AboutSteven L. Ashe Expertise Hunting firearms and how to choose what you need. How to build a reasonably priced custom rifle. What calibers must you have to hunt anywhere. How to train bird dogs. How and where to hunt. How to find good guides. How to view and enjoy hunting as a sport.
Experience
Past/Present clients Worked with a number of novice bird dog people who went on to win championship status with their dogs.
Question I shot 2 deer this year with my.270/150 grain bullet.The area I have hunted was always shotgun only until 2 yrs. ago.I shot one at about 50 yds.and one about 125-150 Yds.Both lung shots.Both were pass through shots.Which causes Me some concern as far as safety.I passed on 2 shots because of concern of what was on the other side of the deer.? would a lighter bullet do More work inside the animal so as to be less likely to pass through? Say 130 or 140 grain.Deer average around 110 lbs.in southern New York.Opinion or otherwise?
Answer Rich, I hunted for years with a 270Win, using 130gr bullets, all of which I handloaded. Deer and pronghorn hit inside 200 yards all had exit wounds. Yes, one has to be aware of what is on the other side of the animal, because the bullet could possible harm someone.
The only two options that you have are: hand load slower cartridges for your close shots. You could carry full power cartridges for when a deer appears at a distance, where you usually would have time to swap out what is in the chamber. Secondly, you could load varmint bullets that blow up quickly. Inside 150 yards, hollow points will kill deer quickly, but will not exit. There are many types of varmint bullets in 270 that would work. You'd need to practice, so you could get accurate hits with either your varmint loads or your full power loads, but that would do the trick. If you don't handload, just buy a box of hollow points and zero them in. That should solve the problem in your area, where you are taking deer in the 110 lb. range. I once used Ballistic Tip cartridges in a 30-06. I found them on sale and tried them. They were 150gr. I killed three deer inside 100 yds. and did not have an exit wound.
Kindly leave feedback on my post to you. Thanks, Steve
