Best types of bullets for deer

[mod700]

I hunt with a Remington 7mm 08. so far i have shot 140 gr winchester super x and supreme,139 gr sst custom and light mag, and the other day i shot some federal vital shock to make sure my rifle was still on....what do ya'll think is the best bullet with consideration of trajectory and terminal ballistics for deer? which is best for expansion,ballistic tip?soft point?........suggestions?

 

[Sunray]

There is no one best bullet. Any of those will do nicely. You need to pick the ammo you intend using and sight in your rifle with that ammo. Mind you, if you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best first.

 

[Art Eatman]

In all reality, I don't think it makes enough difference to worry about. Lord knows, I've tried probably a dozen different bullets in .243, .270 and '06. They all worked, and Bambi became supper.

Now I'm running a 7mm08. CoreLokts and Speer 140s hit to the same POI. I'll probably use whatever first comes to hand.

 

[mod700]

well i was looking for more brands, weights, and expansoin types of bullets in 7mm 08 caliber, not A BULLET.....sorry for the confusion but i have sighted my rifle in with federal vitalshok. but whatever i decide on i will shoot plenty of them before i pull the trigger on a deer.

 

[langenc]

Remingto PSP Core lokts-30-06---150 or 165 grain for deer, caribou or the 165 for moose.

 

[cliffy]

Regarding .243 Winchester Deer Loads . . .

I recommend 100 grain Speer Grand Slam, 100 grain Nosler Partition, 105 grain Speer Spitzer Soft Point, BUT if the deer are FAR AWAY, a 90 grain Swift Scirocco II will bring them within killing distance. Anything under 90 grains seems Coyote fare. cliffy

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Mod700...

FWIW...

One of my sons has a 7mm/08 and he has tried a bunch of different factory ammo in it and finally settled on the Federal PowerShok 140-grainer because it is very accurate in his rifle and does a fine job on deer. It's pretty common for the "plain-Jane" ammo from Federal, Remiington and Winchester to perform very well on deer.

Good luck !

 

[Water-Man]

It's tough to beat a Nosler Partition IMO.

 

[uk roe hunter]

i use a remmy model 7 in 7mm08. i have found speers 145gr hotcor to be about the best bullet i have ever used for terminal effect. it kills like gods own medicine.... however it is not the most accurate IN MY RIFLE. it also requires a slow burning powder which is not the best in my 18 inch barrel. I have shot a lot of deer with hornadies interlock bullets in 30-06 and 243 win. i expect the 139gr bullet would be excellant over a fast powder in a shorter barrell. i am now using sierra 120gr prohunters over H4895 all the powder is burned on leaving the muzzle. i would think a factory 120 gr bullet would also be over a fast powder to get the best from the round.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've used Sierra Gamekings, Speer, Hornady SPs, Nosler BTs and Partitions, remington corelokt, and plain ol winchester SPs among a few others...
and I think people make way too big of a deal over designer bullets. From your average hunting rifle to your average deer or better, it just doesn't make a whole heck of lot of difference. You still gotta do your part, though.

 

[stownsend]

I think a lot of it matters on the caliber of the gun, bullet construction comes more into play when at the high and low ranges of velocity. I shoot a 300 win mag and have had some shots that were very close, with the standard core-lokt, power points, etc. there was no expansion and pencil holes in and out. I then switched to Ballistic Silvertips, which opened up a lot better, but I had to be more careful as sometimes the bullet would blow apart upon hitting bone. Last year I tried the Winchester XP3's and they performed great for me. The bullet held together on a very close shot going through bone.
Try a bunch to see what your gun likes, I prefer the tipped bullets for their rapid expansion, and ballastics.

 

[Alpine Storm]

Nosler Partition, the perfect balance of penetration and expansion.

 

[hossdaniels]

The one that fits your shots. If you like behind the shoulder broadside shots, ballistic tip is hard to beat. If you want shoulder smashing drt, any of the other bullets(corelokt, partition, bonded). After that the most accurate one in your rifle.

 

[Deer Hunter]

From what I've seen....

My father has had BTHP "match" grade ammo loaded for his .308 Remington 700 for years. That's all he's used, and he's never had to chase one.

They arn't loaded hot, either. Just loaded for accuracy.

I use Monarch SPs from Academy in .223 and .308.

Again, never had to shoot twice.

On the flip side...

I've seen hunters miss frequently with very expensive ammunition.

Moral of the story?

Know your gun and ammo before you hit the field.

I ran forty rounds of Monarch brand .308 SPs through my FN FAL at 100 yards and routinly got groups within 4 inches of eachother. With irons, it's pretty decent.

These fellas at my deer camp who shoot their gun once, change ammo in it, and expect the deer to drop where-ever they place the crosshairs either miss or lose the deer they shoot at.

P.S.

I killed my first buck with 7.62x39 HPs out of an SKS.