Who is using a new load for deer season?

Are you using the same load for deer season

  • Same load as always

  • New load because I can't get my components

  • New gun so new load

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Bfh_auto

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With all the shortages. How many people had to change up their load for deer season?
I've stepped all the way down to my 5.56 AR for this season. I'm using my failsafe 77 SMK with cannelure.
It's my lightest, low recoil rifle. It's never failed on hogs, deer, or coyotes. And I can't afford to blood trail anything this year. Or risk getting kicked hard enough to put me off balance.
I may try my cast loads in my 7.62x39. but I haven't been able to sight it in with the new scope yet.
 
I'm a mix:

.270, same load, 130AB over HH4831SC
.300WM (Back-up rifle) same load, 165 TGK over H4831SC
.260Rem, new barrel, new load 130AB over H4350
350RM, new load cause I can't find 225 NPs to save my life, using Hornady 200 SPs over IMR4320

Really the only caliber I'm hurting on bullet wise is .358 and I've got 300 of the 200 GRN SPs on hand. I'm really looking for 225 NPs and/or Barnes 200TSX to get ready for an elk hunt next year. There are some .358 bullets available, but the little M7 is OAL "challenged" and needs a FB bullet
 
Chuck R. said:
I'm a mix:

.270, same load, 130AB over HH4831SC
.300WM (Back-up rifle) same load, 165 TGK over H4831SC
.260Rem, new barrel, new load 130AB over H4350
350RM, new load cause I can't find 225 NPs to save my life, using Hornady 200 SPs over IMR4320

Really the only caliber I'm hurting on bullet wise is .358 and I've got 300 of the 200 GRN SPs on hand. I'm really looking for 225 NPs and/or Barnes 200TSX to get ready for an elk hunt next year. There are some .358 bullets available, but the little M7 is OAL "challenged" and needs a FB bullet
Click to expand...
I hear you on the 358 bullets.
I settled on a 180Hotcore in my Whelen. They seem to hold together like 180s in a 30-06.
 
I bought some bullets that didn’t work in the rifle I intended them for but work decent in another one and since I’m using the second one during deer season (if I get a chance to go) I will be trying that new load. I couldn’t find what I usually load for that rifle so… there we go.
 
I seem to change every two or three years. This year will be unique that it is a factory load and the second season I will being using it. 150gr Corelokt from 30 Remington AR. I did not get a deer last year with it so I will be trying again this year.
 
mcb said:
I seem to change every two or three years. This year will be unique that it is a factory load and the second season I will being using it. 150gr Corelokt from 30 Remington AR. I did not get a deer last year with it so I will be trying again this year.
Click to expand...
That's an interesting cartridge. I've been intrigued by it. But I can't get myself to move past the 5.56 in an AR.
 
I’m using my Nilgai rifle I will be using for Nilgai this January. Ruger Hawkeye Hunter STW.

I will be using premium 180 gr ammo for the Nilgai hunt but am using cup and core Federal Power Shok 180 gr for deer.

It works pretty good on deer. I was able to double up on a duo of does last weekend.

6510C5BE-2604-41B7-AD67-EE7E2CE384EA.jpeg

I will be using Nosler Accubonds or Barnes TTSX for the Nilgai.

300 Win Mag
 
Last edited:
Bfh_auto said:
That's an interesting cartridge. I've been intrigued by it. But I can't get myself to move past the 5.56 in an AR.
Click to expand...
There are lots of interesting cartridges for the AR that are far easier to do than 30 RAR. The entire upper is proprietary. It is about as obsolete as you can get with a modern cartridge. No one is making guns and no one is likely to start. It is still up in the air if Vista/Remington is even going to keep loading ammo. I am shooting up my factory so I can start reloading soon. I have the dies already.

index.php

Shot this armadillo with it two weeks ago scouting for deer season.
 
mcb said:
There are lots of interesting cartridges for the AR that are far easier to do than 30 RAR. The entire upper is proprietary. It is about as obsolete as you can get with a modern cartridge. No one is making guns and no one is likely to start. It is still up in the air if Vista/Remington is even going to keep loading ammo. I am shooting up my factory so I can start reloading soon. I have the dies already.

index.php

Shot this armadillo with it two weeks ago scouting for deer season.
Click to expand...

Literally flattened that dilla.
 
I have my 350L and 2 different loads for it , both factory, a Winchester 150gr XP and a Hornady 170gr American Whitetail.
Coons dumped my trash can and scattered my garbage last night and I had to clean it up this morning but while watching my powerline cut over this afternoon I heard a lot of rustling and watched one of them climb a tree about 50 ft from my blind , I had my Ruger with me loaded with the 170gr Hornady and I took a straight on shot straight into its spine....I blew the top 20 ft out of the tree look close and you can see the blood splatter where I hit the coon...not sure what this is is going to act like hitting a deer. 20221110_161737.jpg
 
mcb said:
There are lots of interesting cartridges for the AR that are far easier to do than 30 RAR. The entire upper is proprietary. It is about as obsolete as you can get with a modern cartridge. No one is making guns and no one is likely to start. It is still up in the air if Vista/Remington is even going to keep loading ammo. I am shooting up my factory so I can start reloading soon. I have the dies already.

index.php

Shot this armadillo with it two weeks ago scouting for deer season.
Click to expand...
The 30 AR was coming out as I started getting interested in ARs. At the time I lived in Michigan and thought it would make a slick deer and bear cartridge.
I waited over 10 years to buy an AR and the 30 AR ship had already sailed.
Yours is a nice looking setup.
I may go 300 BO or 350L if I ever give up on 5.56. I cast for 30 and 35. So it would be an easy feed.
 
earlthegoat2 said:
I’m using my Nilgai rifle I will be using for Nilgai this January. Ruger Hawkeye Hunter STW.

I will be using premium 180 gr ammo for the Nilgai hunt but am using cup and core Federal Power Shok 180 gr for deer.

It works pretty good on deer. I was able to double up on a duo of does last weekend.

View attachment 1114226

I will be using Nosler Accubonds or Barnes TTSX for the Nilgai.

300 Win Mag
Click to expand...
Nice rifle. It's always a thrill when you get a chance to pull a double. I generally hunt with a bolt gun and it takes some speedy work along with a dumb second deer where I hunt.
 
Bfh_auto said:
it takes some speedy work along with a dumb second deer where I hunt
Click to expand...

It was a combination of both but the second shot should have been quicker.

I short stroked the bolt and the empty cartridge just laid on top of the magazine and caused a no feed situation. I brushed the empty off the top of the mag and then the fresh cartridge loaded. The second deer was still standing there looking around so Darwinism ensued.

Make sure to pull the bolt back smartly with a CRF rifle.

Last year I shot 3 deer with 4 rounds (missed once) out of my 450 BM Ruger American Ranch.
 
mcb said:
There are lots of interesting cartridges for the AR that are far easier to do than 30 RAR. The entire upper is proprietary. It is about as obsolete as you can get with a modern cartridge. No one is making guns and no one is likely to start. It is still up in the air if Vista/Remington is even going to keep loading ammo. I am shooting up my factory so I can start reloading soon. I have the dies already.

index.php

Shot this armadillo with it two weeks ago scouting for deer season.
Click to expand...

That is a fine looking stock on that rifle. Where did you get it?

:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
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Nothing new this year rifle wise. .30-30, 6.5x55, 7.62x54R, .303 British, all using the same loads as in the past. Loads that I like and trust. Same with the slug gun except I don't load anything shotgun. Still using the 2 & 3/4" Winchester/ BRI sabot slugs that I settled on and picked up a few hundred of about 10 years ago.
 
I have quite a few new loads this year's 62 gr Hornady btsp for my AR, 140 and 160 gr 6.5x55se, 175 corelokt 7x57. I'm using the same load in my 7mm08 139 Hornady spbt over h 4350. Have a couple new guns this year I also am building a 280AI but it's likely not going to be ready for hunting this season.
 
New load club here. Historically, I have used the 100 grain power point in my 243 and had good results (keeping in mind the reality that like most people, my shots have almost always been 100 yards and closer through my life of hunting; 50 yards and closer since I moved back to Fl). However, recent events have made it difficult to get "what I've always used" and sticking to the "if it works leave it alone" mentality". My supply of power points was running low, but I was able to find Norma 100 grain soft point from their white tail line, so I picked up several boxes. It shoots better than the power point after I tested and re-zeroed, so that is what I will be using this year. Full confidence in accuracy, so all that remains is to see what the terminal performance is like. Has anyone else here used it?
 
I wanted to vote D all of the above. Taking my tried and true bar in 270, my 6,5 with a new load cause they don't make the old bullet anymore. And I have a brand new 270 I just got put together and sighted in. Wondering wich one my grand daughter is going to try and "borrow" then not return.
 
This my first year getting to spend much time hunting deer with rifles as I previously lived in a shotgun/archery zone in a state with a 1 deer bag limit. So I’ve got a lot of testing to do. I’ll be heading out in a few mins with my savage axis 243 winchester Walmart special. Shooting 95gn nosler bt over 41gn of aa4350.
Next will likely be Remington 700 7mm rem mag. Probably with my left over western hunting loads 160gn accubonds over some reloader 22.
Then I’ve got 30-30 cast loads, 444 marlin handi rifle, and then the handguns. Time to get to work!
 
Barbaroja said:
This my first year getting to spend much time hunting deer with rifles as I previously lived in a shotgun/archery zone in a state with a 1 deer bag limit. So I’ve got a lot of testing to do. I’ll be heading out in a few mins with my savage axis 243 winchester Walmart special. Shooting 95gn nosler bt over 41gn of aa4350.
Next will likely be Remington 700 7mm rem mag. Probably with my left over western hunting loads 160gn accubonds over some reloader 22.
Then I’ve got 30-30 cast loads, 444 marlin handi rifle, and then the handguns. Time to get to work!
Click to expand...
Sound like a kid in a candy store problem .;)
 
Bfh_auto said:
Sound like a kid in a candy store problem .;)
Click to expand...
Problem? Who said there was a problem! Just got back in from hunting. Got a doe with the savage in 243win.She dropped about 40-50 yards from the shot. I was worried as I didn’t see a spec of blood until I found her.
First whitetail! (It’s been all blacktail hunting for me back in Washington)
First rifle kill! She was quartering towards me more that I thought so I had a bit of a mess when I opened her up. Lesson learned.
A583D563-6005-462A-8681-9664347BFDA3.jpeg

maybe the 444 next?
 
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