What have you found to be the best bullet (make & type) and bullet weight for whitetail hunting.

I know that's a bit broad, so let me set some parimeters:
* Will be reloading for Browning BAR in 30-06.
* Hunting area is mostly wooded and majority of shots will be under 100 Yds.
* However the area does have some fields and clear-cuts where you may get a 200-250 Yd shot.
* I'm really looking for a "drop em in their tracks" load.

Thanks

firstshot
-----------------------------
Make your first shot count!

I'll start with a caveat - there is no such thing as a "drop 'em in their tracks" load, at least not every time. Given that, I like the Hornady bullet for deer. I usually use 165's, but have also used 150's and 180's. All work reliably, and would suit your ranges fine.

165gr. Partitions, works on the big ones, works on the small ones, works on the hogs that show up, as well.

My father-in-law has taken over 100 whitetail bucks, most in conditions you describe. He only uses factory ammo and since switching to the Wichester Supreme Ballistic Tip loads when they came out, he hasn't had a deer take more than a couple of steps. He's currently shooting the 168gr. load. My brother-in-law has the same experience with this load. They both always take shoulder shots, but as an experiment he put one behind the shoulder on a deer crossing a pipeline this season. Even then, it didn't make it to the other side. Closest thing I've heard of to a dead right there load.

Sierra(GameKings)- 165gr BTSP's, H4350 @ 2750/2800fps. I can't speak ill of the Partitions. Friends all like them.

Gents,

Agree with the consensous. Mine is a 165 Grain Hornady Boat-tail, and it gives yeoman service. Basically, anything 150 or above will be fine as watermelon wine.

The best hunter I have ever known was my wife's Pap-paw. Before I started furnishing his bullets, he would more than likely dig into the truck box and scratch out five or six loose cartridges, which may or may not have been the same grain, style, or even manufactorer. Some may have been bouncing around in there for several seasons past. An excellent field shot, this practice never seemed to handicap Old Pap.

Good hunting,

Steve

IMO the best way to a "drop 'em in their tracks" load is to be a "drop 'em in their tracks" shot...that being said, i agree that there isn't always a drop 'em in their tracks bullet. However, i load 150 gr WW Silvertips in my '06, and have for years.

For your range and caliber I would narrow as much down as posible to make the selection easier. First off, I wouldn't even consider the 150 gr. when you have the power to push the 165 gr. You're not shooting a .270. The 180 gr. would be fine if you had a 300 Mag. So that puts you right back at the 165 gr. or 168 gr. bullet. I have used Nosler Partitions and have never been let down, if you like plastic tips I would say the new Nosler AccuBonds but they are not offered in 30 cal. 165 gr. So the next in line for plastic tips would be the 165 gr. Swift Scirrocco. Powder of choice if you reload would be either the H4350 or the VV N-550.

Hope that helps.

AJ

In the 30-06 and NOT using premium bullets, I went to the 180 grain Core-Lokts for the majority of my whitetail deer hunts. No need to worry about shooting them close and damaging a lot of meat either. I seen my share of deer hit with those 150 grain bullets and it just looked like they exploded on the surface to much making a big hole on entry and sometimes just as big on the exit.

Now on the other hand, it will usually shoot from one end of the deer to the other, so any type position of the deer will give you some kind of shot. It is the same weight I always used in my 300 Win mag, so I just bought one bullet weight to cover most things that I did hunt. The 180 did the trick!

firstshot:

Considering your estimate of shots is a 250yard max., there isn't any real good reason to use the light fast bullets...180gr. should do the trick just fine. 180 is on the heavy end for a deer only bullet, but it has advantages. Performance at 200-250yards will be fine...perhaps giving up some exapsnion for more penetration that you need. It's those ones that pop up under your feet in teh bursh and you blast at 20yards that test a bullets construction....and for those, the slower/heavier 180's seem to do exceptionally well.

IF you feel the need for premimum bullets, go right ahead...won't hurt a thing. But for deer, the standard 180gr. Hornady, Speer, Remington, Sierra ahs been arround for so long, if there any bugs in the system, they'd have been long found out by now.

What have you found to be the best bullet (make & type) and bullet weight for whitetail hunting.

I know that's a bit broad, so let me set some parimeters:
* Will be reloading for Browning BAR in 30-06.
* Hunting area is mostly wooded and majority of shots will be under 100 Yds.
* However the area does have some fields and clear-cuts where you may get a 200-250 Yd shot.
* I'm really looking for a "drop em in their tracks" load.

Thanks

firstshot
-----------------------------
Make your first shot count!
Firstshot,
Everything that you seem to expect has been done very well by the 150 grain flat base Hornaday Interlock.
It gives quick kills,and,except for a broadside double shoulder shot,does not destroy a lot of meat.
Frank

Thanks to all for your replies!!!!!

Since shots over 300 Yds are highly unlikely, I decided to start with a bit heavier for caliber 180 Grn bullet. With the 180 grn dictating slower velocities, I chose to start with the Nosler Ballistic Tips. The theory being relatively fast expansion, yet heavier weight for momentum / penetration.

I will also give the Hornady SST's, the Swift Scirocco's and even give the CoreLokts and other basic PSP's a try with the primary objective of finding the combination that my gun likes the most.

Just got all of my reloading equipment in and set up and I'm looking forward to a spring / summer of trying different loads and getting to know my new Browning BAR.


firstshot
-----------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

.308" 165 grain Hornady Interbond

firstshot
In the '06 a 150-180gr bullet doesn't much matter if it's a bonded core or plain old Core-lok they will take any whitetail. I dropped my first Muley doe with one shot at 80 yds with a Speer 165 like a ton of stone- she fell so fast I though I had missed!! On whitetail the '06 is almost to much gun in my book and god knows you definately don't need any Magnum calibers!!