I'm just curious if any of my fellow hunters have tried this particular projectile on whitetail. I suspect it's constructed more for very thin skinned small and med game and varmints, I'd like to know if anyone has used it and how it performed. Needless to say, if the jacket is too thin it won't penetrate sufficiently and may break up on med game like deer. Any input would be most appreciated.
Sierra 150 Gr. Varminter for Whitetail?
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
Put it right into the lungs on a good broadside shot and the deer is gonna die. When you only need a few inches of penetration to get lung soup most bullets will work, even those not designed for big game.
The real question is what will it do if it's NOT the perfect broadside shot?... and that is why I wouldn't use it.
The real question is what will it do if it's NOT the perfect broadside shot?... and that is why I wouldn't use it.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I was always taught to expect bullets to stop in the animal, and chose ones that had expanding tips and bases that held together. Bullets like the Nosler Partition or ???'s Ballistic Tips would be two of my choices. A thin jacket bullet might hit the animal but splinter and fragment, like a snowball hitting a wall.
I prefer a bullet that penetrates both sides with a decent exit wound, at least twice the size of the bullet, and enough velocity to create a vacume effect, that suck blood out behind it.
It makes for a nice blood trail, if necessary, and drops blood pressure severely, usually causing the animal to fall down.
Using a "varmint" bullet of any type on big game is UNETHICAL IMHO.
The Pro Hunter or Game King are better bullets as they are designed for big game.
As with anything; use the right tool for the job, and you will receive better results.
Use the Varmint bullet and wound and lose a whitetail (or any other big game animal) = going to be on you for not giving the animal the respect it deserves, and using the proper bullet for the task at hand.
As with anything; use the right tool for the job, and you will receive better results.
Use the Varmint bullet and wound and lose a whitetail (or any other big game animal) = going to be on you for not giving the animal the respect it deserves, and using the proper bullet for the task at hand.
My experiences using 50 grain Winchester bulk bullets out of a .223, run exactly opposite from the snowball supposition, no matter how often it has been repeated...
In three cases, two mine, the third a recoil-averse new Hunter, who harvested her first deer here on our property, broadside entry behind the point of the elbow on the ribs, lung/heart soup, and most off the remnants of the bullet, recovered on the inside of the opposite front leg/shoulder. Messy inside! No runners.
Per Suther's post #3 in this thread, must pick your shot, and pass on anything that is not perfect. If you cannot do that, then that is probably the wrong bullet to choose, and you can do better.
If you have the patience and take the care to only take an optimal shot, pretty much any bullet is going to be effective when properly placed.
I've used winchester grey box positive expanding 120gr 2506 on a bear that dressed 276lbs. Results were instant and internal damage and jelloed meat was extreme. No exit. Would I use that bullet for deer yes but only on perfect broadside shots. I prefer controlled expansion and an exit
I like tissue damage thruout the entire chest cavity. A bullet that exits does more internal damage for a longer path than one that stops inside the animal
I like tissue damage thruout the entire chest cavity. A bullet that exits does more internal damage for a longer path than one that stops inside the animal
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Where's my hmmm? emoji?
Bit sceptable about that. Tissue damage has to be based on permanent wound cavity, and by default diameter. Double the wound cavity and you increase the area 4 times. It’s pretty hard to find a situation where you can get 4 tmes more penetration to break even.
byronick87
Member
- Location
- Cowtown, AB
Keep those Varminters for small game.
I know it sucks to have to work up another load and re-zero again, but you owe it to the animal you’re killing.
For Forrest hunting here in the foothills of AB I prefer 130 gr barnes ttsx for my 308. Comes out hot and makes a mess of the vitals. I’ll use a 165gr accubond for my “longer” range hunts.
Some anecdotal data;
I made a shot on a full broadside 10pt white tail about 100 ish yds out with my 30-06 loaded up with 165gr Speers. I know I made a good shot. Entry was right where I aimed however no exit. It must have hit a rib or whatever, but the bullet fragmented - some hit the heart and lungs, some hit the stomach. The deer turned a complete 180 and ran about 50 yds before I found him piled up against a fallen tree.
Anyway, I’ve since given up on the speer style bullet….i think the gamekings/prohunters are similar. Other folk may enjoy them and I’m sure they are good, just not for me
I know it sucks to have to work up another load and re-zero again, but you owe it to the animal you’re killing.
For Forrest hunting here in the foothills of AB I prefer 130 gr barnes ttsx for my 308. Comes out hot and makes a mess of the vitals. I’ll use a 165gr accubond for my “longer” range hunts.
Some anecdotal data;
I made a shot on a full broadside 10pt white tail about 100 ish yds out with my 30-06 loaded up with 165gr Speers. I know I made a good shot. Entry was right where I aimed however no exit. It must have hit a rib or whatever, but the bullet fragmented - some hit the heart and lungs, some hit the stomach. The deer turned a complete 180 and ran about 50 yds before I found him piled up against a fallen tree.
Anyway, I’ve since given up on the speer style bullet….i think the gamekings/prohunters are similar. Other folk may enjoy them and I’m sure they are good, just not for me
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A bullet that exits travels thru more of the animal than one that doesnt make it thru. On shots that arent perfect it makes a difference in my experience. Simple broadside shots doesnt really matter if we are talking convention bullets.
