Weatherby Nation

What kind of damage should i be expecting with my .300 on whitetails? I just sighted in with the weatherby loading 165 grain ballistic tips and they shoot great just under an inch. I was wondering how devastating they will be. If anyone has pics of entrance/exit wounds that would be great, id love to use this load cause its so accurate but would like to see what they will do before i buy a surplus of ammo. Thanks

Ballistic tip bullets are killing bullets for sure. You may be certain of rapid expansion, full penetration, and a gruesome wound channel. If you shoot the "eating parts" you will be sad, I promise. However, if you take a brief moment to ponder the shot before you pull the trigger to consider that wound channel, and then place your bullet well, it is for sure that your deer will be dead quickly, just as it should be. They are great, dependable bullets.

Your range to target and shot placement will determine your meat loss. At close range at essentially full muzzle velocity a shoulder shot will result in quite a bit of ruined meat. A broadside behind the shoulder lung shot much less. Out at 300-400 yards youll lose nothing on nearly any shot as the bullet has slowed considerably. At longer range you can be pickier as a general rule about waiting for the right shot.

The 300s will ruin a lot of meat compared to the 30/06 and 308 but hitting at extended ranges is much easier. I personally think the killing power of the 300 offsets the potential for meat damage.

A fair number of hunters hand load and you can simply reduce the velocity of the 300 but be certain to check accuracy of the load. I carry 2 different loads and can easily change them if need be. If I am shooting up close, I pick the slower shells to load. If I need longer shots, I go with the faster loads. If I am in doubt which it will be, I choose the faster ones but carefully place my shots. Must admit though that I have trashed meat before. Really ticks me off and I kick myself figuratively of course. Does not happen much anymore.

Personally, I would never trade the velocity of a Weatherby for any fear of meat damaged caused by that velocity.  I'm the one pulling the trigger so I have control over what bullet I want to use and where I want to put it.  Velocity causes hydrostatic shock and that shock is what makes the kill decisive and humane.

Stay away from the shoulders with the Ballistic Tips.  I am a big fan of BT asnd think they are the best deer bullet in existence but if you are a shoulder shooter you will probably wind up with some hind quarters and not much else LOL!!!  Put a BT through the vitals and you will be amazed at the results.