lightweight X bullets and moose
- Thread starter vpsalin
- Start date
Those bullet weights are all light for caliber, and certainly not suitable for large thick skinned game. I prefer to use heavy for caliber bullets for big game. Even with perfect broadsided shot placement I wouldn't have confidence in the penetration of those light weights. JMHO.
I would as well, but then again I actually shoot lighter weight TTSX bullets when I hunt elk and moose, so I base my opinion on actual experience with the monometal bullets, rather than on out of date theories. Bullet construction means far more than bullet weight, where penetration is concerned.
It's called warp speed. You might have heard of it, but there is nothing like running it.
When did moose become "large thick skinned game"?
Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Lol...a poster in this thread helped me work up a load for a *gasp!* 7/08 using *gasp!* 140 TSX's....that rifle took two bulls (one little guy, one 50") and a big cow at ranges from 76 yards to 227 (lasered)..... Put the bullet where it belongs and you'll be fine.
WW.
PS: Thanks to Silverado for the help!
WW.
PS: Thanks to Silverado for the help!
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Very much so, that is a decently moving little projectile in that chambering.Flat shooting also.
I'll take a 120gr mono bullet over a 140 ballistic tip or SST in 7-08 any day.Still does well with 140's of proper construction.
I'll take a 120gr mono bullet over a 140 ballistic tip or SST in 7-08 any day.Still does well with 140's of proper construction.
News to me too.
This year I'm using a 270 win with 130 gr fed trophy copper for moose. I think I would do a penatration test at the maximum distance I could possibly shoot accurately or for arguments sake let's just say 250 yards. Let's say 130 gr copper .277 vs 110 gr copper .277, in order to determine a couple things, now we know that velocity is key with light tough bullets
we know that a 130 gr .277 copper bullet driven to 3100 fps will do the job clean and fast out too about 250 yards after that the velocity loss makes for a slow kill on big game, let's say 600 lbs and up.
So now if we could get 110 gr. copper bullet moving along at 3500 fps or more. The question in my mind is, would this combination have more penatration then the proven load noted above? If the test proves yes then were on to something. Then we could start pushing the range out until the 110 grain bullet no longer has penatration as deep as the 130 at 250...
Another thing to consider would be the test medium; ballistic gelatin with bones in it, phone books, 7/16 osb, water jugs??? I don't know the right answer, just flippen random thoughts here on that one.
Not sure if these thoughts are way out in left field. Someone please feel free to run with the idea if they're not to far out there.
One last thought, bullet failure might be an issue at close range.
Anyway your post got me thinking. Good luck eh!
we know that a 130 gr .277 copper bullet driven to 3100 fps will do the job clean and fast out too about 250 yards after that the velocity loss makes for a slow kill on big game, let's say 600 lbs and up.
So now if we could get 110 gr. copper bullet moving along at 3500 fps or more. The question in my mind is, would this combination have more penatration then the proven load noted above? If the test proves yes then were on to something. Then we could start pushing the range out until the 110 grain bullet no longer has penatration as deep as the 130 at 250...
Another thing to consider would be the test medium; ballistic gelatin with bones in it, phone books, 7/16 osb, water jugs??? I don't know the right answer, just flippen random thoughts here on that one.
Not sure if these thoughts are way out in left field. Someone please feel free to run with the idea if they're not to far out there.
One last thought, bullet failure might be an issue at close range.
Anyway your post got me thinking. Good luck eh!
Actually weight retention...not original weight is the ticket for penetration. Mono metals typically retain 99-100% of their weight, equaling superior penetration over a bullet that sheds weight. There are some other factors at play here too including expansion rate due to impact velocity, frontal area, etc. At the end of the day, lighter for calibre mono metals penetrate and perform well in their performance envelope....even on "large/thick skinned" game. As for velocity, higher velocity typically means less penetration with controlled expansion bullets. Obviously at extreme ranges this is no longer true but high velocity impacts typically penetrate less due to rapid rate of expansion.
Yeah, if you poke a .22 LR into Big Ear's brain he falls down too. Personally with few opportunities offered each fall I prefer heavy bullets moving at moderate velocity. To each their own.
