Is what my son shot this deer with.



Entrance side

Exit side


Bullet. The bullet and jacket frags were all what I dug out of the ground in the hill behind where the deer was shot.

I used those bullets for years. Pulling the bullets from U.S. gobment ammo and replacing them with Sierra 180 RN. Excellent deer killer.

An impact test I did several years ago showed the Sierra 180 gr PN to be a very good bullet at 30-06 velocities. the only downside to it was it's shape for long range shooting- but not relevant for most deer. Congratulations on the successful hunt, which include working a situation where your son had a dirt bank behind the deer- Safe hunting!!

Looks like it is a winner. I have always used the 180 grain Sierra SBT but those work the same.

Any particular reason you loaded a RN? Just curious. I load a bunch myself.

Its what my son wanted to use. He just wants to hunt, his eyes glaze over when I start to talk about ballistics. He asks "will they kill an elk", that's his only concern.

Well sounds like he skipped all the anguish us gun nuts go through and just fell on something that works .

A couple years ago I got some 180 RN factory ammo in trade and my son shot a cow elk with one. This year he asked me if I could load him some so I picked the Sierras after reading that they are meant for elk but will open on deer.

We almost never shoot passed 300 yards and the trajectory of these is +2 at 100, -.6 at 200, -11.6 at 300. That is plenty flat for that range.

2 heart shot roebucks with my .30-06 loaded with Sierra 180 PH RN / N 160 / 56.5. Excellent bullet behaviour with little venison damage.

I like the fact they don't ruin much meat like the 150s do, but the 150 kill the deer faster has been my experience...Ive always liked the 180 gr. Nosler partition as it kills deer and smaller animals quickly because it expands quickly but doesn't ruin much meat..but if your a DRT kinda guy the lighter bullets may be your cup of tea, keep your shot behind the shoulder.

As to RN bullets, mostly they sure seem to shoot good as a rule...I love the old 180 gr. RN Rem Corelokt, and the WW POwer Point in the 30-06..I defy any super premium to stand up against either, Sometime back Handloader Magzine tested about all available bullets from 3000 FPS down to 1800, only the Rem CL and the WW Power point passed the tests and they did it in flying colors with the edge going to the WW bullet..I have never had a single failure with either bullet, and Ive used them for years in the 308, 30-06, and several 300 magnums.