I just recently picked up a new Ruger 77 MK II stainless synthetic at a local gun show.

Was wondering if anyone had any good recommendations on bullet size for use on whitetails? This is my second rifle and I am used to hunting with a 7mm mag.

I bought the gun primarily as a treestand hunting gun when I am not using my 7mm.

Any suggestions?

Did you go to the gunshow at the empire state plaza?

my favorite for acurracy and killing is a 168gr hollow pt boat tail match load...i had a doe do a flip in mid air! dropped her right then and there i couldnt see a visible entry wound..except on the inside i seen where it was...and exit was the size of a pencil...lungs were completly mush..perfect bullet in my eyes

mauser06

A 168 gr mathc hollow point is NOT a good hunting bullet. even though its a hollow point, it has a thicker jacket and will not expand much, in fact it will behave more like a FMJ bullet. This is the reason why you got an exit wound the same size as the bullet diameter. While a well placed shot will do the job well, it is not meant to be a hunting bullet and shouldn't be used as one.

My preference is 165 gr BTSP nosler partitions- these will give excellent expansion and weight retention combined with a high ballistic coefficient for making longer shots. I have taken several deer with this bullet with good results. This year I switched to Hornady 165 gr btsp interlocks, they shoot accurately but unfortunately I didn't get a deer this last season to report on their performance. Both bullets I load with 41.0 gr of 4064.

On a further note, I have used 150 gr. remington corelokts for plinking in the past. They gave decent accuracy, and I've never heard stories of corelokts giving bad performance on game.

The best accuracy I've gotten out of my old semi-auto .308 (Win. model 100) was with the 168gr Winchester coated balistic tips and with Federal Hi-Shok 180gr rounds. Both of these shot identical at the range - no scope adjustment necessary.
I've been playing with several 150gr rounds lately and so far the Hornady SSTs and the old Rem. Core Lokts are working pretty well.

If you are only going to hunt deer I would go with either the 150gr sst or ballistc tip.Both expand well to give quick clean kills especially at 308 velocities.Some of the heavier bullets don't expand a great deal and this can result in slower kills and tracking required.

I would go with a 150 or 165 gr sst by Hornady or the 165 Barnes bullet .Ballistic tips are accurate but expand to much for me .JMHO

I have used both 150 grain Core-lokts and 165 grain Sierra Gamekings in my 308. Both gave excellent accuracy and performance on game up to the size of caribou.

I have had excellent results on deer with the 150 gr ballistic tip as a bonus they are very accurate.

SOTHRDNK

if you reload i like the speer grand slam 165 gr. i have had good results from them. i have some 150 combined tech. but have not killed with them. i use my 308 in thickets and bottoms. i feel better with the heaver bullet.