Thoughts on whitetail loads

Deer, Elk, Moose, Bears.... etc. Anything big game!

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?
New Mexico: It's not new and It's not Mexico
User avatar
HighDesertDuck
 
Posts: 124
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:32 pm
Location: Albuquerque, NM

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. :)


#ionlyknowhowtohuntspoonies
"Olly cop hater? No

Olly American? Yes"
Juice Box
 
Posts: 841
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:51 pm

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.
Reinstate TomKat

4-20MJ
User avatar
rebelp74
 
Posts: 12506
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:49 am
Location: nw louisiana

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".
User avatar
assateague
 
Posts: 23627
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:52 pm
Location: Eastern Shore, People's Republic of Maryland

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".

This

sent from a phancy fone
My absolute favorite time of the day is from just before dawn, until just after. Most folks will spend their entire lives in bed sleeping through that magical hour - Mean Gene
User avatar
Goldfish
 
Posts: 7009
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:33 am
Location: Up Nort Dontchaknow

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.
“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” - Theodore Roosevelt

Olly wrote: We're still the bastard pirates of the duck forum world.


WFF Prostaff
User avatar
The Duck Hammer
 
Posts: 14027
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:42 pm
Location: The Chicken House

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?
Bootlipkiller wrote: all the mallards I killed today had boners do to my epic calling.
User avatar
3legged_lab
WFF Supporter
 
Posts: 17344
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:19 pm
Location: OREGON

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.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
User avatar
RonE
 
Posts: 3379
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 7:33 pm
Location: Rockport, Texas

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.
Tell your mom I said hi.
User avatar
flight control
 
Posts: 2287
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:16 pm
Location: the great white north

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.
“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” - Theodore Roosevelt

Olly wrote: We're still the bastard pirates of the duck forum world.


WFF Prostaff
User avatar
The Duck Hammer
 
Posts: 14027
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:42 pm
Location: The Chicken House

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.
User avatar
NuffDaddy
WFF Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 10142
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

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!!!!!!










:-D
User avatar
NuffDaddy
WFF Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 10142
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

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: :-)
User avatar
NuffDaddy
WFF Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 10142
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

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!!!!!!


One day you will learn how to shoot too.
“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” - Theodore Roosevelt

Olly wrote: We're still the bastard pirates of the duck forum world.


WFF Prostaff
User avatar
The Duck Hammer
 
Posts: 14027
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:42 pm
Location: The Chicken House

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!!!!!!


One day you will learn how to shoot too.

Don't get me all worked up again. Took me a week to get over the last one.
User avatar
NuffDaddy
WFF Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 10142
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

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.
Bootlipkiller wrote: all the mallards I killed today had boners do to my epic calling.
User avatar
3legged_lab
WFF Supporter
 
Posts: 17344
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:19 pm
Location: OREGON

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.
“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” - Theodore Roosevelt

Olly wrote: We're still the bastard pirates of the duck forum world.


WFF Prostaff
User avatar
The Duck Hammer
 
Posts: 14027
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:42 pm
Location: The Chicken House

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:
Reinstate TomKat

4-20MJ
User avatar
rebelp74
 
Posts: 12506
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:49 am
Location: nw louisiana

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.


:beer:
assateague wrote:Sometimes the quickest way to put out a fire is with an explosion.
R. Chapman
 
Posts: 6138
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 11:48 pm
Location: Helena, MT

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....
New Mexico: It's not new and It's not Mexico
User avatar
HighDesertDuck
 
Posts: 124
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:32 pm
Location: Albuquerque, NM

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.
User avatar
assateague
 
Posts: 23627
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:52 pm
Location: Eastern Shore, People's Republic of Maryland

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
User avatar
rozzo842
 
Posts: 475
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:02 pm

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.
User avatar
NuffDaddy
WFF Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 10142
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

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.


Sent from my Vox Mortem
“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” - Theodore Roosevelt

Olly wrote: We're still the bastard pirates of the duck forum world.


WFF Prostaff
User avatar
The Duck Hammer
 
Posts: 14027
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:42 pm
Location: The Chicken House

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...
User avatar
NuffDaddy
WFF Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 10142
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:05 pm
Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

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.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com
User avatar
Tomkat
 
Posts: 6869
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:46 pm


Return to Big Game Hunting

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests