Varmint bullets on deer

[maxtheflyinghorse]

There was a discussion here about Varmint bullets on deer. Just shot this muntjac at 80 yards with Sako gamehead Varmint .223 it dropped on the spot. First pic is the entry and the second is the exit. I’m convinced varmint bullets do work well

 

[HonestJohn]

stick that on the shoulder blade on a mature scottish roe buck at 25-50m or 200-250m and you might change your mind

 

[stubear]

stick that on the shoulder blade on a mature scottish roe buck at 25-50m or 200-250m and you might change your mind

Agree!

Let’s face it with munty you’re basically shooting something the same size as a fox anyway so a varmint bullet which works well on fox should equally work well on the munty.

Don’t get me started on why .22 hornet can’t be used on munty given the above… (yes I know it’s illegal, no I’m not going to do it).

I think a 50gn lead cup and core is about perfect in .222 or .223

 

[Brno2e]

Is Gamehead not a game round and the Arrowhead varmint ?
If the Gamehead is not varmint then you have the right tool for the job.

 

[User00040]

stick that on the shoulder blade on a mature scottish roe buck at 25-50m or 200-250m and you might change your mind

Doubt it.

VMAX is still a bullet of choice for those who can use it, and for good reason!

 

[22ppc]

Whatever your happy with and it works for you.
Lovely rifle by the way

 

[JockStalk]

What you really want is a target bullet like a 105 Amax

 

[finnbear270]

 

[fallow me]

See what the carcass looks like once you skin it, i doubt there will be much usable at the front end using varmint rounds ,Ive used v max .308 on park deer , but only head shots, ideal on them

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

Is Gamehead not a game round and the Arrowhead varmint ?
If the Gamehead is not varmint then you have the right tool for the job.

Sako gamehead Varmint

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

Whatever your happy with and it works for you.
Lovely rifle by the way

It’s a Winchester mod 70 lightweight got three mod 70s I absolutely love them

 

[maximus otter]

I’ve seen a .224 Berger 52-grain varmint HP drop a nice roe doe in its hoofprints at 150 yards as though it were the hammer of Thor.

Legalities aside, it’s where you put it that counts.

maximus otter

 

[HonestJohn]

Doubt it.

VMAX is still a bullet of choice for those who can use it, and for good reason!

Apart fro Nathan Forster, I don’t think I know anyone who promotes the idea of varmint bullets for medium sized game,,and he does due to long range shooting only

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Hmmm.
Gamehead Varmint - from Sako’s site:-
”Spitzer-nosed soft-point bullet for accurate hits on smaller targets. Light jacket and non-bonded core allows rapid and effective expansion required for small to medium sized game and varmints. It is an excellent all-purpose hunting bullet for small to medium-sized game.”
From Sako’s leaflet:-

So draw your own conclusions.
For what it is worth IMHO a bullet designed for fox or prairie dog is not the bullet of choice for the much more stocky Muntjac, especially at distance. My bullet of choice for fox is a 50gns Vmax but I would not consider using them on anything heavier based on what I have seen a Vmax do to a fox if it hits anything bone-shaped, indeed exit wounds can cause catastrophic damage larger than fist-sized. Presumably the same RFD will have the much more suitable Gameheads (in 55gns and with the triple deuce my own choice for scottish roe) in stock so why use the varmint round?

 

[monarman]

I've used .223 55 grain vmax... .243 87 grain vmax... .270 110 vmax.... all on deer.
Results were....... dead deer and no runners!! Meat damage no more than any other bullet I've used, so make your own conclusions.....
Note that the bullet weights were the heaviest of vmax and I've nevershotmunties with them only roe and reds (223 and 243 not reds)..

 

[the prowler]

Shot a roe with a 50g tnt bullet. Looked like it swallowed a grenade inside.

 

[jthyttin]

Sako seem to have got ridden of most if not all "not produced here" bullets in their line-up (or at least the website). 223 Rem Game head Varmint was/is 50gr Sierra Blitzking,

EDIT: you can still find the category if you go through "All ammunition products", but it's hidden if you go through "Rapix expansion series". They've also dropped the information that it's Blitzking, there was also Gamechanger in "Controlled Expansion series" for larger calibers.

Gamehead Varmint - Predators and varmint ammunitions

Gamehead Varmint

www.sako.global

 

[VSS]

I use a 58 grain Superperformance Varmint round through my 243 for fallow (head shots only). Very accurate and very effective.

 

[sauer]

55grn vmax in .22-250 on roe in Scotland is a commonly used combo with no more meat damage than say a .243 or others with a traditional on / tight behind foreleg halfway up shot placement .
i know for myself its ideal on one permission very urban and a lighter more fragmenting type to reduce chance of ricochet.... never had runner with em yet.

cheers
Paul

 

[Polar Lynx]

Varmint bullets kills everything ok but leaves lead dust in hit body all over and therefore not optimal for eating meat. Much better with bonded (lead) bullets if copper is not workable.