Suggestions for a Jacketed Bullet for Hunting Deer with .300 BO

[dverna]

Our deer are under 200 lbs. Normal range to the food plot is 135 yards but would want something effective to 200 yards.

What are you guys using that works well. Cost is immaterial.

[6.5X284ever]

If you are talking supersonic, nothing beats the Barnes 110gr black tip, that thing is death eating a ham sandwich, on deer.

[dverna]

Yes, supersonic.

[Texas by God]

The 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is popular down here in the .300 BO.
I’ve used it from the 30-30 bolt action a bit faster on pigs and it works there as well.


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[NSB]

Don, one of my younger friends, whose property I hunt on, uses the 300BO frequently and swears by the Barns 110g Tac-TX FB. I have yet to see any of the deer he’s shot go further than 20 yards or so after being shot. His food plots are a maximum of around 200 yards farthest shot, most shots are less than a hundred. If I were going to use that cartridge, I’d use his load. Very accurate and seems very lethal.

[dverna]

Thanks guys. Looks like a couple of solid options.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Dont get it- why not just get a 30-30. Is there something that a BO does under 200yds that better?

[Ajohns]

dverna, we have the same situation as you for deer.
All one shot kills, have been with 110gr Hornady Vmax factory, and a handload of mine with the 130gr Speer hollowpoint.
All 7 deer so far have all been one shot, all in the heart or lungs. They don't make it far, if not fall where they stood.
We all sight in 1.5 high thereabouts at 100, they are dead on at 150. A slight raise up sighting to mid body and they're on at 200.
3 of us have used them exclusively for 5 years

[elmacgyver0]

Dont get it- why not just get a 30-30. Is there something that a BO does under 200yds that better?

Because he can.

[steve urquell]

Dont get it- why not just get a 30-30. Is there something that a BO does under 200yds that better?

For me the .300BlK is a fantastic round. Cheap brass or form your own from .223, shoot subsonic ammo if you have a sliencer (like me and Don)for pest control. Near 30-30 performance as well. Silencer on the supersonic rounds cuts the noise down as well since the boom is downrange.

So, .32ACP to 30-30 power levels and everything in between.

[popper]

Energy @ 200 is about 850 ft-lb and drop usually 6" or less. 110 Vmax. 125 SST and 135 FTX about the same. I'd probably choose something in the 125 range for 200 yd shots. A good BC and weight to compensate for lower fps.

[dverna]

Dont get it- why not just get a 30-30. Is there something that a BO does under 200yds that better?

You are not wrong. In fact I have a number of ..30/30’s and have never used them. Always hunted with a .308.

I will answer by asking why would anyone hunt with a cast bullet when jacketed bullets are superior in every way? Does saving less than $.50 enough justification to hunt with cast bullets that are inferior?

It may sound stupid, but I like the challenge of using something less lethal than the .308. And I have this .300 BO that I have taken a liking to. It makes no sense, but if we applied common sense to our hobby we would have a handful of guns and calibers to play with.

I think people casting and reloading for 20 calibers are nuts, but it is their thing.

I could download my .308 rifles to .300 BO levels but I like how the shorter barrel of the .300 BO makes using a suppressor more manageable. Adding a suppressor to a 22” barrel makes it a bit unwieldy.

[NSB]

Don, I have to agree with you on every point. I’ve been hunting deer now for 64 years, and most of those years I hunted in multiple states. I’ve shot a LOT of deer. One thing I learned many years ago is that muzzle energy has nothing to do with killing a deer. Deer are really easy to kill if you can put the bullet where you want it to hit. I’ve shot around a hundred deer with handguns, and most of those were shot with the .357mag. Just about every rifle out there has much more muzzle energy than the .357mag round. In spite of that, when shot in the heart/lungs they die quite quickly. I’ve shot over a hundred with the bow. Same thing, hit the vitals. An arrow has virtually NO muzzle energy. Again, hit the vitals. I’ve shot deer with lead/cast bullets and I’ve NEVER found those bullets to have any advantage. However, I can see where some people like to make their own bullets just like some fly fisherman like to tie their own flies. If it adds something to your game in a personal way, go for it. If you have a 300BO, and like hunting with it, then that’s all the reason you need for using it. It will kill every deer you shoot if you put the bullet in the vitals. At the distances you’re hunting at, that shouldn’t be a problem.

[popper]

This is a headless dillo @ 100 with 125 SST (IR scope at nite).
dillo.JPG