boomer68

Using my Steyr Pro Hunter this season and at the moment loaded up with Hornady 180 BTSP. Very accurate to say the least.
Now, my main quarry is WT deer and was thinking if I should go with the 168 TTSX instead. Opinions?

Ridge Runner

why? whitetails are considered light thin skinned medium game, only reason I would use a premium bullet is if most of my shots were inside 100 yards using an elk capable rifle for them.
RR

hunters_life

Inside of 150 yards, I would try to stay off the bone as much as possible with that 180 bullet out of a .300WM. Unless you don't care to lose a few pounds of shoulder meat. More than likely, you would get even more meat damage with the TTSX because it will be even faster. If you reload, slow that 180 grain down to .30-06 velocities and have at it.

bronko22000

I couldn't agree more with either of these posts. Good luck

boomer68

Thanks for the comments. I always try to aim for the heart/lungs but was just wondering if the monometal bullet would be better for less damage. I will stick with the Hornady.

buffybr

The first time that I used a mono-metal bullet on a bull elk I didn't loose a pound of meat. It was a Barnes 168 gr TSX bullet at 3290 fps from my .300 Weatherby. It was a 100 yard broadside shot and I put the bullet in the crease just behind his near shoulder. It's exit hole was about 3/4" wide just behind his off shoulder. He only ran about 10 yards after he was hit.

bronko22000

That's a lot of KE buffy. Not really needed for any whitetail but obviously even plenty for elk.

hunters_life

buffybr, I do believe I stated staying off the bone, correct? Your shot placement, "in the crease just behind his near shoulder", is exactly what I was saying. Off the bone. I've taken several elk with my .300WM though not to many whitetail. Little too much rifle for whitetails in my opinion unless I am shooting a reduced load. Unless you are poking at 400 plus yards that is.

Nomercy448

I probably won't do any deer hunting with a rifle this year, but we'll see how I feel in 2wks when we can finally take a rifle afield. I dropped my oldest 30-06 into a new boyd's stock this fall, and have been playing with the 178 ELD-X over 4350, and I still haven't changed the barrel on my newest 300wm, and I shot a bunch of 200 ELD-X's over Retumbo this summer, so either of those are ready to go if I decide to take them out.

I'm most likely going to be doing my hunting with my 357/44 Redhawk, 44mag Super Blackhawk, or 243win Striker pistol. I'm trying to finish up a new grip for my Redhawk, so that might not be done in time. That 300wm might get some play in January doe season.

It's a he11 of a lot of rifle, and I don't intend to run it head long into anything hard with a poly tipped bullet. Doesn't break my heart really, the recoil isn't bad since the rifle is nice and heavy, and I wear a heck of a lot of layers in our rifle season. I haven't drawn blood with that 300 yet, so that's in the back of my mind if I decide to take a rifle along this season.

hunters_life

Nomercy448, have you seen any reviews yet on those ELD's? All I have seen so far is the normal producers regurgitations. Not seen any reviews from actual hunters usage. I was thinking about loading up some for the .300wm for elk next year since I'm not going to make it out to Colorado this year. Those 200gr look like they would be awful nice elk medicine.