Blacktail deer cartridge

[Steve300xcw]

When did deer hunting get so F’ing complicated?

the day after they invented talk forums

 

[wyosam]

257 Roberts improved.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FredH]

30-30.

 

[Blacktail_Brown]

That’s an interesting claim

He might be right... now finding them in PNW brush after running just 20 yards might be a different story.

 

[Pwhite]

Anything bigger than a 308 is either overkill or the gun seconds as a bear protection gun. 30/06 has killed more black tails than any other cartridge.

 

[longrangelead]

Finally!
A scientific Wallopometer we can all understand!

 

[Andouille]

Anything bigger than a 308 is either overkill or the gun seconds as a bear protection gun. 30/06 has killed more black tails than any other cartridge.

I generally agree regarding 30-06, with a caveat that bullet choice is important. I've shot 2 blacktail with 165gr TTSX at under 100yds with quick kills and minimal meat loss, and a similar result with two caribou.. However, I shot two bucks with 165gr bonded bullets at 40-70 yds and had excessive meat loss, with huge exit wounds from lung shots that destroyed a lot of rib and shoulder meat. Devastating kills, but more meat waste than I prefer.
So from this 4 deer and 2 bou sample size, I've determined that I'll shoot 150gr cx next time to reduce recoil and meat damage, plus I have a load that is incredibly accurate to 400+ yds with my 18" barrel suppressed 30-06.

If I could have any cartridge for blacktail, it would probably be 6.5CM or 25 CM with a 18" barrel and suppressor with a 3-10x scope, running bonded or solid copper, fragmenting or high expansion bullets (Hammer, makers etc.)

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I usually just use a 308 or a 30-06.

 

[repins05]

I have had multiple black tail double lunged....some with blown up hearts ..... run 50 to 100 yards with a 300wm. Also have had some drop dead in their tracks. Not sure I would say they are the easiest animals pound for pound...... It also seems to me that mature BT bucks can take a bullet better then a forky etc. Sometimes not always.

They all die different. Isn't that some of the fun?

Anyway, I can tell you that I decided to use a 300rum with 245 bergers a few years ago. Shot a buck at 400 yards. He hunched up and fell over. I can also tell you that I will never use that rifle again for BT. Didnt lose too much meat but the damage created was obscene. I hunted with a 300wm and wsm for years and never saw that type of damage. I think a 6.5 or 7 is a good all-around caliber and multifunctional for BT.