300 win mag for deer

I owned a 300 win mag for many years and it is an excellent caliber. I used 180 gr Sierra Game King bullets in it and they preformed well. I always thought 165 gr bullets were a little light for that caliber so I didn't give them an honest try. If one was to go to a lighter grain bullet it would have to be a well constructed bullet. Having said that, I sold the 300 win mag and kept my 30-06.:D
 
I've taken a few deer with the .300wm, some @ 50yds, some @ 250yds, used Speer Hot-Cor 180gr on all with great success.
 
Well thanks everyone for all of your responses. Maybe this is a dumb question but i need to ask as i don't know the answer. Will every brand of bullet shoot differently or is it the weight of the bullet that will make it shoot differently, Federal loads many different premium bullets at the same weight. I don't know how you feel but premiums are expensive so do you just go and buy a bunch of different weights and bullet types?
 
every brand and or bullet weight *can* shoot differently, only your rifle will tell you how different. Only one way to find that out, too.

If you want to use a premium, and dont handload, you're going to pay ALOT. It may be good incentive to get into handloading your own. Then you can reload premium ammo for the same price or less than plain jane factory ammo with Power Points, Cor Lokts, etc. (not to mention making "practice" ammo with Hornady Speer or Sierra's for $15 a box!)

for a decent priced box of factory ammo with a pretty good bullet, check out the Federal Fusion line, the 180 grain 300 WM should do pretty well on anything you point it at IMO.
 
vincefrommantioba said:
Well thanks everyone for all of your responses. Maybe this is a dumb question but i need to ask as i don't know the answer. Will every brand of bullet shoot differently or is it the weight of the bullet that will make it shoot differently, Federal loads many different premium bullets at the same weight. I don't know how you feel but premiums are expensive so do you just go and buy a bunch of different weights and bullet types?
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No matter how knowledgeable a person is on the subject of bullets and ballistics they were where you are and asked the same questions you are asking at some point in time.;)
I you are buying factory ammunition you should try a couple of different manufacturers. Accuracy will differ, to some extent, between different weight bullets(depending upon how great a difference in weight) and could vary quite a bit between manufacturers. Find a brand which shoots accurately out of your rifle and stick to it.
 
I used the factory Federal Power-shok's 180's for deer, and they were accurate. I never had the need for premium bullets for deer, until I started handloading.:)
 
Winchester Supreme 180gr Accubonds in Factory ammo. If you reload, 180gr Accubonds, or maybe the 165gr.

I been using 180gr bullets in my 300WM and since 2004 the Accubonds, and since 2006 reloads. Exception performance on all big game.
 
Woodsman said:
Whatever you find on sale or cheap that'll group well. The rest is bull.
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bullet performance is not BS. The only connection you have with your deer or whatever is the bullet you fire out of your rifle. Why skimp and use something less than ideal, and end up with unneeded meat waste, or worse? :confused: I agree that just about any 180 grainer in a 300 magnum will suffice for deer hunting, but there is definetely good and bad bullets
 
Hornady 300WM 180gr interlock, less than 125 yards, the only waste of meat was half of the heart...:D

deerdown.jpg
 
For deer? I have Killed deer with either a 300 wby or 300 wm with 180 gr HDY SPs, Sierra GKs, Nosler BTs, and Nosler Parts! and one with a Barns X bullet.
Love the 300s for deer (my favorite cartridge) to hunt deer with. Do you need it no but i like em!
None have gone far, and I would rather a soft fast opening bullet for thin skin game to be quite honest. Experienced to opposite a few years back with a 7mm RUM and a X bullet passed though lung shot and the deer ran like he was not hit, penciled? for some dammed reason, like an arrow. I retrieved to deer with a decent blood trail, and the bullet seemed to work as it was intended, but it did not seem to transfer the energy (shock) to the animal! Like I have seen with the soft bullets, and with these soft bullts on deer sized game i have seen some very dramatic quick kills!

Been Temped to try a SMK bullet out of my 300 sendaro to see what it would do in the boiler area? I am sure it to would down the deer. Thin ribs and at most 1 1/2 feet thick through, it dont take much to do what you need.
Of course I would only try this on a very controlled shot!
 
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I use 180 gr accubonds for everything... Moose, deer, blackbear. they've worked great for me. But it's still more of a case of what shoots the best for you. I tryed to load up 165's for it but couldn't get the group I was looking for out of them.
 
the_big_mike said:
whatever feels the most comfortable.

just place your shot.
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Best advice so far. Pretty much any bullet will kill a deer out of a 300WM, no need to go premium IMHO.

One of my favorire bullets for deer is my dwindling stock of 150gr Winchester Silvertips. Shoots very accurate out of my 300, allowing me to "hit that part of the deer I'm not gonna eat" at a variety of distances.

Just pick a bullet that shoots accurately in your gun. Weights and construction are not that important for the most part.
 
In 300 Win Mag I've used 150gr Power Points, CoreLokts, SST's and Partitions and 165gr Interbonds on deer. All worked very well for me...you certainly don't need a premium bullet; just get whatever you're using to the right spot.

For excellent price/quality in factory loads I recommend Winchester Power Points (150 or 180gr).
 
I wear premium underwear when I go deer hunting. Always works for me. Leave that cheap stuff at home. You don't want old, holey underwear when it really counts when Mr. Boss Buck comes by. If you are going to make it in your drawers, "premium" will keep it there and stop it from rolling down your pant legs.

..this is about as usefull a "tip" as premium bullets on deer.
 
Shot placement is key. Had a buddy pile drive one with a 300 and hit in the front shoulder. Mistake. Just make sure you try to use something that will not turn into shrapnel inside.
 
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