What bullet do you think?

BigUglyMan

BigUglyMan

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Planning on heading out this weekend to try to ambush a buddy’s deer near his camp (he’s going to Spain for a couple of weeks...bad judgement!). Given the location I’m thinking of taking the nice little 7x57 Custom mauserthat I got from Dads estate. He had three different loads on the go for it, 150 Nosler Solid Base, 150 NPT and 160 Sierra (assume Gameking). I remember him having a hell of a time getting this rifle to shoot well due to its pencil barrel but even if these loads shoot into 3 MOA at the distance I’ll be shooting that’s just fine (60 yards or thereabouts).

Of course, I have unshakeable faith In the 150gr Partition chugging along somewhere under the 2600fps book speed (Nosler’s manual lists a 22” barrels and mine is closer to 19”) and the 160gr Gameking is a proven bullet (I’ll have to chrony those loads because Sierra’s manual uses a 26” barrel...no wonder they get 2700 FPS!). The real wildcard is the 150 Solid Base. These are the old Soft Point Solid Base and, strangely, I don’t have a real old Nosler manual). What are these bullets like? I’m likely making a mountain of a mole hill as I’m sure just about any bullet will kill a Nova Scotia whitetail, but obsessing is fun, right?

What do you think? Just sight in the Solid Bases and go hunting?
 
Flip a three sided coin I guess. I'm sure the nosler solid base will work as well as any cup and core. I would shoot a group with each load and pick the best one and go hunting.
 
I'd just load whatever you want and go to be honest. It's a deer.

About the solid base: as you probably know it was the pre-runner of the Ballistic-tip. At least at first the Ballistic-tip was basically the solid base with a plastic tip hiding a hollow point. There were later changes to the 150 grain that made it a lot more like an Accubond and these days the jacket is more like a substructure than a jacket.
 
in the absence of a 7mm accubond in the mix..... I'd opt for the gameking. While I don't stuff it in a x57 , that one in 160gr performs real well on close range deer even at real high speed ;)
 
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9.3mauser said:
When in doubt, use a partition.
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That's my standard line of reasoning. But Gatehouse's argument has significant merit as well. After all, it's not like shooting deer in BC/AB/SK. These are decidedly smaller.

And I was informed that I am not to shoot the big bear that is hanging around unless I "have to". So unless I decide to tie a pork chop around my daughter's neck there's probably no need for a Partition. Of course, Murphy being how he is, I'll probably have to shoot the damned bear off the deck if all I have are the Solid Bases!
 
BigUglyMan said:
That's my standard line of reasoning. But Gatehouse's argument has significant merit as well. After all, it's not like shooting deer in BC/AB/SK. These are decidedly smaller.

And I was informed that I am not to shoot the big bear that is hanging around unless I "have to". So unless I decide to tie a pork chop around my daughter's neck there's probably no need for a Partition. Of course, Murphy being how he is, I'll probably have to shoot the damned bear off the deck if all I have are the Solid Bases!
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The problem with shooting a bear on your deck with a soft bullet is then you have a dead bear on your deck. Who wants that? The situation is better handled by using TSXs. That way you can be reasonably certain that it will die somewhere else.
 
Dogleg said:
The problem with shooting a bear on your deck with a soft bullet is then you have a dead bear on your deck. Who wants that? The situation is better handled by using TSXs. That way you can be reasonably certain that it will die somewhere else.
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LOL! Too true. That said, I learned from the powerful Mr Wagner that it is easier to roll a bear into something than lift it. Case in point, that giant bear he shot on the river a few years ago. Rolled it right into the boat. By extension, rolling a bear into the bike trailer would be much better than lifting it in. Or, I could try to shoot him in the bike trailer. That could work too.
 
Solid Base!!- for nostalgia lol. Can't get them anymore, much better bullet than what it morphed into (NBT).

I shot them in my 7mm until i ran out. Next the Partition!
 
BigUglyMan said:
LOL! Too true. That said, I learned from the powerful Mr Wagner that it is easier to roll a bear into something than lift it. Case in point, that giant bear he shot on the river a few years ago. Rolled it right into the boat. By extension, rolling a bear into the bike trailer would be much better than lifting it in. Or, I could try to shoot him in the bike trailer. That could work too.
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You could fill the trailer with Skittles. Then the bear will eat what he can then lie on the rest to
guard them. If you shoot him there and get a few extra red skittles then little is lost.
 
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