.308 Federal Power shock failure on deer.
- Thread starter GuyWithGun
- Start date
WisBorn
Contributing Member
But did they work on game?
What's weird is I wouldn't take a guartering shot unless it was a finisher. Deer live in the timber around here. They walk by and you pick your shot. Never been that desperate but that's just on my place and my life.
Well enough. I had to shoot one spike twice, and the buck probably would have been a tracking job if i hadn't taken off the top of his heart with his lungs.
In both cases the punched 1-1.5" tunnels, so plenty dead, just drt dead.
That's about what I remember from using them in my 243. The Winchester 100's and the federal power shocks both left the barrel of that gun about 2880. The power shocks tended to make a tunnel and exit, the Winchester's tended not to exit but did more internal damage.
I'll admit I've gotten used to any good hit pretty much being one and done. If I do have to shoot again, the critters usually just thrashing not actively running away.
180 gr Power Shoks have also worked well for me in .300 win mag. Very surprising that the 180 would blow up from a .308. Published MV is only 2,570 fps for that load (.300 WM is 400 fps faster).
Dude, did you reply to your own post with "Weird stance to take, but it's your life"?
Everyone that is unhappy with their current bullet choice should try the Barnes TTSX. My family and I have had excellent results with that bullet in .300WM, .30-06, and .25-06. It opens violently, even on broadside lung shots and being all copper you know it's not going blow up. I've shot 5 deer with that bullet in the last two seasons and only one has taken a step. 4/5 have dropped like they were hit by lightning (in fact, my son has named the .25-06 "Lightning").
Just remember to go at least one weight lighter than you normally would. They need to be driven fast. I'd go with the 130 gr in .308 win, but the 150 gr would be fine as well. Even bonded bullets like the Accubond typically retain only 80% of their weight while the copper bullets retain close to 100%. So you have to multiply the copper bullet's weight by 1.25 to estimate the equivalent weight bonded bullet (when thinking about penetration). The 130 gr TTSX will likely penetrate about as well as a 165 gr bonded bullet.
Now that said, my BIL shot two deer last year with 180 gr TTSX in .30-06 and it opened up on broadside shots and dropped them in their tracks.
Just remember to go at least one weight lighter than you normally would. They need to be driven fast. I'd go with the 130 gr in .308 win, but the 150 gr would be fine as well. Even bonded bullets like the Accubond typically retain only 80% of their weight while the copper bullets retain close to 100%. So you have to multiply the copper bullet's weight by 1.25 to estimate the equivalent weight bonded bullet (when thinking about penetration). The 130 gr TTSX will likely penetrate about as well as a 165 gr bonded bullet.
Now that said, my BIL shot two deer last year with 180 gr TTSX in .30-06 and it opened up on broadside shots and dropped them in their tracks.
KansasTrapper77
Member
My dad and I got a pile of Federal Non-Typical .243 w/ 100gr soft nose lead bullets on sale. And we have used it with great success in our .243 Wins. I typically don’t like soft nose projectiles for high velocity larger caliber cartridges as I believe they do come apart rapidly causing massive damage to meat. BUT for a .243 Win shooting a large Kansas whitetail its just the right amount of damage. It tears up some meat but it anchors the deer with the smaller .243. Wife just shot and DRT a whitetail last weekend with it. So. Personally usually not a fan of soft noses. But they have their place.
