End of season ammo question...

[heiner39]

Now that my deer season is over for another year it's time to start planning for next year. I used Federal Fusion this year (due to suggestion by clerk at store and this being my first real crack at whitetail hunting) and it worked alright as I dropped my deer but I was expecting a bit bigger exit wound. I shot my deer at 125 yards and the exit was pretty much the same size as the entry...good thing I hit the heart and it dropped about 15 feet from where I hit it.

Due to high prices on ammo up here in Canada I am thinking about trying the Hornady line of ammo as they seem to be priced right between the lower end ammo and the premium stuff. I like the looks of the SST (super shock tip) and the Interbond. Does anyone have experience with them and if so how did they perform?

I'll be shooting a 30-06 Savage.

[TCFORLIFE]

I don't shoot the 30-06 but I shoot the sst's out of my 308 and never been let down. They group really well out of mine.

[Jeramie]

Pretty much any Hornady is a good choice. They make a great product.

However, if youre wanting a great product at a cheap price look into Remington Corelokt.

There are two things youre looking for in the performance of the bullet, expansion and weight retention. Corelokt perform great in both cases and are a very cheap bullet. You will get a lot of the same responses below this one. For the money its hard to beat a corelokt.

Also keep in mind that Rifles kill by shock. Youre not going to get a big open wound unless you hit bone. Blowing through the lungs doesnt open them up nearly as well as hitting bone but it is very effective. It sounds like the bullet did the job.

[heiner39]

I have a buddy who uses the Core-Lokt rounds from Remington and he likes them. The thing is up here in Canada they are close to $28 a box. I can get the SST's for $24 and the Interbonds for $28 so I thought I'd look into them. I have read good reviews about the Hornady factory ammo and was just wondering if anyone has had success with them.

I was looking at the Cabela's and found they have Core-Lokts for $15...I wish we had it that good up here (as far as animals go it's great...too bad the bullets weren't as cheap as our southern hunting buddy's)!!!

[wtnhunt]

Use the core lokts here with my .270, and the gun loves them. It groups best for me with the 150 grain core lokts. Had considered trying the hornady custom loads. Read that they are of as good or better a quality as the average handloader can load. Never have tried them though as the corelokts get the job done just fine.

[hoytbowhunter]

I love Federal In my oppion it is the best factory ammo out there I love it and deff will continue to use it no matter the price!!It's worth it!!! though I will admit that I never used the fusion.But For deer I shoot A Vital-Shok In 95Gr. NBT out of my 243.win and Power-Shok in 150Gr.BTSP out of my 30-06.spgfld. and the both do a number on deer They never go far.I shot a Buck with my 243. at 65yards this year and it took two steps the bullet distoyred both lungs and the top of the heart and I watched my uncle shoot a doe with the 30-06 at about 100 yards and it fell where it stood and had nothing to be found of the lungs not to mention a scary large exit wound.just my $.02 BTW what is the Price of ammo up there? is it like doubble the price or somthing??

[LifeNRA]

I was expecting a bit bigger exit wound. I shot my deer at 125 yards and the exit was pretty much the same size as the entry...good thing I hit the heart and it dropped about 15 feet from where I hit it.

I'll be shooting a 30-06 Savage.

First of all why are you looking for a bigger exit wound? The bullet did its job, and from the sounds of it quite well too! I shot several deer with my 270, never had an exit wound from the opposite side from where it was shot at. But I can tell you this, the lungs were all like jelly, and the one, the heart was in pieces. If it ain't broke, why fix it? As long as the gun like to group this round I see no reason to change. JMHO!

[OJR]

That is What a Good Bullet Will Do!

Now that my deer season is over for another year it's time to start planning for next year. I used Federal Fusion this year (due to suggestion by clerk at store and this being my first real crack at whitetail hunting) and it worked alright as I dropped my deer but I was expecting a bit bigger exit wound. I shot my deer at 125 yards and the exit was pretty much the same size as the entry...good thing I hit the heart and it dropped about 15 feet from where I hit it.

I'll be shooting a 30-06 Savage.

A good bullet will not leave a big gapping hole unless you hit a big bone or the bullet blows up!

I have used both the Hornady SST's and Interbonds on both deer and elk and have had great success with them! All the game I shot, the exit hole was just a little bigger than the entrance hole! None of the animals went very far at all!

That fusion bullet performed great for you!