Deer Season

With deer season rapidly approaching (and black bear season for some states), what do you plan on using? Firearm? Bullet/load? Thanks!

My trusty Bisley 45LC will be stoked with 25 grains of H110 behind a 240 JHC this year. I use the same charge in the Max with a 160 CLSIL, and the 480R SRH with a 325 XTP. I like to keep it simple.

I plan to use my new Remington XP-100 .308 firing 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips over 47 grains of Varget. In fact, I am leaving in an hour for Wyoming to try to kill my first pronghorn antelope with the same gun.

Well good luck to you, wheeler!

And simple is good!

Bisley hunter 44mag with magtech 240 gr sjsp and my encore 308 with factory 150gr sp ammo

Those will get it done!

6.5 Leopard (WSM) and or 338AX (Lapua Improved) XP's.

14" T/C Contender 30-30 A.I. - 125 N.B.T. 33 gr. IMR 4198
15" T/C Encore/SSK 35 Whelen - 200 gr. Hornady sp, Still working on this one.
15" T/C Encore 209x50 - 200 gr. T/C shock wave, 100 gr. T-777

Shortgun

FA 454 with 250gr XTP's @1400 fps
Power Custom #5 44 Special with 240 gr. XTP's @ 1200 fps

Dan

I will be probably starting the season with my Bisley Hunter in .44 Mag stoked with Double Tap's 320 grain WFNs at 1,350 fps. This load shoots really accurately from this gun.

If I get one early enough with the Bisley Hunter, I may break out the .500 Linebaugh SRH. We'll see!

35 Rem with Hor 180gr ssp

Mark

300gr XTP with 20gr VV N110. In my custom Smith 29-2 44mag.

Will you be deploying that load in North Carolina, Mike?

That's the plan! Still waiting for my BATF import permit though but there are still more than three weeks to go...

FA`s 41mag with a 210gr A-frame over AA#9 topped with a Burris
2-7X.
FA`s 44mag with a 250gr Partition over Lil Gun and open sights along with my faithful S&W four inch J-frame in 22mag...

Mostly my 460 Encore, 39 Gr. 2400 with a 200Gr. FTX bullet,and my performance center 460, same load.

Ruger Super Redhawk 44mag, 240gr XTP, 20.5gr 2400, scope "maybe" simmons 2x6x32

35 rem 180 grn. SPEER FP 14 in contender
358 J.D.J. 200 grn. Rem C.L. 14 in contender
308 165 grn. Sierra btsp 14 in Striker
4 5/8th Blackhawk 250 grn XTP or SPEER Deepcurl

Well I have a prob. I customized an Encore that started out as a 308 15" which I was going to be my open field deer gun. But part of my customizing was a 12" 500 S&W mag ported, made by MGM. I got it for hog hunting, they have got huge here and more than you can count, getting into everything. And I have my Ruger 45lc 4 5/8" that I use on our land, for deer, because of the lay of the land.
Well to my prob. now that I have that 500 I just got to know what it will do to a deer. My little Ruger will see lots of time and I'm sure the 308 will see time in the open field for longer shots. But that 500.......it's..it's..it is calling me.........

HELP ME WHAT DO I DO????

oh the loads
in the 45lc-300gr BB.
the 308-150gr jhp over 35grs or IMR-3031 very accurate loads.
and the 500-440gr Hornady factory loads.

It's simple, use the .500!!

I'll start out with A FA 4 3/4" 44 mag loaded with 240xtp over max charge of H110. Once it draws blood, I'll probably carry the FA 454 for a while. It'll be loaded with 260NP's and max charge of H110. After it draws blood, my 475L with 375WFNGC and max charge of H110 will probably get to play.....who knows after that; maybe a t/c or maybe start all over with the wheelers again.

Don't know if I'll get to hunt with my bisley or not....my son has kinda staked claim to it!

My Newly Customized Bisley Hunter 44, Hornady 240 XTP's
G2 Contender W/16" 209x50 MGM Barrel
That should cover every thing in Mo

Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Casull with either 300 Gold Dots, 250 XTP's, or 255 Hard Cast.

All over 26.5 of IMR 4227 = 1400-1500fps.

Excellent! Looking forward to reading the report!

If you ever need help thinning out the hogs let me know, Mississippi isn't that far from me.

For the original question I will be using my xp-100 in 300 whisper (screamer) for deer this year.

Deer Season! Archery season starts at dawn tomorrow here in VA.
My weapon of choice will be The Truth by Bear (compound) pushing carbon 400's tipped with 100 gr. Hammerhead mechanicals.
Last season, two arrows flew, two bucks came home with me.
Got one opening day last year but it's gonna be pretty windy in the morning, we'll just have to see.
Wish me luck!
Can't wait for gun season ,tho.
Jimmy

Ill be using my sbhh with 300 gr BTB over 21.2 gr of 296 or MR 475 linebaugh,ya I know I did it anyway.

Gonna get things started with the unscoped Freedom wheelguns - 4 3/4 .500 WE with 350 gr XTPs, 6" .475 Linebaugh with 325 gr Speer GDSP, and the 7 1/2" .454 with the 260 Partitions. If I'm lucky enough to get all of those some action with deer and swine, I'll transition to the scoped FA's - I have a goal to get all of them bloody this year!

Contender in .257JDJ will get the nod for longer range duties, along with the 6.5/270JDJ - too many reloading projects still undone (300 Whisper, XP100 in 35 Rem, etc) and the season is here!

I am going to use my encore in 223 with a 12" barrel. New 2X weaver and DNZ mount should be here tomorrow. Then work up some loads using a speer 55gr TBBC. Or use my SRH with 240xtp's.

I'll start ou w/ my Competitor in 50 AE. It's been a while since this one got any real work.

I'll also have a Competitor but in a Dixie reworked .357 Maximum. Also be toting my Dixie Ruger BH .41 Mag.

Dan, I saw your barrel on the Dixie firearms' web site a while ago. It really looked good.

Rod does great work. I had some pitting when I got it used.....told him not to worry about it, just rechamber,bead blast and blue it. It's a utility barrel on a utility gun....but shoots GREAT! Can't wait to chrono the 180gr SSPBs from a Maximum w/ 16" barrel.

Can't wait. Ruger SBH .44 Mag over a 300 grain handload.

-Randy

Great choices, gentlemen! I can't wait either.

454 Casull, 240 gr. JSP, 1700fps.by Magtech. Yeehaw!

T/C 12" 357 Maximum, 190 grain cast lead with gas check, 30 mm Ultra Dot.

14" 35rem rimmed contender with the 180gr hornady ssp. also the bisley sbh hunter, possibly with 240gr win factory loads!.....unless i get some loading done. i'm hoping my son will try the redhawk this yr. if not, he'll use the rem 700 .243.....rifle, with 80gr rem plhp's over varget.

For ML season, the T/C Encore .50 rifle, BH 209 70 gr. by weight (~100 gr. volume), MMP black sabot behind a .452 XTP of 250 gr. Proven combo.

For the general gun season it depends on where I am hunting. In Amelia County I can shoot anything I want, so I'll take the .44 mag this year. The load will be around 1000-1100 fps with a 240 gr XTP. Probably Alliant 2400. Dang, I REALLY need to develop that load! Time's a wastin'. Otherwise, I have some 1150 fps with what look like Speer soft points to use (BVA).

The other two counties, Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, are shotgun/ML only, so the Encore goes with me there.

I like the big bores but the straight wall just isn't long enough on the 44 magnum. I suppose I'll have to use my 444 with the maximizer brake.
Jimmy

My new to me custom SRH in 475L,pushn 420s @ 1350fps.

Now I know that one works like a charm on whitetail -- and everything else it touches!

Taurus Raging Bull factory 480 XTP's. The encore I won at the last HHI antelope hunt with factory 150 hornady's. And my new Bisley Hunter 45lc with my 325 gr hard cast hand loads. Also the BFR 45-70 for Black bear. Also factory loads. I have been to busy to spend time reloading which saddens me! Oh well always next year.

my 454 300 gr xtp bear and deer. and maby take my old 44 for a walk to 240 gr xtp.

I just recieved a North Dakota antlerless tag in the mail so that has me pretty excited that I can use a handgun again this year. I'll probably use my Contender with my 14" 375JDJ barrel loaded with the only load I've ever used in it. 270 gr. Hornady spire points.
Mike

.454 Casull Super Redhawk topped with an Ultradot, 335 gain cast performance and 325 grain Swift A-frame/296 handloads. 7 more days!

629 8 3/8" with 240 gr XTPs, BFR 475 Linebaugh with 400 gr. XTPs, Bisley 45 Colt with either 300 gr. XTPs or 250 gr. hardcasts and am working on a load for the Flattop 44 Special using Cast Performance 255 gr. bullets.

Can't wait.

Can't wait to read all of the hunting reports!

i wish u all a safe and great season in the outdoors.....

I wish you the same!

Bisley 44 mag
Just back from magnaport
Had a green fiber optic FS added
Looking at using a 260 grain cast bullet on top of 22.5-23 grns of 4227
Looking for a shoulder blade shot
Keep your fingers X

5.5 super blackhawk one ragged hole sight 240gr cast

Both are 15" Encores:

.243 Win - 34gr Varget - 95gr Nosler Partition
7mm-08 - 41gr Varget - 140gr Nosler Accubond


7 1/2" Redhawk

.45 Colt H110 300gr XTP

Primitive season starts Saturday and I will be using my 5 shot .50 cal Ruger Old Army cap & ball conversion by Dave Clements. 250 gr Mt. Baldy bullet and 50 gr Triple 7 FFF.

Good luck to you, Hank!! Have fun!

hoping to drop a few flatheads and maybe a nice buck if God is willing. will be using:
-FA 7 1/2" in 454 casull with Burris 1.5-4x shooting 265 gr Swift A Frame w/ max load of H110

backed up by:

-Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter in 45 Colt with Burris 2-7x shooting 260 Nosler Partitions with max charge of H110

shot hogs with the FA last winter, so I'm pumped to bring home the venison with it!

wish all a safe and successful season afield! Let us know how you do!

Dan Wesson 44mag loaded with 300gr XTP's will be my stand gun but i'm going to be walking around with my Marlin 1895 GBL 45-70. I just picked it up and absolutely love it! Nothing like walking through the woods with a short barreled lever gun chambered in the granddaddy of them all.

I'm going to shoot my new Bisley Hunter 44 mag with a Leopold FXII 2x. Pretty excited about getting into handgun hunting. Starting out with Hornady LEVERevolution 225 gr FTX ammo. May change to a different load once I get some handgun hunting experience and see what I learn on the forum in regard to 44 mag ammo preferences. My rifles may start feeling neglected!

SRH .44mag 9.5 bbl/Burris FastFire with Hornandy LEVERevolution 225FTX's. Worked for me last year,passed through the heart at 80 yards, never found the lead inside. Buck only ran 30 yards and piled up, not a hair or a drop of blood. In the stand barely 10 minutes, yaking on cell phone with wife, hear something,hangup, see deer, start shaking, aim an shoot and deer runs like he wasn't touched.I figured i missed him, took a while but i found him closer to the stand. It was a clean kill but there was more luck going on there than anything! This Saturday try to fill doe tag first, then take time for a buck. Keep my guard up and phone off. Good hunting to everyone.

Are you using 300XTP or XTP Mag? - Matt

I had a last minute change of plans. The bisley is staying home and the .475 BFR is coming out to play. Ultra-dot 30 equipped. The load: 26gr H110, cci350, and a .476" 400gr Lee RF on top cast of WDWW and lubed with LBT blue soft.

Sounds like a great load!

The 300 (Kyode mag) win mag encore pistol. Sierra pro hunter 180gr bullet . The 7TCU 120gr bullet will also see action this year

burn em down jimmylee!

Ruger Super Duper RedHawk 9-1/2" in 480 Ruger.
Black UltraDot 30mm in Ruger Factory Rings.
Back-up Front Sight Marble Green Fiber Optic.
Grips changed to Hogue Tamer.

Bullets: Oregon Trail 355g Lead Gas Check.
Powder: 20.0 Grains of AA #9
Primers: CCI Magnum Large Pistol

The Oregon Trail Bullet replaced my old load for this year, which was a 400g Lee cast from wheelweights. Over 18.0g of AA#9.

I have the 355g load dead on at 50 yards, and about 6 inches low at 100 yards. A switch to my old 400g Lee load put 5 of 5 dead on the paper desert plate at 100 yards.

I have been thinking about a different Zero Yardage of 75 yards. This may be a better Zero yardage for where I hunt in the woods.

My Primary hunting spot will be Haunted Hollow. This is a valley with 2 side valleys intersecting it on either side of my stand location. The valley floor opens up into about a 3 acre bottom right infront of my stand. I have my big ladder stand set up about half way up the point on the South side of the valley. My shots should be from 35 to app 100 yards,Unless the deer decide not to use the established trails. I have a couple spots where I could shoot on the opposite hill side. (Haunted Hollow, The valley has an old tree with a growth on it that looks like a face.)
Location #2 is on the NE corner of a valley that runs across our property that I have been clearing off. Shots could be from under foot to possibly 150 yards.
I probably need to make a quick midday run my both stands for a quick laser session to determine a maximum shot from both stands. I may need to pop a couple more caps at the range and see where the 480 is shooting a little further off. Good time to do that 75 yard Zero I was talking about, then shoot at 50 and 100 to see where we are at. I think I have enough ammo loaded to do that without getting to low on 355g.

I have my Cliff Bars, and my Lances Crackers on hand. Probably should get some hard candy to suck on. Counting today we are at 3 days and a wake-up till opening morning.

I probably should get to sharpening on my hunting knives, and check the blade on my meat saw. I have put the bale spikes back on my tractor front end loader to hoist them up. I am about ready. Being retired and having some time to do things without rushing around is nice.

Bob