What is the best hunting bullet design for accuracy

bill c68

bill c68

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I am looking for opinions on what bullet designs work best for accuracy. I want consistent sub MOA accuracy, yet good expansion and penetration. I have been using a 139 gn Hornady BTSP in my 7mm-08 and not overly happy with the groups using various loads.
I am also open to load suggestions etc.
I will be shooting the following:

Tikka T3 7mm-08 (black bear, deer)
Tikka T3 22-250 (coyote, fox)
Win M70 30-06 (Moose, bear, deer etc)
Cooey M71 (pre 64 Win 70) .308 light loads for female shooter (deer, bear)
 
Try a flat-based bullet - easier to manufacture to precise tolerances. I use plain old Hornady spire points, I find them hard to beat for anything up to 300 y. I've done head to head comparisons to Sierra and Speer, they've won every time.
 
The best for accurcy I have found for my 7mmwsm are 140gr BT noslers and use Accubonds by Nosler, and I have alwas had good results with Nosler Partitions for Bear & Moose
 
I have to admitt the best accuracy i found where the softer jacket bullets like the Hdy sp or teh SGKs.
I like the SSTs but i find accuracy goes down hill when you get close to teh 3100 fps mark with muli mag calibers i seen this.

I have had good luck at high magnum velocity with the TSX bullet.
 
Barnes 120grTSX for 7mm-08 works for my other 1/2's for yote's, white-tail and muledeer.Load 140gr.TSX's for her for bear and elk.Tikka t3 lite she uses
I load 130gr.TSX's for deer for 308win,30-06,and go up to 150gr.TSX for elk .mine are win mod 88in 308,BSA 308,and 30-06.for the cals you mentioned .I have used 130gr.TSX's to take ELK.
 
I've never had trouble killing things with Hornaday or Sierra bullets. As for the accuracy, the only right answer is you have to ask your rifle. What works in mine may not be nearly as good in yours. Good luck.
 
Gatehouse said:
Barnes TSX...

Accurate, expand well, penetrate deep, and ill very well. The more I sue them, the more impressed I get with them.
Click to expand...

Maybe I should sue Barnes, and see if I'm more impressed.:D:p

You loadin' them in the Ruger yet? I bet the 270gr would work good.
 
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While not for use in the small game calibers i prefer the Wide Flat Nose(WFN) Gas check design for really big game cast only as hard as necessary. The .45 and .50 cal. bullets cut a big clean hole even with out expansion, with expansion look for 1 inch or larger holes out the far side, and Buff. steaks on the table.
 
Sierra Gamekings have got a superb reputation for accuracy and are overall good for hunting.

Nosler accubonds are also well respected as an all around great bullet; more expensive than the Gamekings, but bonded and perhaps better in high velocity calibers.

SST's also have got a good following.

I use all three myself; and I like them all.
 
Sierra GK's and Plain Jane Hornady Flat base Spire Points.

It seems to me some of the new gadgety type bullets may or may not take some fine tuning. Don't know why but I've never had much accuracy luck with Nosler BT's. Depends what you call accuracy, 1.5" groups at 100 yards is probably good enough for most.
 
There are certain basic principles in bullet design and manufacture that promotes accuracy.

What I call radial balance is extremely important. The the bullet must be symetrical about its central (rotational) axis. This is something the buyer has little control over, and consulting others as you have here is the best way to determine a manufacturer's reputation for quality.

A flat based or rebated boattail bullet is better than a conventional boattail, however this is of lower importance than the other things.

The farther back in a bullet that its centre of gravity (front-to-back balance point) is located makes for a more accurate bullet. That is why target bullets have open points (sometimes inaccurately described as hollow points), and plastic tipped bullets like the Ballistic Tip have reputations for accuracy.
 
bisonhd said:
Sierra GK's and Plain Jane Hornady Flat base Spire Points.

It seems to me some of the new gadgety type bullets may or may not take some fine tuning. Don't know why but I've never had much accuracy luck with Nosler BT's. Depends what you call accuracy, 1.5" groups at 100 yards is probably good enough for most.
Click to expand...

I can get 1.5" with factory, I want far better and that is the only reason I reload.
 
bill c68 said:
I am looking for opinions on what bullet designs work best for accuracy. I want consistent sub MOA accuracy, yet good expansion and penetration. I have been using a 139 gn Hornady BTSP in my 7mm-08 and not overly happy with the groups using various loads.
I am also open to load suggestions etc.
I will be shooting the following:

Tikka T3 7mm-08 (black bear, deer)
Tikka T3 22-250 (coyote, fox)
Win M70 30-06 (Moose, bear, deer etc)
Cooey M71 (pre 64 Win 70) .308 light loads for female shooter (deer, bear)
Click to expand...

Any well made spitzer type bullets will work,just find the ones that are the most accurate in your rifle.
 
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