New big game hunter, shot placement and bullet choice.

[g3arhead]

Hey all, why are your thoughts about this?

I’ve been reloading cup/core bullets in 308 in preparation for my first white tail hunt this year (mostly hunted birds up to this point). I’m hunting in Ontario and likely spending time at a mutual friends hunt camp, hunting out of a tree stand. Shots are likely to be close( maybe 50 yards) .

My understanding of cup/core bullets is, they plain ole work but depending on the angle, if hitting a shoulder or other bone, they can break apart and produce a terrible but less than immediately fatal wound. I’m not expecting a bang/flop as they say but, I want to be ethical and put the animal down as fast as possible.

One of my buddies will be hunting with a 6.5 creed and equally as new to big game hunting.

Question is , given that we’re likely to hunt close, and possibly shooting at less than ideal angles for a nice clean broadside shot, is it worthwhile to use a bonded bullet over a cheap cup/core ?

 

['Boo]

On Whitetail, using a .308, any good hunting type cup & core bullet will work well. You are hunting deer, not bison.

 

[iron cat]

My advice is don't shoot for the shoulder but just behind it.
At 50 yards a shoulder shot is going to destroy way too much meat, and even a cup and core bullet is going to penetrate both shoulders.
Come in behind the shoulder and get out your skinning knives.
If you are hunting from an elevated stand, learn about exactly where you have to aim as far as entry angles go, so you can catch both of the lungs.
Cat

 

[tiriaq]

Considering different angles, study deer anatomy. A double lung shot does the job.

 

[156821]

Your bullets will be fine. You need to worry about your accuracy in the heat of the moment. It’s going to be great when you finally connect. Good luck .

 

[DinduNuffin]

I have always preferred Accubonds, Nosler Partion and Mono's for all my big game......particularly on Moose, Elk and Bear.

 

[Denver Steve]

Your bullet will be fine on deer at 50 yards for deer. Meat damage can be excessive depending on shot placement with close range shots. Lead free rounds of some sort would be ideal in your situation, they works great up close and at higher velocity. But a plain cup and core will get the job done for sure. And nothing wrong with the creedmoor, it's ideal for deer.

 

[MRP]

If you can shoot around a a inch at 100yds and the opportunity is there, head shot every time. Moose, Bear, Deer, head shot or through the boiler room, for 50 years cup and hornady core bullets have never let me down. In that time I've never needed to shoot a sholder and I don't hunt with those that do, patience and controlling you excitement will help your shot placement. IMO you have better gun.

 

[rhino519]

white tail ain't a big game really, but your bullet and caliber choice will work great

 

[KodiakHntr]

If you can shoot around a a inch at 100yds and the opportunity is there, head shot every time.

Yeah….absolutely don’t do this.
No matter what the bush snipers tell you, a head shot is a low percentage shot with the real high likelihood of wounding, especially as a new hunter.

Shoot them with the thought that there is a volleyball between the front legs and try to pop it. If you have to shoot through the shoulder into the lungs then so be it. Starting out as a new hunter your recovery rate will be higher.

Use a bullet on the heavier end of the spectrum (ie 165 in a 308 or 140 and up in a 6.5 cm) and you will crush any bone structure that a whitetail has in its body.

 

[WhelanLad]

how good, enjoy your first season on the deer an from a deer camp..... that 308 with them old cup an cores are quite deadly for the whitetails, ive heard.

 

[astuart44]

Man, if your shots are 50 yards get a 44 Mag or 45 Colt. Minimal meat damage and stomps them out. Pls do not listen to head shot BS. Saw a guy remove the lower jaw off a deer doing this. His neighbour shot it 2 days later trying to drink out of a pond.

 

[Big bore dinosaur]

I like my monolithic bullet for hunting.
Nice strait line penetration and crunches shoulder bones.
Like to anchor my game instead of chasing those tuff animals.

 

[byronick87]

You’re going be fine either way. Don’t overthink it.
One suggestion if I may; use a 168 gr or higher bullet. I like 175 gr.
It will lessen the meat damage since the bullet will be travelling slower and you can worry less about the bullet construction.
Also like others have said, a good idea of anatomy

 

[Lefty Dick]

Learn deer anatomy, shoot for the heart lung region, maybe try a 165 or 180 grain if bullet break up bothers you…….

Bullet makes like Fusion, Core-Loct, Interlock, will serve you well, just run what shoots best in your rifle.

You need to concentrate on shooting more and quit worrying about the what ifs.

 

[Gillshot]

As mentioned already a good cup and core bullet in 308 will absolutely do the job. Don’t try to get fancy, punch both lungs and you will have success.

 

[struff55]

Hey all, why are your thoughts about this?

I’ve been reloading cup/core bullets in 308 in preparation for my first white tail hunt this year (mostly hunted birds up to this point). I’m hunting in Ontario and likely spending time at a mutual friends hunt camp, hunting out of a tree stand. Shots are likely to be close( maybe 50 yards) .

My understanding of cup/core bullets is, they plain ole work but depending on the angle, if hitting a shoulder or other bone, they can break apart and produce a terrible but less than immediately fatal wound. I’m not expecting a bang/flop as they say but, I want to be ethical and put the animal down as fast as possible.

One of my buddies will be hunting with a 6.5 creed and equally as new to big game hunting.

Question is , given that we’re likely to hunt close, and possibly shooting at less than ideal angles for a nice clean broadside shot, is it worthwhile to use a bonded bullet over a cheap cup/core ?

really only one bullet to use nosler accubond
no issues at any range

 

[jordanlillico]

Favorite 308 hunting load is seirra 150 game king loaded with varget form a 22inch barrel gets you close of just passed 2900fps and them bullets have great penatration took black bear at 400y with pass trough both shoulders
Never took a step and that combo just shoots 1 moa on better in any rifle I have every shot it in

I like cup and core for hunting 150 seirra game took a few beers
Took a few mule dears with 165 hornady interlock from 308s

Now shoot 175eldx in a 280ai and taken white tail mule dear elk moose black bear
That bullet has worked great

I also am ok with some meat lost to sholder shots as the drop and dont run off in the the thick timber and die witch can be very difficult to fined and if not found that's alot more meat loss

 

[Beeron]

I hesitate to chime in here.
These questions always get people going.
Your rifle caliber is perfectly adequate for any game in North America as is the 6.5 Cdm.
At the ranges you describe, considerably "lighter" calibers woudl also be fine.
A cup and core bullet will kill (they kill really well actually) but also has the potential to contaminate a lot of the animal with lead fragments, especially if you hit bone.
I suggest you research Monos like Barnes, Hornady CX, etc.
Then aim small, miss small and Good Luck!

 

[g3arhead]

Yeah definitely only boiler room shots for me(maybe high shoulder).

With a 20in barrel and 165gn Sierra I’m pushing 2600ish . Trying to be careful not to up the velocity too much given bullet construction.

Yes, I’m definitely over thinking but hey, I’m trying to be careful and considerate to my quarry as well.