I bought a Rem 700 stainless syth rifle in 300 Wby calibre in the early 90's. Used it as a hunting rifle for quite a few years because it was stainless, light &shot pretty good. .Always shot 180 gr bullets and they grouped in the 1in to 1 1/2 inch at 200 yds. Took quite a few deer a few elk and a couple moose with this combination. For some reason a similar rifle in 300 RUM followed me home one day and because it groups the 180 TTSX bullets a little better than the Wby did the Wby hasn't been hunted with for a while. . Over the last couple years I have also taken a couple whitetails with the 150 gr TTSX bullet in a 30-06. I noticed a lot less meat damage with the TTSX than with any cup&core 150 gr bullets driven to 06 velocities.For something to do I thought I might try some 150 gr TTSX's in the 300 Wby. Tried a couple different powders but soon settled on RL 19. The most accurate load is within a gr of max and getting a little over 3500 fps. Was at the range yesterday and shot three groups (3 shot groups)all in the 3/4 " range. I think this old rifle is going to get a little more attention in deer season this fall.At 3500 fps there is going to be some meat damage at close range but this might be just the ticket for some of those long shots across a big alapha field.

Bullets with limited expansion like the monometals obviously don't produce as much "meat damage". Meat damage is trauma, and trauma to the vital organs is what turns living large animals into dead large animals. Limit the trauma (by limiting the bullet's expansion) and you'll also limit the killing effectiveness of the shot. But all living organisms die sooner or later. So use whatever bullet fits the time frame you have in mind.

And remember, an elk found two days later which died from the limited trauma inflicted by a limited expansion bullet is 100% damaged meat.

Sounds like that will work. At those kind of velocities the momometals are the ticket. Even if you shed the petals you are driving about an inch long piece of solid copper through the animal. I've also found the TSX and TTSX to be among the most accurate hunting bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Bullets with limited expansion like the monometals obviously don't produce as much "meat damage". Meat damage is trauma, and trauma to the vital organs is what turns living large animals into dead large animals. Limit the trauma (by limiting the bullet's expansion) and you'll also limit the killing effectiveness of the shot. But all living organisms die sooner or later. So use whatever bullet fits the time frame you have in mind.

And remember, an elk found two days later which died from the limited trauma inflicted by a limited expansion bullet is 100% damaged meat.

Stonecreek What you say is true. However if you drive a light jacketed bullet to a high enough speed when it hits the target animal it can literally blow up and not penetrate deep enough to cause trauma to the vital organs. That is why I like the TSX & TTSX bullets (A-Fames and Partitions could also be included)on game. They expand enough to cause enough trauma but retain enough weight so that they will usually exit . That exit hole usually lets out a lot of blood. Your last point is well taken. A limited expansion type bullet that is not heavy enough to completely penetrate the game is giving up one of its most important features. I'm not suggesting using that 150 gr bullet on anything bigger than deer. While it may well kill an elk if a broadside shot presents itself the 180 gr will penetrate a lot deeper on less than perfect shots and provide the exit hole. Since I started using TSX & TTSX bullets in the early 1990's I've had more one shot kills with the Barnes bullets than I've had with all the other bullets I've used.

When you drive any bullet at 3500 FPS your going to get a lot of blood shot meat, end of story..

If you want less meat damage then use a lighter caliber at less velocity or load down, not up..Long range?, well your load has slowed down some by then, but IMO the 270 or 06 is a better choice for the meat hunter and I like the 200 gr. bullets at 2600 FPS in my 06..

BTW, I have made some long shots with that combo, it actually retains its velocity well and has some punch way out yonder and meat damage is minimal with cup and core bullets.

Noslers are a great bullet but they expand on contact and do damage as a rule. That 200 gr. 30-06 bullet at 2600 FPS trajectory shoots much flatter than some seen to think, actually less than about 4 or 5 inches difference even way out yonder. You can wiggle on or off that much when the range gets way out yonder, and sometime way out closer!

Its just a call you have to make and live with, pretty much can't have it both ways.

Well there you have It. One person doesn't think the 150 TTSX is going to do enough damage and another thinks it will do too much damage. I do agree with Ray about the 30-06 and 200 gr bullets. I have several moose with the 200 gr Speer bullet. It shoots surprisingly flat and penetrates.

The 'Meat Damage' topic is a new one and baloney.

The idea is to get the game. A powerful rifle will have more range and flexibility and have take backs on recoil and other things.

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:
The 'Meat Damage' topic is a new one and baloney.

The idea is to get the game. A powerful rifle will have more range and flexibility and have take backs on recoil and other things.

Savage,
Hit something in the wrong place with a blazing fast bullet and you will be lucky if there is enough meat to make baloney.

Shoot game with a weak cartridge and the animal runs off.

100% Meat damage!