Looking for the best bullet to use for long range accuracy out to 500 yards or so on large western mule deer. Thanks

i would say one with a magnificant ballistic coefficient

quote:

Originally posted by bearcat:
Looking for the best bullet to use for long range accuracy out to 500 yards or so on large western mule deer. Thanks

Strangely enough the tradjectory of 130 to 150 grain bullets are nearly identical for the .270 winchester. However there is a boat tail made by Hornady that might help a bit...it's 140 grains and just might be your best choice.

If you can find a hunting bullet of 150 grains with a boat tail that might be better.

Or the 140 gr Accubond--my favorite for the work you described!

Hunting North American game, it is just hard to beat the old reliable Nosler partition. I would develop a load based on the 130 Nosler partition and go with it. They don't have one of the new whizz names but they have been around a really long time for a reason. Some may argue that partitions are not as accurate but those arguments are from individuals that have not done the proper load development for the projectile.

Here's a few more to consider....
check here

or here

or this one

The 140 Nosler Accubond would be my choice, and if sure it would be a long shot, then the Ballistic Tip would suit me fine.

140gr TSX

270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

quote:

270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

Bro,

would be more accurate to say "can't hit a mule deer at 500 yards"...

the drop at 500 yards, for instance, of a 140 gr. accubond (b.c. .496) starting out at 3K/fps--never rising more than 3 inches above the centerline of the bore--is not quite 3 feet.

But the energy at that distance is in excess of 1300 ft/lbs and velocity is still 2100ish fps.

Wind drift at that distance (10 mph) would be in the neighborhood of a foot and a half.

Don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be standing on the wrong end of 500 yards in that situation!

friar

p.s. have they legalized hasish up there?

What is hasish?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

How about the new Barnes MRX http://www.barnesbullets.com/prodmrx_new2006.php

270 varmint rifle

The new Barnes MRX is supposed to have a higher BC than the TSX, but I have yet to find any published numbers. They should be available at the end of this month.

I will be working up some loads for my 270 WSM.

Thanks guys for the great info, I like the Barnes suggestion and also the Nosler Partition or Accubond. I will get some of each and see how they shoot in my rifle.

Shootaway: You either have a very stange sense of humor, if thats not the case......well then.....ignorance is bliss I guess.

Of course my first choice is not a 500 yard shot but it is possible in the areas that I hunt. We get allot of practice at those ranges and stuck to my hip is a Leica 800 yard laser rangefinder. I know my rifles drop out to 600 yards well and practice at those ranges quite often. But more typical ranges are 300 or less just want a bullet that will perform at extended range if its called for. Thanks again for all the great info guys and if anyone else has ideas please chime in!

bearcat, I've done my fair share of practice and of the taking of game in the 500 yard zone.

I've used the 270 for a fair amount of it.

The first two slugs I'd try would be the 130 TX and then the 140 Accu.

Run em with R22 and see what you get for 500 yard accuracy. If you are perking and your rifles is set up right you should be able to run these bullets into 5" or less @ 500.

I've used the 130 TX for deer/elk/lopes at this range and they worked just fine.

Mark D

I must defer to the gentleman from Montana....130 TSX.....without a doubt.

By the way.... why not just go whitetail hunting instead?

IV

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

I used a 270 to kill an eland at over 500 yards!

I don't think that we've heard back from him but, I gotta believe the fella saying a 270 wouldn't take a muley at 500 was just kidding or being a pot stirror.

I've used the round for many an elk at that range.

Mark D

I also shoot a .270 Win at almost everything! Used to be a partition fan, but noticed that performance on game has changed. Talked to the head honchos at Nosler, confirmed the design has been changed several times. I like complete penetration, holes in both sides, but the last batch I bought had thicker jackets that formed too big a mushroom. They would not penetrate over 12" either up close or way out.

I switched to the 130 TSX a couple years age, it will be hard to beat. Group sizes went from 1"+ with the Noslers to about 1/2"----some guys are using the TSX as a benchrest bullet! Velocity was up 80 fps, by my chrony, for the same load with identical pressure signs. And, most important, it has the best performance on game I've ever seen, period!

I've put 5 of these slugs into big bull elk at ranges of 440-500 yds. 3 passed through the chest broadside. One was a little low--it broke the near foreleg, sheared through the stearnum broadside, took a big chunk out of the off foreleg, and stopped under the hide. One petal was gone, otherwise just like the pictures. Range was 440 yds. The last shot was about 490 yds at a previously hit moving animal. Impacted a rear ham, passed through the stomach and diaphram, ended up in the lungs but not recovered. That's over 3' of penetration!

A side benefit to this bullet is reduced meat damage. We live on game, so it is important to us. The Patrition and the bonded bullets ruin lots of meat due to their shocking characteristics. I won't use 'em on anything I intend on eating.

bearcat, you might consider the 150 Wildcat bullet. But only because you mentioned up to 500 yards. It has one of the best BCs out there. It looks like a match grade bullet but it IS a hunting bullet. Here is a photo of the .277 169.5 grain ultra low drag rebated boat tail, with a ballistic tip. The 150 Wildcat ULD RBBT looks the same just shorter.



However you know as well as I do that every one of the above mentioned bullets would work. I also ESPECIALLY like the TSX bullet and will most likely try the new MRX, and the new winchester clone.

quote:

270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

HUH??

In terms of ballistic tips, well, I used a 150 from a 7 mag to dump a deer at 280 yards. Aimed for high shoulder and hit the top of it, and the spine and completely removed 2 vertebrae. These btips are at least 10 years old.

they have been trying to out 270 the 270win since 1925, many calibers have tried and failed, and others do it but with heavy trade offs like more recoil, more muzzle blast, and more ammo expense, If you study ballistics There is not another caliber that gives you the best balance of everything for hunting deer at all ranges, the super mags will give you more energy on target with a negliable differnce in trajectory, the 270 will hit um as far as you can see um

quote:

Originally posted by cummins cowboy:
There is not another caliber that gives you the best balance of everything for hunting deer at all ranges

Agree. Especially a 280.

quote:

Originally posted by bearcat:
Looking for the best bullet to use for long range accuracy out to 500 yards or so on large western mule deer. Thanks

Select something in the a 140gr-150gr range, a TSX, an Accubond, Swift Scirocco, mabey even a partition....

quote:

Originally posted by Doc:

quote:

Originally posted by cummins cowboy:
There is not another caliber that gives you the best balance of everything for hunting deer at all ranges

Agree. Especially a 280.

Frankly for shooting past 400yds? Leave the 270Win at home, Buy yout 140gr bullets in .284 diameter and load them into a 7mmRemMag case
with an even larger quantity of RL22.

a 140gr .277 bullet will leave a 24" barrel of your 270win at about 3000fps.
a remarkably similar 140gr bullet in .284 will leave a 24" 7mmRemMag barrel at closer to 3350fps

Assuming the same sight in at 300yds and the bullet never going more than 3.5" above the
sight axis, the bullet from the 7mmMag will
only be 23"low at 500yd.
though if you are willing to live with the bullet being +5"@100, +8"@200, +6.5@300 you can sight for 400yd and only need to use afoot worth of holdover at 500yd, but you'll need to use 5-8" of holdUNDER at shorter ranges.

a 270 at 500yds? I don't think I'd try it.
Compared to a 30-06 a 270 is flat shooting
compared to a 308Win it's even more flat shooting... compared to anything else?

AllanD

LBGuy:

( I didn't even bother to look up what the foot lbs of energy would be for a 130 gr. at 500 yards - and coming down on a mule deer,too!) I think a jack rabbit would have shrugged off a hit at that range!

I know I'll get burned for this one but...

For a 500 yard shot at an animal try a good pair of boots. At that distance even a novice hunter can stalk closer and even 300 yards is so much easier than 400 or 500.

Having said that I used the plain old 150gr Hornady for a few whitetails but only because I didn't get any partitions before the hunt. They worked very well. I have heard good reports of the Hornady 140gr boat tail for long range work on mule deer.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

Realy? Hmmmm.

If I were to try a shot like that it would be with the Nosler Balistic tip. Best long range bullet that I have found. I have used them since they came out.

WHY is everyone picking on the Mule Deer?

I need some help out there!!

IV

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by shootaway:
270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds


Realy? Hmmmm.

funny, that's all I hunt with, I haven't had any problems.

There is no way your going to kill a healthy mule deer at 500yds with a 270.Especially with a hard bullet like a barnes.I'll prove it to you,take a 2 gallon gealatine filled jug and place it at 500,then shoot it.When you arrive there and see the results you'll see a jug that was not disturbed,and on close inspection you'll see a small puncture on one side.Now imagine this was the chest or shoulder area,then what did the bullet do?It penetrated an inch or two or three unexpanded causing a needle like incision.Now that really droped the big buck in his tracks,yeah right.I bet if you shot it at 100yds using a failsafe it take a day or so to die.You want more proof,I got video proof right here on AR.There is Saeed shooting an Eland at 500yds with a sooped up 270 and the thing just walks away!I should change my name from shootaway to TRUTH,because when I post all the phonies come out in the clear.

shootaway:

So, you would get down on all fours, position yourself broadside 500 yards downrange and let someone shoot you with a .270 through the shoulder with a 130 TSX?

If you answer YES--- you are a liar...
If you answer NO--- you are a "phonie"...

Either way....the holiday weekend sure brings out the trolls.....

IV

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
There is no way your going to kill a healthy mule deer at 500yds with a 270.Especially with a hard bullet like a barnes.I'll prove it to you,take a 2 gallon gealatine filled jug and place it at 500,then shoot it.When you arrive there and see the results you'll see a jug that was not disturbed,and on close inspection you'll see a small puncture on one side.Now imagine this was the chest or shoulder area,then what did the bullet do?It penetrated an inch or two or three unexpanded causing a needle like incision.Now that really droped the big buck in his tracks,yeah right.I bet if you shot it at 100yds using a failsafe it take a day or so to die.You want more proof,I got video proof right here on AR.There is Saeed shooting an Eland at 500yds with a sooped up 270 and the thing just walks away!I should change my name from shootaway to TRUTH,because when I post all the phonies come out in the clear.

Have you shot and lost a deer at 500 yards with a 270? If an elk can be dropped at 400 yards with a 150 partition from a 270, and not take a step, are we to believe that another 100 yards further a deer will walk away if hit with the same combo?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
There is no way your going to kill a healthy mule deer at 500yds with a 270.Especially with a hard bullet like a barnes.I'll prove it to you,take a 2 gallon gealatine filled jug and place it at 500,then shoot it.When you arrive there and see the results you'll see a jug that was not disturbed,and on close inspection you'll see a small puncture on one side.Now imagine this was the chest or shoulder area,then what did the bullet do?It penetrated an inch or two or three unexpanded causing a needle like incision.Now that really droped the big buck in his tracks,yeah right.I bet if you shot it at 100yds using a failsafe it take a day or so to die.You want more proof,I got video proof right here on AR.There is Saeed shooting an Eland at 500yds with a sooped up 270 and the thing just walks away!I should change my name from shootaway to TRUTH,because when I post all the phonies come out in the clear.

Anyone from Arkansas wanna get together with me one weekend to test the jello jug theory? This is a serious offer. I plan on doing it withing the next few weeks(weather, time and money permitting). It would be nice to have a fellow poster or two as witnesses.

No need Steel. I've already shot several jello jugs, wet newspaper, and the like from a couple of 270's out to 600 yards.

I've watched a relative dump a deer with his 270 at 480 yards in Missouri, near Kirksville. To say that an additional 20 yards would change a bullet so dramatically (from a 270), that it won't kill a deer is, well, pure ignorance, let alone asinine. As for the bullet, well, it was a good old Hornady 140 grain boat tail interloct. The deer was about 225 lb buck.

I cannot be convinced that somewhere between 480 and 500 yards a 270 fired bullet simply runs out of gas.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
270 can't kill muledeer at 500yds

I used a 270 to kill an eland at over 500 yards!

Any details on your shot?
That must have been one great shot.

I'd recommend the 140 gr. Winchester Supreme FailSafe.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
There is no way your going to kill a healthy mule deer at 500yds with a 270.Especially with a hard bullet like a barnes.I'll prove it to you,take a 2 gallon gealatine filled jug and place it at 500,then shoot it.When you arrive there and see the results you'll see a jug that was not disturbed,and on close inspection you'll see a small puncture on one side.Now imagine this was the chest or shoulder area,then what did the bullet do?It penetrated an inch or two or three unexpanded causing a needle like incision.Now that really droped the big buck in his tracks,yeah right.I bet if you shot it at 100yds using a failsafe it take a day or so to die.You want more proof,I got video proof right here on AR.There is Saeed shooting an Eland at 500yds with a sooped up 270 and the thing just walks away!I should change my name from shootaway to TRUTH,because when I post all the phonies come out in the clear.

Shootaway: You are so full of crap your turning brown and I'm turning blue from laughing so hard at your post. The 270 has more energy at 500 yards than my 22-250 has at the muzzle and I've seen large mule deer taken out to 250 yards with a 22-250. Just as a side note the 22-250 at 250 yards only has 853 flbs of energy where the 270 has about 1660 flbs of energy at 500 yards. So I guess if I put a 2 gal jug at the end of the muzzle with a 22-250 it would do what??????nothing!!!! HA you are truly a dumbass or you just like messing with people either way thanks for the laugh!

Ok I had a chance tonight to test the "jug" theory not with my 270 (don't have the bullets loaded up for it yet) But comparing my 22-250 balistically with a 270. The 22-250 at 325 yards has 612 ft/lbs of energy and is doing 2348fps. Nailed the jug @ 325.....jug nearly split in half only thing left intact was the very bottom of it the rest was seperated in two pieces. Now the 270 at 500 yards has 1678 ft/lbs of energy and is still doing 2324fps nearly the same speed as the 250 and over double the energy. I will do this test as soon as I load up some ammo for the 270 but I'm 100% sure how it will turn out. And by the looks of what that jug did with the 250 I sure as hell wouldn't want to be on the recieving end of a caliber with twice the energy at 500 yards, I'd be lookin for a rock to hide behind and a thick one at that.

Also looking at the external ballistics site the optimal game weight of 225# to 250#'s on Mule deer isn't reached until you get to 700 yards!!!!!!!!!! with the 270.