09-13-2019, 10:07 PM
I've developed a great load with 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and have used it successfully for the past few seasons on some pretty big northern Michigan whitetail deer. Every deer I've taken has been within 30 yards and has piled up without running 20. The problem is that the exit wound is very small and blood trails are almost nonexistent. I hunt in some very thick woods and if one of these deer were to really haul ass, I doubt I'd be able to track it . Chronographed MV's are just shy of 2500 fps and, like I said the ranges are short. Nosler says minimum velocity for reliable expansion is 1600 fps so I know I'm well over that threshold. I'm thinking about dropping down to the 100 grain variant and starting it out closer to 2750 fps but not sure if that's too light for medium-sized thin skinned game. Does anyone have any experience here?