125gr Sierra Spitzer for Deer

[JEC]

While working up a load for my latest 308 Win rebarrel, I tried some 125gr Sierra Spitzer Pro Hunters as fouler's...and to my surprise, 3 shot groups @100M are seldom bigger than 1/2". I have never shot game with a bullet this light and am wondering if these 125's would be suitable for deer..or are the jackets too thin? Also, anybody have have Quickload with velocity estimates for this bullet comming out of a 22" barrel pushed by 47gr of Varget?

 

[purple]

A 150 or 165gr .308 bullet has better sectional density than a 125gr and will maintain a better ballistic profile over hunting distances. To quote Sierra on their 125gr,"It is very destructive at high velocity and is an excellent long range varmint bullet. When loaded to medium velocity it is an excellent low recoil hunting bullet suited to medium game".

 

[mmattockx]

Lots of deer have been killed with 100gr.-120gr. bullets in the 6mm and .257 sizes over the years. Your 125gr. .308 bullets will not have a great BC, but should be fine at the typical 0-200yd ranges deer are shot at.

Mark

 

[brobones]

Don't use them! They are great for yotes and badgers, but not deer. I shot a yote with the 130 grain and the critter litterally exploded. Keep them for the varmints that you want to wreck.

 

[mudgunner49]

I can't speak to the Sierra but the biggest deer I've shot was with a 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip from my first Norinco M14...

 

[Ganderite]

I used to load these as target bullets for my kid's 308 when they were only 6. Very accurate but wind sensitive beyond 300 yards. max target range was limted to 600 yards.

 

[snowshoe]

I have used Remington 125g bullets in a bolt action .30-30, and took a few deer with them. They work ok, but I prefer a bigger bullet.

 

[Gatehouse]

An outstanding lightweight .30 caliber bullet is the 130gr TTSX...

 

[1shot]

Not ideal, but it likely won't bounce off either.

 

[rem338win]

I loaded 110gr Hornady sp bullet in 300 WM for my father at 3600fps and he made holes through both side of mule deer for a couple years and shot his biggest Whitetail with them. I am sure they will kill deer, just avoid the raking shots.

 

[Pathfinder]

The SPT's are fairly tough not exactly a varmint bullet....I was going to load that same bullet in my wife's .308 win....and do a few impact tests.

I know a couple guys who where hunting deer with 125 gr. ballistic tips....no reported issues.

 

[Eagleye]

I have shot varmints with that bullet in a 30-06, and found them to be quite explosive. I would be worried about a large surface wound without penetartion on a deer with them. You might have 9 in a row that work fine, but the 10th one will cause a lost animal and make you feel super rotten. Choose a sturdier bullet for even deer size targets. Eagleye.

 

[Al-Sway]

I haven't used the Sierra 125 grain, but I have used the Hornady 130 grain and I have had good results in deer hunting with that bullet. Good accuracy, and complete penetration on mule deer without excessive damage. Doesn't answer your question on the Sierra, but the 130 grain bullet can work very well in a .308, depending on the bullet.

 

[SoBored]

Don't focus so much on grain weight, especially from caliber to caliber. It has more to do with what the bullet was designed to do.

If you buy a lighter weight 308 bullet made for varmints, you're may not get desirable performance on larger game. More meat damage on the surface, bullet fragmentation which will lead to loss of penetration. Trust what the bullet maker says.