Several weeks ago my local gun shop has a case of the $30 a box .30-06 180 grain Woodleigh Weldcores on sale for $13 a box. I bought a few boxes to take to RSA this year as my PH has an 06 for a light rifle.

My New Jersey Cousin comes out to big game hunt last week with a new Sako 75 in 06 and we try the Woodleighs, they shoot little groups, so he loads up and away we go.

First shot is a mature muley at 50 yds, broadside. The shoulder shot results in a very dead buck in about 8 yds. When we skin him I am surprised that the bullet is under the off side hide! It weighed 156 grains, and was the classic mushroom. This was a big bodied mature buck, 28 1/2" wide and 23 1/2" high.

Now the real puzzler. Yesterday we get a 5x5 bull at maybe 80 yds, again a classic broadside. The 180 grain goes in, breaks the shoulder and thats about it. The slug was all broken up and barely made it to the lungs. Another shot was required, a bit father back, it went in, popped both lungs and didn't exit either.

Are the Woodleighs just SOFT?? I was a bit surprised as standard Sierras or Hornady's seem to work better.

I know where in the death of the two animals did the bullet fail? Just interested in the woodleighs in general.

FN in MT

[ 11-03-2002, 19:47: Message edited by: Frank Nowakowski ]

Hi Frank,

I used the 250 grain WW last year in Africa. They shot very well in my .338 and I had similar results. Every recovered bullet looked like a button mushroom. I have switched to the 230 grain WFS and had exit holes on a buffalo and whitetail last fall.
I consider the Woodleigh's to have better construction than a Nosler but not as tough as a SAF or WFS. I'll be using them on deer only from now on.

Ski+3
Kalispell, MT

PS. can you clear US 2 on Thanksgiving? I'll be headed to Scoby and don't want to slow down. 521 miles!

I have used Woodleighs for years 0ff and on and never had a complaint..They tend to expansion and to stop on the off side unless one uses the proper weight for the animal hunted...Try and stop a 300 Gr. Woodleigh RNSP, it can be done but not likly...I have driven them lenthwise in elk and this year I shot an elk high in the shoulder taking out 6"'s of spine and top of lungs with a high shoulder lung shot that went into the neck, got a lot of spine and exited mid neck..

Probably in an 06 I would use the 200 gr. Woodleigh on deer. but for pure penitration the Failsafe is definately better, but they will make more tracks as a rule and they will leave a good blood trail. Every notice how the Noslers are the best of both worlds.

Frank,
I shot a Muley with a 250 grain woodleigh on our irrigation ditch last week. He was moving slightly up hill and away at about 125 yards. The hit was mid-back and the bullet took out 5 vertebrae coming to rest in the 6th. I didn't weigh it but I'd estimate that it weighed less 125 grains. Similar results with a buffalo last year. Not a lot of bullet left. Both were 358 Norma factory loads. Too much gun for deer but we thought we might be seeing elk.
They don't seem to hold together like Grand Slams or Partitions.

Frank must not be a hunting bullet didn't drive completely thru. I find most 180s drive thru deer hell the whitetails I have shot 180 serrias mks had complete penitration.
,,,,,, Russ you better start using solids on deer I surprized you killed that one who would of thought a 250gr 358 wasn't enough for deer. What would of happen with a elk with such poor bullet preformance dam you just might of killed him too.
''''' You all have a nice day and go hunting !!!

I'll stick to my tried and true Partitions as over the years I've learned just what they will or will not do. The WW's though accurate seem a bit soft to me. I like a bullet to exit on broadside shots.

FN in MT

Count me in the minority. I have rarely seen a partition exit. All of my recovered partitions retained about 50-55% and shed the front section. Ya, it stayed in the chest of the critter. Yes, the animal died. Yes, most of them ran away after the shot. Woodleigh's gave me the same results but at least I was able to recover a bullet shaped like a button mushroom!
I'll stick with Failsafes and sleep like a baby knowing blood will be flowing through 2 holes.