Best All Around Caliber for Whitetail and Mule Deer?

[Turpentine21]

I once shot a spike elk walking unaware, broadside behind the shoulder with a 220 gr. silvertip from my 325wsm. It took 2 steps and fell over dead. I was surprised to see 2 exit holes in the offside ribcage. It seemed that the bullet separated, but could have been bone. I've never used those bullets at that velocity since. I try to use premium bullets for any hunting other than varmints. (Still 308 for deer.)

Those particular bullets, from that box because I remember I only bought 1 box, are the only bullets I have ever had that failed. One exploded on a shoulder on a quartering to shot. They worked the second shot but it was evident when I skinned the deer that the first shot didn't work well.

 

[memtb]

I once shot a spike elk walking unaware, broadside behind the shoulder with a 220 gr. silvertip from my 325wsm. It took 2 steps and fell over dead. I was surprised to see 2 exit holes in the offside ribcage. It seemed that the bullet separated, but could have been bone. I've never used those bullets at that velocity since. I try to use premium bullets for any hunting other than varmints. (Still 308 for deer.)

While we're discussing bullet failures…..I have 3 abysmal failures, followed by a phone call to the manufacturer. Of the several excuses given, none were the bullet nor the manufacturer…..38 years later, I never have nor will I purchase their bullets!

Stepping back in time, it was Fall of 1986, my first season as a Wyoming resident …..I was about to kill my first elk, a spike bull!


While the shot opportunity was not those that make the front cover of hunting magazines, it was my "only" shot in near dark conditions…..and I "knew beyond a shadow of a doubt", it was a very easy shot and I had the rifle and bullet to accomplish it!

I've never been more in all my years of hunting. Though, to confirm my total stupidity……I used that same bullet the following Spring on my first bear!


The shot: At last light, nearing the end of the season, a small group of elk filtered out of heavy brush/timber about 60 yards away, easing out onto an open grassy hillside to feed. I watched as cows and calves slowly walked past, a bit difficult to see clearly in the failing light and timber / brush behind them….once into the opening, very easy to see. Then came the lone bull, a spike, following the group. But, instead of entering the open hillside with the cows, he made a 90 degree turn to his left…..walking straight away, about to disappear into the timber.

I took the easy shot…..couldn't have been easier had he had a "bullseye" hanging on his tail.

At the shot, he humped-up a bit then ran, disappearing into the dark timber. I listened as he ran through the dry limbs and brush…..then silence.


I opened my fanny pack, retrieved my red marking tape…..tying it to the tree I was standing beside when I took the shot. Then headed to the area where the elk had stopped. I hadn't made 20 steps…..when I heard my elk crashing through the timber, going straight away from me.

My hunting buddy soon joined me after hearing my shot, we tried to find him until well into the night…..finding nothing.

I was back at first good light, found where he was standing at the shot…..a small "tuff" of rump hair on the ground, indicating that it was not a "raking hit"! Several hours later, only finding a few tracks in the hard, dry dirt and zero blood…….I gave up.

The following Spring, I shot my third animal with that rifle/bullet combination. Only then, did I finally determine that I had serious bullet issues.


The first time, a young buck Mule Deer, sprinting broadside left to right about 20 yards away the bullet hit behind the diaphragm…..no exit.

The following Spring, my bear. A 90 yard, standing broadside shot. The bullet entering behind the shoulder between ribs, the bear immediately went down, rolled onto his back and gave a "death moan"….. again no exit wound. I did find part of the jacket base….no sign of a core. The bullet apparently…..completely fragmented.

I can only conclude that with my elk, the bullet needing to penetrate a couple feet of wet, packed grass……wasn't up to the task.

The bullet: a .375 ca. Sierra 300 grain SBT only pushed at moderate velocities from a .375 H&H…..the cartridge it was designed for.

A call to Sierra brought me these revolutions! Perhaps I was pushing it too fast… BS! Perhaps I was using the wrong powder, as this was from their own data, more BS! A finally, perhaps my rifling was too sharp, cutting through the jacket……more BS!

Thus my search for a better bullet and my first time to meet and visit with Bob Millek. Getting to briefly know Bob was then only good thing coming from my experiences with that bullet!


Sometime later, I got to visit with Craig Boddington…..he told me that Sierra had improved on the design of that bullet! IMO….Much too late on a bullet that someone may have tried using on "dangerous game"! memtb