mule deer bullet?

[ohiohunter]

B/c its not. What is anecdotal is "I killed a X with y".. end of story. Zero regards to distance, conditions, terminal performance etc... Like I said, I can kill a deer w/ a 22lr, whoopie. If this guy is going on a muley hunt where 1000yd shots may present themselves would you suggest the 25-06 just b/c your daughter killed a deer at 120yds? Sure it could do the job but there are better options. Just sayin. Have a wonderful day!

 

[Cowman]

Thanks to all for the replies. I may just need an excuse to work up another load...I have another 300WM with a 1-11 twist that I have shot many 190 MK and 210 Bergers from with good results. A busy last few years with kids and farming has kept me from doing much for load workups. I had a few rounds of the Berger 168's left from when I first bought the Beanland , and they shoot great and I suspect almost anything will shoot through this rifle really well, Jon's work is that good.
The 215 Bergers sound interesting, I may try a box of those this winter.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Here you go then. If you want any more specifics, like elevation, temperature, shot placement, penetration, etc. let me know. I can clearly remember each animal taken. Some were desert deer, some were 5-6K, some were 8K+ elevations.

.25-06 Ackley: I limit shots on mule deer to 850 yards with this rifle & 115 HVLDs dependent on conditions. I hope to put another mule deer on the ground this weekend with this rifle/bullet combo.

100gr. TTSX, mule deer at 488 yards, deer went 0'
115 HVLD, mule deer at 160ish yards, deer went 30'
115 HVLD, mule deer at 601 yards, deer went 10'
115 HVLD, mule deer at 323 yards, deer went 30 yards
100 SMK, mule deer doe, 160ish yards, deer went 40 yards
100 SMK, coyote, 1327 yards, coyote went 0' (maybe 20' if you consider his spinning in place for about 3 seconds)
100 SMK, javelina, 100ish yards, pig went 0'

.300RUM: I actually try not to use this rifle for deer anymore, too destructive for me.

175 SMK, mule deer, 752 yards, elk went 0'
175 SMK, bull elk, 627 yards, elk went 30'
175 SMK, bull elk, 180ish yards, elk went 0'
210 HVLD, bull elk, 427 yards, elk went 10'

.270 Win

150 HVLD, cow elk, 402 yards, elk went 5'
150 Barnes XFB, cow elk, 150ish yards, elk went 0'
150 HVLD, mule deer, 50ish yards, deer went 10'
130 HVLD, mule deer, 30 yards, deer went 0'
130 Barnes XBT, mule deer, 150 yards, deer went 30 yards
130 Barnes XBT, mule deer, 330 yards, deer went 50 yards

Since the OP stated he would be limiting himself to 600-700 yards, I still stand by my statement his current load of 168gr. HVLD @ 3100 is more than enough for mule deer out to the 700+ yard mark. Not knowing exactly the area the OP is going to be hunting, just a basic calculation for a mid-desert DA and 50°F would seem like 1000ft/lbs of remaining energy should be possible out to 847 yards or so. A well placed shot should dump any mule deer on earth at that distance.

If the OP is looking for an excuse to work up another load, then the 210 HVLD around 2950 should be a showstopper for anything in North America.

 

[ohiohunter]

Here you go then. If you want any more specifics, like elevation, temperature, shot placement, penetration, etc. let me know. I can clearly remember each animal taken. Some were desert deer, some were 5-6K, some were 8K+ elevations.

.25-06 Ackley: I limit shots on mule deer to 850 yards with this rifle & 115 HVLDs dependent on conditions. I hope to put another mule deer on the ground this weekend with this rifle/bullet combo.

100gr. TTSX, mule deer at 488 yards, deer went 0'
115 HVLD, mule deer at 160ish yards, deer went 30'
115 HVLD, mule deer at 601 yards, deer went 10'
115 HVLD, mule deer at 323 yards, deer went 30 yards
100 SMK, mule deer doe, 160ish yards, deer went 40 yards
100 SMK, coyote, 1327 yards, coyote went 0' (maybe 20' if you consider his spinning in place for about 3 seconds)
100 SMK, javelina, 100ish yards, pig went 0'

.300RUM: I actually try not to use this rifle for deer anymore, too destructive for me.

175 SMK, mule deer, 752 yards, elk went 0'
175 SMK, bull elk, 627 yards, elk went 30'
175 SMK, bull elk, 180ish yards, elk went 0'
210 HVLD, bull elk, 427 yards, elk went 10'

.270 Win

150 HVLD, cow elk, 402 yards, elk went 5'
150 Barnes XFB, cow elk, 150ish yards, elk went 0'
150 HVLD, mule deer, 50ish yards, deer went 10'
130 HVLD, mule deer, 30 yards, deer went 0'
130 Barnes XBT, mule deer, 150 yards, deer went 30 yards
130 Barnes XBT, mule deer, 330 yards, deer went 50 yards

Since the OP stated he would be limiting himself to 600-700 yards, I still stand by my statement his current load of 168gr. HVLD @ 3100 is more than enough for mule deer out to the 700+ yard mark. Not knowing exactly the area the OP is going to be hunting, just a basic calculation for a mid-desert DA and 50°F would seem like 1000ft/lbs of remaining energy should be possible out to 847 yards or so. A well placed shot should dump any mule deer on earth at that distance.

If the OP is looking for an excuse to work up another load, then the 210 HVLD around 2950 should be a showstopper for anything in North America.

God luck on your hunt

 

[lancetkenyon]

God luck on your hunt

Thanks. I wish it was my hunt. It is my older daughter and son-in-law this weekend, then my younger daughter for bull elk at the end of the month.

 

[wbm]

Its gonna be hard to close the bolt in his 300wm with those federal 300wsm loads.

LOL. Thanks OhioHunter. "Never lose your contacts again." I understand that ad better now.

 

[el matador]

Heavy bullets can beat you up in this caliber if you don't have a brake. Especially in a light weight gun. For 600-700 yards max range I would do one of two things: Stick with your proven 168 grain Bergers, or work up a load with some 180s. Accubonds or Ballistic Tips are a good choice, Berger, Amax, etc. Or you could get really crazy and wait for the 178 ELD-X to become available. Midway expects them in stock within 3 weeks.

 

[RemingtonShooter]

A-Max. 168 in a 300WSM works for me with 4350. Not the best or only, just the what I use, but has worked for me from 123 to 550 so far.

 

[MT-Shooter]

I am working up a load for a Jan Mule deer hunt in Mexico. The rifle is a 300WM lightweight Beanland custom with a 10 twist Lilja, topped with a 2.5-10-42 NXS. It shoots 168 Bergers very well, and I have taken two nice whitetails with this bullet. Have been working up loads using 168 Barnes TTSK. They also shoot very well, but am having difficulty getting the bullets to seat deep enough using a full charge of H1000. Any other thoughts on a great bullet, thinking 6-700 yards for max range with this gun.

The 168 Barnes is an excellent choice if you can make it work and it is all copper which really helps the eagles and hawks!

 

[Montucky Roamer]

Have fun with it and try a 124 hammer at warp speed for the general 500 yard and in shooting. They run 3700 plus in my 300 prc. Need to do more testing with em. They were dropping water buffalo like thor's hammer in australia I guess...so I'm sure they will kill.
So far Iv just used the "boring" old 215 berger at 2950 so far for killing mule deer. Just a nice consistent wind cheater and that can certainly matter , as you know. Consistent killer also.

 

[Joefrazell]

For mule deer to 600 yards it hardly matters although I'd personally be shooting 200 grain plus. Match or hunting just put the bullet in the right spot. When I say match please understand there's some match bullets you don't want to use but plenty that are great like the 215 hybrid for instance.