First year Deer Hunter

[badfish314]

This will be my first year deer hunting and although experienced with firearms and woods I have a seemingly "dumb" question to ask about hunting cartridges.

Is it legal in PA to use HPs on deer or bear? I plan on using .308 Black Hills 168 Gr BTHPs for both if so. I am planning on asking that question in Hunter Safety as well just to make certain it's legal.

Thanks in advance,
Tim

[JIMMYC308]

The regs state that it be a bullet designed to expand on impact. So I'd say a hollow point is just what the doctor ordered.

[badfish314]

Glad to hear that.

Thanks for the info.

[Tomcat088]

WAIT WAIT, please read this very carefully. Not all hollowpoints expand. I believe that the particular load that you are talking about is probably loaded with a Sierra Match king bullet. This is an extremely accurate loading that will shoot tight groups, BUT if it is a Sierra Match King bullet, it's not designed to expand. It is basically the equivalent of shooting a more consistent and accurate fmj bullet.

[markheck1]

yeah, what he said.....!!
what kind of hollow points are they? See Below
Get Speer Grand Slams, they hit like a Mack Truck Oops...thought you were reloading

ETA I checked the black hills site, and they are Match Kings

ETAA OOPS wrong column, I rechecked and they are Barnes Triple Shocks....Good choice...or Hornady A-Max.. Don't know much about them.

[aubie515]

The Sierra 168gr BTHP will "get the job done" on deer, but even Sierra does not recommend their match bullets on game. Sierra offers the GameKing for hunting and I would advise to use those bullets.

BTW, the Sierra 168gr BTHP is what Black Hills uses in their match ammo.

There are better hunting bullets available, so my suggestion is use ammunition designed for it's intended purpose.

[markheck1]

Ahhhh..I see...thanks for the update, I was looking at their gold hunting ammo, I think....

[Pooch15825]

No question is a dumb question except the one not asked. The simple answer is yes you can use Hollow Points and in fact should use them. The PGC hunters handbook specifies "Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact" The regs are actually more about the type of firearm not allowed than ammunition.

For deer or bear you want expanding ammunition anyway and therefore HP ammo.

Hope this helps,
Pooch15825

[CoyoteJack]

Remington Core-Lokt in the 150gr .308 have always performed well for me. I have tagged over 30 deer with them over 20 years of hunting and have yet to have let me down. They aren't hollowpoint but pointed soft point and expand reliably and consistently. Just my two cents.

[badfish314]

I did buy Winchester CX2 150 gr SP, Federal Power shoks 150 gr SP and Black Hills 175gr BTHP in addition to the BHA 168 gr BTHP. So far the 168 gr is the most accurate at 125 yds vs. the rest of the pack.

and I just passed Hunter Safety today at 33 yrs old...lol. I did get one wrong though. The question was about the next step after you are done in the field and you get home. The "correct answer" was to store the gun and the ammunition in seperate locking containers.

I said none of the above as I like to clean my guns vs. putting them away dirty, well most of the time anyway.

Thanks for all the input guys,
Tim