Spitzer? Boat tail? tipped? soft point? What do I want?

bill c68

bill c68

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Ok, first things first...

Boat tail or flat base? I spoke with Sierra on the phone and as I understand it, a Spitzer (or flat based bullet) is more accurate out to 300 yds or so. Past 300 a boat tail will retain better velocities and be more stable. Do I understand thsi correctly? Right now I do not have the confidence for shoting past 300, so strictly speaking, for accuracy, I am better off with a spitzer... right?

Tipped bullets, I didn't see any on Sierra's site but I have seen them from Barnes, Hornady etc. advantages? are the more accurate?

Is there a pefect bullet for everything?
I want 1/2 MOA accuracy, knock down power beyond my comfortable shooting distance (I will improve) and I don't want to spend a ton of money!

I am currently looking at .308, 30-06, 7mm-08 and 22-250

I am thinking of trying the following:
7mm Sierra 120 gr Spitzer (reccomended by a Sierra tech) for deer and blackies
.22 cal Barnes 36gr Varmint Grenade (just sounds so cool)
.30 cal Sierra 150gr Spitzer for deer
My father has a couple of old boxes of Sierra 180gr so I'll try those in the 06 for now.

Also what is a good test for bullet performance? wet papers? dead pigs? etc.
 
I can't really comment on the accuracy of flat based bullets VS boat tail bullets inside of 300 yards, but boat tail bullets are more streamline that flat base bullets and don't shed their velocity as quickly. That's why they're good when you start getting out to farther distances. From my own observations, some of my rifles shoot flat base bullets better, others shoot boat tails more accurately. For regular hunting distances, I don't think that there is much difference.

The plastic tipped bullets do seem to offer an accuracy advantage, and they also are very streamline. Depending on the design, they tend to open up very quickly and can be very destructive. You've probably noticed that a lot of the varmint bullets are plastic tipped. The bonded bullets like the Hornady Interbond or Nosler Accubond are exceptions as they are designed to hold together well once they enter an animal.

I'm not sure if there is a perfect bullet for everything though. A perfect bullet for a moose is going to be different than a perfect bullet for a small white tail. All of the bullets you name will work for what you say you intend to use them. I personally might go a little heavier with the 7/08, like 140, but I'm sure the 120 gr would work for average sized big game. I've heard quite a bit of complaints about the accuracy of the Varmint Grenades, but I have never tried them in my 22-250. If you don't have good luck with them, try a good 50 or 55 gr bullet.
 
Your accuracy criteria wil limit your selection - a lot of the premium hunting bullets are not particularly accurate. Nor are you likely to get the answers via the internet, as each rifle/relader is unique. A rifle will naturally "tune" to a bullet weight - whether that weight suits you or not dictates your path.
I use plain jane Hornady flat base Interlock - they fit all my criteria ie a hunting bullet that is consistently accurate, and reasonably priced to allow for shooting economy - and the deer fall down handily.
BTW - 120 gr spitzer in a 7-08 for deer and bear is arguably on the light side, particularly with Sierra's which are reputed to be relatively soft and frangible. I'd use 140-150 grains.
 
Those were my thoughts as well, the 120's seemed light but the tech dude at Sierra insisted the 120 spitzer was deadly as it was fast and had rapid expansion, there is apparently more shock than their 140s.
 
Try not to get too tied up in the technicalities, the projectiles that you will use is dictated by the game you shoot and the accuracy that you require to shoot said game.
In other words buy a packet of each and try them at the range....then select according to the job required.
Chasing accuracy is pointless unless you are shooting in competition or you are shooting wee tiny furry things at distance....for larger game (over dog size) you can kill every thing with a two inch group, and if it is too far away....walk closer, which you will have to do after you shoot it anyway.

My vote for the perfect projectile/cartridge would have to be the .50 Browning, good for big armoured things and you can beat everything else to death with the ammunition...not really very practical, but what a toy !
 
bill c68 said:
Ok, first things first...

Boat tail or flat base? I spoke with Sierra on the phone and as I understand it, a Spitzer (or flat based bullet) is more accurate out to 300 yds or so. Past 300 a boat tail will retain better velocities and be more stable. Do I understand thsi correctly? Right now I do not have the confidence for shoting past 300, so strictly speaking, for accuracy, I am better off with a spitzer... right?

Tipped bullets, I didn't see any on Sierra's site but I have seen them from Barnes, Hornady etc. advantages? are the more accurate?

Is there a pefect bullet for everything?
I want 1/2 MOA accuracy, knock down power beyond my comfortable shooting distance (I will improve) and I don't want to spend a ton of money!

I am currently looking at .308, 30-06, 7mm-08 and 22-250

I am thinking of trying the following:
7mm Sierra 120 gr Spitzer (reccomended by a Sierra tech) for deer and blackies
.22 cal Barnes 36gr Varmint Grenade (just sounds so cool)
.30 cal Sierra 150gr Spitzer for deer
My father has a couple of old boxes of Sierra 180gr so I'll try those in the 06 for now.

Also what is a good test for bullet performance? wet papers? dead pigs? etc.
Click to expand...


Whatever the bullet style, accuracy should be the main consideration.
 
i prefer bt's just because there easier when reloading. the boattail is easier to seat. i would be hunting with a bonded 140 in 7 08 or a bonded 150 to 165 in 308. a 120 sierrs seems to be a disaster about to happen. maybe the sierra tec was thinking of those 100lb southern whitetails not a 200 to 300 northern monster. a lot of hunters carry a load that will do for bear or moose as well as deer. where i hunt its rare to hunt only one species at a time. i would hate to shoot a blacky with a 120 sierra it might p**s him off. for hunting any of the bonded work great. i have used scirrocos, interbonds and accubonds all good. find one your riifle likes and stick with it for hunting. use the sierras for practice.
 
chappy said:
i prefer bt's just because there easier when reloading. the boattail is easier to seat. i would be hunting with a bonded 140 in 7 08 or a bonded 150 to 165 in 308. a 120 sierrs seems to be a disaster about to happen. maybe the sierra tec was thinking of those 100lb southern whitetails not a 200 to 300 northern monster. a lot of hunters carry a load that will do for bear or moose as well as deer. where i hunt its rare to hunt only one species at a time. i would hate to shoot a blacky with a 120 sierra it might p**s him off. for hunting any of the bonded work great. i have used scirrocos, interbonds and accubonds all good. find one your riifle likes and stick with it for hunting. use the sierras for practice.
Click to expand...

We discussed the larger deer here and he even retracted a reccomendation of a 125gr 30 cal bullet but still insisted on the 120s for the 7mm-08. I know inside of 100 yds a 120gr in a 243 works just fine so it must be comparable but I am thinking up to 300yds
 
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i would have no problem with a 120tsx but i wouldn't use light weight sierras. if you hit bone i don't think a sierra would penetrate.
 
bill c68 said:
Those were my thoughts as well, the 120's seemed light but the tech dude at Sierra insisted the 120 spitzer was deadly as it was fast and had rapid expansion, there is apparently more shock than their 140s.
Click to expand...


That is only because sierra doesn't make any bullets that penetrate worth a crap and you need the shock big time. I have shot exactly two deer with sierra bullet, one boattail and one flat based. Both lost their cores in impact and created long tracking jobs. They are only good for paper, IMHO Sierra doesn't make a bullet appropriate for hunting anything larger than a groundhog, particularly not a bear.
 
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