Author Topic: The perfect deer bullet? (Read 1733 times)

rickt300 · « **on:** January 05, 2009, 04:57:59 AM »

I shoot a lot of different rifles and bullets, generally all reloads. This year however I traded a brake job for a Remington 7400 in 30-06 and though I had time to do a load work up I didn't get enough brass loaded with it in time to sight the rifle in with the reload. I used the factory ammo I had brought to make brass for the rifle which was the Remington 150 grain PSPCL. It took maybe 15 shots to get the rifle sighted in and I did it on my backyard 50 yard range. I set it at 1/2 inch high there, got in the truck, drove 225 miles and hit the lease at 5:15 pm, got on my stand by 5:30 and just before dark at 5:50 I had a 9 point walk by me at a good pace maybe 60 yards out, he was angling away so I shot hoping to angle the bullet out in front of his shoulder. The bullet hit the last two ribs on his right side, angled thru the chest and hit the far shoulder blade just in front of the ball. It ended up weighing 94.0 grains, expanded to it's widest diameter at .630 looking pretty much like the picture under the hide on the far side. The deer dropped at the shot. I just can't imagine better performance from a bullet. It penetrated around 22 inches of deer which weighed 170-180 pounds.

john keyes · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2009, 05:05:02 AM »

Quote from: rickt300 on January 05, 2009, 04:57:59 AM

got on my stand by 5:30 and just before dark at 5:50

the days are gettin a little longer for sure, slowly

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2009, 06:18:54 AM »

For all the talk about premium bullets and intricately tweeked handloads, the Rem. 150 gr. PSPCL 30-06 factory ammo is pretty much perfected for use on deer. And your experience adds another data point to record. Congratulations.

41 mag · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2009, 12:05:28 AM »

Years ago I purchased a new Ruger Compact in .308 Win. Similar to you I wanted to hit the woods with it ASAP so I grabbed up two boxes of shells mainly for the cases. One box was the plain ol Rem CL's, and the other was the standard load Win. Power Points both in 150gr loads.

I used the Rem to sight in then hit the woods with a few of the left overs. The first critters to hit the dirt were feral hogs. In fact to this day close to 10yrs later, it still hasn't taken a deer yet. It has however been the demise for several hundred hogs, and when I or others who have used it did our part they all were one shot stops still using the CL's. the shots have averaged from several feet out to past 400yds, and the results have for the most part always been the same. When bullets were recovered they pretty much match your description, and penetration has never been an issue. Keeping in mind that with this particular rifle, I am starting out with a velocity drop of close to 300fps over most rifles in this caliber I can't complain one bit about the performance of the bullets.

I have, probably like yourself, just about any type 308 cal. bullet available to me, but I have never been able to duplicate the accuracy from this particular rifle that I get from those factory 150gr loads. I recently purchased a bulk supply of them and am hoping to work up something close soon as the once cheaper Rem CL's are now pretty much up there in price close to the other premium ammo in cost.

I have no doubts that if and when I drop the hammer on a deer I will get the same level of performance I have come to expect from them.

flintlock · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2009, 12:17:14 AM »

I'm not one, but some would have wanted an exit...

In my opinion, with that angle, a bullet that would have exited would have been too hard...

I've used about 12 different factory loadings in the past 28 years in my .243, keep coming back to the CoreLokts as well...With this economy, many are looking for value and a lower price...

GradyL41 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2009, 01:24:29 AM »

Under the circumsatances of the shot -- the bullet did what it was made to do -- and I would have expected it to stay in-- I use pretty much nothing but CL in my 358 Win. I too greatly lament the dimise of the cheap CL -- I am about to start reusing my 30.06 Ruger M77 tang again and for bullets likely 150 CL

BRL · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2009, 02:41:40 AM »

All I use is that standard old green box. I too hunt with my 7400 in 30-06. It just so happened that the 150 grain CL shot best in my rifle when I bought it back in 1986. I haven't used anything else on game. I've tried other factory ammo to test accuracy but nothing much better than the CL. I have only hunted a small number of times since then (1986...I don't know many who hunt, nor have access to land). Most of my hunts have been with outfitters or on ranches/farms. I've shot 5 hogs up to 260 lbs and 4 exotics (Axis, Fallow, Ram) up to 310 lbs. All animals were 1 shot kills with the longest being 140 yards using the CL in 150 grain. All bullets exited so bullet examination wasn't possible, but exit wounds were usually a finger/thumb size hole.

I am seriously looking at moving into rifle reloading from my handgun reloading now. When I do, I plan on using the Core-Lokt exclusively, until something convinces me otherwise that something else is necessary. In my opinion, there is nothing the standard Core-lokt cannot do if the right bullet/cartridge is matched with the game.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2009, 03:03:47 AM »

Same results for me using a model 740 and Remington 150 grain CL's. I shot 4 deer this year, three with my .300 Magnum and one with the 30-06. I use 165 grain handloads in the .300 Winchester, and it is loaded to the top end, coming out of a 26 inch barrel. The 150 did more damage, hitting soft tissue only, than the 165's. I think Remington has this thing figured out pretty well. I bought enough ammo when I got my 740 that my heirs will probably still be shooting it, God willing.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2009, 04:40:32 AM »

I buy 30 caliber 150 grain corelokt bullets by the 1000 pack for savings and personal availability and consistency. A very effective deer bullet in my great 308, nearly perfect.

Cheese

rickt300 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:14:44 AM »

8 or 9 years ago I ordered 500 bulk Remington 150 gr. corelokts from one of the major suppliers. They didn't show after 5 weeks so they sent me some more. When they got to me it turns out they shipped 165 grain corelokts. A week later the first box they shipped arrived (also 165 gr.) however neither came soon enough for me to load for deer season so I used a factory load using the 150 gr. corelokts and took a huge Mulie, two antelope and an elk. I have used the 165 grain corelokts very little and still have 500 of them. These and some seconds 165 grain ballistic Tips will be what I use when I empty the four boxes of 150 grain factory loads. The performance of standard soft points is generally good enough that I wonder why so many beat the drum for the so calle "premium" bullets. I can see the need maybe for game elk size up and larger under tough circumstances.

Graybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:15:58 AM »

Remington factory ammo and coreloct bullets are about perfect for deer hunting especially with standard non magnum rounds. I'm one of those who prefer an exit so prefer heavier bullets than 150s in .30 caliber. I've used the .30-06 and factory 180 grain RN to take several deer and to me it is about as close to perfect as things get for the hunting I do.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:55:30 AM »

Depending on range and rifle I use three Bullets in my 3 - 308 rifles.
In the woods I use Remington 180 grain Soft point round nose in My Ruger M77.
I like how the blunt round nose knocks deer down in the woods and makes a big hole and there is little tracking in the dense woods of NC. I have never had to chase a deer shot with this rifle and round. The big buck I shot in the neck got up and ran 20 yards. Strait at me! But was dead at my feet. No looking.
In open fields I like the Federal 165 grain Soft point Boiat tails in My Remington M700V
I have the rifle sighted in at 200 yards and do not have to think about hold over at 350 yards.
And for general Use I like the Federal Hydro Shok 180 grain bullets in the Sako Deluxe.
Tends to be a happy medium of weight and flat trajectory.
For the pig in the picture I had to use Lead free ammo and used Federal Barns 150 grain X Bullets. Worked perfect.
With your auto loader see what it will feed and shoot those.

rickt300 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:12:49 AM »

The autoloader is mostly just a new toy that I decided to hunt with on the last weekend of deer season. My bolt action 30-06 has mostly been fed various 180 grain bullets since the 80's but I did some hunting with the Sierra 165 gr. BTHP which i found to be an excellent bullet. As soon as the factory loads are finished the autoloader will be fed 165 grain Balistic Tips and PSPCL's. It has been a long time since I've seen the Remington 180 grain RNCL either in loaded ammo or component form and I agree it is an excellent bullet. I replaced it with the 170 grain RNCL bullet built for the 30-30 and load it to just under 2500fps in my 308. This very light 308 will get some use on hogs in the next three months but my freezer is full now.

Swampman · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:20:02 AM »

Quote

Remington factory ammo and coreloct bullets are about perfect for deer hunting especially with standard non magnum rounds. I'm one of those who prefer an exit so prefer heavier bullets than 150s in .30 caliber. I've used the .30-06 and factory 180 grain RN to take several deer and to me it is about as close to perfect as things get for the hunting I do.

I agree, I recently switched to the 165 grain CoreLokts in my .30-06. I don't think you can beat the CoreLokt on deer. At $10.00 a box for reloadable ammo, I love them.

rickt300 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:28:05 AM »

It had to happen sooner or later, I finaly agree on something with Swampman.

John R. · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:31:47 AM »

I like Cor-loks as well, shot them for years, but I'm a firm believer that good shot placement will make even a medicore bullet work . That being said I tend to shoot the premium bullets like the Nosler Accubond.

rickt300 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:55:12 PM »

I reported that the bullet had gone thru the shoulder blade but I was wrong. The bullet went just under the shoulder blade thru some thick shoulder muscle and just behind the upper leg bone, then slid under the hide upward and forward to rest on top of the shoulder blade at it's front edge. I cut the deer up today and found where it really had tracked. I had cut it out thru the hide and figured it had gone thru some shoulder blade. It was well slowed down as there was hardly any bloodshot in the shoulder just a 60 caliber hole. I guess 22 inches is all you get if you break 4 ribs and traverse a long bodied deers chest.

jumpsteady · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2009, 05:10:27 AM »

Nosler Accu-bond

jro45 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2009, 10:45:59 AM »

I use Hornady 150gr bullets for Deer out of my 30/06 and these are not bonded but they kill deer.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2009, 08:14:04 AM »

I've had good luck with the Corelocks, but they aren't as accurate in my deer rifles as Hornady or Nosler, now with my 35 Rem, the 200g CL's are very good. One question, where in the hell can you buy any box of ammo bigger than 22 mag for $10.00? DP

thumbcocker · « **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2009, 09:48:37 AM »

So far out of all the deer I've shot over the years, only four were shot using factory loads. They were shot with core lokt factory loads. Shot a half rack buck this year with a 308 and 180 gr. round nose corelokt's. Dead right there, and you could almost eat the bullet hole. I have'nt found a handload that will match that particular factory load in accuracy.