Woodleigh 180gr 30 cal Cat No 65D

Pheroze

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Woodleigh has a 180gr bullet designed specifically for the 300 WM and equivalent. Has anyone used this bullet on deer sized game? Thoughts on close range shots with this combination? Issue is that I can have both a deer and moose tag, so I am looking for a good compromise bullet for use in a 308 Norma. And ranges are up close to about 250 yards max.

Thanks.
20181017_090924.jpg
 
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If you can't buy from Midway I'd use a 200 grain Nosler Partition.
 
If you can't buy from Midway I'd use a 200 grain Nosler Partition.
I can get the woodleighs no problems to reload.

I am just puzzling through combinations. I want to load a cartridge that is the best combination to minimize the chance of wrecking meat on close shots, while also having enough penetration on a big animal that may be a few hundred yards across a marsh. I like these sorts of puzzles while reloading.

Interesting that you mentioned the 200 gr partitions as I was also considering stepping up to the 200gr thereby slowing the bullet down to avoid too much bloodshot on close shots.
 
I have been using the Woodleigh bullets in a number of calibers for over 20 years.
They are an awesome bonded lead core bullet that will work well on small, medium and large deer size animal.
I use the 180gr PP designed for the .300WM in my .300 Jarrett (at 3150fps) on Fallow deer 60-80kg (130-175lbs) and Red deer 180-200kg (400-440 lbs) a number of times with great success.
On side on vital area shots they will often pass straight through between up close out to 200 yds or more.
Angled shots sometimes do not exit and present as perfectly mushroomed bullets often found just under the skin on the far side.
My observations are that they are softer up front than Swift A-frames and Nosler Accubonds in the same caliber and weight. Meaning they will have on average a larger mushroom diameter (bigger frontal area) than the later two bullets mentioned. But their retained weight is still often over 80%.
I have never seen or heard of one failing among my group of hunting friends. Over here in Australia they are the most affordable premium bullet in our market.
 
I have been using the Woodleigh bullets in a number of calibers for over 20 years.
They are an awesome bonded lead core bullet that will work well on small, medium and large deer size animal.
I use the 180gr PP designed for the .300WM in my .300 Jarrett (at 3150fps) on Fallow deer 60-80kg (130-175lbs) and Red deer 180-200kg (400-440 lbs) a number of times with great success.
On side on vital area shots they will often pass straight through between up close out to 200 yds or more.
Angled shots sometimes do not exit and present as perfectly mushroomed bullets often found just under the skin on the far side.
My observations are that they are softer up front than Swift A-frames and Nosler Accubonds in the same caliber and weight. Meaning they will have on average a larger mushroom diameter (bigger frontal area) than the later two bullets mentioned. But their retained weight is still often over 80%.
I have never seen or heard of one failing among my group of hunting friends. Over here in Australia they are the most affordable premium bullet in our market.
Thanks! I really like Woodleigh too.

Do you see any advantage to going up to the 200gr pp as a way to limit bloodshot mes in smaller deer? Or just stick with the tried and true 180gr
 
Thanks! I really like Woodleigh too.

Do you see any advantage to going up to the 200gr pp as a way to limit bloodshot mes in smaller deer? Or just stick with the tried and true 180gr

I don't think going to the 200gr bullet will make much difference on the smaller deer when it comes to reducing bullet damage. But I have not tested them a lot. I have only used one box (50) of the 200gr .300WM bullets in the hunting fields.
It would however be a better bullet weight to tackle Moose when they come along.
The 200gr has a better sectional density and better ballistic co-efficient because they use a different tip shape over the .308/.30-06 style of bullets.
 
Geoff,
I think the 300 win mag woodleighs have a shorter ogive than the std 30 cal ones, and therefore lower b.c values.
it is not enough to worry about though.
in 308 norma mag, the std ogive would be ok as the case is shorter.
bruce.
 
Woodleigh has a 180gr bullet designed specifically for the 300 WM and equivalent. Has anyone used this bullet on deer sized game? Thoughts on close range shots with this combination? Issue is that I can have both a deer and moose tag, so I am looking for a good compromise bullet for use in a 308 Norma. And ranges are up close to about 250 yards max.

Thanks.View attachment 274977
I've used their 180gr PSP in my '06 on pigs, goats and African pg - and it's a superb bullet! As I've mentioned in other threads, my daughter successfully used it to take her NT water buffalo without fuss.

However, Woodleighs are very clear about their bullets: they work well when kept within their published velocities. I don't like to push bullets as fast as possible anyway, so these bullets fit my ethos nicely. So, as I like developing an accurate load around a particular bullet's mean velocity, Woodleighs suit me right to the ground.

For what you want to hunt, at the ranges you mention, the Woodleigh 180gr PSP is ideal. Good hunting!
(y)
 
From the Woodleigh Catalogue. The .300 win mag bullets have slightly better published BC's.
I agree not worth worrying about the difference but they look different in shape when placed next to each other.
308 Cal 308"
65B 180gr PP SN, SD= .271, BC = .376, Rec Velocity= 2000-2900
65C 220gr RN SN, SD= .331, BC= .367, Rec Velocity = 2000-2400
300 win mag .308"
65D 180gr PP SN , SD = .271, BC = .435, Rec Velocity = 2000-3000
65E 200gr PP SN, SD = .301 , BC = .450, Rec Velocity = 2000-2900
Notes on the 65D from Woodleigh
The #65B 308 Cal .308" 180gr PP SN and the #65D 300 Win Mag .308" 180gr PP SN are made from the same jacket. The difference is the ogive (or nose profile). The #65B 308 Cal is longer in ogive to suit 308 Win and 30/06. The #65D 300 Win Mag has a shorter ogive for 300 Win Mag and all 30 Magnums including 308 Norma. The #65D 300 Win Mag also has a smaller tip, is slower expanding and has a higher ballistic coefficient. The #65D 300 Win Mag generates more pressure than the #65B due to longer bearing surface.
 
that is interesting Geoff.
when I saw the ogive length being shorter on the win mag bullet I just assumed lower b.c.
should have read further.
maybe the smaller tip accounts for the b.c. difference.
bruce.
 
Good info, thanks. For reference here are some amateur photos of said bullets:

20190325_074244.jpg


180gr, 180gr for Win Mag, 200gr

From the top you can see more lead in the 180gr for the '06 and similar

20190325_074237.jpg


I am thinking to go with the one for '06 etc to try and maximize expansion in deer. The velocity range for it is up to 2900fps.
 
I have every faith in Woodleigh bullets and have used the various 30 cals quite a bit, from steenbok and springbok through to Kudu, eland and zebra in Africa; and our deer species in Australia, mainly reds and fallow amongst others.

There's no need to run them hard, they work great at moderate velocities. Most will exit on broadside shots on small-medium deer, but do a lot of damage on the way through. And it's nice to know you've got that penetration available should a less than ideal shot angle arise.

Use with confidence on all manner of game ;)
 
I can get the woodleighs no problems to reload.

I am just puzzling through combinations. I want to load a cartridge that is the best combination to minimize the chance of wrecking meat on close shots, while also having enough penetration on a big animal that may be a few hundred yards across a marsh. I like these sorts of puzzles while reloading.

Interesting that you mentioned the 200 gr partitions as I was also considering stepping up to the 200gr thereby slowing the bullet down to avoid too much bloodshot on close shots.

If you don't want meat damage, don't use a 300. I am not in the meat hunting business, so that is exactly why I use a 300Win. If you want to have as little meat damage as possible, move away from the lead core bullets, to something like a Barnes.
 
If you don't want meat damage, don't use a 300. I am not in the meat hunting business, so that is exactly why I use a 300Win. If you want to have as little meat damage as possible, move away from the lead core bullets, to something like a Barnes.

Thanks, have you noticed less bloodshot with Barnes? I was also thinking CEB Raptors but the only report on this website indicated a rather explosive exit.

There's no need to run them hard, they work great at moderate velocities.

Thanks for the advice. I can tweak the load for its purpose, which is what I love about reloading! If I keep it to 2800-2900 fps I am just moderately faster than the '06, but there is a little extra for a big bull moose.

20181015_091048.jpg


Saw this guy last fall but we had a cow tag!

There must be a way to turn these photos.
 
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Thanks, have you noticed less bloodshot with Barnes? I was also thinking CEB Raptors but the only report on this website indicated a rather explosive exit.



Thanks for the advice. I can tweak the load for its purpose, which is what I love about reloading! If I keep it to 2800-2900 fps I am just moderately faster than the '06, but there is a little extra for a big bull moose.

View attachment 275116

Saw this guy last fall but we had a cow tag!

There must be a way to turn these photos.

There is no doubt that there is less bruising and trauma from Barnes and other mono metal bullets. A lot of that bloodshot, is caused by shrapnel caused by pushing the lead core bullets a little bit faster. ( Exactly the reason why I use lead core bullets, in order to create this body trauma which gives me and my dogs the best chance at finding the animal) So, saying it is caused by speed is correct, but it is only a factor that adds to the entire process. Each little piece of shrapnel, whether a little piece of copper jacket, lead or bone fragment causes the blood jello you will encounter.
 
There is no doubt that there is less bruising and trauma from Barnes and other mono metal bullets. A lot of that bloodshot, is caused by shrapnel caused by pushing the lead core bullets a little bit faster. ( Exactly the reason why I use lead core bullets, in order to create this body trauma which gives me and my dogs the best chance at finding the animal) So, saying it is caused by speed is correct, but it is only a factor that adds to the entire process. Each little piece of shrapnel, whether a little piece of copper jacket, lead or bone fragment causes the blood jello you will encounter.
Very interesting! That's food for thought, thanks.
 
pheroze,
thank you for the bullet photos.
it is quite clear why the magnum bullet has a higher b.c. when you see them next to each other.
if jackets and cores are the same, obviously the magnum one expands a little less, or slower, because the meplat is smaller, and expansion begins with less vigour.
once expanded, after an amount of penetration, they would then behave similarly.
bruce.
 
Woodleigh is very good about publishing the velocity range within which their bullets are designed to perform. Stick to this and you'll be quite satisfied.

As for weight, shooting out to 250 yards, I'd opt for the 200 grain bullet. It'll be no more damaging on deer than 180 grains (likely less) but will drive deeper in case you need to put a follow-up shot on a moose going away.
 
Woodleigh is very good about publishing the velocity range within which their bullets are designed to perform. Stick to this and you'll be quite satisfied.

As for weight, shooting out to 250 yards, I'd opt for the 200 grain bullet. It'll be no more damaging on deer than 180 grains (likely less) but will drive deeper in case you need to put a follow-up shot on a moose going away.
I was down to the 180 with the rounder profile assuming better expansion on deer, and 200 for the less potential to damage on deer but better for moose. Lol. The hesitation with the 200gr is that it won't expand enough on deer and there will be a long follow up.
 

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