What bullet do you guys use for deer?

Jay A. · 04-04-2004, 04:32 PM

Shot a mule deer with 180, blew out the shoulder.
This year I used M2 Ball and it did very well. I think I'll stick with it.

7mmag6 · 04-06-2004, 01:40 AM

well if I could ever find a mule deer in New mexico, I dont know whats wrong with the deer population here, we have only mulies and they are infrequent, my last deer was taken with my old standby 7mmag 170 grain, I like hornadys, factory loads

Jay A. · 04-06-2004, 08:08 PM

well, shot a elk once with a .22, but I was really drunk and it was at night...

Mick · 04-12-2004, 12:53 AM

Well, I went on my first deer hunt yesterday, with my father, He had a .303 Lee Enfield, full wood completley original, and he was using Highland RX 180 grn soft points. I took along my 44/40 with Winchester 200 grn jacketed soft tips.

It was my dads first trip with a weapon, he has been going out for the last 3 seasons unarmed with a good mate of ours who has been showing him the ropes.

Any way, we only saw one stag, and the old man rolled him one shot from about 160 yards, open sights. I'm not sure who was the proudest, me or him.

he wasn't anything special, (2 points on one side, 4 on the other), but the land holder had told us if we saw anything that was rubbish to cull it out. And considering it was a first one it was a real great experience, we just took the skull, and dad is gonna use it for a hat rack till next year when we hope to get something better.

I'm still to get one, but there is still 2 weeks of the roar left, sooo, ya never can tell

Oxford · 04-12-2004, 11:16 AM

Mick...Congrats to your dad on his first deer kill. From what I've been told, the .303 has plenty of power for knocking down a deer. And from 160 yds that was a dang good shot, especially with open sights. What was the terrain like? How far in the bush were you?

I suppose if you haven't eaten venison you might not enjoy it the first time if it wasn't prepared properly...but it can be very good. In most cases around my part of Missouri we butcher the carcass into various cuts such as steaks or summer sausage. I really enjoy the sausage with a piece of cheese on crackers.

Ox

Mick · 04-13-2004, 03:24 AM

well ox the fellas that live in that area call it open rolling hills, but dang it was pretty rough country, but not a lot of low brush mostly trees sort of twenty feet high or higher, and grass about three feet high.

I've eaten venison steak, and didn't like it much, my favorite is venison wurst (sp), a kind of smoked sausage.

Oxford · 04-13-2004, 10:18 AM

Mick...what kinds of other wild animals are in that area? I suppose they'll wolf down that deer carcass in no time.

Three feet tall grass...now that's what I call tall. We may see one foot tall bluestem grass in the flinthills of Kansas where thousands of cattle are pastured during spring thru fall seasons...but practically no trees. Most of our cattle are trucked up from Texas for fattening with grass before being finished for market with grain.

Ok...so we're just starting our spring season so you're starting fall. How was your summer. Was it really hot?

Ox :nod:

Mick · 04-15-2004, 04:36 PM

heck yes, in the week after cristmas it reached 43 degrees C for 5 days straight, man that was a killer.
the grass that grows in that area is called black spear grass, I pity any one who triies to walk thru it without jeans or othe protection of some kind, the worst thing with it being as tall as it is, the seeds go thru you shirt.

As far as wild animals go, there is Dingos and foxes to eat any carrion, ( I bagged my first Dingo the other day too)

Oxford · 04-15-2004, 07:14 PM

:jaw:

43 degree Celsius = 109.4 degree Fahrenheit. Now that's Hot!:right: We're looking at 60's to mid 70's in F. Guess that's around 18-21 C. That must call for a lot of :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Bet it's not Victoria Bitter...but it could be XXX Beer up in Qld.

How about that dingo you bagged? Are they a threat to cattle herds? What gun did you use, Mick?

jerry · 04-15-2004, 09:04 PM

Mick!

Mick · 04-15-2004, 10:16 PM

Yeah, the dingo is a threat to cattle, or calves at least. they're worth about $30 dollars a scalp.
I'm not sure how big they get but the one I shot the other day was about 25 kilos, and hanging by the back legs about 4 1/2 foot high.
I shot him with my Sako .223, but he was only about 50 yards away.

Oxford · 04-16-2004, 12:14 AM

That dingo is done eating his last piece of veal

and $30 should pay for a new box of ammo.

Do they run in packs like other dogs?

I think I saw some of that black spear grass when I was in a bush area in Victoria about this time last year. I'd sure like to get back there again and see some of the rest of the country. My entire 18 days were all in Victoria...and it was beautiful country for sure.:nod:

deergrower · 06-07-2004, 06:02 PM

I like the 150 gr. out of my .270

Monterey Jack · 06-19-2004, 04:59 PM

180gr noslers with the .300wm and 64gr BTHP with the .223

sniper762 · 08-02-2004, 07:59 PM

I hunted with 150 grain spitzers in my 30-06 for several years. Shot a plenty of deer. Killed most of them, but some,even though I know I hit them well, ran away into the woods and I never found them. I started reloading and used 165 grain HPBT Gamekings. I have been using that bullet in my .308, 30-06 and 300WM and I have shot many deer at various distances with each gun over the past 10 years. All the deer dropped in there tracks. Shot 2 black bear, one at point blank range in the face with the 300WM, which you dont count.(dead of course) and the other bear shot at 150 yards (texas heart shot) and he ran 25 yards before collapsing dead. I am a true beleiver in that bullet.

gillamax77 · 08-19-2004, 04:27 PM

i hunt either blackpowder or use my .357 maximum contender or my favorite 7 x 57 custom chezk. mauser. in 50 cal i use 285 grn. powerbelts in my t/c hawken. i use 158 grn. rem hollow points in my contender. in the mauser i use only 140 grn. sierra game kings with excellent results.

Stan Alkire · 08-21-2004, 02:36 PM

Here in MT where you may be shooting a a large mule deer , I realy like the 165gr ballistic tip in my savage 99E. It usually dropes them in their tracks.

Tipadoux · 01-22-2005, 06:25 PM

Bullets for deer hunting-hum so many around and so many used. I gre up in W

Tipadoux · 01-22-2005, 06:32 PM

The last post didn't get finished. I grew up in western colorado and you couldn't
put the deer in my house that my dad and I killed with a 1952 Winchester 30/30
using the 170 Remington core lock. I hunt with a Remington .260 and use the 140 Remington core lock. I use a Serria 180 grain spitzer in my 7.7, a 220 hollow point in my .41 magnum rifle, 165 grain Nosler in my .308 and a 55 grain Remington soft point in my mini-14 which I killed a spike with this year.

James B · 01-30-2005, 05:50 PM

When I use a 30 caliber I use mostly the 150 grain Ballistic tips or the 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. I took four Mule deer with the 30 calibers this year. Two with my 308 A Bolt and two with my 7600 30-06. I took four more with my Ruger 25-06 three with 100 grain ballistic tips and one with the 115 grain ballistic tips.

View Poll Results: What do you all use on deer?
150gr	19	55.88%
165gr	7	20.59%
180gr	8	23.53%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

04-12-2004, 12:53 AM	#24
Mick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Emerald CQLD AUST Posts: 975 Images: 1	Well, I went on my first deer hunt yesterday, with my father, He had a .303 Lee Enfield, full wood completley original, and he was using Highland RX 180 grn soft points. I took along my 44/40 with Winchester 200 grn jacketed soft tips. It was my dads first trip with a weapon, he has been going out for the last 3 seasons unarmed with a good mate of ours who has been showing him the ropes. Any way, we only saw one stag, and the old man rolled him one shot from about 160 yards, open sights. I'm not sure who was the proudest, me or him. he wasn't anything special, (2 points on one side, 4 on the other), but the land holder had told us if we saw anything that was rubbish to cull it out. And considering it was a first one it was a real great experience, we just took the skull, and dad is gonna use it for a hat rack till next year when we hope to get something better. I'm still to get one, but there is still 2 weeks of the roar left, sooo, ya never can tell __________________ OzHunter Give me a six-pack and a red dirt open road (Adam Brand)

04-12-2004, 11:16 AM	#25
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,074 Blog Entries: 4	Mick...Congrats to your dad on his first deer kill. From what I've been told, the .303 has plenty of power for knocking down a deer. And from 160 yds that was a dang good shot, especially with open sights. What was the terrain like? How far in the bush were you? I suppose if you haven't eaten venison you might not enjoy it the first time if it wasn't prepared properly...but it can be very good. In most cases around my part of Missouri we butcher the carcass into various cuts such as steaks or summer sausage. I really enjoy the sausage with a piece of cheese on crackers. Ox __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

04-13-2004, 03:24 AM	#26
Mick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Emerald CQLD AUST Posts: 975 Images: 1	well ox the fellas that live in that area call it open rolling hills, but dang it was pretty rough country, but not a lot of low brush mostly trees sort of twenty feet high or higher, and grass about three feet high. I've eaten venison steak, and didn't like it much, my favorite is venison wurst (sp), a kind of smoked sausage. __________________ OzHunter Give me a six-pack and a red dirt open road (Adam Brand)

04-13-2004, 10:18 AM	#27
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,074 Blog Entries: 4	Mick...what kinds of other wild animals are in that area? I suppose they'll wolf down that deer carcass in no time. Three feet tall grass...now that's what I call tall. We may see one foot tall bluestem grass in the flinthills of Kansas where thousands of cattle are pastured during spring thru fall seasons...but practically no trees. Most of our cattle are trucked up from Texas for fattening with grass before being finished for market with grain. Ok...so we're just starting our spring season so you're starting fall. How was your summer. Was it really hot? Ox :nod: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

04-04-2004, 04:32 PM	#21
Jay A. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montana Posts: 116	Shot a mule deer with 180, blew out the shoulder. This year I used M2 Ball and it did very well. I think I'll stick with it.

04-06-2004, 01:40 AM	#22
7mmag6 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 337 Images: 1	well if I could ever find a mule deer in New mexico, I dont know whats wrong with the deer population here, we have only mulies and they are infrequent, my last deer was taken with my old standby 7mmag 170 grain, I like hornadys, factory loads

04-06-2004, 08:08 PM	#23
Jay A. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montana Posts: 116	well, shot a elk once with a .22, but I was really drunk and it was at night...

04-15-2004, 04:36 PM	#28
Mick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Emerald CQLD AUST Posts: 975 Images: 1	heck yes, in the week after cristmas it reached 43 degrees C for 5 days straight, man that was a killer. the grass that grows in that area is called black spear grass, I pity any one who triies to walk thru it without jeans or othe protection of some kind, the worst thing with it being as tall as it is, the seeds go thru you shirt. As far as wild animals go, there is Dingos and foxes to eat any carrion, ( I bagged my first Dingo the other day too) __________________ OzHunter Give me a six-pack and a red dirt open road (Adam Brand)

04-15-2004, 07:14 PM	#29
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,074 Blog Entries: 4	:jaw: 43 degree Celsius = 109.4 degree Fahrenheit. Now that's Hot!:right: We're looking at 60's to mid 70's in F. Guess that's around 18-21 C. That must call for a lot of :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Bet it's not Victoria Bitter...but it could be XXX Beer up in Qld. How about that dingo you bagged? Are they a threat to cattle herds? What gun did you use, Mick? __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

04-15-2004, 09:04 PM	#30
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,117 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	Mick! __________________ Joe the plumber is screwed

04-15-2004, 10:16 PM	#31
Mick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Emerald CQLD AUST Posts: 975 Images: 1	Yeah, the dingo is a threat to cattle, or calves at least. they're worth about $30 dollars a scalp. I'm not sure how big they get but the one I shot the other day was about 25 kilos, and hanging by the back legs about 4 1/2 foot high. I shot him with my Sako .223, but he was only about 50 yards away. __________________ OzHunter Give me a six-pack and a red dirt open road (Adam Brand) Last edited by Mick; 04-15-2004 at 10:18 PM.

04-16-2004, 12:14 AM	#32
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,074 Blog Entries: 4	That dingo is done eating his last piece of veal and $30 should pay for a new box of ammo. Do they run in packs like other dogs? I think I saw some of that black spear grass when I was in a bush area in Victoria about this time last year. I'd sure like to get back there again and see some of the rest of the country. My entire 18 days were all in Victoria...and it was beautiful country for sure.:nod: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

06-07-2004, 06:02 PM	#33
deergrower Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 16	I like the 150 gr. out of my .270 __________________ The more kids we can get into woods and on the creeks the more kids we can keep off crack and out of the streets!!!!!!!!!

06-19-2004, 04:59 PM	#34
Monterey Jack Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 28	180gr noslers with the .300wm and 64gr BTHP with the .223

08-02-2004, 07:59 PM	#35
sniper762 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NorthCarolina Posts: 176	I hunted with 150 grain spitzers in my 30-06 for several years. Shot a plenty of deer. Killed most of them, but some,even though I know I hit them well, ran away into the woods and I never found them. I started reloading and used 165 grain HPBT Gamekings. I have been using that bullet in my .308, 30-06 and 300WM and I have shot many deer at various distances with each gun over the past 10 years. All the deer dropped in there tracks. Shot 2 black bear, one at point blank range in the face with the 300WM, which you dont count.(dead of course) and the other bear shot at 150 yards (texas heart shot) and he ran 25 yards before collapsing dead. I am a true beleiver in that bullet.

08-19-2004, 04:27 PM	#36
gillamax77 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8	i hunt either blackpowder or use my .357 maximum contender or my favorite 7 x 57 custom chezk. mauser. in 50 cal i use 285 grn. powerbelts in my t/c hawken. i use 158 grn. rem hollow points in my contender. in the mauser i use only 140 grn. sierra game kings with excellent results.

08-21-2004, 02:36 PM	#37
Stan Alkire Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2	Here in MT where you may be shooting a a large mule deer , I realy like the 165gr ballistic tip in my savage 99E. It usually dropes them in their tracks.

01-22-2005, 06:25 PM	#38
Tipadoux Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 66	Bullets for deer hunting-hum so many around and so many used. I gre up in W

01-22-2005, 06:32 PM	#39
Tipadoux Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 66	The last post didn't get finished. I grew up in western colorado and you couldn't put the deer in my house that my dad and I killed with a 1952 Winchester 30/30 using the 170 Remington core lock. I hunt with a Remington .260 and use the 140 Remington core lock. I use a Serria 180 grain spitzer in my 7.7, a 220 hollow point in my .41 magnum rifle, 165 grain Nosler in my .308 and a 55 grain Remington soft point in my mini-14 which I killed a spike with this year.

01-30-2005, 05:50 PM	#40
James B Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 14	When I use a 30 caliber I use mostly the 150 grain Ballistic tips or the 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. I took four Mule deer with the 30 calibers this year. Two with my 308 A Bolt and two with my 7600 30-06. I took four more with my Ruger 25-06 three with 100 grain ballistic tips and one with the 115 grain ballistic tips.