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By
Michael Hanback, Field Editor
After all these years, we are
still sitting around the campfire fussing over the best cartridge
for deer. Is it the .270, .280, .30-06 or maybe one of the short
magnums? While it is all in good fun, it seems to me that we are
missing the point. Isn’t it the load and, more to the point,
the bullet, that fells game? Put a good bullet in a buck’s
boiler room and he won’t go far, caliber notwithstanding.
To that end, here are seven great bullet choices. I’ve killed
a bunch of whitetails and muleys with the first four; the last three
are getting rave reviews and are worth a look when you go ammo shopping
this season.
Trophy
Bonded Bear Claw - 1-
Weights for Deer:
.270: 140-grain; .30 calibers: 165-
to 180-grain
Comments: Copper jacket
and lead core with fusion bonding for controlled expansion and intense
penetration. The 140-grain .270 TBBC blew right through the first
buck I shot with it years ago; the deer ran 70 yards and left a
gushing blood trail. When I gutted the deer I found the lungs destroyed,
which meant the bullet expanded well inside the animal before exiting.
I’ve had similar results on the other deer I’ve shot
with the TBBC.
Remington
Core-Lokt PSP - 2-
Weights for Deer:
From a 100-grain .243, up
Comments: This is
the original controlled-expansion bullet. Its copper jacket is locked
to the lead core (hence Core-Lokt). It’s a great all-around
bullet—accurate, fabulous mushrooms, good weight retention.
I’ve used it on and off for years, and quite a bit recently
with the 7mm Rem. Ultra Mag. (RUM).
Sierra
GameKing BTSP - 3-
Weights for Deer:
.243: 100-grain; .24-06: 117-grain; .270: 130-grain and 150-grain;
.30-06: 150- and 165-grain; .308: 165-grain
Comments: This is
a tapered bullet with a boat-tail base. It has been popular with
hunters for years, especially Westerners. It’s an accurate
bullet that, by design, has reduced drag and wind drift. It has
impressive downrange velocity and game-thumping power, too.
Nosler
Ballistic Tip - 4-
Weights for Deer:
.270: 130-, 140- and 150-grain; .30 calibers: 150-, 165-, 180-grain;
7mm: 140- and 150-grain
Comments: This is
one of the first bullets to use a polycarbonate tip to initiate
expansion. It has a fully tapered jacket and lead alloy core. I
remember the first of many bucks I shot with the Spitzer Ballistic
Tip, a rutting 8-pointer in Alabama at 120 yards. When the 130-grain
bullet struck, he shook violently, jumped 20 yards and fell.
Barnes
MRX - 5-
Weights for Deer:
.270: 130- and 150-grain; .30 calibers: 150- and 165-grain; 7mm:
140- and 160-grain
Comments: This is
the newest addition to the line of excellent X-bullets. The MRX
(Maximum Range X) features a unique, dense tungsten core and Delrin
tip to initiate rapid expansion. Definitely worth a look if you
expect a 250-plus yard shot at a buck this fall.
Winchester
XP3 - 6-
Weights for Deer:
.270 and .308: 150-grain; .30-06: 150- and 180-grain; 7mm: 160-grain
Comments: XP3 stands
for “precision, power and penetration.” It has a solid
copper alloy with lead cover and a polycarbonate tip for expansion.
This is another all-purpose premium hunting bullet.
Hornady
LEVERevolution - 7-
Weights for Deer:
.30-30 and .308 Marlin Express: 160-grain
Comments: Hornady’s
LEVERevolution ammo is changing lever-gun deer hunting from a 100-yard
to a 250-yard game, especially with the .308 Marlin Express. This
bullet has a pointed soft tip for safe loading in a tubular magazine
(like the polycarbonates, the tip also initiates good expansion).
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