View Full Version : best bullet for deer
SwampF0X
05-18-2011, 11:42 PM
What is the best subsonic bullet for hunting deer? Is it the 220 or 240SMK? Or is there something cheaper???
thanks,
swampf0x
Spanners
05-19-2011, 03:37 AM
Should bullet COST be an issue when hunting?
I dont know about you, but the bullets I shoot the 1 or 2 animals with during a hunting trip are worth less than the 1 (of many) beers I'll drink! :cool: let alone the cost of everything else for the trip
SHould the focus not be on the BEST bulet you can have for the job rather than saving a few cents of dollars?
If you are blazing an AK at the range, then you want the cheapest ammo you can find, however in a hunting senario where a couple of dollars might mean the difference between dead and deer running away wounded, is it worth skimping on??
I hunt for dinner - a trophy is something that pops up at the right time right place - however I'd like them all to be dead regardless.
If for eg you could get the BEST subsonic bullet for $5 ea vs a SMK with very questionable performance, would you not spend another $4 on that dead deer?
Theres prob more then $4 of meat you dont take home after knocking one over. :grin:
Just my opinion and all :tongue:
dvanncvann
05-19-2011, 08:15 AM
Either will do the job with proper shot placement. Neither will expand. Outlaw bullets makes thin jacketed bullets that will expand at subsonic velocities but they ain't cheap. You may want to consider something in the 120 gr range at supersonic velocities. The lighter bullets are cheaper also.
HUNTER2
05-19-2011, 10:03 AM
Clearwater Custom makes a 220 and 240 gr that works ina bolt or single shot, Lehigh makes an all brass notched nose with a 17 cal pay load, Diamondback Custom makes a 220 that works in everything. They all work very. They are about a dollar apiece - cheap for what they do! 125 NBT and Hornady 110 V-Max work good at max..
Riverguide
05-19-2011, 11:56 AM
I was given a bit of advice a long time ago when all the expensive "instead of lead" shot came on the market. I was remarking about how expensive Bismouth and other alternatives were. My friend looked a me and pointed to my truck, boat, dog, gun, decoys, licenses and calls. He said:
"Boy, with all the money you have invested in your hunting hobby, the cheapest thing you will do all day is pull that trigger. If there is something better on the shelf, buy it. Make everyshot count"
Having said all of that, there is nothing that makes up for practice at the range making careful shots. I'm looking at the Outlaw bullets but for some reason, the guy has not called me back (HINT). I can tell you that I downed three deer this past year with the 125 NPBT traveling around 2250 FPS. They are terminal for sure.
-Riverguide
fasttwist
05-19-2011, 02:00 PM
Sorry didnt get the measage. Send an Email to fasttwist@yahoo.com
Alleycat
05-19-2011, 05:03 PM
http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz229/alleycat72_bucket/Test3-19-11004.jpg
http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz229/alleycat72_bucket/Test3-19-11002.jpg
http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz229/alleycat72_bucket/Test3-19-11025.jpg
SwampF0X
05-19-2011, 05:06 PM
I can spend the money for the SMKs which have been reported as good deer bullets because they tumble when they hit meat, but they are a bit expensive for practice shooting. I was hoping to find something that is good for both practice and hunting. I know I can use Barnes X bullets (my personal fav) at supersonic speeds and they do excellent on deer but, I want to hunt quietly.
PS, NO I would not spend $4 for a single bullet, even if it was the best. SMKs are pricey enough as it is.
swampf0x
SwampF0X
05-19-2011, 05:10 PM
What bullets are those Allycat? Were they shot at subsonic velocities? Will they feed in an AR? Where can I get them?
thanks,
swampf0x
Alleycat
05-19-2011, 10:35 PM
Outlaw State bullets.
Yes.
Yes.
http://www.outlawstatebullets.com/
As far as the most economical heavy Match bullet, I'd go with the 225 Hornady. The Match bullets sometimes tumble. Your best bet is to shoot for the head or neck if you use them. Think of it this way, where would you shoot the deer with a .22 LR to kill it quick? The expandables give you the advantage of taking heart/lung shots and having reliable kills. The Match bullets can do it, but are far from ideal on conventional heart/lung shots.
SwampF0X
05-20-2011, 12:30 AM
I think I'd rather take a lung shot, given the trajectory of the 300wtf. If the outlaw bullet mushrooms, then it should drop fairly quickly. Right?
Are the 225 outlaws much better than the 220 outlaws?
If I were to use 220 outlaws for hunting and Hornady interlock 220's..................loaded the same.............should my POI and velocity be close the same?
I've got a bunch of 180gr bullets for practice for now, but I'd like to keep my loads the same if at all possible in the near future.
swampf0x
Alleycat
05-20-2011, 09:04 AM
The 220s feed better in an AR. Trajectory with any subsonic will be close out to 200 yards. You will have zero shift, but a few click on the scope will fix that.
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