Buck Snort
Member
Is the 130 gr. HP a sound bullet for deer or should I stick with the 150 gr. bullets?
It's not a question of velocity or energy; it's a question of bullet performance. If you slip a fast frangible bullet between the ribs it can produce spectacular kills. It looks like the deer swallowed a bomb because that's more or less what happened.I got to looking in my reloading manual and I see the 257 Robts. +P launches a 115 gr. bullet at almost 2900 fps. I know a LOT of deer have been taken with the standard load in that gun. I find it hard to believe the 130 gr. bullet at 3000 fps from the '06 would not be an effective deer cartridge. Sure, the SD advantage goes to the Robts. but geeze s 130 gr. bullet @ 3000 fps is certainly nothing to sneeze at! Am I grabbing at straws here?
I feel the same way about my 165gr Accubond. I hit a doe on the shoulder. When I skinned it there was an 8" bruise around the ENTRANCE hole! I must confess though, it was out of a 300 WSM.CaptCurt said it right. Go with the biggest bullet you can get away with!!! In your case a 150 grain is "kinda light," the 165 grain is "ideal" and the 180 grain is "kinda heavy," but all three will work fine for deer. By the way, I saw what those 30-06 150 grain hornady interlocks did to a 200 lb whitetail at 50 yards, and there is no way I would use anything else.