Bullets play a big role in hunting as that small piece of metal is what ultimately brings your prey to the ground. A true hunter always aims for an ethical shot. Hitting that “sweet spot” that will ensure a deer’s quick demise can be challenging at times.
Choosing the right bullets is very important for a successful and humane deer hunt. Online ammunition shops, such as Natchezss, offer so many different bullet types from so many manufacturers, that finding the one that will best suit your needs can be a difficult, time-consuming task
We made a list of the five best bullet styles for deer hunting to help you better navigate through the vast number of bullet choices.
- Soft point bullets
- Hollow point bullets
- Nosler partition bullets
- Ballistic tip bullets
- Hornady Super Shock Tip (SST) bullets
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1. Soft point bullets
A soft point bullet is a jacketed bullet with a soft metal core closed off by a stronger metal jacket where the nose of the bullet is left uncovered. It is made to expand when penetrating soft tissue, thus creating a wound with a bigger diameter than the bullet itself.
The exposed lead core at the bullet’s tip crushes inward, while the soft point’s partial jacket serves to prevent distortion under the ignition pressure. These features ensure a deeper wound channel that increases the chance of the bullet hitting the deer’s vital organs.
Soft-point bullets are mostly used for lever-action rifles as their flat tip profile can prevent the accidental ignition of a tubular magazine.
When it comes to choosing particular bullets, consider Federal Fusion Component Rifle bullets.
This bullet design provides a large extension and high weight retention. Due to their molecularly fused jackets and a pressure-formed core, Federal Fusion component bullets transfer maximum energy on target while providing great accuracy at the same time.
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2. Hollow point bullets
A hollow-point bullet is a bullet that has a hollow tip with a cavity carved into it. When a hollow-point bullet hits its target, it expands onward, causing the so-called “mushroom effect.” It is designed to make a large diameter but less penetration depth as it passes through the tissue.
These bullets can cause severe tissue damage that will result in an animal’s quick demise, but it might not be a good choice if you are hunting deers for food.
When it comes to choosing specific hollow-point bullets, consider Federal Classic Hunter Barnes TSX Rifle ammunition.
These all-copper hollow-point bullets are great for long-range hunting. They cause large-diameter expansion and use almost 100% of their weight on impact. They are also very accurate due to their grooved bullet shank.
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3. Nosler partition bullets
Nosler brand became famous for its partition bullet, and it represents the foundation upon which an entire company is built. This company has a long history in bullet making. It was founded in 1948. and is still one of the most popular and innovative bullet brands.
Their partition bullet, with its complex design, is the bullet that portrays the beginning of the modern age of hunting.
These bullets have dual cores inserted into an “H” shaped jacket. They have uncovered lead tip, much like a soft point bullet, and uncovered lead base of a “hardball” bullet.
Nosler partition bullets expand almost instantaneously and can deliver that fatal blow quickly while still having a sufficient penetration force to reach the animal’s vital organs. This is especially evident in deer hunting, as these animals are known for having a lighter frame.
What makes Nosler partition bullets so popular is their ability for continuous penetration even in situations where they lose an entire front portion.
The caliber of these bullets ranges from .224/60 grain to .458/500 grain.
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4. Ballistic tip bullets
Ballistic tip bullets are bullets with a heavily jacketed base that allows large-diameter mushrooms and are mostly used for rifles and single-shot handguns.
Their boat-tail design increases long-range accuracy at all practical velocities. These types of bullets are most effective for deer, antelope, and hogs hunting.
Ballistic tip bullets are made for speed and accuracy as their pointed tip is designed for better aerodynamics. This allows them to stay longer in the air by decreasing the effects of wind and gravity.
This bullet type is the best combination of soft-point reliability, hollow-point fatality, and unmatched ballistic performance. This is why ballistic tip bullets are the first choice for competitive hunting.
When it comes to choosing the best ballistic tip bullets, once again, Nosler set itself apart from the competition.
Nosler has a large range of ballistic tip bullets.
These bullets are a good choice for deer hunting with 308 Winchester cartridges. The barrel length is tested for 24”.
These bullets are made for deer hunting with a 6.5 Grendel cartridge. The barrel length is also tested for 24”.
Nosler uses different colors to indicate caliber on the polymer bullet tips.
- .224 is orange
- .257 is blue
- 6mm is purple
- 6.5mm is brown
- .270 is yellow
- 7mm is red
- .30 is green
- .338 is maroon
- 8mm is dark blue
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5. Hornady Super Shock Tip (SST) bullets
Hornady is another great company with a long history in bullet making. It was founded in 1949., shortly after World War II. Their first slogan, “Accurate, Deadly, Dependable” stands true to this day.
Hornady company is recognized as the innovator in the bullet-making field, and SST bullet is one of the innovative engineering products.
SST bullet is an interesting boat-tail interlock bullet with a red polymer tip. It has low drag and a high ballistic coefficient. Upon impact, the hard polymer tip plunges into the lead core, which creates almost instantaneous expansion.
As its name suggests, the SST bullet is designed to deliver immense shock on impact and with deadly accuracy.
Interlock ring is another innovative feature of SST bullet’s exclusive design. The purpose of the interlock ring is to lock the core and jacket together mechanically to keep the bullet integrity intact while expanding. This ensures maximum weight retention and enhances the chance of a full pass-trough.
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Conclusion
You should always choose the bullets for deer hunting that match the game. Keep in mind that deer have a more fragile frame and are smaller than other big game speeches.
The bullet designed to kill 3-4 ton moose will less likely to expand fast enough to kill a dear quickly. On the other hand, a bullet designed for killing small rodents could explode on a deer’s shoulder and fail to penetrate the vital organs.
Another important aspect of choosing the right bullets for deer hunting is a shooting range. The best bullets for the long-shooting range are those with high velocity and reliable expansion.
For short-range shooting, you normally wouldn’t need a high-velocity bullet. You can use a heavy caliber with a flat base round nose. With this bullet type, you will ensure good penetration, a good blood trail and you will minimize meat loss.
We hope our article helped you better understand what bullet style to use on your next hunting adventure.
