I'm not a frequent contributor here, but do read a lot(and enjoy the info). As I read through these posts, I'm reminded from personal experience and statements from other hunters that in most cases the same shot on a doe or a buck,the doe whenwill drop whereas the buck will bolt and run til he expires(maybe 50 yds., maybe 200.)Any of you experience that? Maybe that is something to consider in bullet performance.

instead of spending extra money on expensive ammo, spend it on shooting lots of the 130 corelokt for practice, and a book or DVD about shot placement. two things people aren't often taught are that you need to practice shooting extensively to become accurate yourself, and what good shot placement on a deer is from different angles. the corelokt isn't a bad bullet, and a good shooter can easily be a good hunterusing them.

I have shot alot of mule deer with a 243win. 100gr. Core-Lokt bullet. This last season used a 150gr. Winchester Power Point out of a 270wsm. Took a mule deer doe at a lasered 298yds. Here is the results.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg178/700xcr/1209070959-00-01.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg178/700xcr/1209071041-00.jpg

I 100% agree confidence is a huge factor in hunting - peace of mind is all the reasoning one needs.

Generally sure, the cost of a bullet hasn't really detered me, in the grand scheme of things it amounts to very little to the over all cost of any given hunt. However asI said priorI first research the bullet/design and see how it applies to my usage. If it is a fit the next step is to shoot it. If it shoots I hunt with it. Performance on the hunt dictates what i do with that load keep it, shelf it or toss it. I like to shoot but I shoot to hunt so for me the end justifies the means.

In regards to the Nosler Partition you'll be hard pressed to find to many who'd disagree its agreat hunting bullet. Is it required for deer no butplenty of them fall to it every year and will continue to.If it shoots I don't think you'll be unpleased.

Hi,

I hunt with a 130 grain 270, as well as other clibers / guages.

I would not be so fast to judge based on a single experience. You are not really sure what happened. As other have said it sounds like shot placement. This could have been due to deflection. Could there have been deflction off a twig, a rib, or simply some movement on the part of the deer? All of these things have happened to me.

When all is said and done the bullet killed the deer. From what you describe, the bullet fragmented inside the deer and did not penetrate fully. The various pieces were lethal. I have had that happen with a rib deflection (remember broadside shots are usually not perfectly broadside).

IMHO we are too quick to blame our equipment and run out and buy something more expensive. Hey that is what keeps people in business. Experts, so-called or real, aside, I am not sure that for deer there is all that much difference between bullets designed for deer hunting (note this excludes varmit bullets, military bullets, and bullets intended for shooting competions). How did they ever kill deer before the invention of the super bullet? Had the bullet not fragmented, it is possible that you would have a good blood trail. But don't bet on it. I did not get a blood trail with a 12 guage heart shot (the top of the heart was hit) which had a good exit wound. The deer ran and I did not see blood until just before I found the deer. It is also possible that without the fragmentation the bullet would not have been lethal or not immediately lethal.

My suggestion is to relax and buy my more ammo.

How fast a deer or any other critter will expire after being shot depends greatly on its adrenaline level before it was shot. If an animal is frightened and souped up on adrenaline, it will usually run like hell after being shot. If it was calm and didn't even know you were in the neighborhood, chances are it will drop in its tracks. I've seen it happen too many times to doubt it.

When I 1st got my .270 15+ years ago I was using the Winchester 140 grain silver tip boat tail with bad results.
This bullet would continually split into 4 or 5 pieces and deer would run 100-200 yards. The grouping would be around 2-3 inches @ best.

I switched to Federal .130 grain nossler ballistic tip (Load no. - P270F). The grouping is about an inch and most of the deer are dead within 50 yards.
I shoot it out of a Rem. 700 mountain rifle and this combo is deadly! Heck, I was plinking Turkeys on my Texas hunt @ 325 yards.

Blue box Federals....$12-13 a box at Wally World. I killed a coal truck load of deer with them at every distance from 3-300 yards....NEVER lost any deer that I hit with them with a few bad hits in the bunch... No need to waste money on premium ammo for WV whitetails. If you wanna spend extra money...buy more cheap ammo and shoot more..

Thanks for the info guys...I guess i might have to experiment with the options above....Friend of mine also reloads and offered to make me up a batch of them as well if i told him what bullet i want...

Lots and Lots of options with each rifle....when the time comes to pull the trigger i just want to make sure mr. deer is dead...lol I really dont care if it costs a dollar or $2 to kill one...once the rifle is sighted in the rest is simple...lol

I need to stick to fishing...lol

Your lucky to have such an offer and really should take him up on it. It really is a good way to learn & shootmore. an excellent hobby that allows one to really tailor loads to a specific gun or purpose. Don't let him do it make sure you watch, learn and experience it. Most are hooked once they try it. I reload for numerous guns/individuals I get as much satisfaction out watching my buddies obtain results as I do my own. Sideline benefit isallows me to work withand shoot many different ones without having to buy them.