bigpower491
Member
I agree with others saying take your pick for deer. Either will take em no worries. I myself shoot interlock in my 338-06, and I use that rifle for deer. I load it accordingly for the intended purpose
I’m pretty fond of that 180gr RNSP over 42gr of IMR 4064. But that price just gives me shivers. I guess that’s just part of the New Normal but I sure do miss the pre-plandemic, mean tweets economy.Edited to add: I just checked. Natchez doesn't show the 165-grain Game King any more but they show the 180-grain for $38.69 per hundred, along with some Hornady Interlocks.
I'm not sure I get the thrust of your question (if it's not a jest), but the sun was setting, deer season was winding down, and I didnt' have a deer in the freezer yet.
Looking at this post and distances stated I would be suggesting a traditional heavy 30-30 bullet ( blunt RN or flat nosed made to expand at 30-30speeds and IMR 3031) pushed at traditional 30-30 velocities. This would be an accurate slow moving low deflection round that would get through the brush with minimal deflection. I have done this exact thing in 30-06 using 200 grain round nose bullets at standard velocities for longer shots in brush prone areas for under 300 YDS use. Lots of old timers up here in Maine loaded this way to counter the deflection problems in our undergrowth using their 30-06 they already owned rather than buy an additional 30-30.Yes I have, and, in fact, recently loaded 150-grain FP bullets in 30-06 cases with reduced charges of IMR 4895, in an attempt to replicate 30-30 ballistics from a 30-06; and just last week I loaded 170-grain flat points with a reduced charge of IMR 4895 (and I posted about both these loadings on THR, I guess you didn't see the posts). So, I'm exploring every avenue I can think of, also including hunting with .45 Colt or 12-gauge shotgun with slugs. I've killed quite a few deer with the latter, with much less tissue damage to the deer.
Edited to add: Where I hunt, the vegetation is very thick, and I don't anticipate any shots much beyond 50 yards. I'm thinking of putting up a tree stand in a different part of that property, or another property where I have permission, that might, potentially, give me a 100 yard shot, but there wouldn't be anything beyond that range.
Those 165 Sierras and the equivalent speer 165 is what I buy load and shoot in bulk. Just about an all purpose as I think there is. I run the 69rmr for the same reason.The 165 hpbt gameking out of an 06 is...explosive...on deer. Sure, the deer died, but it was a mess and the front shoulder and lungs LIQUIFIED. Best I can remember the exit hole was about 3". In my 308 with the 165 SPBT gameking, the effect was much less dramatic. I shoot the Gamekings because they shoot better than the Hornady bullets.
Exactly what I experienced with the 165 BTHP. That’s why I moved to the BTSP and it performs great with far less damage.The 165 hpbt gameking out of an 06 is...explosive...on deer. Sure, the deer died, but it was a mess and the front shoulder and lungs LIQUIFIED. Best I can remember the exit hole was about 3". In my 308 with the 165 SPBT gameking, the effect was much less dramatic. I shoot the Gamekings because they shoot better than the Hornady bullets.
This is just what I'm looking for. I can load them to 2450 or so using 4895, and probably other propellants. Thanks.I have not experienced the SGK, but from what I understand, they have a reputation for being on the "soft" side.
I have a lot of experience with the Hornady interlock on deer. Probably 30 or more animals. From 250+ dressed weight bucks to fawns at almost any impact angle and shot placement you can imagine from good to bad. We did a lot of drives and deer were equated to "corn rats" with liberal bag limits back on the farm LOL. .30 cal and 7mm. I've found the IL to be a very reliable bullet that is easy on meat IF you don't hot-rod it. Tried that in my 280 Rem and proofed a lot of venison. I find them to be very sweet under 2600FPS impact velocity. This is easily accomplished in 30-06, with the benefit of low recoil. You'll tend to get pass throughs with sufficient but not excessive meat damage provided you don't bullseye a shoulder, HQ, bunghole or spine. Head and high neck shots are reliably DRT. They just plain work and work well. I'm also a big fan of the Speer Hot Core. I tend to get better accuracy and similar performance to the Hornady IL.
Where do you aim to hit? Asking to learn...Lay off the shoulder. If you don’t shoot through meat, you won’t ruin it.
I went through a lot of bullets over the years, just trying different methods and different designs - and for the last ~15-16 years, I preferentially hunt deer with extremely rapid expanding bullets, and I pick deer out of the dirt where they were short far more often than I did when I was “punching shoulders” and “breaking down deer” or “knocking a wheel off” or “anchoring deer” with more “traditional hunting bullets”…