Which Whitetail Bullet?

[Tomekeuro85]

Same as my varmint bullet thread. I want accurate bullets suitable for hunting. It's between these 4...

168gr Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip
165gr Sierra GameKing HPBT
168gr Hornady A-Max
165gr Hornady Interlock Super Shock Tip BT

Thanks All!!

 

[Art Eatman]

Dunno why you want those heavy bullets; I mostly use 150s.

Anyhow, I've gotten excellent results with the Sierra 165-grain HPBT. I've always gotten inside an inch at 100 yards, and while messing around on my 500-yard range, I got two four-shot, 4" groups.

I guess I've only used the load on one deer. About 65 yards on a doe. She took a step just as I shot, and the bullet went through the shoulders instead of the neck. Blew out the biggest exit wound I've ever seen, with a big chunk of bone on the ground.

Boat-tails are fine at longer distances, after they slow down a bit. The jackets are a bit thinner than the flat-base.

If your shots are mostly inside of 300 yards, the boat-tail doesn't give any advantage. My father killed somewhere around a hundred deer during his hunting years, and used the 150-grain flat-based bullet exclusively, after WW II. (Don't know about his pre-war loads.) In front of witnesses, he killed deer out to 500 yards.

Art

 

[Lennyjoe]

I have shot deer with both the 165gr Sierra in HP and SP tips. Both are shooting under 1" with IMR 4350 in my -06.

As for performance on flesh, the HPBT did some serious damage at 88yds. It opened up the exit wound big enough to put your fist thru it. The deer ran about 30 yds and piled up. The SPBT dropped a 110lb doe at 120yds in her tracks. The exit wound was about the size of a dollar coin. Both bullets hit behind the shoulder and exited opposite side. Never did recover either bullet.

I've decided to stay with the SPBT due to its performance. I did notice that the SPBT hit about 1.5" left of center at 100 yds in relation to the HPBT. A couple of clicks on the scope and it zero'd right in.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Why use the A-Max as a hunting bullet?

Why use the A-Max as a hunting bullet? As opposed to the Hornady round nose, spire point or Interbond?

 

[Sunray]

For the .308? The one your rifle shoots best. Despite the same bullet weights, your rifle won't necessarily shoot them all well.

 

[killzone]

Use the GameKing. It made me happy manytimes with the results it gave. I've got afew friends like to use The A-max. I don't think there is much difference in between any of the given loads as long as you put the bullet on the hot spot. Where accuricy goes; I think Sierra GameKing class hits just wonderful for my needs.

 

[Mantis]

I'll second what Art said. I've been using the 150g Sierra Pro Hunter for a number of years now, and every deer has been dropped with one shot. I've compared the flat base Pro Hunters to the boat tail Game Kings, and actually have better accuracy out to 300 yds with the flat based Pro Hunters.

 

[huntershooter]

What sunray said.