My first deer with 6mm Yew Tree 80.5gr non-toxic/copper

I normally use (Marmite) 95gr SST homeloads in my 243Win, though I've previously had satisfactory results with 100gr Prohunter, Gameking and Speer BTSP.

These latter bullets often didn't exit on larger fallow bucks, with separation of cup and core being common, though they did kill well enough. A switch to 95gr SST was not so much due to poor performance of the 100gr options but more because I came across a good bulk deal and I frequently encounter fox when stalking. I found the SST could be pushed fast and with marginally better accuracy.

Given the increasing trend toward non-toxic bullets, I wanted such an option in 243Win. Accordingly I developed a load using Vit N160 and the 80.5gr Yew Tree bullet. MV is 3375fps NB. this 24"barrel rifle's throat is quite long and at 20thou jump I generally get high velocities without pressure problems so this isn't an MV to chase in other rifles. I had expected to use a long jump with copper But it was very jump-tolerant giving sub 0.5MOA 5 shot groups with jumps from 20 and 100thou:












So, an easy bullet to load dev for in a factory Tikka T3, Varmint barrel. Time to see it "in the flesh."




A cull buck, shot off sticks, broadside at 46m, clipping scapula on entry. A pretty stern test of a fast, relatively light bullet. The buck didn't take a step and dropped where he stood, after about a second.






Bullet exited, leaving a good plume of lung and blood.




Wounding:

I've heard the nose of these bullets typically break into three large pieces, leaving the shank to penetrate. That seems to have been the case here.


Entry on left (three finger breadths, having begun expanding on scapula- shot was a bit high)



Large hole was fully exiting shank. Smaller holes from copper chunks (not really fragmentation, more segmentation):




One of two large copper fragments on exit side, under skin:


Pluck- good lung/great vessels damage:


Meat damage was acceptable, given high velocity, close range and clipping shoulder on entry. Better than SST, about the same as 100gr soft point designs.

So, a good performance at close range. I will continue to use this in 243Win and will try and log my experience, good or bad.


Another fallow buck, hanging in a Yew Tree!

 
The group is ok but I would advise backing it off and seeing what it does, just for sh1t5 and giggles!
If I can't get bullet on bullet I don't feel confident with taking longer shots and had similar results with my .308 until i went to way off the lands, 1/2" down to less than 1/4"
As for bullet choice, 46 meters and a fragmenting bullet potentially 8ucking up the saddle wouldn't be a situation I would be happy with, I would defiantly be changing bullet. Group size and performance do not strike me as being good at all.
 
Last edited:
Great write up and useful information for sure. I have to wonder if closer range stalking is better undertaken with non fragmenting designs for the reason @Leupsak mentions. This is the conclusion I have reached when looking at the performance of another similar design. Now determining what constitutes closer range may well vary with calibre, muzzle velocity and chosen projectile.
 
Looks like superb performance that rather makes a mockery of the Scottish min of 100gn bullet for bigger deer.

I think the shot placement about perfect. Higher up the body cavity the shock wave around the bullet impacts the spinal column stunning the deer at knocking it off its feet. Meanwhile the damage to heart and lungs rapidly reduces blood pressure so the blood flow to the brain ceases very quickly - and long before the deer would regain any form of consciousness from the initial blow.

I would suggest with this sort of performance any 243 would be more than capable of taking even the largest red deer quickly and humanely.
 
The group is ok but I would advise backing it off and seeing what it does, just for sh1t5 and giggles!
If I can't get bullet on bullet I don't feel confident with taking longer shots and had similar results with my .308 until i went to way off the lands, 1/2" down to less than 1/4"
As for bullet choice, 46 meters and a fragmenting bullet potentially 8ucking up the saddle wouldn't be a situation I would be happy with, I would defiantly be changing bullet. Group size and performance do not strike me as being good at all.

For lowland/woodland stalking I'm quite happy with 1/2MOA in a factory* rifle that's getting on for 15years old! I shot several groups to check consistency and went hunting.

I could chase accuracy, and I do so in my target rifles, but there is no point wasting time, money and barrel life for this application. If I was a long-range hunter (can of worms), I'd be using a different chambering and a bullet optimised for the role.

Terminal ballistics is a contentious area. I like a bullet that kills quickly and exits, having expended most of its energy in the deer. These bullets are achieving that at the typical ranges I shoot (inside 180m).


* factory rifle: I've bedded stock and bottom metal but everything else is standard including trigger.
 
Last edited:
Looks like superb performance that rather makes a mockery of the Scottish min of 100gn bullet for bigger deer.

I think the shot placement about perfect. Higher up the body cavity the shock wave around the bullet impacts the spinal column stunning the deer at knocking it off its feet. Meanwhile the damage to heart and lungs rapidly reduces blood pressure so the blood flow to the brain ceases very quickly - and long before the deer would regain any form of consciousness from the initial blow.

I would suggest with this sort of performance any 243 would be more than capable of taking even the largest red deer quickly and humanely.
And almost certainly in 22-250, 220swift and 223/222 rem with the correct twist for 80.5gn.

Same energy-same mass at same or similar speeds, just 0.224 vs 0.240.

I guess the extra 0.16 of an inch is critical for humane despatch on deer ....!
 
And almost certainly in 22-250, 220swift and 223/222 rem with the correct twist for 80.5gn.

Same energy-same mass at same or similar speeds, just 0.224 vs 0.240.

I guess the extra 0.16 of an inch is critical for humane despatch on deer ....!
Exactly. As we all know a 22 lr bullet in the right place will kill a deer, and overseas the 222 and 223 kill many many Whitetail deer. Yet in other countries you need a min of 2,000 joules of energy at 100m and min of 6.5mm to hunt anything bigger than a Roebuck. And in some jurisdictions you can only use shotguns, in others only straight walled rifle cartridges and in parts of Switzerland you can only use a very large bore, 10.7mm I think, dating back to the 1800’s. It all makes no sense.
 
The group is ok but I would advise backing it off and seeing what it does, just for sh1t5 and giggles!
If I can't get bullet on bullet I don't feel confident with taking longer shots and had similar results with my .308 until i went to way off the lands, 1/2" down to less than 1/4"
As for bullet choice, 46 meters and a fragmenting bullet potentially 8ucking up the saddle wouldn't be a situation I would be happy with, I would defiantly be changing bullet. Group size and performance do not strike me as being good at all.


Lets see some of your groups if you think this is bad for deer. Will it put deer down humanely? Yes.

Sub 0.5 MOA and you think this is bad? Consistent half MOA would see you winning many international competitions. Fact.
The bloke is doing whats needed. Anyone that thinks sub 0.5 MOA is insufficient on deer is a moron or a fantasist.

Speaking from experience btw, in having top 10 finishes in national multi day competition, and consistent top 15 international finishes in several countries, and hundreds of deer from ranges of 8yds to 300yds.
P
To the OP- continue what you are doing. It is perfectly acceptable and glad to see a British bullet being put to great effect.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I stated the group was ok but made a suggestion to back the bullet off the lands and see what the group did. I also commented on the potential loin damage, that’s all.

Couldn’t give a toss how much paper you have punched or deer you have shot, good for you. Posts boasting, belittling and name calling really need to stop, I am not going to be trolled into a stupid little handbag swinging contest, calm down and read carefully in future rather than put your angry spin on things and make everything a contest, I am aloud to have a different viewpoint to you regardless of what you think
 
Last edited:
The group is ok but I would advise backing it off and seeing what it does, just for sh1t5 and giggles!
If I can't get bullet on bullet I don't feel confident with taking longer shots and had similar results with my .308 until i went to way off the lands, 1/2" down to less than 1/4"
As for bullet choice, 46 meters and a fragmenting bullet potentially 8ucking up the saddle wouldn't be a situation I would be happy with, I would defiantly be changing bullet. Group size and performance do not strike me as being good at all.
In fairness and perhaps unintentionally the broad thrust of your post came across rather negatively. From my “no dog in the race” perspective and as I stated earlier I found the post to be both helpful and informative - something as fellow stalkers we should all aspire to.
Just saying.
🦊🦊
 
In fairness and perhaps unintentionally the broad thrust of your post came across rather negatively. From my “no dog in the race” perspective and as I stated earlier I found the post to be both helpful and informative - something as fellow stalkers we should all aspire to.
Just saying.
🦊🦊
I stated the group was ok but made a suggestion to back the bullet off the lands and see what the group did. I also commented on the potential loin damage, that’s all.

Totally agree with you that posts should be both helpful and informative and that making inflammatory and derogatory comments about content that was never posted is ridiculous
 
Last edited:
Back
Top