Best Hunting bullet for mule Deer?

[lealj123]

I drew a Rifle Mule Deer tag in New mexico Unit 2B Im going to be hunting with a T/C 308 i am in the process of getting some shelles loaded for me. What Grain and Bullet would most of you Recommend for shots 300-500 yard range? I was Think of using (Berger 168grn)for whitetail deer in south texas i shoot (165 Hornady SST)

 

[TOPGUN]

Any bullet that will expand properly and that your rifle will shoot accurately in the 150 to 180 grain range will be fine. My Wyoming buddy also drew the 2b tag for 11/2-11/6 this year after also drawing it in 2011.

 

[MaineFlatlander]

Any quality bullet that works in YOUR rifle would be fine. I don't use a 308 so I can't help you there but I have switched to Barnes in all rifle loads for hunting with excellent results. Very accurate in MY rifles. Go with what works for you.

 

[hhunter23]

Nosler accubond



"Shoot Straight"

 

[lealj123]

Thank You i appreciate your advice

 

[lealj123]

Thank You for our advice

 

[lealj123]

Appreciate the advice. Well your buddy be hunt mule deer or elk? My hunt starts 11/19-11/23 which i was told was opening season

 

[bowhunt]

I am found of the 168 gr accubonds for that gun.

 

[travishunter3006]

Berger 168!!!! You won't find a better bullet!!! I took a nice buck in WY last year and a cow elk un UT last year with the 168 VLD.


The entry/exit on both animals was awesome/huge. I shoot an old Eddystone model 1917 (Built in 1918) and tried so many different brands of ammo through it. I started getting sub MOA groups (.3-.5") once I switched to Bergers.


Good luck!! Keep us updated on what you choose!

 

[lealj123]

thank you for you imput

 

[sagebrush]

I'm jealous of your tag.I would like to hunt there again one day. If your rifle likes the 165 gr SST, you have the perfect choice for mule deer. I shoot the 130 gr SST out of my .270 and it has killed several mule deer. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[lealj123]

thank you for your answering my question. I'm really pumped about this hunt it well be my first rifle hunt out west i am a bow hunter by heart but with the cost it takes to hunt out of state i decided this year to apply for evrything and i drew a rifle deer tag.I'm hunting opening weekend in october but i have been told the best hunting is in november but i well keep positive and hunt hard.

 

[mtmuley]

Why switch from the SST? Especially to a Berger. Yeah, the exit holes are big alright. Sounds like your rifle likes the SST and you've killed some deer with them, so I'd use the SST. mtmuley

 

[birdog]

Well Why would anyone ever switch. Yeah my dad shoots a paper plate at 300 yards with his 3006 and kills deer every year. The reasons we switch bullets or packs, or rifles, or binos is because there is a better product. If he gets more accuracy and a better exit wound, then that my make a lot of sense to switch if theres no difference then yeah why switch. Put them both to the test and go with the one that works the best.

 

[Timberline270]

Over the last few years we've taken a couple of deer and a few cow elk with Nosler's, I shoot 130 grain Accubonds and they have always preformed well even out past 400 yards.

 

[cabinfever]

berger vld & nosler accubonds are both great LR bullets

 

[hunts2much]

I love the barnes 168gr TTSK. Get .5 inch or better and dropped 5 deer and a pronghorn in their tracks last year.

 

[Blackjack]

+1 165 Hornady SST for value and effectiveness

 

[lealj123]

thank you forthe advice

 

[lealj123]

thank you forthe advice

 

[lealj123]

thank you for your input

 

[lealj123]

thank you for your input

 

[lealj123]

thank you for your input my thoughts exactly!!

 

[lealj123]

my 308 shoots very tight groups with SST no complaints . I'm a bow hunter by heart first and foremost but i decided to apply for everything this yr just to improve my odds of hunting in New Mexico . Im very excited about doing this hutn the area i'll be in well put me in a great chance of a big mule deer so i want to go prepared and ready. i figured there are many more mule deer hunters out there with valuable knowledge . thank you for responding

 

[tsbret]

wow...maybe I'm snake bit with the SST bullets I've killed both a Stone sheep and a Mule deer in a .270 with them and had to make follow up shots on both. Both of them partially fragmented upon impact and did not pass through the animals but made a huge mess internally. On the sheep the bullet hit the shoulder (quartering away shot) the remaining bullet base turned up the neck and out the base of the ear. Basically the impact broke his neck I guess but didn't kill him. But the fragments of lead and copper were everywhere in the shoulder. The same thing happened on a mule deer with a right behind the shoulder shot and it fragmented everywhere with bloodshot meat and punctured lungs and guts everywhere with bullet fragments... he may have been dead since his lungs looked pretty bad but I shot him again. Once again with severe meat damage. These are the most accurate bullets for my rifle but I've been concerned with the velocity they are loaded to perform at, the front end of the bullet doesn't hold up. Both of these cases could have been exceptions...I'm supposed hunt an Axis deer in the next couple of weeks so I'll try them again if I get a chance.

Lealj123, if the SST's work for you, the .308 caliber will surely take care of the rest of it with good shot placement...best of luck to you and let us how you do.

 

[lealj123]

Thank you for your imput, i have only shot whitetail deer with sst but they hav(e
all been neck shots due to close range and wanting to save meat

 

[springvilleshooter]

Nosler Accubond. Accurate. High BC. Shoots like a Ballistic Tip, performs like a Partition from the dozen or so animals I have taken with them. Any bullet will probably work fine, but I think these are the best.---SS