What factory .270 bullet best for deer??

I've got a Rem 700BDL in .270 and I've been using Winchester 130grain SilverTips for whitetail because a suggestion from a buddy. I've had pretty good success with this combination and taken deer at 50 yards on out to 300 yards. But, even with heart/lung-area shots, the deer don't seem to drop in their tracks. I usually have to track varying distances to find where they ran to before dying. And this tracking is invariable done through the worst possible thickets. I don't mind tracking but it would be nice to see a deer fall where I shot him. I don't reload and can't really find the time to begin so I must use factory-loaded ammo.

What does everyone think about the Win 130 gr. SilverTips?

Should I be using 130, 140 or 150 grain bullets? Why one over the other?

Should I be using another factory-loaded bullet?

I have always felt the SilverTip was too heavily constructed to give good results on deer sized game. I handload 130 grain Sierra boattails and get excellent results. Most gun/shooting editors agree that the 130 gr. is the best bullet for the .270 on deer sized game and I must agree. I have had excellent results with it. I would suggest that you stay with the Winchester's and the 130 gr. bullet. Just find a different 'type' of bullet that will give you better expansion.

Good luck and good hunting.

Lon Holland

The drop dead in their tracks '''''usually''''' occurs in two cases,, extreme hydraulic shock, or bullet placement that takes out both shoulders, or the neck/spine.

To get the extreme hydraulic shock you need a supper fast light weight varmit stile bullet that explodes after interning the ribs,, this can also be achieved using a long range bullet, at short ranges, where it fails (comes apart) before leaving the carcass due to it's high impact speed.

Now this would or could cause you problems, if your shot hits a leg before interring the vitals, it could blow up before reaching the boiler room.

The shoulder shot destroys too much eating material, although the neck shot destroys little, it also gives you the possibility of a fast moving target, if the deer turns it's head, the spine shot is just a small target.

I shoot them behind the shoulder, then go get them. I know it's a pain, but it is also a very dead deer and I get to eat it all

You might want to try some Ballistic tips,, they come apart a little easier than the silvertips, but not much

My wife uses Hornady 140 gr. boat tailed spire points factory ammo. Same price as other good factory fodder, but she has had all the deer she has shot drop. Some were running, some were standing. I can't say why this is, but the factory load is the same as the hand load I used to get for her. She doesn't want me 'fooling around with the load' anymore so she buys factory. She likes it, and it works, so give it a try.

Robert from Up North, Wisconsin

A heart or lung shot critter very rarely goes down in there tracks. It takes a few seconds for the body to run out of oxygen. If you need to drop them where they stand you have to break bones. Move your bullet farther forward and put it thru both shoulders. This will wreck the meat in the front end but will do internal damage as well. Also neck or head shots will plant them, but in my opinion they are iffy shots. The silvertip bullet works well as do most bullets of quality and proper construction. I prefer a more stoutly made bullet as they will hang together if you have to make a shot that is not

I know your probably gonna call be an idiot, but I use Remington 130 gr. Never had a deer do anything but fall. I haven't killed a bunch but none of them ran at all.

By the way great choice in rifles. I shoot the same thing except mine is

I use handloaded Nosler 130g ballistic tips.........smoke's them everytime,,,,,(so far)......now you can buy factory loads, loaded with this bullet.....you might give them a try....I think federal makes them.

good luck.

I also use the Remington .270 130 g bullet and so far this year I've killed two whitetails neither ran even a foot.