Big and heavy or slow and fast

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When I lived in Tn I used a old SKS and later a 243 for deer- the 243 is still my favorite. 300 yards is about all I would push a 243 for deer. A 6.5 CM in a lighter sporter type rifle like a RAR or one of the Savage rifles would easily cover that 300 yards there and anywhere else.
 
Varminterror said:
For 300 yard deer hunting, light and fast bullets are where I live. I’ve killed deer with cartridges between 223rem up to 458 Lott, lightning fast lasers to rainbow trajectory punkin’ chunkers, 800fps to 3400… For fast anchoring and swift death, the pinnacle for me is something in the realm of 6 ARC, 243win, 257bob, etc. 100-120grn bullets at 2700-3000fps. Let them punch through to midline and explode like a grenade, and deer crumple fast. Lose a half dollar sized circle of meat on the inbound side and the same on the outbound.

Lots of other rounds work, but almost everything else comes with more recoil and more powder burn, and many popular cartridges don’t do the job as effectively.
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I don’t have as many data points as you or others on this board, but I’m coming to the same realization. I’ve taken about 20 whitetail with .300WM shooting 150 gr TTSX, 165 TSX, and 180 Nosler ballistic tips, federal fusions, and federal soft points. The large majority of the shots were double lung and/or hearts shots and I only had a couple drop in their tracks. I’ve now shot three whitetail with .25-06 and 100 gr bullets (1 Partition and 2 TTSX) and all three have dropped where they stood. The .25-06 is my go to deer rifle now.
 
I'm a huge 270 fan. I've shot many deer with my 270 and I've never had one go more then 50 yards. So I'd say that I'm with the speed kills crowd
 
Of the cartridges listed in the OP.
I definitely pick 338 federal over 22-250.
The difference between 7-08 and 308 is just personal choice. I like 308 based on available ammo, but if I saw a rifle that fit me in 7-08 it would be mine without hesitation.
 
Since I gave up bow hunting in the early 80's I haven't really hunted deer other than the few that walked into me when I held a tag but I was actually hunting elk. After killing a few more of them, I picked up muzzleloaders after hitting two elk with an arrow and not being able to bring them down. Thereafter I had much better luck with a .54 cal Maxiball and .50 PRB through the 80's up to 2001. Moving on, I've killed elk with a 6.5mm Swede and 308 Win.
The Swede, using either the 140gr Partition or the Interlock, and the .308 using 165gr Accubond has worked for me from less than 100yds to one that the ranch wrangler measured with his range finder at 277yd.
I'd go with bullet placement and penetration.
 
WisBorn said:
Bonded ?
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So far, no - just regular ol' Sierra BTHPs. All I've used my 308 Norma Mag on is mule deer though, and 165gr Sierra BTHPs work great on them. They'd probably work just as well on pronghorns too - if I ever draw another pronghorn tag.
I'm getting too danged old for elk hunting. If I ever did, I might consider using more heavily constructed bullets. For mule deer though - I haven't recovered one of those 165gr Sierra BTHPs yet because they went all the way through. :thumbup:
 
I am squarely in the heavier and slower Elmer camp. I like 35 caliber bullets in any stripe. Starts at 35 rem, 358 winchester, 9x56 MS, 35 Whelen. I have taken game with all and blood trails are profuse and generally very short.Bolt, lever, pump or auto there is a 35 for each. What’s not to love?
 
Slow and heavy was the standard of the black powder years. Fast and light was the over response. The sweet spot was in between. For deer excellent options are: .257 Roberts, .243 W, 7mm-08, .270 W, .30-30, .25-06, 6.5 creedmore (and Swede, Grendel), anything .30 cal but not .30 carbine, 35 REM, 350 Legend.
 
Yes, I have a tang-safety Ruger 77 with a stubby ER Shaw barrel, the gun is very light, I think right at 7#. 225 is a nice bullet weight for the .350. I don't know what speed the 300 grain Barnes travel, but as it's my berry-picking/charging-Grizz load, not too worried about trajectory. !!! I have lots of Speer 200 and 250 grain bullets, if I ever wanted to hunt deer or elk with it.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Don't forget the .350RemMag, the Whelen's ballistic twin. I lob the 300 grain Barnes bullets out of mine.
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Don’t own any magnums and have never found a need for one. Not against them just don’t have a need. I like eating right up to the hole.
 
9x56MS said:
Don’t own any magnums and have never found a need for one. Not against them just don’t have a need. I like eating right up to the hole.
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It's not "really" a magnum... in the usual "magnum sense", it really is the ballistic equivalent of the .35Whelen but when using a shorter barrel and action. The 350RM has slightly more capacity and is loaded to slightly more pressure. In the Rem 600s, M7, 673, and short action 700s the .350RM has to be kept at around 2.82" OAL which limits bullets some. With 250s and under they're about twins.

In longer barrels the .350RM will better the 35W, but with the .350RM in 18.5s-20" barrels they're about equal.
 
I'm not sure about the really big .35's, like the Norma or Wetherby's (Whetherby? Weatherby?) But the 350 and the Whelen can be loaded down easily to .35 Rem velocity, .358, etc., and you can still eat right up to the hole. Load a heavy cast bullet at moderate velocity, and you can eat the hole!!! I can attest that the 350 shoots very well and accurately with reduced loads, and even shoots pistol bullets accurately.
 
This is a pic of my forming .350RM from 7mm RM, the last cartridge is loaded with a 180XTP pistol bullet that I ring steel with at 300 yds. This summer I'm gong to try some .358 coated just to have a round to practice off-hand with.

sgw90pPl.jpg
 
I'm shooting the 350 Legend it the best of both worlds. I shooting a 170gr to 180gr at about 2600fps, that's plenty of speed & energy to bring down a deer that's the biggest thing we have to shoot around here.
 
Chuck R. said:
This is a pic of my forming .350RM from 7mm RM, the last cartridge is loaded with a 180XTP pistol bullet that I ring steel with at 300 yds. This summer I'm gong to try some .358 coated just to have a round to practice off-hand with.

View attachment 1122325
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That is some serious forming. My .350 came with combination of around 300+ loaded rounds and brass, (factory ammo, I would not shoot anyone's reloads) and about four full boxes of Speer 200 and 250 grain bullets. Still can't believe the guy threw them in on the deal. Wasn't even part of the deal, it was a: "oh by the way, you can have this stuff too" after the deal. !!!!!!
 
That big boy fits the definition of Big, Heavy, and Fast! Last time I saw one like that, I tried so hard to get ahead of it that I wound up five hours into the woods, with one hour of daylight left. !!!! Never did see him again. Built me a fire and spent the night. Didn't mind going hungry, but I would have begged borrowed or killed for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Yes, if you put the bullet in the right place, hard to tell if it got hit with a .308, .300 or 7mm Mag.
 
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