Thoughts on whitetail loads

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Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby HighDesertDuck » Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:42 pm

I have my first ever white tail hunt hunt coming up. My daughter (20 years old) will be with me on her first hunt ever. She is all set up with my .308 using 150gr soft points. I however am trying decide on my load (30-06). Right now the gun is sighted in for 125gr soft points. The gun loves the rounds and shoots 2 inch groups at 300 yards with them, and they made quick work on my 'lope.

The tables show that the federal 125 makes 2200 ft/lbs @ 100 yds; 1600 @ 250yds; and 1150ft/lbs @ 400 yds, is that going to be enough energy for Texas whitetail? or should I track down some 150 grainers and re-zero?
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby Juice Box » Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:47 pm

All I know is my .243 with 100 grain soft points does a number on rabbits and stray cats. :)


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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby rebelp74 » Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:50 pm

I'd shoot atleast a 150 gr, if shots are within 150yds I'd use 180 gr but I don't like to track deer.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby assateague » Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:54 pm

I'd say it's plenty. Texas whitetails are very small bodied deer, so I don't think you'll have a problem at all. Better to keep shooting a round you're comfortable with, and can hit what you're aiming for, rather than trading it off for something "better".
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby Goldfish » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:20 pm

assateague wrote:I'd say it's plenty. Texas whitetails are very small bodied deer, so I don't think you'll have a problem at all. Better to keep shooting a round you're comfortable with, and can hit what you're aiming for, rather than trading it off for something "better".

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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby The Duck Hammer » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:23 pm

I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby 3legged_lab » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:28 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby RonE » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:31 pm

Think shot placement, don't try to change what you are good at. Just shoot the damned deer in the right spot and you won't have any problems. If you are using a .22LR, shoot it behind the ear. Shot placement. You can even kill deer with a .35 caliber bullet if it is hit right.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel just because you are going "whitetail" hunting.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby flight control » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:40 pm

Shoot whatever load you feel most comfortable with. I've shot two big northern bucks with 55gr hollow points and dropped them in their tracks. It's all about shot placement.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby The Duck Hammer » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:06 pm

3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby NuffDaddy » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:08 pm

You'll be just fine. With the velocity of those bullets it will rip a deer a new one. 150gr 30/30 is what my little brother uses. Kills em just fine. I would think a 125gr 30-06 would do a lot more damage.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby NuffDaddy » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:08 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

Lies!!!!!!










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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby NuffDaddy » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:09 pm

RonE wrote:You can even kill deer with a .35 caliber bullet if it is hit right.

:popcorn: :-)
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby The Duck Hammer » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:09 pm

NuffDaddy wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

Lies!!!!!!


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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby NuffDaddy » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:10 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:
NuffDaddy wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

Lies!!!!!!


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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby 3legged_lab » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:18 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

I was being a smartass.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby The Duck Hammer » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:16 pm

3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

I was being a smartass.

Well you got a serious answer and Nuff is about to have an aneurism.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby rebelp74 » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:27 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

I was being a smartass.

Well you got a serious answer and Nuff is about to have an aneurism.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby R. Chapman » Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:54 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:
NuffDaddy wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
The Duck Hammer wrote:I've shot does with 125 grain and 100 grain bullets out of a 25-06 and dropped them dead. But that was around 100-150 yards.

But was it a bang-flop hit in the boiler room, or a neck/head shot?

Bang flop. Straight through the pump station.

Lies!!!!!!


One day you will learn how to shoot too.


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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby HighDesertDuck » Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:17 am

Thanks guys, I really don't plan in shooting past 300 anyway I guess I will stick with the little bullets, and hopefully be able to give a report on how they worked.
Thread stayed on topic pretty well ;) . I figured we be back quick to the head shot, heart shot stuff pretty quick. For the record I'm a double lung shot kinda guy....
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby assateague » Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:19 am

I also used to shoot a .25-06, loaded with 90 grain bullets, and they killed deer splendidly. Granted, it was going faster, but I don't know how much faster. Was close to 3,800 fps. You'll be fine.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby rozzo842 » Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:07 am

Really wish we could use rifles here, shotgun only for me
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby NuffDaddy » Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:09 am

HighDesertDuck wrote:Thanks guys, I really don't plan in shooting past 300 anyway I guess I will stick with the little bullets, and hopefully be able to give a report on how they worked.
Thread stayed on topic pretty well ;) . I figured we be back quick to the head shot, heart shot stuff pretty quick. For the record I'm a double lung shot kinda guy....

Hammer tried...I didn't bite this time though. :-D

Bout time someone else shoots the deer in the right spot.
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby The Duck Hammer » Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:23 am

NuffDaddy wrote:
HighDesertDuck wrote:Thanks guys, I really don't plan in shooting past 300 anyway I guess I will stick with the little bullets, and hopefully be able to give a report on how they worked.
Thread stayed on topic pretty well ;) . I figured we be back quick to the head shot, heart shot stuff pretty quick. For the record I'm a double lung shot kinda guy....

Hammer tried...I didn't bite this time though. :-D

Bout time someone else shoots the deer in the right spot.


Easy hoss. Three Leggs tried. Hammer just brought some facts to the table.


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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby NuffDaddy » Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:41 pm

The Duck Hammer wrote:
NuffDaddy wrote:
HighDesertDuck wrote:Thanks guys, I really don't plan in shooting past 300 anyway I guess I will stick with the little bullets, and hopefully be able to give a report on how they worked.
Thread stayed on topic pretty well ;) . I figured we be back quick to the head shot, heart shot stuff pretty quick. For the record I'm a double lung shot kinda guy....

Hammer tried...I didn't bite this time though. :-D

Bout time someone else shoots the deer in the right spot.


Easy hoss. Three Leggs tried. Hammer just brought some facts to the table.


Sent from my Vox Mortem

Keep trying...
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Re: Thoughts on whitetail loads

Postby Tomkat » Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:07 pm

HighDesertDuck wrote:I have my first ever white tail hunt hunt coming up. My daughter (20 years old) will be with me on her first hunt ever. She is all set up with my .308 using 150gr soft points. I however am trying decide on my load (30-06). Right now the gun is sighted in for 125gr soft points. The gun loves the rounds and shoots 2 inch groups at 300 yards with them, and they made quick work on my 'lope.

The tables show that the federal 125 makes 2200 ft/lbs @ 100 yds; 1600 @ 250yds; and 1150ft/lbs @ 400 yds, is that going to be enough energy for Texas whitetail? or should I track down some 150 grainers and re-zero?


I would just use the original load you have sighted in for. It will do just fine.



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