I have a axis deer hunt in Texas in 4-6 weeks.

I have a 30/06 with 180 grain tsx or 9.2x62 with 287 grain tax. I know both will kill the deer dead - just wondering too much meat damage ?

Any better bullets ?

Thanks,

Mike

I have only shot a couple of Axis, and don't find them any harder to kill than a white tail.

They are one of the best eating deer around so I would suggest a bullet that is not going to cause excessive meat destruction.

For personal preference I would go with the .30-06 and a 150 grain TSX, but the 180 should do quite well, and I am not a fan of the .30-06.

If you can accurately place your first shot, it should do the job quite handily. JMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
I have only shot a couple of Axis, and don't find them any harder to kill than a white tail.

They are one of the best eating deer around so I would suggest a bullet that is not going to cause excessive meat destruction.

For personal preference I would go with the .30-06 and a 150 grain TSX, but the 180 should do quite well, and I am not a fan of the .30-06.

If you can accurately place your first shot, it should do the job quite handily. JMO.

Say what? That makes you one of very few that don't think the 30-06 is as versatile as it gets!

The 30.06 will do fine, as would any rifle from 260 up through as big as you'd like to go.



I had a 30.06 once for about 6 months in the early 1980s. I never had any use for it.

I don't have a lot of gun smaller than 30/06.

I have a lot of 308/7.62 but they are all ar-10 and other plaforms.

I have a 7,5 swiss but I dont want to hunt without a scope.

I have a 223.

I really dont want to destroy a lot of meat. I am driving 1300 miles one way so I can bring back meat.

Mike

Also I was thinking of a double lung shot to minimize meat loss.

Mike

What distances are you expecting? I would think 150-165 grain .30-06 or 250-grain 9.3 would be more than adequate and might be a little flatter.

I haven't shot axis but have taken bigger animals with the 9.3 and 250-grain bullets (albeit North Forks).

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
What distances are you expecting? I would think 150-165 grain .30-06 or 250-grain 9.3 would be more than adequate and might be a little flatter.

I haven't shot axis but have taken bigger animals with the 9.3 and 250-grain bullets (albeit North Forks).

No idea on distance. TX hill country so I expect 100-200 yards. I don't shoot beyond 200 yards anyway.

Mike

Why are you driving that far, you have tons of Axis in Florida?

What used to be called the Brady ranch has tons.

Prices kind of break even when you consider the distance driven. Prices in Florida always seemed high when I lived there.

Either of your 2 choices will kill them Axis dead and honestly both will do so with fairly minimal meat damage if you keep it in the chest cavity.
Knowing that pick the one you haven't killed a mess of game with and use it. Get some blood on it.
Both will work, which one will be the most fun to shoot something with?
Good shooting and Good luck on your trip!

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Either of your 2 choices will kill them Axis dead and honestly both will do so with fairly minimal meat damage if you keep it in the chest cavity.
Knowing that pick the one you haven't killed a mess of game with and use it. Get some blood on it.
Both will work, which one will be the most fun to shoot something with?
Good shooting and Good luck on your trip!

When I read this I realized that all my hunting has been confined to 3 guns - 375H&H, 30/06 and 375 ruger. But in reality its 375H&H.

I think I will take the 9.3x62 sako which Wayne at AHR has worked on.

Thanks for the idea.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
Why are you driving that far, you have tons of Axis in Florida?

What used to be called the Brady ranch has tons.

Prices kind of break even when you consider the distance driven. Prices in Florida always seemed high when I lived there.

I want to hunt free range axis.

I have work meeting in New Orleans and Houston and friends in Houston.

My taxidermist is Houston - I dont like taxidermy but I want an axis mount. I think they are the best looking deer.

Also pick up some boudon in LA on way back home.

Mike

I have killed several axis deer with the 30-06 and I only use 180gr bullets. My wife has killed several using a 7x57R. Minimal damage on all and the meat is always delicious.

quote:

That makes you one of very few that don't think the 30-06 is as versatile as it gets!

You misunderstand my comment. I think the .30-06 is a very good all purpose caliber, however, for my own personal use, I have never had one/wanted one.

I can and do say the same thing for the .270 and .308. Been on a few hunts over the years and seen all 3 used and used with great success, but Personally, I don't want or haven't had any of the three.

I recommend all three to folks just getting started. They all have a proven track record and ammunition of some flavor can be found at Billy Joe Bob's Gas-Grub-Guns & Beer Drive Thru in Broken Bucket Montana.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
I don't have a lot of gun smaller than 30/06.

I have a lot of 308/7.62 but they are all ar-10 and other plaforms.

I have a 7,5 swiss but I dont want to hunt without a scope.

I have a 223.

I really dont want to destroy a lot of meat. I am driving 1300 miles one way so I can bring back meat.

Mike

30-06 or 308 is perfect in my book. I like the Sierra 180 in this round. Much softer than the Barnes. The Barnes will damage less meat.

Either of those monometal bullets will cause very little meat damage (they don't cause all that much organ damage, either, but typically enough to reduce an axis to your possession within a couple of hundred yards of where it was shot.) Besides, you didn't intend to shoot the deer in the ass, or in the backbone, did you? Ribs, even on axis, are not worth fiddling with, and you can trim around the hole on the shoulders since those typically just go into ground meat, anyway. "Meat damage" (with any bullet) is a non-issue if your shot is reasonably close to where it should be.

Neither of these choices will give you much meat damage, even if you hit the shoulder. The Axis is pretty lightly built.

The 168 TTSX in th 30-06 is a good combination, but the 150 or 13'Barn s would b fine, too.

Take whatever you shoot the best.

Either of the cartridges and bullet combos you listed will work just fine for Axis. Meat damage with either will be negligible.
They are one of my favorite things to hunt and definitely a favorite to eat!

Mike..

Glad to see you booked a free range Axis hunt..I know it's something you've wanted to do for some time...either of the rifles you mentioned will be just fine. Axis are a little tougher than a whitetail but any good whitetail round with a quality hunting bullet will do nicely. The meat is simply some of the best venison on the planet IMO and I make it a point to travel to Texas every year just to fill up the freezer.

Something I gotta do one of these days Mike
I'm envious

Your 30-06 is more than a enough. We've killed them with 85 gr 243s and up. All shot placement.