Bullet selection?
- Thread starter JasonYuke
- Start date
I don't think it's wrong to suggest that bonded bullets or homogenous bullets like the Barnes X are best suited for heavily boned large critters.
Last November I shot my whitetail with a 140gr Nosler Accubond with my .270Win and the (2) holes in that deer were tiny. Tiny! Is that due to caliber or bonded bullet or a combination? Also the distance was 200 yards and that would have meant the velocity had dropped somewhat to where bullet expansion would be reduced.
Btw, both bullets were perfectly centered complete passthroughs through both lungs.
I love Hornady Interlock bullets, the 165gr BTSP in .308 or .30-06 cal is a great deer bullet. I've killed a bull elk with it too and had no probs.
I'm going to switch to the 250gr Hornady IL for my .338WM. In my opinion, if you are using the higer sectional density bullets then these Interlocks will work on the bigger animals just fine as well.
Last November I shot my whitetail with a 140gr Nosler Accubond with my .270Win and the (2) holes in that deer were tiny. Tiny! Is that due to caliber or bonded bullet or a combination? Also the distance was 200 yards and that would have meant the velocity had dropped somewhat to where bullet expansion would be reduced.
Btw, both bullets were perfectly centered complete passthroughs through both lungs.
I love Hornady Interlock bullets, the 165gr BTSP in .308 or .30-06 cal is a great deer bullet. I've killed a bull elk with it too and had no probs.
I'm going to switch to the 250gr Hornady IL for my .338WM. In my opinion, if you are using the higer sectional density bullets then these Interlocks will work on the bigger animals just fine as well.
troutseeker
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todbartell said:you guys can have your bullets than turn themselves inside out and penetrate 8 inches. that s**t aint for me
I'd have to turn myself inside out to penetrate 8 inches....
Troutseeker
Originally Posted by todbartell "Penetration is what kills."
so I guess Demoncials instance
"Last November I shot my whitetail with a 140gr Nosler Accubond with my .270Win and the (2) holes in that deer were tiny. .. both bullets were perfectly centered complete passthroughs through both lungs."
....would be considered perfect performance by you
I too prefer the older Horn Interlocks for higher SD calibers..never had a "blow-up" so I must be a lucky dud
8" penetration... I'd have to do her twice 
so I guess Demoncials instance
"Last November I shot my whitetail with a 140gr Nosler Accubond with my .270Win and the (2) holes in that deer were tiny. .. both bullets were perfectly centered complete passthroughs through both lungs."
....would be considered perfect performance by you
I too prefer the older Horn Interlocks for higher SD calibers..never had a "blow-up"
so I must be a lucky dud 8" penetration...
I'd have to do her twice "left tiny holes in the deer"
that is very subjective...how "tiny" were they? the guy has a 416, 45/70, and a 458 Lott...them 270 holes could be normal
that is very subjective...how "tiny" were they? the guy has a 416, 45/70, and a 458 Lott...them 270 holes could be normal
Maybe Demonical could tell us a bit more about these Accubond pin pricks he experienced, and how he managed to find the deer after they were bothered by such a mere wound, so he could finish them off
Oh, and what bullet he has replaced that load with, one that will deliver deep penetration and huge wound channels
bullets
I have had great results with regular Hornady bullets in the 6.5 (140 grains), .270 (140 grains), .30-06 (180 grains), .300 H&H (190 grains), and a few others in lever action calibers like the .33 and .348 WCF on deer, caribou and moose. I have recovered exactly one bullet to date and that was from the .300 H&H on a dead bull moose @ 60 yards. I would not usually shoot boat tail bullets but a friend gave me many boxes and I'm cheap!
I still believe that the Nosler Partition is about the perfect bullet for regular calibers when you want that "little extra" reliability. They shoot very well and the combination of a very soft nose with the hard rear seems to work on everything. I have used the partition most in the 6.5 and really like the 125 grain weight. When I run out of 190 grain .30 caliber bullets I will buy some 180 grain partitions for the .30-06 and .300 H&H. If they don't shoot well then there is probably something wrong with the rifle.
I have used the Barnes X and really only see the need/benifit of them or the Failsafes if shooting at very high velocity or where extreme penetration is the primary consideration. This opinion is based on a very small personal sample however so I could be way off.
I have absolutely nothing against the many new bullets on the market but I like to develope one good load per rifle (often per caliber) and as long as it works the way I think that it should I don't experiment any more. When I grab the MTM box labeled .300 H&H I know what I have and that it works in my rifle. Many others obviously like to experiment and that's fine as well.
Regards,
Outdoors
I have had great results with regular Hornady bullets in the 6.5 (140 grains), .270 (140 grains), .30-06 (180 grains), .300 H&H (190 grains), and a few others in lever action calibers like the .33 and .348 WCF on deer, caribou and moose. I have recovered exactly one bullet to date and that was from the .300 H&H on a dead bull moose @ 60 yards. I would not usually shoot boat tail bullets but a friend gave me many boxes and I'm cheap!
I still believe that the Nosler Partition is about the perfect bullet for regular calibers when you want that "little extra" reliability. They shoot very well and the combination of a very soft nose with the hard rear seems to work on everything. I have used the partition most in the 6.5 and really like the 125 grain weight. When I run out of 190 grain .30 caliber bullets I will buy some 180 grain partitions for the .30-06 and .300 H&H. If they don't shoot well then there is probably something wrong with the rifle.
I have used the Barnes X and really only see the need/benifit of them or the Failsafes if shooting at very high velocity or where extreme penetration is the primary consideration. This opinion is based on a very small personal sample however so I could be way off.
I have absolutely nothing against the many new bullets on the market but I like to develope one good load per rifle (often per caliber) and as long as it works the way I think that it should I don't experiment any more. When I grab the MTM box labeled .300 H&H I know what I have and that it works in my rifle. Many others obviously like to experiment and that's fine as well.
Regards,
Outdoors
I've shot a reasonable amount of game with x-bullets in the 30-06 and performance was consistant from 75 lb deer to moose.
But like all bullets, you have to remember its parameters when you load. If you jack an x bullet up to 3200 fps in a 300 win mag and then light into an animal at 50 yards, you could have an issue. According to the barnes techs i talked to, the bullet really is designed for impacts at 3000 - 1800 fps, the petals will tend to blow off at higher speeds and they'll pencil a bit.
And as was mentioned - the state of the animal plays a role. Who hasn't noticed that some deer bang-flop and some run a good ways with solid hits from the SAME load.
You really have to look at the gun, the load, and your hunting conditions. Too many guys load their guns "just in case they get that once in a lifetime 500 yard shot", not thinking about what'll happen at 40 yards which is where a lot of game is shot.
With higher speed rounds you want something that will expand and perform consistantly at whatever speeds its' likely to impact at. That might be 3000 fps at 50 yards to 2000 at 300, if you decide 300 yards is the farthest you're going to shoot.
As to todds comment - senior, you're right in that it's not just 'penetration' - but i think todd just was speaking in general terms.
What kills game is a good wound channel in the vitals. If a bullet passes all the way thru, it was pushing aside a large amount of tissue while it did it as a rule - creating a very long wide wound channel that will allow the animal to bleed out very fast and will distrupt and destroy the most vital tissue. That's always a good thing.
But like all bullets, you have to remember its parameters when you load. If you jack an x bullet up to 3200 fps in a 300 win mag and then light into an animal at 50 yards, you could have an issue. According to the barnes techs i talked to, the bullet really is designed for impacts at 3000 - 1800 fps, the petals will tend to blow off at higher speeds and they'll pencil a bit.
And as was mentioned - the state of the animal plays a role. Who hasn't noticed that some deer bang-flop and some run a good ways with solid hits from the SAME load.
You really have to look at the gun, the load, and your hunting conditions. Too many guys load their guns "just in case they get that once in a lifetime 500 yard shot", not thinking about what'll happen at 40 yards which is where a lot of game is shot.
With higher speed rounds you want something that will expand and perform consistantly at whatever speeds its' likely to impact at. That might be 3000 fps at 50 yards to 2000 at 300, if you decide 300 yards is the farthest you're going to shoot.
As to todds comment - senior, you're right in that it's not just 'penetration' - but i think todd just was speaking in general terms.
What kills game is a good wound channel in the vitals. If a bullet passes all the way thru, it was pushing aside a large amount of tissue while it did it as a rule - creating a very long wide wound channel that will allow the animal to bleed out very fast and will distrupt and destroy the most vital tissue. That's always a good thing.
Foxer said:
Wasn't disagreeing...just pointing out that I (personally) haven't found the need for the new expensive super dupper bullets, especially on thin skinned game like a deer.
Medium sized caliber (for the game) any decent big game bullet & above all! a fairly well placed shot will bring down any game
although there are times when a shoulder crushing shot might be required to anchor game when it's possible to lose them if they run even a short distance.discounting hunting for game that hunts back of course
