I'll be using a .300 Win Mag or .30-'06 this fall for deer. The Remington Managed Recoil .300 WM load is a 150-gr. Core-Lokt with ME of 2400 Ft-Lb., as opposed to the regular .300 WM load's 3300 ft-lb. with the same bullet. I'm thinking that the Managed Recoil bullet won't break up, but that the full-power load bullet might break up with the .300 WM. Would a .30-'06 150-gr. Core-Lokt or other standard bullet be better? Should I look for a better bullet like a Nosler Partition in the regular .30-'06 or regular .300 Win Mag?
The reality is both of those caliber choices, if put in the boiler room, will give you a dead deer with pretty much any 150 grain. I load 160 Grain Nosler Accubonds in my 7mm for deer and have a good balance of penatration and expansion. Choose a load that shoots most acurate in your gun (go to the range!!!) - Shoot a deer with it this fall and look at the entry and exit wounds. I've never shot a deer with a 30-06 or a 300 and thought I needed more Penatration. Fusion Bullets are a cheaper option as well. Have fun and shoot straight!
Do you reload? A good bullet will not break up even at 300 Win Mag velocities. If this is just for hunting and you won't be shooting many rounds you may as well splurge for federal premium with a partition in the 300 win mag.
Just use a well constructed 180 at published velocities and get on with it,
My experience with the 300WM confirms that a decently built 180's or heavier will likely do less damage that a 130 cup core in a 270Win.
FWIW; if you shoot the deer in the chest it does'nt really make a difference what you shot a deer with, rib meat is barely salvagable and probably way to tallowy to be good table fare.
Several years ago I bought a 300 win mag to hunt moose with but I decided to try it out deer hunting. I was using 180 gr Corelokt PSP ammo. I shot one deer at about 100 yds and a second one at about 200 yds. Both shots were through the ribs/chest while they stood broadside and they went straight through leaving a toonie sized exit wound. I definitely don't think that penetration on a deer would be a problem but I would be a little concerned with shooting 2 deer with one bullet if they were standing beside each other.
I normally hunt deer and moose with a 3006 with 180 gr Corelokt PSP and I've never had any problems. This year I have switched to 165 gr nosler partitions for the deer and the 300 win mag for moose/elk.
I shot all my deer last year with my 300 win mag and it did an awesome job.
Two deer shot through the lungs, And one deer was shot in the heart. It took half the heart right off just like you took a knife and cut it in half.
300 win mag does an excellent job.
I was using 150gr hornady sst.
Entrances were small and exits were about the size of a copenhagen tin.
I have used my 300 win mag on a few deer. It works great with any bullet I've used. If you want to buy factory ammo without spending an arm and a leg, I find just regular ol' Winchester Super X pointed soft point to be as accurate as anything. (180 gr) It just lacks on retaining speed and energy out to long range distances. (300 yards +) Still does the job and does it well.
.300 Win Mag for deer
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