After looking at some old hunting pictures I began to think where I would rate the gun/load combination used to take them. I`ve used other guns and calibers but the majority of my deer were taken with my FA`s 454 firing a handload that had a standard
300gr XTP, with the double crimp, over a charge of H-4227 for a MV of around 1450fps.From 100 yards and under, as long as I but the bullet in the right place, this combination has never failed me. My thoughts when first writting this post were what would be my favorite`s for 100yds and under and what would be used for shooting over 100yds.The only problem I have is that my longest shot on a deer was a measured 109yds using the above gun/load.I`ve recently purchased a SSK barrel in 6.5JDJ if the chance should arise for me to try and make a 100 plus yard shot on a deer. What would be your favorite gun/load combo for taking deer over/under 100 yards???

contender 30-30 2-6 bushnell scope.good for 150 yards. with practice more...

When I hunt with my 300WSM, my favorite load is 180 Accubond over 67.5gr IMR-4831.

My favorite handgun load is 200gr Barnes XPB over 46.5 gr H110.

Well new to the sport my load was 24-25gr of H110 under a 250gr Nosler Partition in my 44mag.My load in years past 43.5gr of BL-C2 under a 175grVLD Berger in a 308 long gun.I am working on a 305gr cast load on top of 21.5gr of H110 and a 320gr cast load over 20.5gr of H110.If the cast loads don't suit me I won't hesitate a second to go back with the Nosler load.

.44 Magnum: 23/ 296 or 24/296, depending upon the revolver; CCI 350; Sierra 240 JHC.
Longer: .257 JDJ 34.4 AA2520; CCI BR2; 100gr. Nosler BT; 2620 fps
Big 'uns & longer: .338 JDJ No.2; 49.5/ AA2520; Fed. 210; Hornady 200 gr. Spire pt.; 2280 fps.

All mean sudden death.

Mine is 7-30 waters with a sierra 120gr pro hunter, 35.2gr of IMR-4895, with a federal 205 primer.

Contender in 375 Win shooting a 264 cast with 25gr of 2400 at 1600+ fps

SRH 44mag shooting a 300 XTP crimped on the second line with 24gr of H110 at 1350+fps

In a revolver it would be my 454 with a 260 Nosler partition with a full-house load. In a single shot it would be my 309 JDJ with a 150 ballistic tip. If the shots are likely to be close with a revolver it would be the Winchester 250 XTP factory ammo; they are very accurate and recoil of a 44 Mag.

revolver....44mag with 2400 and 240gr xtp

contender....35rem with h322 and 180gr hornady ssp(3 deer with this in the 200yrd neighborhood)

encore....7mm-08 with h4895 and 120gr nbt

It would be my SSK 309 JDJ with a 165-grain Nosler BT @ 2400 FPS. It is topped off with a Leupold 2.5-8x EER and works great for all the deer hunting I do.

other then a little different powder just like kyode i use
reloader15 in the 7mm
larry

While I have used both 41s & 454s for deer, if I knew that the shot was not going to be over 100 yds, I would likely choose my favorite FA 41 with 210 XTP loaded with 2400 (1500+ fps). The accuracy of this combination will allow neck shots if a solid rest can be used. For me that is as "good as it gets." For larger animals I would choose the 454. My FA likes 300 gr bullets loaded to mid-1400s with 2400.

For longer range shots (up to 250 yds), my favorite for deer would be the 6.5 JDJ, 120 gr BT or Speer loaded with 4320. This combination is very accurate, with mild recoil and the bullets perform. For larger animals I would choose the 338 JDJ#2 with 200 gr Hornadys.

Anymore if the range is over 250, I would usually pass the shot at a game animal.

X2… But I don’t argue with what works! Different strokes for different folks. LOL

42gr RL 15 and a 139 spbt... 3 shots at 100

Under 100: 44 Magnum - 200 gr XTP over a healthy dose of 296...I know I'll catch some grief from the hard cast fans out there, but it has disageed quite nicely with every whitetail it's met so far!

Others in the stable looking to displace the 44 this year...in both revolver and single shot configurations.

357 Max revolver, 180gr SJHP over IMR 4227

44 Mag revolver, 240gr SJHP over Blue Dot

480 Ruger revolver, 325gr XTP over H110

35 Rem in XP100, 180gr SSP over H322

I'm with TC.
Different strokes...

But, James' question begs what would be "my" fav for under/over 100 yards.
1st, remember guys - I hunt the timber of New Hampshire (for those of you who have never hunted the northeast - picture hunting in a "jungle")so shots on whitetails over 100 yards are possible, but not real common.(yes, we do have some dairy farms with large meadows, but a yankee would usually utilize their rifle in such instances). So, just for "instance" sake, if I were limited to a handgun only (James didn't specify that), the "under" load would be my trusty .300 grain castcore in .44 Mag (of course!

), with the Speer .270 grain a close second. The over would have to be your run of the mill .150 grain Core Lokt pointed soft point in .308 caliber out of the Encore (you're welcome TC

).

Hows that James?

Renster

Sounds great! LOL

I have had REALLY good luck with my 7TCU with 120 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips using 28.5 grns of H322 at ranges anywhere from 15 yards to 185 yards. All one shot kills. The farther away they get the better the bullet performs. Shots at 185, 135, and 75 all dropped the deer right in their tracks. The 15 yard shot gave me a 30 yard tracking job, but it was like following a red sidewalk. Mild recoil coupled with great accuracy ... it's my favorite deer round so far.

This year I do plan on trying a newly aquired 45-70 however.

James, I'm like you...I have many good loads I like and different calibers. To answer you question, I guess I would have to go with the combo that I've taken 75% of my deer with...even though I haven't used it in about 8 years...I'll say my 30/30 win 14" contender with a 150gr NBT pushed with a max dose of W748...It's dropped all of them in their tracks!

My question has had some most interesting answer`s. One thing is certain....with you guys deer gun`s and loads are like women...
everyone has their own preferences.

Never lost a deer to the Black Hills factory 240 XTP load.
Extremely accurate, too.

Not at all. Hardcasts zip right through deer as there isn't much resistence. I actually like expanding bullets for deer.

240 gr xtp with 23.0 gr H 110 is a nice sleeping pill!!!!

That load should work like gangbusters!

That load should work like gangbusters!

For under 100 yds I use Bisley hunter in .41 mag. Speer 220 JSP or Hornady 210 XTP over Lil Gun. If Im hunting pigs I'll switch to a 250 gr CP WFNGC.
Occasionally I use a 10" Contender in .357 Max. 180 XTP or SSPB over H110.
For Over 100 yds, a TC Contender in 7-30 Waters. 120 NBT over AA 2460.

Good work everybody. I like to see some .41 mag fans out there. As an experiment I have been hunting almost exclusively with this caliber for the last couple of years. My 10 inch Contender sees most of the work but I have taken a few with my marlin 1894FG. I Also I have recently scoped a Ruger SBH .41 mag and plan to put it through its paces this fall. All three of these guns shoot better than minute of whitetail with a 210 XTP on top of 19grns of Accurate Arms #9. It might not be able to shoot through a 200lb boar lengthwise, but I know for a fact that under 100 yards it will break both shoulders and exit the animal completely every time.

For the .41 fans be sure and check out the August issue of American Hunter... just a little tease.

I have a 200 gr XTP load that I like that would make a good whitetail load but the 240's always seem to shoot a little better out at 100yds so I tend to stick with them. I had a real bad time with some 180 XTP's a few years ago on a big hog. I found that I got plenty of expansion but the bullet did not penatrate well. I tend to lean toward the heavier expanding bullets now. The 300 XTP's do well out of my Rugers (I seat them long) seem to be just a bit less recoil than the 240's. I am still working with this new Bisley Ruger It is Zeroed for 240's now but I may move it to the 300 XTP's

All the s&W 29's are zeroed with the 240 Speer Gold Dot HP's and 18.5 of 2400. It is a bit of a light load but shoots great in the oldr S&W guns.

You may see me shoot a deer with an open sight 29 this year. Time will tell

I use 23.5 grains of H110 behind the 240 xtp for my 44s.

Short range 44 mag with 240 xtp and 296.

Long range 309jdj with 150 gr BT and 760 or
308 with 150 BT and Varget or 6.5jdj with Varget and 120 BT or 338jdj with 2520 and 180-200 grain bullet

In .44mag, a 300gr XTP in front of 20gr Vihtavuori N110 is an excellent load for deer-sized game and possibly larger. Keeping three shots within 2" @ 100 yards is not difficult at all, at least not with a scoped revolver.

44 hard cast 17 grn hercules 2400, i still got some.

30-284 with 165 grn Hornady spbt and 46.5 grns H4895

Out to 60 yards = Ruger Blackhawk .357mag with factory 158JSP.
When using a rifle = Marlin 336 in .35 Rem.
Anything over 100yds walks away.

short range or walking 44mag 240gr xtp
setting 7mm-08 encore. out to 150yds.
larry

Hornady 240 XTP @1250 or so from the 44.