I am not very satisfied with the 180 grain bullets I shoot with my
30-06. On deer sized game they penetrate a little to much before expanding. I do not get very good exit holes, just slightly bigger than the bullet. Not much blood hits the ground. I would like something that would stop the deer in his tracks as it is very hard to track in the area that I live. I seem to remember something someone said about using 150-165 grain bullets because they transfer more energy in the animal or something like that? What do you guys recomend? I mainly hunt whitetail, sometimes mule deer. I have been using Rem. core-lokt.

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First of all, by all means drop down to 150gr or at most 165gr bullets. Also, go to something in the more premium category such as Hornady SST or Interlock, Speer Grand Slams (Nitrex), Federal Classic (Sierra Pro Hunter), Federal Premium (Partition or Ballistic Tip) or Remington Premier (Partition or Ballistic Tip).

These will all give better performance than 180gr Remington CoreLokts.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

You didn't mention your hunting conditions, short range heavy cover or long shots in mixed terrain/cover. For shorter ranges, even though they are not as sexy as spitzer bullets consider going with soft point round nose bullets, expansion will start sooner and more reliably. Federal Hi-Shok Soft Points are available in either 150's or 180's - your choice; same for Super-X's Power Points. If you are at longer ranges consider Federal High Energy Nosler partitions 180's, the extra charge keeps the velocity up at the longer ranges for the heavy bullet. (Note: someone is sure to have a sermon on your shot placement since your animals apparently aren't dropping stone cold dead in their tracks, so get ready.)

Good judgement comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Hunting contitions eh? Well, I hunt most of the time in open hardwoods where I shoot about 65 yards. As far as a sermon on shot placement, it just wouldn't be a proper topic on bullet or gun opinions without someone stating that it's all in how you hit them.

"Hey ya'll, watch this"

Core Lokts ain't a bullet knowed fer holdin' together. I don't like explodin' bullets on elk, cause first time you hit 'em in a heavy place, you're in for a trackin' job (or lost animal). Punchin' thru is fine, an' you won't need a blood trail ifn you hit him in the shoulders. Stick with a big bullet. These fellers toutin' a 150 fer elk are greener then a Kentucky pasture. Noslers are my medicine fer elk. 180s or 200s. Stay away from the SSTs. Lemme repeat thet. Stay away from the SSTs. They ain't to be trusted on nuthin' bigger then a jack rabbit.

BJ

Leave it to Beaver to bring elk into a whitetail discussion. I agree with the ElkampMaster. 65 yards is a short shot and you could use any bullet weight, but you need to stick to the premium bullets.

Also the size of the exit hole does not tell the whole story. You need to look at the wound channel through the whole animal. The bullets mentioned all exceed the necessary energy to down a whitetail under 100 yards.

He is also right I think you should spend a little more time shooting but not at the range. You should put yourself in all different scenarios and practice those shots.

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180 is to heavy for deer for the reason you mentioned. Go with a 150 partition and your problem will be solved.

What's a deer? Oh, you mean them funny lil' elk with undeveloped antlers. Yeah, I reckin' a core lokt might punch thru one of them. I practice with core lokts and hunt with partitions. You know what practice is don't ya? Thet's whar you stand in FRONT of the bench.

BJ

Ok, I'm ate up with deer here in Georgia so there is not much of a wait to see if something works or not. I bought some 150 grain Rem Core-lokt today and after sighting them in took them to the field. A doe walked within 35 yards of my stump (that I was sitting on) and I got a good rest and shot. I could see the bullet hit her perfect behind the shoulder. Shot placement was perfect. The deer turned and jumped a barbed wire fence and I saw her crash in a thicket. I decided to give her about half an hour before trailing her to make sure she was expired. Later on when I went to the trail, the only thing I found was a little bloody hair on the fence. I went to where she crashed at and there was no deer. I circled around for about 30 yards before I found her. There was no blood anywhere! I hit her perfect but the bullet didn't exit. I have no idea what could have happened at 35 yards broadside to make the bullet NOT exit. I will never shoot Remington bullets again. This makes 3 deer with no bloodtrails!!! My dad had the same thing happen years ago.

Hello Winchester!
-Ray

"Hey ya'll, watch this"