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Captcurt · Nov 18, 2018

I got a wild hare and decided to change bullets in my 300WSM. I had shot 165gr Accubonds for years and thought that I would drop down to a 150gr. No reason, just something different. So far I have taken 3 whitetails and the 150gr Accubond is downright nasty. One doe taken at 200+ yards had an exit hole the size of a softball. The buck, shot at 30 yards, had his ribs cracked at the spine and the lungs and heart was mush. I found a piece from the bottom of the heart about the size of golf ball. The shoulder was torn really bad. Way too traumatic. The load isn't max. It is cranking about 3000 fps out of my 20 barrel. I can't imagine what it would do out of a 26" maxed out. Think I'll go back to the 165gr.

Blue68f100 · Nov 18, 2018

If you not needing the magnum power drop back to smaller gun. Or shoot a reduced load.

FROGO207 · Nov 18, 2018

You could try a bullet that will not expand quite so much also. A good inexpensive cup and core bullet like the CorLokt in 150 works well for white tail medicine in my 300 WSM. I rarely get over a 50 YD shot though so I cant tell about performance at a distance. For something better for use in larger game at longer distances I use the Combined Technology Balisitc Silvertip type like the Winchester commercial ammo is loaded with. It is MOA accurate in my Savage Weather Warrior SS carbine.

tightgroup tiger · Nov 18, 2018

I had that problem with my 8mm. I had to go to a heavier bullet and slow it down. The last buck I shot with it and cheap 150gr Hornady cup and core bullets had an exit wound big enough I could reach my hand in it. I could see it's rib cage expand out from where I was.
Not good!

Dwb1957 · Nov 18, 2018

Thanks Captcurt for you info I've had some 125 accubonds loaded up for my 30 HRT that's traveling right around 2700 fps,I was thinking that they may be a little on the hard side for the vel. but if the 150 grainers is doing that kind of damage that leads me to believe the 125 gr accubonds should do fine for me. I usally try to make rib cage shots so I prefer a lot so trauma.

Captcurt · Nov 18, 2018

Blue68f100 said:
If you not needing the magnum power drop back to smaller gun. Or shoot a reduced load.

I use several guns depending on where I need to hunt. I have 6.5 Creedmoor rigged with a 6X18 Vortex for hunting the 1/2 mile fields but 6X is too much for the brush and that is where the deer are right now. Our deer are eating acorns now. My little 300 WSM Savage has a 2X7 VariX II on it. That is my brush gun. With the 165gr Accubond I have taken deer from 20-250 yards. I'll just save the 150grainers for yotes and go back to my 165's. I just wanted to try something different.

Arkansas Paul · Nov 18, 2018

I'm a 165 grain guy all the way. Of course I'm shooting them in a .30-06 a few hundred fps slower than you are.
I shoot the Sierra GK BTHP. If you hit a bone it is nasty, but if I keep it a few inches behind the shoulder, no edible meat is damaged and they don't go far, if anywhere.

Lennyjoe · Nov 19, 2018

Arkansas Paul said:
I'm a 165 grain guy all the way. Of course I'm shooting them in a .30-06 a few hundred fps slower than you are.
I shoot the Sierra GK BTHP. If you hit a bone it is nasty, but if I keep it a few inches behind the shoulder, no edible meat is damaged and they don't go far, if anywhere.

My Savage 06 did less damage with the Spitzer BT instead of the BTHP in the 165 gameking. The exit wound was much different between the two with the SP doing less exit damage and still delivering the DRT performance.

horsemen61 · Nov 20, 2018

I shoot a 140 grain btsp in a model 70 Winchester 270 and I love the damage it does look at the hunting pic thread for a photo it was instant carnage he went all of 20 yards and piled up

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