good 30 cal knockdown bullet?

[Gallahad]

Well, I'm lookin' fer an "anchor the deer where they stand" light weight (UNDER 150 gr.) 30 cal bullet, that works at slow velocities (2000-2400 fps.) Preferably one that has good accuracy in just about anything. Ya know, a "don't have to track em" bullet.

If somebody answeres this post with a good bullet, instead of a "you need a bigger/faster bullet" I will be suprized, BUT HAPPY! :-D

Thanks for the info friends, (ain't we blessed to have graybeard)

[Don Fischer]

I met a couple guy's shooting a 300 Wisper last year and they were using 130 gr bullet's. or you might try a 100 gr...................................in a
25-06!!!

[Gallahad]

lookin for specifics, like, .....hornady 110 gr. v-max. etc. and story of a good experiance

[jhalcott]

some years ago I got a BUNCH of 110 gr short jacket .30cal bullets and loaded some in 30-06 cases for ground hogs. Some times they would NOT stay together to hit a 100 yd target so it took a while to find a good load.
 Any way I shot a ground hog at about 100 yards and the bullet VAPORIZED it. The farmer and I only found the hips and a large blood splash where it had been standing. There are NO perfect bullets! Not in any caliber.There are a few that come close, but even they have their limits. If they don't blow up inside of 50 yards or fail to expand beyond 500, I'm happy with them.

[Winter Hawk]

For what you are describing I suggest a 150 gr. round nose or flat nose bullet, i.e. something which works for the .30-30.  Just make all your shots to the base of the ear or into the neck and you should be okay.

-WH-

[Greybeard]

Sadly the facts are bullets do NOT knock down deer. Bullet placement and NOT the bullet chosen is the secret to dropping them where they stand. IF you hit the central nervous system CNS they will drop to the shot. If you don't they might but they likely won't. So your search should be for the shot that drops them not the bullet that does.

[mountainview]

Sadly the facts are bullets do NOT knock down deer. Bullet placement and NOT the bullet chosen is the secret to dropping them where they stand. IF you hit the central nervous system CNS they will drop to the shot. If you don't they might but they likely won't. So your search should be for the shot that drops them not the bullet that does.

Ditto the above. There have been a number of articles published by reputable writers on this topic. All have noted that such a bullet/caliber is a myth.

[victorcharlie]

Break both shoulders.....they'll go down......

[Siskiyou]

Graybeard said it.  I remember helping a friend skin out a very large Mule deer.  He had quickley placed five shots from a .30 Remington behind the shoulder of the buck.  They penetrated the heart-lung region and stopped in the off side shoulder area.  All of the recovered bullets had the classic mushroom.  None of the bullets flatten the deer.

For those who are not familar with the .30 Remington, it was Remington's answer to the 30-30 Winchester.  It was chambered in the Remington Model 14, and Model 141 pumps.  They also chambered it in their early autoloaders.  

I recall another nice buck taken at close range with a 30-30, 94 Winchester.  The hunter put two or three quick shots behind the shoulder and buck went down in a short distance.  I believe he was using Winchester Silvertips.  Great shot placement, but they did not flatten the deer.

As close as I can get was a shot made by my brother with a 300 Savage, 20-inch carbine.  I suspect a Chrony would put the velocity in the your ball park.  The Remington 150 grain Bronze Point hit the buck in the neck, blowing out the spine and a eight in hole in the neck.  The deer flat disappeared out of my scope.  Almost needed a shovel to get the buck back to the surface.*

*Using my Chrony I have tested fired a number of old 150 grain factory loads in the .300 Savage.  Velocity ran from 2418 to 2458 fifteen feet from the muzzle.  This was out of a 24-inch barrel.

[Gallahad]

I would have to say that experience tells me that the posts from Graybeard on down are right on the money.  sks, 44 mag, and 30-06, all gave the same exact results when shot into a deer.  I shot every one right behind the front shoulder, and under the spine. they all ran (30-100 yds.) Shot one in the spine with sks, DOWN. Shot one straight into chest with -06, blowing shoulders apart maybe nicking spine, deer DOWN. I know if you want a deer down, poke im thru both shoulders, but that wrecks meat. Same thing if you hit em high/spine top of back (those back straps are too good to shoot) Guess I will just have to start gettin em in the neck. Thats all gristle anyway.   That was the dilemma, now who's got a bullet fer me?  good penetration thu bone, AND a nervous system shocker?  Maybe some type of ballistic tip? :grin: leeme hear some experiences/ opinions!

[Questor]

You could try a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip loaded to highest velocity. Wounds could get a little messy though.  I've used them at lower velocities and and longer ranges and they expand very well. Maybe too well for use at close range.  Of course, your shot placement will have to be excellent.

[kudzu]

SWIFT SCIROCCO - 100% tested and proven. IMHO the best midsize game bullet. Great penetration and expansion. Most allways a.30 hole in and a 11/2 to 21/2 exit hole. If you like tracking, this AIN"T your bullet. Very little tracking needed, and when you do there's a trail of blood that Ray Charles could follow. Like I said JMO. Good Luck DM

[Graybeard]

If the range is inside 200-250 yards the standard run of the mill old 180 grain round nose has performed for me as well as anything else. I've used the factory Coreloct stuff in the green box as much as any. Never seen anything yet any more effective but placed properly all seem nearly equal to be honest.

[Steve P]

The only bullet I would use that fits your criterion is the Nosler 125 ballistic tip and your max range of 2400fps.  Accurate and will expand at that velocity.  Not what I would choose, but probably the best fit per your description.

Steve