Hunting bullets explained / compared

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huntingfish

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Hey everyone!
I used to have an article that explained hunting bullets: What conditions they were for, how they were expected to expand, type of game, performance with magnum calibers vs non-magnum, how range effects expansion of said bullet, etc, etc. I cannot seem to recall where I got that article from, but even if I did, it would be missing a couple of new offerings (like the Berger's offering).

I tried finding articles that compared lots of bullets together, but my google-fu skills aren't what they used to be apparently. As I only ever find X vs Y articles.

Does anyone have a link for such an article?

Cheers!

David
 
Hey David, I hope this website helps you out. I've referred to it a lot, it's not exhaustive but it has a crap load of info: h ttps://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html?selected=cartridge%20research
 
Kuzuba said:
Hey David, I hope this website helps you out. I've referred to it a lot, it's not exhaustive but it has a crap load of info: h ttps://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html?selected=cartridge%20research
Click to expand...

Wow, I have information oozing out of me after reading that! lol

*Very* informative and it compares a lot of different bullets. That's awesome. The article does seem to talk mainly about deer sized targets though, whereas (my bad, as I didn't specify) I'm more concerned about on-moose-performance (large game). There were a couple bits and pieces about large game though, which was super interesting.

I'm a bit dissapointed that it doesn't talk about Berger bullets though. They seem to be the latest trend...would of love to hear about them.

Any reading is always welcomed!

David
 
If you can find him, I have found that writer John Barsness is very credible. I have several of his books, and he regularly posts on that 24hour... other website. His user name there is Mule Deer. He seems to be a regular contributor of articles to Handloader and Rifle magazine. Appears to be the type to actually do, then write up, versus read or hear or make up and then write...
 
huntingfish said:
I'm more concerned about on-moose-performance (large game).

David
Click to expand...

You haven't stated what cartridge you are using...

I don't know what a book may say but here is how a Hornady bullet performed from a 7mm 08 on a moose at 328 yards for me.
154-Hornady.jpg
 
Very cool that you found the bullet!! Even better is that you got the moose!! I have always been curious about discussion of "bullet failure" - have to dig it out of a dead animal, so it probably worked?? "pencilled through", "failed to expand", etc. - have to have recovered it to know??
 
Specifically looking at the offerings in 300 WM for use on moose from up close out to 400 yards max, with most shots taken within 100 yards.

There's a lake on our patch of public land where we hunt and that means there's a possibility for taking longer shots, even though it's not the norm.

David
 
Yes. Ballistic studies. Nathan Foster, a game culler, guide, and gunsmith in New Zealand. Lots of feral animals, from goats to cattle. Different calibers, speed, and on game performance from most manufacturers offerings.

The 300wm is a awesome Moose round. Along with probably 40 other calibers. Moose are not particularly tough, and from my experience, not usually shot at long range.
 
We've had it happened a few times were they would show up around the lake. Granted, it's not the norm, but if that's the possibility I'm presented with a given year, I'd like to be ready for it.

David
 
There are a lot of great bullets for hunting big game available today.
When I first began reloading "premium" hunting bullets were scarce. The two choices we had were
The venerable Nosler Partition and the Bitteroot bonded.

There were a lot of conventional cup & core bullets that worked fine at the velocities generated by
most hunting chamberings of the day [< 3000 fps] These included some that had a great reputation,
and some that were not so reliable.

For the record, I do not care for using "match" type bullets to shoot game animals. [ Bergers, Match Kings,
A-max, etc] They kill like lightning when they get in to the vitals, but are too fragile for my liking. They at
times will blow up on the surface, and they bloody a lot of meat in the animal because of their explosive nature.

The newer breed of lead-free offerings are showing a strong following, and they are pretty good as long as
velocities stay high. Expansion gets "iffy" as velocity drops off, however.

So this leaves us with "premium" bullets that are either of a "partition" design, or have the core bonded to the jacket,
or a combination of both systems [Swift A-Frames, e.g.] Most of these are excellent performers and some will reliably
expand right down to c.1400 fps.

It is no secret that I am a fan of the Nosler Partitions and Accubonds, but I also really like the A-Frame, The Swift Scirocco II,
the Interbond, etc. I have shot more than 100 animals with Partitions, and I have absolute confidence in them on game.
If I try a bullet, and it disintegrates on or in the animal, I will relegate that bullet to paper targets, regardless of how accurate
it may be. The true test is when a bullet makes contact with larger bones. Will it still get to the vitals or not?

Premium bullets often pass through an animal...personally, I don't care whether it passes through or is stopped on the far side by
the hide. Some feel differently about this, and that is their prerogative. I have quite a collection of recovered bullets, dating back to
the late 1950s. The latest? a 6.5mm 142 LRAB from last fall's Elk.

A final comment. I often hear a comment about the cost of premium bullets. When calculated into the big picture, even a bullet that
costs $5.00 is a very tiny part of the cost of a hunt. Practice with cheaper bullets, verify the impact and grouping of the premium and
go hunting with confidence that the bullet WILL do it's job. Dave.
 
Potashminer said:
Very cool that you found the bullet!! Even better is that you got the moose!! I have always been curious about discussion of "bullet failure" - have to dig it out of a dead animal, so it probably worked?? "pencilled through", "failed to expand", etc. - have to have recovered it to know??
Click to expand...

I have had lots of Hornady bullets recovered from the far side of an animal but I never have used a Magnum cartridge. Usually a .280 Rem or 7mm 08. A 338-06 was the closest to a Magnum and it was not recovered... passed through which I don't prefer.
 
huntingfish said:
Specifically looking at the offerings in 300 WM for use on moose from up close out to 400 yards max, with most shots taken within 100 yards.

There's a lake on our patch of public land where we hunt and that means there's a possibility for taking longer shots, even though it's not the norm.

David
Click to expand...

I am using a 200grn Nosler Accubond for my 300WM

most bullets I have shot are never recovered as they tend to pass through. I have recovered 2 bullets over the years, both were recovered from deer :eek: and both were shot the long way ;) end to end and recovered under the skin of the front neck / shoulder :redface: :p

anyways the 2 I did recover held together well, one weighted in at 180grns so 90% retention, it had broken the right femur bone on the way in, made a bit of a mess and broke the scapula on the front left shoulder and was just under the skin.

the other one I don't recall the bullet path but it was found just under the skin on the neck and was in similar condition.

I have taken moose at 400M with this load.
 
What a gem of a website. Thanks for that.

I was already familiar with hydrostatic shock and have tried to explain it to folks. Very nice to have a well written reference to boot!
 
Eagleye said:
There are a lot of great bullets for hunting big game available today.
When I first began reloading "premium" hunting bullets were scarce. The two choices we had were
The venerable Nosler Partition and the Bitteroot bonded.

There were a lot of conventional cup & core bullets that worked fine at the velocities generated by
most hunting chamberings of the day [< 3000 fps] These included some that had a great reputation,
and some that were not so reliable.

For the record, I do not care for using "match" type bullets to shoot game animals. [ Bergers, Match Kings,
A-max, etc] They kill like lightning when they get in to the vitals, but are too fragile for my liking. They at
times will blow up on the surface, and they bloody a lot of meat in the animal because of their explosive nature.

The newer breed of lead-free offerings are showing a strong following, and they are pretty good as long as
velocities stay high. Expansion gets "iffy" as velocity drops off, however.

So this leaves us with "premium" bullets that are either of a "partition" design, or have the core bonded to the jacket,
or a combination of both systems [Swift A-Frames, e.g.] Most of these are excellent performers and some will reliably
expand right down to c.1400 fps.

It is no secret that I am a fan of the Nosler Partitions and Accubonds, but I also really like the A-Frame, The Swift Scirocco II,
the Interbond, etc. I have shot more than 100 animals with Partitions, and I have absolute confidence in them on game.
If I try a bullet, and it disintegrates on or in the animal, I will relegate that bullet to paper targets, regardless of how accurate
it may be. The true test is when a bullet makes contact with larger bones. Will it still get to the vitals or not?

Premium bullets often pass through an animal...personally, I don't care whether it passes through or is stopped on the far side by
the hide. Some feel differently about this, and that is their prerogative. I have quite a collection of recovered bullets, dating back to
the late 1950s. The latest? a 6.5mm 142 LRAB from last fall's Elk.

A final comment. I often hear a comment about the cost of premium bullets. When calculated into the big picture, even a bullet that
costs $5.00 is a very tiny part of the cost of a hunt. Practice with cheaper bullets, verify the impact and grouping of the premium and
go hunting with confidence that the bullet WILL do it's job. Dave.
Click to expand...

Clearly a boatload of experience.

I’ve only bagged one buck and it was with a 168gr SMK at 25m. It smashed the shoulder and literally vaporized the heart (there was no heart left when I gutted it). Super effective. Deer dropped instantly, hydrostatic shock, but then jumped a couple of times and died. Would I use that type of bullet again? No. I’ve read too much since shooting that deer and I couldn’t agree more: the cost of a dedicated hunting bullet and the range time to get familiar with it is a small fraction of the total cost of the hunt.
 
guntech said:
I have had lots of Hornady bullets recovered from the far side of an animal but I never have used a Magnum cartridge. Usually a .280 Rem or 7mm 08. A 338-06 was the closest to a Magnum and it was not recovered... passed through which I don't prefer.
Click to expand...

Hornady is the premium bullet with out the the premium price. In my group friends that reload close to a dozen use Hornady. Moose have been taken with 243,6.5x55, 308, 3006, 300wsm, 300wm, 338, along with dear, dear , elk. In the 100++ animals over the 40 years I've been around these guys, Hornady is still there first choice.
 
A couple of thoughts. 1) Very seldom does an animal not run at least a little ways when hit through heart/lungs. The only way to anchor an animal on the spot is either a spine shot or a high neck shot that shocks the brain. 2) If you want to minimize meat damage as well as penetrate bone a premium bullet helps a lot. If not then shoot whatever you want to. I lost an elk once hitting it on the shoulder with a cheap winchester silvertip. Shot at 80 yards. It dropped right there then got up and was never found. I am confident that the bullet disintegrated on the shoulder and did not penetrate. That sucked & I got no elk that year. I shoot accubonds, winchester failsafe & trophy bonded bullets. The two later no longer made. I would use nosler partitions only but I don't like how the lead tip squashes. People spend hundreds if not thousands on a hunt then cheap out on bullets. Makes no sense.
 
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