Bullet construction - what to you use for deer?

This is a question that potentially has a lot different answers, and I’ve come up with 11 categories which is probably too many. But it would be interesting to know what fellas are using, specifically for shooting the 7 deer species in New Zealand, i.e. not varminting.

The “other” category is for the wildcards, the highly dedicated weirdos who spend days in their subterranean caves casting lead bullets for when Armeggeddon finally pitches up, or those that rove the bush with a 9mm pistol and rubber bullets.

Sorry fellas for the misfire at first, never done a poll before. Like, read the FAQ!

Amax

Nosler Partition an oldie but a goody:thumbsup:

Gameking, AB, Amax and Partition.


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As long as it stays in one piece and mushrooms well I will shoot it, lead is lead.

The deer I have shot would be a 50/50 split of cup and core soft points and match bullets

Used factory loaded cup and core for many years then interlocks handloaded then sst then dual loaded barnes and amax and am currently running just amax tho I do also have a gmx meat saver load.

One thing I have noted over the years is bullet performance between weights (and sometimes boxes) can be vastly different! A 168gr amax and a 178gr amax are two totally different bullets even impacting at the same speeds.

hornady sst Love them:thumbsup:

Cast and cup ‘n core, especially round nosed.

What if my projectile was a soft point but I drill the end to make a hollow point? You may need a modified section?

Amax

Someone gonna say arrows yet?

My two or three deer so far...... soft point factory ammo.
not sure what to call them.

But iv got some fancy ballistic tip pills for cat sized deer.

Bergers and ballistic tips

Cup & core of various makes. Always found the Hornady bullet very reliable. Interlock spire points have been on the seen for years and work great for mid range. I use ELD-X & M for longer stuff.

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I use different projectiles and construction types for each calibre I have. As long as they are correctly matched to the game you are hunting should be no issue. Whilst out of fashion these days to some extent, the good old cup and core soft points always seem to work out to sensible ranges.

Anything that shoots straight and makes two holes.

Whutz-a-deer?

Depends on the rifle for me, and weather I am in Canada or NZ hunting, Things that bite and claw, make for a different choice, than I do in NZ.
bonded or partition in .260 .264 win, 300 H&H and 300 win, 9.3x62 unless shooting the 300 win for long range then a ELDX
,cup and cores or mechanical locked in 30-30, 7x57, 358 win,
7x64, interbond or SST
.223, 6x45, 6x47 rem, Serria blitz, v-max or H Point, depending on deer, coyotes or gophers,

I prefer threw and threw penetration, and the ability to break both shoulders, so normally heavy for cal, bullet weights and for the biggest game, I am likely to be legal to hunt, fair difference between a Moose/elk and a whitetail deer.

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Originally Posted by gadgetman

Whutz-a-deer?

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One of these.

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Originally Posted by Max Headroom

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One of these.

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I shall keep my eyes peeled.

Nosler ballistic tip 7mm 140gr (a Frangible cup and core ). I'm not into "saving meat"; the most wasted meat is the one that gets away. In my opinion.

I like it to open up fast and make a big shredded cavity inside. A large exit wound is ok but I dont like a 1 cm pencil out exit hole - that's a waste of kinetic energy.

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

Nosler ballistic tip 7mm 140gr (a Frangible cup and core ). I'm not into "saving meat"; the most wasted meat is the one that gets away. In my opinion.

I like it to open up fast and make a big shredded cavity inside. A large exit wound is ok but I dont like a 1 cm pencil out exit hole - that's a waste of kinetic energy.

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That’s a cracking good bullet.

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Originally Posted by kiwijames

That’s a cracking good bullet.

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I use the 150gn 7mmBT and am pretty happy with that. And the basic old 165gn Speer SPBT in the 308 bush pig. Slow and steady in that case.
I'm not into the theory of "if it goes all the way through it is a waste of energy". I figure if it goes through and makes a big hole as it is leaving it has expended enough energy to do the job.

+1 on the Nosler Bal Tips and Partitions. I load and shoot .22, 6.5mm & 7mm and while I’ve tried several different brands and types (including Norma Vulkan, Barnes TTSX (very good at short range and high velocity), Hornady SST and V-max, Sierra GK and Speer soft points, etc.), which all shot ok, the Nosler Ballistic Tips and Partitions have been the best all round bullets for consistent accuracy at the range, but also knocking every animal I shot off its feet and didn’t get up to run off.
A very close runner up for me is Norma Vulkan 156gr in 6.5 - Devastating and retain weight with good mushroom. Probably my top pick for big Stags.



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Bump

would be good to get this 100 votes.