Managed Recoil Ammo vs Whitetail deer

Jack O'Conner · November 23, 2018, 04:51 PM

This mature doe was shot at a distance of approx 150 yards with my older Savage .308 rifle. One bullet through the chest organs did the job nicely for me. This is my first hunt with Remington's reduced recoil ammo and I'm impressed. Typically, I hunt with my 30-30 carbine but had a hankering to take out my "big rifle" for a hunt.

Jack

doofus47 · November 23, 2018, 05:46 PM

nice shot. what bullet weight?

Jack O'Conner · November 23, 2018, 06:51 PM

Bullet weight is 125 grains speeding along at about 2,600 fps. This is close to 300 Savage figures.

Jack

taylorce1 · November 24, 2018, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack O'Conner

Bullet weight is 125 grains speeding along at about 2,600 fps. This is close to 300 Savage figures.

My daughter has been shooting 125 grain bullets out of her .300 Savage at 3000 fps for the last few years. IMO the .300 Savage gives up very little to the .308 Win. 2600 fps is about what I expect out of 160-165 grain bullets in a .300 Savage.

jackstrawIII · December 16, 2018, 10:12 PM

I have a perfect record on deer using my 7.62x39, which shoots a 125 grain 30 cal bullet at a blazing 2350 out of the muzzle...

But it works. Put a hole through both lungs and the deer dies quickly. Simple.

bamaranger · December 17, 2018, 01:04 AM

The numbers put up by the reduced loads in .308 are plenty of steam for whitetails, as "jack's" post show. I've posted before that most of us, me included (many times) are over gunned for deer. I have a safe full of "deer rifles" in the usual assortment of calibers, '06, .270, .308, .243, that I hunt on a regular basis. But what is working for me most often in recent years are light, tidy carbines in 7.62x39 and .44 mag. If I had a 30-30 (traded my last one years ago) I would include that in the carbine list. I should be hunting my .357 carbine as well, but am not.

Now that is all a bit circumstantial. Looking over my deer diary and kill log, (What? You don't keep one?) I note that most all my rifle kills are well under 100 yds, most half of that or less. I don't need the power generated by the big deer calibers for those distances. If I intend to hunt a ROW or large green plot, I will carry a big rifle, but I am primarily a treestand and thick cover guy and just don't need reach and power the big boys offer.

And those mild rifles are sure easy to tote.

November 23, 2018, 04:51 PM	#1
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Managed Recoil Ammo vs Whitetail deer This mature doe was shot at a distance of approx 150 yards with my older Savage .308 rifle. One bullet through the chest organs did the job nicely for me. This is my first hunt with Remington's reduced recoil ammo and I'm impressed. Typically, I hunt with my 30-30 carbine but had a hankering to take out my "big rifle" for a hunt. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release. Last edited by Jack O'Conner; November 24, 2018 at 02:00 PM.

November 23, 2018, 05:46 PM	#2
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	nice shot. what bullet weight? __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

November 23, 2018, 06:51 PM	#3
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Bullet weight is 125 grains speeding along at about 2,600 fps. This is close to 300 Savage figures. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

December 16, 2018, 10:12 PM	#5
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	I have a perfect record on deer using my 7.62x39, which shoots a 125 grain 30 cal bullet at a blazing 2350 out of the muzzle... But it works. Put a hole through both lungs and the deer dies quickly. Simple. __________________ In God we trust.

December 17, 2018, 01:04 AM	#6
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	over gunned The numbers put up by the reduced loads in .308 are plenty of steam for whitetails, as "jack's" post show. I've posted before that most of us, me included (many times) are over gunned for deer. I have a safe full of "deer rifles" in the usual assortment of calibers, '06, .270, .308, .243, that I hunt on a regular basis. But what is working for me most often in recent years are light, tidy carbines in 7.62x39 and .44 mag. If I had a 30-30 (traded my last one years ago) I would include that in the carbine list. I should be hunting my .357 carbine as well, but am not. Now that is all a bit circumstantial. Looking over my deer diary and kill log, (What? You don't keep one?) I note that most all my rifle kills are well under 100 yds, most half of that or less. I don't need the power generated by the big deer calibers for those distances. If I intend to hunt a ROW or large green plot, I will carry a big rifle, but I am primarily a treestand and thick cover guy and just don't need reach and power the big boys offer. And those mild rifles are sure easy to tote.