What bullets not to use for deer

[gamestalker]

I loaded up 3 different bullets for the 7mm rM for this year deer hunt, Speer 130 gr Hot Core, Hornady 139 gr. Interlock, and the Sierra 140 gr. Pro Hunter. The Hornady and the Sierra didn't do very well, fragmentation and total jacket separation was the primary issue. But the Speer held together and as a result, also produced excellent penetration. All of the loads were chronographed at 3300-ish fps and all were very accurate, 1" groups at 200 yds..

The good news is no bucks walked away wounded. My Son did however blow the leg off of one at 500 and something yards, but it was his fault for not sustaining a good rest before taking the shot. His follow up shot was dead on and dropped him in his tracks.

 

[Red is Dead]

You say all deer were dead???? Sounds like all the bullets mentioned performed like they were supposed to....dead is dead there aren't stages of dead!

 

[Grumulkin]

You say all deer were dead???? Sounds like all the bullets mentioned performed like they were supposed to....dead is dead there aren't stages of dead!

That's kind of what I think. As long as a bullet penetrates to a vital area, a bullet that fragments does a lot more damage than one that holds together.

 

[Frozen North]

A bullet that fragments and looses it's jacket will not perform as consistently as a bullet that retains it's weight well.

Poorly constructed bullets damage a whole bunch of meat too...

 

[T Bran]

We need more info to either support your findings or dispute them.
How far did the deer go after being shot with each example was there a good blood trail.
T

 

[Red is Dead]

A bullet that fragments and looses it's jacket will not perform as consistently as a bullet that retains it's weight well.

Poorly constructed bullets damage a whole bunch of meat too...

I load nothing but Hornady, and hear all about "the bullet did not perform" but I have never had to track an animal. Where they stood is where they died, its more about shot placement and I try for high neck shots, and as for penetration with the 7mm RM I load for my brother and we have never recovered a bullet because they have always been through and through's, How much more penetration is needed???

 

[James2]

I didn't like Silvertips because they would come apart and make a mess of the meat. Once I started loading my own, I found Hornady pointed soft points to be excellent for getting the job done without flying apart. Remington Core-Lokt are also excellent on game.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If you're gonna push the bullets at 3300 fps, you have to choose your bullet wisely. If you use a bullet like a SST or a Nosler ballistic tip at that speed, it's going to blow to confetti and ruin meat at anything but very long ranges. A Nosler partition or a Barnes would hold together better. Bullets expand more at high velocity. That's the way it is.

 

[sugarmaker]

Depends on range. Short range on a 7mm mag they're going to die with any reasonable hit, light or low quality bullets will ruin some meat but the animal is going to die quickly. Further out it matters - I've had good luck with Nosler partitions.

 

[R.W.Dale]

A bullet that fragments and looses it's jacket will not perform as consistently as a bullet that retains it's weight well.

Poorly constructed bullets damage a whole bunch of meat too...

Since the op is using a 7mm rem mag loaded to 3300fps I'm guessing avoiding meat damage isn't a high priority for him.

Were it me I'd change bullet weights too. I go to at least the next 10g + heavier projectile weight w

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[Grumulkin]

Let me point out that:

1. If your animal drops where it stands, you don't need a good blood trail.

2. If you shoot your animal in the right place, you won't ruin much meat even if the bullet "blows up."

 

[BADUNAME37]

Let me point out that:

1. If your animal drops where it stands, you don't need a good blood trail.

2. If you shoot your animal in the right place, you won't ruin much meat even if the bullet "blows up."

I have to agree.
The three most important factors in dropping your game with very little meat damage are:
Shot-Placement,
Shot-Placement &
Shot-Placement (not necessarily in that order).

If you cannot hit the broad side of a barn and you expect to take down a huge buck with a "poor-shot" to his intestines, you are more than likely going to find a lot of mess at the POI and the deer could literally live for days in complete agony with its insides--out!

There is no excuse, either take the right shot or don't shoot. Taking the right shot means you could use just about any gun to kill a deer, as long as you hit him where it matters!

I know of a hunter who shot at a doe running AWAY from the guy! He laughed that he hit her in the rear-end, but that she kept on running. There is absolutely NOTHING funny about that. If someone thinks that is funny, they are warped.

 

[alsaqr]

Let me point out that:

1. If your animal drops where it stands, you don't need a good blood trail.

2. If you shoot your animal in the right place, you won't ruin much meat even if the bullet "blows up."

Exactly.
A whitetailed deer is not a world class hard to kill animal. Put the bullet where it's supposed to go and it will do the job.

 

[interlock]

If you're gonna push the bullets at 3300 fps, you have to choose your bullet wisely. If you use a bullet like a SST or a Nosler ballistic tip at that speed, it's going to blow to confetti and ruin meat at anything but very long ranges. A Nosler partition or a Barnes would hold together better. Bullets expand more at high velocity. That's the way it is.

this is really important. i use the hornady in my 7mm08 at about 2800 fps.... it is ideal. the gameking is also designed for longer shots so the bullet is slower at point of impact. the bonded nature of the hot core bullets make them hold together well.

all of the bullets mentioned by the op are good bullets... in thier correct application

 

[FROGO207]

Where I hunt there are no long shots to take and I prefer the REM CoreLoct or Hornady Interlock bullets. Both have been around for a loonnnnng time and still do what they were designed to do well and for a low cost as a bonus. The new whiz bang bullets are great at the SPECIFIC job they were designed for. Me, I like all around versatility and good history of performance for my reloads.

 

[kgpcr]

Deer die very easily when you put one in the boiler room Any good bullet will work just fine. Shot placement is what its all about!

 

[gamestalker]

No problem with der falling on the spot, just way too much meat being damaged and contaminated by fraged/separated bullets. We are accomplished hunters and don't loose game, but we also enjoy eating it with minimal lead.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

At 3300 fps you are going to see massive meat damage even if the bullet stays together. You are going to push one hell of a temporary cavity from that. I bet when you cleaned it you had a bigger than fist sized hole in the rib cage where bone simply ceased to exist. If you are going to be shooting that fast, you might as well just be shooting solid copper bullets.

 

[Frozen North]

I hunted with two guys that used a 7mm Mag. One used Federal ammo loaded with Accu-bonds, the other shot some kind of cheap Winchester stuff in a grey box.

Both hunters shot deer with perfect placement through the heart and lungs. Both deer were DRT. I gutted one, and skun the other.

One deer had a minimal entrance hole, and an exit hole the size of my thumb. The other deer had a minimal entrance hole and enough blood shot meat on the other side to fill a pail.

Does anyone care to guess whose deer was shot with the accu-bonds?

There is even less expensive bonded ammo out there like Winchester power max. I just don't see a reason to wreck meat and eat lead particles, but DRT is DRT right?

 

[Grumulkin]

Tell me boys, is there a lot of good neck meat? You might try some neck shots if you're concerned about meat damage or your deer going too far.

 

[gamestalker]

Next year I'll be checking out the Barnes, Nosler Accubond, and probably keep the Hot Core. It's all good, and also part of the fun for us. Just making converstaion for those who like to discuss the kill.

 

[Hondo 60]

The good news is no bucks walked away wounded.

Congrats! That's exactly what's supposed to happen!

My Son did however blow the leg off of one at 500 and something yards,

WOW!!!! What caliber & load data was he using????

 

[Steel Talon]

What I look for in a bullet is weight consistency and bullet concentrcity. Flight and accuracy will always follow those two.

The only "premium game bullet" I go to is the Nosler Partion. When you combine the partition weight, perfect powder, to the caliber They always hit like Thor's Hammer.

When you start trying to take kill shots beyond 300yds many more issues come into play Proper dope, ability to "drive" your rifle properly, calculation of Parabolas, and proper caliber that delivers enough energy on contact. Animals really shrink beyond 300yards, a spotter comes in real handy.

Neck shots are a great shot placement for a DRT,however the boiler room offer a larger area for bullet placement.But not necessarily for a DRT type of shock. Animals tend to run not agreeing with that they are allready dead.

Most hunters boast about the one shot one kill ,shot placement or don't shoot mantra. But ask any game animal butcher that processes Big Game just how many foul shot animals they work on every season.

The reasons I shoot partitions is because of Elk. My first shot is always to the shoulder to anchor the animal, followed by my next shot into the boiler room. (I always cape my Elk hides) I learned this from my grandfather.

 

[rem22long40x]

you used the wrong Sierra , Game Kings are best for accuracy and wight retention.

 

[Grumulkin]

What I look for in a bullet is weight consistency and bullet concentrcity. Flight and accuracy will always follow those two.

The only "premium game bullet" I go to is the Nosler Partion. When you combine the partition weight, perfect powder, to the caliber They always hit like Thor's Hammer.

When you start trying to take kill shots beyond 300yds many more issues come into play Proper dope, ability to "drive" your rifle properly, calculation of Parabolas, and proper caliber that delivers enough energy on contact. Animals really shrink beyond 300yards, a spotter comes in real handy.

Neck shots are a great shot placement for a DRT,however the boiler room offer a larger area for bullet placement.But not necessarily for a DRT type of shock. Animals tend to run not agreeing with that they are allready dead.

Most hunters boast about the one shot one kill ,shot placement or don't shoot mantra. But ask any game animal butcher that processes Big Game just how many foul shot animals they work on every season.

The reasons I shoot partitions is because of Elk. My first shot is always to the shoulder to anchor the animal, followed by my next shot into the boiler room. (I always cape my Elk hides) I learned this from my grandfather.

I'm sure there are bunches of "foul" shots. I think part of the problem is the consensus that "minute of deer" or "able to hit a pie plate at 100 yards" is good enough.