mule deer
 

i will be going after mule deer and pronghorn(hopefully) this fall in montana.i will be using a 30/06.i am not sure which grain bullet to use 150 or 165? any suggestions? i also handload.i was thinking of 165 grain barnes or the 165 grain nosler ballistic tip.thanks

RE: mule deer
 

I've heard good things about the 165 grain nosler for deer. Should work excellent on pronghorn also.

RE: mule deer
 

Good Grief, 165's for goats is kinda on the heavy side. The goats weigh about one third to that of a mule deer buck. Either hunt one or the other/or bring both loads, but 165's are on the heavy side for for those prarie goats, but just right for those 300 # mulies, either way your going to need something that will reach out a couple hundred yards and connect. Good luck, Bobby

RE: mule deer
 

I would go with a 165 gr. Barnes X with a MAX: load of 63.0 grs of RL-22 VEL: 3,002 f/s. Reduce MAX LOAD by 10% for starting load.

Barnes also makes a 165 gr. XLC call Barnes for data at 1-800-574-9200

Good luck.

RE: mule deer
 

The 150s have been killin' mulies for an awful long time. I don't know why they can't continue to do it. But the 165s will kill goats too, so I'd let the rifle pick the bullet it liked best. ;)

RE: mule deer
 

When I went after pronghorn I loaded up 150 grn. ballistic tips and loved the performance. I see no reason they wouldn't work on mule deer also. The acuraccy was great and terminal performance was great. Shot one goat at 325 yds and he calapsed.

RE: mule deer
 

I see no reason that the 165 BT's wouldn't work just fine. I have seen plenty of goats drop to 165 grain Sierras. Can't imagine how well 165 grain BT's would work!!

RE: mule deer
 

Flip a coin or use whatever shoots best in your rifle. As for type of bullets, I used the ballistic with great success.

RE: mule deer
 

130 grain .270 is all I use for these and never had a walk-away, except for the occasional total miss. Don't know if 30-06 comes in 130, but I'd agree with thise who say 165 is large.

RE: mule deer
 

but yote hunter isnt sure if hes hunting prong horn. He is sure though of the mulies ,that is why i suggested the 165, but i do agree Charlie Brown the 165 Nosler should work just fine for either if he does go.

RE: mule deer
 

TYH,
I'm also going this fall. I'll be using my 25-06 with 115 gr noslers. Shot a good muley buck with that combo in 2003 and plan to do the same again this fall. My son and nephew are going along. Hopefully we'll draw antelope tags too. What part of the state are you hunting. We'll be about 35 miles NW of Jordan.

RE: mule deer
 

I have hunted mulies and goats my whole life in MT, eastern and western. I have shot them with a 22-250 75gr. and the largest I have used is a 130 gr 270. All have been clean kills. Even the 22-250 put down several mulies for me in my youth. One shot one kill. 165 would work just fine, but I would consider the 150 or less for both. 165 is way to large for goats. It's like shooting a large dog with a cannon. Use what ever your gun shoots best. The goats are going to be your longest shot. The mulies if you are a decent hunter should be 150 or less.

Hyde

RE: mule deer
 

Don't listen to these guys a 165 grain is a good round for both,it's not that goats are hard to kill they are rather easy to.I would be booed I guess for killing them all with 180 out of my '06.I even used a 300 ULTRA MAG-O MY GOODLORD-:D:D.What you wan't is a good load that can strech 350+ on those goats,also remember they look alot farther out there than they are cause they are small(90 lbs for a big one).Most of my goats have been shot under 200 yds than over.They are fun critters to hunt,Mule deer it works good for them.

Take that "06 sight it in for 2.5 high at 100 yds,work up a good load 165gr Boatail, and have fun.
I live in Montana also.
BBJ

RE: mule deer
 

either load will work fine for mulies or goats. I would use which ever you have been using in the past since your more familiar w/ it. Bareback jack had the sight in proceedure on the money.