Best bullet for white tail deer coming out of a .308 Win, Savage 99

rci2950

rci2950

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As my other thread about load data and Nosler partitions in my Savage 99 has made me question myself on my bullet decision... I am going to ask another question. Taking into consideration the limitations of the Savage 99 and the .308 win cartridge being fired from that rifle. What would you guys suggest as the best bullet for smaller white tail deer? I have roughly 7 weeks to figure this out. If the 165 grain Nosler partitions weren't the best choice I would rather not waste them.. i can just put them aside and use them with my 30-06 when i decide to use that one for the season (probably next year)... So no big deal.

There are all sorts of weights, brand names and bullet types...

My situation is

Will be using IMR 4166 powder... I like the idea of the advertised stability in cold temperatures...

I will be hunting a soybean/corn field. So sitting at the edge of the woods waiting for a deer to step out.

I will be shooting at...

under 200 pound white tail deer... I have never gotten any really large deer out of that spot. Always yearlings.

Under 300 yards range. Most likely will be 100 to 150 yards... Maximum if i was feeling confident would be the 300... but not likely.

What should i be using?

I appreciate any input you can give... Thank you for not getting frustrated at my asinine questions.

Pic of rifle for the curious.

WP_20170730_001.jpg
 
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Speer Hot Cor, Hornady Interlock or SST, really anything other than a varmint bullet will work fine on small whitetails at the stated ranges. I like Barnes TSX or Hornady GMX bullets for the lead free factor.
 
Ive killed a lot of deer with a 150gr sierra pro hunter. Nothing but stellar results. Im sure you would be served just as well with sierra or hornady or even nosler ballistic tips. No need to use a premium bullet for deer imo.
 
A good round nose 150 gr. Or, if you think a longer shot a 150 gr. Nosler ballistic tip or Accubond. You don't need anything fancy here.
 
+1 or however may for a Cup and Core 150gr and loaded for accuracy not speed, lower end of the load data the better for wiping off a few FPS initially, to skip any iffy close impact high speed dramas, unlikely on smaller deers unless you strike front leg bone smack on.

the rifle looks good an doesn't need to be stressed, 150gr at over 2500fps is plenty.
WL
 
I would agree with 150 or165 gr. speer hot core or hornady interlocks. Be aware that only the flat base bullets from either company are the ones to use. Speer boat tails are not hotcore ,and hornady boat tails are not interlock.
 
nomad 68 said:
I have only loaded flat based bullets in my 99 rifles. I get very good accuracy with hornady 150gr interlocks .
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For 308 velocities you do not need a premium bullet. I have loaded a pile of 150 gr Hornady's in 308, 300 sav and 30-06 s and there has never been a problem.............................unless you were the deer !
 
I have harvested over 200 big game animals where 90% dropped dead to the Nosler Ballistic Tip. The remaining 10% of big game animals fell to Nosler Partitions and Accubond.
 
catnip said:
I would agree with 150 or165 gr. speer hot core or hornady interlocks. Be aware that only the flat base bullets from either company are the ones to use. Speer boat tails are not hotcore ,and hornady boat tails are not interlock.
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My Hornady BTSP have the Interlock ring, eck I've even cut one in half to check it a few years back.
 
Give the 150 Ballistic Tip a try, or failing that any number of cup and core bullets of that weight. Hornady Interlocks are as good as any.

Or, at the risk of being convicted of heresy, blue box Federal, Winchester Power-Point, or Remington Corelock factory loads. Ordinary loads are ordinary for a reason, they make most of the people happy most of the time.
 
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