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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 26, 2020 21:18:27 GMT -5
I think I want to get a rifle for next year’s deer firearms season. I’m struggling to decide between all the straight wall cartridge options, but I really want to shoot a lead free bullet. I don’t see any good premade cartridges across the many calibers I’ve checked, and only a few bullet options for reloaders. Can one of you experts suggest anything I might be missing? 357 and 44 mag, 350 legend, and 450 bushmaster all seem like options except for the ammo issue. For my muzzleloader I’ve been using cutting edge bullets, but they don’t have a cartridge option for any of these.
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Post by medic22 on Nov 26, 2020 21:56:18 GMT -5
Look up bear creek ballistics
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Post by deadeer on Nov 26, 2020 23:55:36 GMT -5
There is ammo with Barnes bullets.
Also check out Black Butterfly.
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Post by span870 on Nov 27, 2020 6:47:19 GMT -5
Can I ask, why the need for lead free?
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Post by span870 on Nov 27, 2020 6:50:01 GMT -5
There is ammo with Barnes bullets. Also check out Black Butterfly. I'm really thinking about taking the plunge and trying the black butterfly ammo. Only thing that holds me back is they are a devastating round. Some of the pictures I've seen, the damage is massive. Off chance of hitting a shoulder and you lose the whole thing. On side note, I'm not hearing a whole lot of good things from much of the factory rounds besides the 180 grain loads.
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Post by parrothead on Nov 27, 2020 7:14:04 GMT -5
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Post by titanium700 on Nov 27, 2020 10:47:46 GMT -5
Can I ask, why the need for lead free? I’d also be curious to the reason.
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 27, 2020 10:55:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the links!
After learning how badly lead bullets fragment in a deer, I don’t want my family consuming any. If all it costs me to avoid the chance my kids are eating lead in venison tacos is a little inconvenience and a few more dollars spent on ammunition, it’s a no brainer for me. Lead is scary stuff - Flint, MI or anywhere else!
Now that I have done options on ammo I guess it’s back to going in circles trying to decide between the various calibers!
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Post by deadeer on Nov 27, 2020 14:27:20 GMT -5
There is ammo with Barnes bullets. Also check out Black Butterfly. I'm really thinking about taking the plunge and trying the black butterfly ammo. Only thing that holds me back is they are a devastating round. Some of the pictures I've seen, the damage is massive. Off chance of hitting a shoulder and you lose the whole thing. On side note, I'm not hearing a whole lot of good things from much of the factory rounds besides the 180 grain loads. If talking the 350L... the Winchester Deer Season xp 150gr is by far the leading champ, hands down. Yes its lighter, but read the jacket is heavier and it tapers. My sources are showing exits on every shot, even thru a scapula hit. They are not avail as a component to handloaded yet tho. Have been super accurate in every gun I know of so far.
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Post by span870 on Nov 27, 2020 21:39:16 GMT -5
I'm really thinking about taking the plunge and trying the black butterfly ammo. Only thing that holds me back is they are a devastating round. Some of the pictures I've seen, the damage is massive. Off chance of hitting a shoulder and you lose the whole thing. On side note, I'm not hearing a whole lot of good things from much of the factory rounds besides the 180 grain loads. If talking the 350L... the Winchester Deer Season xp 150gr is by far the leading champ, hands down. Yes its lighter, but read the jacket is heavier and it tapers. My sources are showing exits on every shot, even thru a scapula hit. They are not avail as a component to handloaded yet tho. Have been super accurate in every gun I know of so far. I find this interesting. I'm hearing the exact opposite. I'm in three different 350 groups and the vast majority are saying no exit. Massive internal damage, one hole. Mind you, haven't heard anyone say they lost a deer, just only one hole. I'm shooting them so we'll see hands on experience.
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Post by medic22 on Nov 27, 2020 21:41:04 GMT -5
If talking the 350L... the Winchester Deer Season xp 150gr is by far the leading champ, hands down. Yes its lighter, but read the jacket is heavier and it tapers. My sources are showing exits on every shot, even thru a scapula hit. They are not avail as a component to handloaded yet tho. Have been super accurate in every gun I know of so far. I find this interesting. I'm hearing the exact opposite. I'm in three different 350 groups and the vast majority are saying no exit. Massive internal damage, one hole. Mind you, haven't heard anyone say they lost a deer, just only one hole. I'm shooting them so we'll see hands on experience. You can put me down for lost a deer,and also pass through 2 deer with the same bullet.
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Post by swilk on Nov 27, 2020 21:49:15 GMT -5
Maker Bullets offers solid copper loaded ammunition for the 350 Legend in 125, 150 and 220 grain configurations.
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 27, 2020 22:31:50 GMT -5
I'm liking what I read about the 350 Legend, and I think that's my preferred option right now. Wish this came in a stainless barrel, though...https://ruger.com/products/scoutRifle/specSheets/6841.html.
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Post by willy7948 on Nov 27, 2020 23:12:03 GMT -5
I'm liking what I read about the 350 Legend, and I think that's my preferred option right now. Wish this came in a stainless barrel, though...https://ruger.com/products/scoutRifle/specSheets/6841.html. I can’t wrap my head around spending that much for a bolt gun.
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Post by deadeer on Nov 28, 2020 0:44:05 GMT -5
If talking the 350L... the Winchester Deer Season xp 150gr is by far the leading champ, hands down. Yes its lighter, but read the jacket is heavier and it tapers. My sources are showing exits on every shot, even thru a scapula hit. They are not avail as a component to handloaded yet tho. Have been super accurate in every gun I know of so far. I find this interesting. I'm hearing the exact opposite. I'm in three different 350 groups and the vast majority are saying no exit. Massive internal damage, one hole. Mind you, haven't heard anyone say they lost a deer, just only one hole. I'm shooting them so we'll see hands on experience. It does kind of go against the grain with a lighter bullet theory. Nevertheless, I was there to witness 4 kills myself, including the shoulder shot. All pass thrus and murder scene blood trails, of little to no tracking required. Read about a few kills with the Win 180, but no expansion on those. The Maker bullets as mentioned, have a good following. I havent researched anything to comment.
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Post by deadeer on Nov 28, 2020 0:46:57 GMT -5
We are trying for a kill this weekend with the 165ftx in 350L. Those are avail to reload, when in stock.
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Post by span870 on Nov 28, 2020 6:29:06 GMT -5
I find this interesting. I'm hearing the exact opposite. I'm in three different 350 groups and the vast majority are saying no exit. Massive internal damage, one hole. Mind you, haven't heard anyone say they lost a deer, just only one hole. I'm shooting them so we'll see hands on experience. It does kind of go against the grain with a lighter bullet theory. Nevertheless, I was there to witness 4 kills myself, including the shoulder shot. All pass thrus and murder scene blood trails, of little to no tracking required. Read about a few kills with the Win 180, but no expansion on those. The Maker bullets as mentioned, have a good following. I havent researched anything to comment. I'll go with your first hand knowledge then. Again going by post content and not actually seeing. I have had many "discussions", okay arguments about pass through vs single hole. Seems some can't trail a single hole deer. Heck I've killed many with a slug and 06 with one hole. They bleed just as well only on one side. Still not a fan of the 150 winchester for single reason I think the gun is way more capable as far as accuracy and I'm printing maybe 2" groups at 100. Idk, I like a heavier bullet either way, reason I have a distain for .243, and most research I've done said that the round seems to shoot better and was designed for a heavier bullet. Still going to come down to what each gun likes. Be nice if everyone wasn't hoarding ammo right now that I could actually get a decent selection to run through the gun. I did sight in with the bushnell scope that came on the gun also, doubt it even make a good paperweight, so that'll be changed out shortly. Stock is pretty generic so looking at a boyds to replace.
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 28, 2020 13:20:43 GMT -5
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Post by willy7948 on Nov 28, 2020 13:28:59 GMT -5
Sweet! Why is the youth model so heavy ? Lol only one pound lighter than my savage bolt gun. Chambered in 6.5c, she shouldn’t kick much more than a .22. Lol
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Post by stevein on Nov 28, 2020 17:22:43 GMT -5
I'm really thinking about taking the plunge and trying the black butterfly ammo. Only thing that holds me back is they are a devastating round. Some of the pictures I've seen, the damage is massive. Off chance of hitting a shoulder and you lose the whole thing. On side note, I'm not hearing a whole lot of good things from much of the factory rounds besides the 180 grain loads. If talking the 350L... the Winchester Deer Season xp 150gr is by far the leading champ, hands down. Yes its lighter, but read the jacket is heavier and it tapers. My sources are showing exits on every shot, even thru a scapula hit. They are not avail as a component to handloaded yet tho. Have been super accurate in every gun I know of so far. If you are just worried about lead go to a hardcast lead with low antimony. 44 mag with a wide flat nose driven around 1600-1800 fps will stay together.
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