What bullet would you use?

Turkeyslayer 1300

Turkeyslayer 1300

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I am trying to decide whether to use Nosler 150gr ballistic tips or hornady 162gr soft points for deer. They are both propelled at about 2600 fps out of a .280.( I know these aren't top loads but they are uber accurate)I was leaning toward the ballistic tip because of it's more rapid expansion.Any thought?
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
I am trying to decide whether to use Nosler 150gr ballistic tips or hornady 162gr soft points for deer. They are both propelled at about 2600 fps out of a .280.( I know these aren't top loads but they are uber accurate)I was leaning toward the ballistic tip because of it's more rapid expansion.Any thought?
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I think with the velocity of the .280 you will be better off with the heavier bullet in case you bump into bigger game than deer.
For instance, I am getting more velocity from a 190 grain bullet in my 300 Win than the 180 grainer with the same powder charge.
 
For deer both bullets are fine. I took some deer with Nosler Ballistic Tip loaded by Remington before I've started reloading.
Ballistic Tip expands very quick, but for deer it is good.
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
I am trying to decide whether to use Nosler 150gr ballistic tips or hornady 162gr soft points for deer. They are both propelled at about 2600 fps out of a .280.( I know these aren't top loads but they are uber accurate)I was leaning toward the ballistic tip because of it's more rapid expansion.Any thought?
Click to expand...

use a nosler, or an accubond. i love hornady, but it sounds like you are looking at a BTSP (boat-tail soft point) - soft point wont give you the velocity you are looking for - the nosler has good expansion, but it will also have a polycarbonate ballistic tip which is beautiful.
 
If your hunting in tight bush, there is a good chance you'll hit some brush before you hit deer. I'm not sure the ballistic tips would fare very well in this case. Two years ago, I shot at a walking deer at about 25 yards. I managed to hit a 2 in maple immediately in front of the deer. (No, I dont recall seeing it...)
Bullet was a 174 RN Hornady out of a 303. Bullet passed through the maple, expanding to about 60 cal, then into the shoulder of said deer. Deer walked about 50 ft and crumpled.
I wonder what would have happened if I had used a ballistic tip?
 
yes X3 on the mess but if you sink it through his lungs who cares.
I use Hornady Sp all the time for deer, and shot a few with the Btips.

Good bullet for 308,30-06, 6.5x55 ect.....

A 270 loaded with 130 Btip or hdy sp at close to 3000 fps is pushing it for that bullet construction, but it will do what you want to!

My rule of thumb and you can throw it out the window if you choose, is i use a bonded bullet above 2950-3000 FPS for any animal, and for deer I use Sp soft point for anything under those velocities.
Moose bear, elk (if i go) i use bonded bullets always.
Any high horsepower guns such as my 30-378, 7mm rums, 350 mashburn 378 Wby, ect... i use a Barnes full copper bullet.

Take it or leave it?
 
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cosmic said:
If your hunting in tight bush, there is a good chance you'll hit some brush before you hit deer. I'm not sure the ballistic tips would fare very well in this case. Two years ago, I shot at a walking deer at about 25 yards. I managed to hit a 2 in maple immediately in front of the deer. (No, I dont recall seeing it...)
Bullet was a 174 RN Hornady out of a 303. Bullet passed through the maple, expanding to about 60 cal, then into the shoulder of said deer. Deer walked about 50 ft and crumpled.
I wonder what would have happened if I had used a ballistic tip?
Click to expand...


A few years back the exact same thing happened to me! but i had a 180 30 cal from a 30-06 ?
The deer went down like a house of bricks and yes it was fugly caught mine in the ribs, and ewwhee
 
I was thinking that at 2600 fps the ballistic tip would expand more than the 162grain softpoint. I am only hunting deer and nothing bigger for now. The ballistic tips are of the big-game variety not of the thin jacketed varmint persuasion.Keep up the thought and comments.
 
My 2 cents, it doesn't matter with a 280, pick the cheapest one and point it right, you will drop any deer with that, but i like the heavier bullets myself
 
Having hammered a few deer with my 280, i can say that the 140 gr accubond is the ticket. They dindt smash mine up too bad, but they dropped em on the spot. You get the velocities/ballistic coefficient of a 140 gr b-tip, but with the added penetration, and controlled espansion of a thicker jacket and better bonding with the core. My 280 loves em, the deer hate em.
 
Deer are easy to kill with any bullet through the boiler room.

The ballistic tip would be the pronghorn bullet of choice, for good expansion at longer raage. For a closer range hunt, i would go with a heavier, slower bullet.
 
I used the hornady 162gr btsp in my 280 for a few years, recommended the load when I sold the rifle. It works just fine on deer... and black bear too.
 
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