Super Sneaky Steve
New member
As it's been said in this forum many times the 125 grain JPH isn't good for deer. It's too light! It won't penetrate! It would be inhumane to use it! It will leave a shallow nasty wound! It would be even worse from a rifle! It only works on thin skinned humans!
Ok, you get the point. Now these opinions sound practical but to my knowledge no one has ever tried using it on a deer. Most people end up using a loading that's heavier and slower. These cartridges have been used and might be why they are often deemed "adequate" then left for larger calibers after the tracking becomes too much.
Yesterday I loaded up my Ruger 77/357 with a handload using a max charge of H110 a 125XTP and a CCI small magnum primer. My five shot average at five feet gives me 2227fps and 1376ft/lbs. I took this combo up north and shot a small doe. What happened?
Well, I hit her behind the front leg right in the liver on a slight angle. The bullet penetrated all the way through which would be at least 12" leaving a small exit wound. She ran for about 3 seconds and traveled 20 yards max then dropped dead. When I removed her liver you could see how devistated it was.
So bottom line, The 125JHP is not a bad choice. I got full penetration, massive internal damage and no tracking. Next year I'll use the same round on an even bigger deer
I can post the liver pic too if no one is afraid of a little blood.
Ok, you get the point. Now these opinions sound practical but to my knowledge no one has ever tried using it on a deer. Most people end up using a loading that's heavier and slower. These cartridges have been used and might be why they are often deemed "adequate" then left for larger calibers after the tracking becomes too much.
Yesterday I loaded up my Ruger 77/357 with a handload using a max charge of H110 a 125XTP and a CCI small magnum primer. My five shot average at five feet gives me 2227fps and 1376ft/lbs. I took this combo up north and shot a small doe. What happened?
Well, I hit her behind the front leg right in the liver on a slight angle. The bullet penetrated all the way through which would be at least 12" leaving a small exit wound. She ran for about 3 seconds and traveled 20 yards max then dropped dead. When I removed her liver you could see how devistated it was.
So bottom line, The 125JHP is not a bad choice. I got full penetration, massive internal damage and no tracking. Next year I'll use the same round on an even bigger deer
I can post the liver pic too if no one is afraid of a little blood.