always figured that's near-perfection. They don't travel after that. :)
 
Bullet

I agree with Pilotking. There are alot of good ones out there for deer. In my 30-06 for deer I use a Nosler 165 partition with IMR-4350. But like I said there are alot out there just as good.
Sorry I should have said Pilothunter. Sorry Pilothunter. Jim
 
Last edited:
"Marc's buck looked like a grenade had gone off inside of it..."

Stipulating a neck or a heart/lung shot, I've always figured that's near-perfection. They don't travel after that.
Click to expand...

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Art. I want a dead animal when I shoot it, but I want something left to eat.

Marc had an awful lot of wasted meat cleaning up that antelope. Looked more like a salvage job to me, to see what he could save.

Mine died almost as quick, traveling only a very short distance (actually died about 20 yards from where it was hit), and it was a whole lot cleaner and better eating.

;)

Daryl
 
Last edited:
Not much eating-meat in the heart/lungs. :) Me, I work hard at not hitting shoulders, backstraps or the hams. So far, so good. :D
 
Hornady SSTs in a 30-06 and .270Win are grenade-like. With the .270 I shot a doe from 40 yards. She was standing broadside with her neck twisted around to look behind her. It was near to taking the head right off.


Wouldn't use these rounds for chest shots on any small-mid sized deer.


I Also took this buck later that day from a good 150 yards, with the .270. It still ran a good 100 yards to the bush and then 150 yards through thick bush before dropping. But this guys more like a bull than a deer if you ask me. I'm about 185lbs for comparison sake.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2164.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2173-Copy.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2166.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2170.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2157.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2155.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/300RUMGUN/Hunting 2006/IMG_2152.jpg


I want to get a Tikka T3 Lite, and I'm opting for 25-06 over .270WSM because of the fact that it won't be so damaging if I ever use it on a wolf, and because of how much the .270WSM will recoil in the Tikka. So I'm hoping that 115-grain partitions are are deadly on deer as I've heard they are. I don't want any round too damaging because I'll be using the same round for timber wolves, and I don't want to damage the hide.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top