Close Range Whitetail Bullets

[KenLee]

I shot a buck right at 120 yards broadside with a .308 using REM Soft Points.

That buck ran right at 100 yards and we found 0 blood.
We grid searched for 2 hours to no avail. Found him the next day by sheer luck. It took 4 people grid searching about 3 hours in total to find this deer.

That’s how thick the places we hunt can get. You physically have to be standing next to the deer to find them.

Yep they are slack on pass through on good deer

 

[KenLee]

Hornady Whitetail rounds in about any caliber.

 

[Lytro]

I'd go with a Nosler Partition.

If you will never shoot past 100 I would consider different calibers if you have them though (12 ga, .45/70, .357 mag, 44 mag).

 

[KenLee]

I'd go with a Nosler Partition.

If you will never shoot past 100 I would consider different calibers if you have them though (12 ga, .45/70, .357 mag, 44 mag).

When I shoot deer in the base of the neck with my Marlin 1895 GBL, they spin a quarter turn on the way down. 325 gr Hornady FTX Leverevolution factory ammo hitting hard.

 

[Drenalin]

I’ve had great results with 150 grain Federal Fusions from up close to 140 yards out of my 30-06. The Hornady American Whitetails have done the job too, but the Fusions are more accurate in my rifle and create more damage. Frankly, both are very much overkill for whitetails.

 

[KenLee]

I’ve had great results with 150 grain Federal Fusions from up close to 140 yards out of my 30-06. The Hornady American Whitetails have done the job too, but the Fusions are more accurate in my rifle and create more damage. Frankly, both are very much overkill for whitetails.

I didn't think of the old school Winchester Power Points. They will also wreck em close in. Those in 150 gr from a 308 is all that a buddy of mine ever uses.

 

[LoggerDan]

If you are really wanting a deer to drop instantly and you are shooting close, why not a good old 12 bore with a loose choke and #4 or #1 buck and blast the neck near the skull? Otherwise, any old cup and core run of the mill bullet will do.

 

[Szwampdonkey]

3” Magnum 12 Gauge Slug for thick brush/swamps up close. They will go nowhere fast.

 

[djewell87]

Nosler Accubonds

 

[nosajnh]

Winchester Copper impacts or the Winchester Deer Season XP Copper impacts. Great weight retention and wound channel at sub 100 yds

 

[Long Cut]

If you are really wanting a deer to drop instantly and you are shooting close, why not a good old 12 bore with a loose choke and #4 or #1 buck and blast the neck near the skull? Otherwise, any old cup and core run of the mill bullet will do.

12 gauge slugs (buckshot is illegal on all public land here) aren’t very accurate past 120-150 yards.

Most of my encounters will be about 150 yards and in, but I want to have accurate lethality out to 250-300yards for when that powerline/gas line or clear cut opportunity occurs.

 

[Long Cut]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Right now my main platform is 6.5 CM utilizing a 20” & 21” barrels. The one rifle will be cut down and suppressed at 16.5” BL.

Right now I believe my “long range” setup will use either ELDM’s, TMK’s or Partitions. “Long range” in Georgia looks like 200-600 yard engagements. FPS will be roughly 2,700 at the muzzle.

My “short range” setup I’m still unsure, considering Nosler BT’s, TTSX’s, Hammer Hunters. “Short range” in Georgia will be 0-200 yards, with most in that 50-120 yard area. FPS will be 2,500 at the muzzle @ 16.5”

I understand the “any bullet will do” argument and you’re right, but I’m looking for the BEST bullet for the given platform, circumstances and yardages.

 

[Macintosh]

It doesn’t seem to me that 600 yards is crazy long, I would think you could find one bullet that’s plenty good for everything? It probably wont be a solid copper out of a short barreled 6.5cm if 600 yards is on the menu, but at 2500fps mv you shouldnt have issues with bullets being too splashy. why not just pick a bullet that will expand at your max rrange impact velocity and call it good?

 

[Rich M]

but you said inside 100 yds and 308. Now we’re in man bun category out to 600 yards.

Checking out.

Good luck this fall. Say hi if you see me.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Six days ago at the start of this thread, it was .308 as your example, now it's a 6.5? And the title of this thread is "close range", now we're talking 600 yards. It's been said now that 600 yards is not crazy long. 600 yards is a long ways.

Good luck with your quest and advice you follow.

 

[Long Cut]

but you said inside 100 yds and 308. Now we’re in man bun category out to 600 yards.

Checking out.

Good luck this fall. Say hi if you see me.

Where did you get .308 from???

Granted, I have mentioned 100 yards to 600 but I mentioned in that post this is for 2 separate rifles … one for a 0-200 yards AND 200-600 yards.

Either way, I apologize for my rambling and appreciate the help.

 

[Long Cut]

Six days ago at the start of this thread, it was .308 as your example, now it's a 6.5? And the title of this thread is "close range", now we're talking 600 yards. It's been said now that 600 yards is not crazy long. 600 yards is a long ways.

Good luck with your quest and advice you follow.

I apologize for the rambling, I have gone from 0-100 yards to 200-600 yards… but this is for 2 different rifles.

I even mentioned my 200-600 yard rifle setup will probably be with ELDX’s, but I was still unsure if I was going to use a different bullet for my 16” 6.5 CM.

I don’t own a .308, only man buns and crocs.

 

[TheHammer]

Under 100yds, 9 of 10 times I’ll grab my 450bm. I’ve tried hornady 250s (what the gun likes) fusion 260s and barnes 250s, all had similar results. Otherwise it’s 168gr ttsx out of a 308.

 

[Long Cut]

Under 100yds, 9 of 10 times I’ll grab my 450bm. I’ve tried hornady 250s (what the gun likes) fusion 260s and barnes 250s, all had similar results. Otherwise it’s 168gr ttsx out of a 308.

How are you liking the .450 BM?

 

[Macintosh]

600 is a heck of a long ways…bordering on totally unrealistic for most people. I only said “not crazy long” in that most lead bullets still traveling fast enough to expand fine and you are not as much into the zone of “bullets designed specifically for LR”. My point was that if a 16” 6.5cm with 2500fps mv is the tool, close range performance is kind of easy and theres not really a huge reason to use different ammo on a day when a longer shot “could” happen. Ie even with our new situation, k.i.s.s.