Premium bullets vs standard

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I have used Nosler and Barnes bullets to take game over the years and here is my experience with them.:D
I have found that the premium stuff such as Barnes hold up a lot better at close range where velocities are higher and when bone is encountered on the shot. :shotgun: I have had good luck also with standard bullets where the range is extended and the velocity has slowed and allows the bullet to stay together and do the intended job.:dancingbanana:
When I hunted nasty critters I loaded Partition and Barnes in the .338's and 06's.
When I hunt the smaller deer here on the Island I use Hornady Interlock and Speer Hot-Cor in my 7x57 with great success. If I take the 7x57 to hunt the bigger bodied mulies up north I will load up with the Barnes and Partition bullets I have saved for such purposes. I believe in using enough gun and not making any critters suffer.I also consider that hard cast bullets to be premium stuff for my 45-70 GS......:D
 
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I could write for 15 minutes but this can be summed up in 2 sentences.

Bullet construction is the 2nd most important element in killing game, behind placement. Dont try to save money on your hunt when it comes time to choose your load - use the right tool.
 
Premiums aren't always necessary, but they sure do help out sometimes.

They are very inexpensive insurance...What is more important than how your bullet performs once you've chosen to pull the trigger?:wave:
 
If you are taking deer with 223 premiums are a must,and would be a good idea for use in 6mm/243,25,and maybe even 26cal.Other than these when you go .27cal and bigger there is no real need for a premium bullet for deer IMO.(With exception to magnums).
I myself don't use premiums for deer in some cals,but i do prefer them in my smaller cal rifles for those not so good angle shots.
 
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John Y Cannuck said:
Close range shots with medium to low powered cartridges require no premiums.
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JYC summed it up in one sentence. On the other hand .... High velocity requires stronger bullets that expand reliably at all ranges.

Shooting heavier game, esp with smaller calibers, is a good argument for premium bullets as well.
 
todbartell said:
I could write for 15 minutes but this can be summed up in 2 sentences.

Bullet construction is the 2nd most important element in killing game, behind placement. Dont try to save money on your hunt when it comes time to choose your load - use the right tool.
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X2

I used Rem's CoreLokt, Win's PowerPoints, Federal's, Nosler's ballisticTip and Accubond, Speer. Never lost a big game because of bullet faillure, lost one deer because of poor shot placement but not because the bullet failled, my bad :bangHead: .

Knowing the max range you're comfortable to shoot at and knowing the rifle capacity is for me a must. Just make sure you have enough gun power for the game hunted and you should be fine.

Good luck
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by todbartell
I could write for 15 minutes but this can be summed up in 2 sentences.

Bullet construction is the 2nd most important element in killing game, behind placement. Dont try to save money on your hunt when it comes time to choose your load - use the right tool.


PaulT said:
X2

I used Rem's CoreLokt, Win's PowerPoints, Federal's, Nosler's ballisticTip and Accubond, Speer. Never lost a big game because of bullet faillure, lost one deer because of poor shot placement but not because the bullet failled, my bad :bangHead: .

Knowing the max range you're comfortable to shoot at and knowing the rifle capacity is for me a must. Just make sure you have enough gun power for the game hunted and you should be fine.

Good luck
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I've always considered premium bullets to be the Partition, Accubond kind of stuff, not Coreloks & powerpoints.

Each has there place! but like quite a few others I use standard bullets from standard calibers on standard non lethal game:) & have never had a performance problem directly related to the bullet.

That said, I did see reg bullets shed it's jacket on the off side of a moose but I don't think it would have died any quicker had it stayed together.
 
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PaulT said:
Just make sure you have enough gun power for the game hunted and you should be fine
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having "enough gun" is basically having "enough bullet"

A 300 Weatherby Magnum is an excellent cartridge for elk hunting. Certainly "enough gun". Stuff a 125 grain soft point in it and it is nothing more than a long range gopher gun. Kapeesh?
 
todbartell said:
having "enough gun" is basically having "enough bullet"

A 300 Weatherby Magnum is an excellent cartridge for elk hunting. Certainly "enough gun". Stuff a 125 grain soft point in it and it is nothing more than a long range gopher gun. Kapeesh?
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Ok, ok, let's stay logical here :rolleyes: , yah know what I mean . Kapeesh?
 
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When I get my .375 I'll have to get some sabots made up for it so I can take it gopher hunting. 40gr sabot sound about right? Then as long as I use a premium sabot I'll have my whitetail round as well! :D
 
I just finished loading up some TSX, Partitions, SST's in 2 weights, and Interbonds to try in my .308. I think any of these will do the job on deer, so I'll go with whatever flies the best from the sako.
 
Doug said:
I think John is trolling...........:p
Not trolling at all Doug...some on the board think I don't believe that premiums are an asset to hunting. Are they better,I believe they are in certain conditions. I would rather have a big heavy standard bullet when hunting big bears compared to a small premium bullet.They both have their applications and I manage to find the right field conditons to use both. One size does not fit all............:D
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OK John, if you PROMISE you are not just stirring the pot....:rolleyes:

I generally shoot whatever bullets I have on hand and whatever powder I have on hand. After I fart around with loads a bit and get an idea of what the gun seems to like, I then load premium bullets for any hunting situation, regardless of game and regardless of calibre/cartridge.

I have been a fan of the Nosler Partition bullets for hunting, although the deer that had the most dramatic demise was shot with a 130 gr Barnes X from my .280. It dropped like a stone and did not even twitch. BUT I found that the Barnes X's caused dreadful copper fouling in that rifle, and accuracy was miserable after as little as a dozen rounds down the tube.

I think premium bullets (and premium ammo for hunters who do not roll their own) is an exceptionally good investment.

Doug
 
OK John, if you PROMISE you are not just stirring the pot....:rolleyes:

I generally shoot whatever bullets I have on hand and whatever powder I have on hand. After I fart around with loads a bit and get an idea of what the gun seems to like, I then load premium bullets for any hunting situation, regardless of game and regardless of calibre/cartridge.

I have been a fan of the Nosler Partition bullets for hunting, although the deer that had the most dramatic demise was shot with a 130 gr Barnes X from my .280. It dropped like a stone and did not even twitch. BUT I found that the Barnes X's caused dreadful copper fouling in that rifle, and accuracy was miserable after as little as a dozen rounds down the tube.

I think premium bullets (and premium ammo for hunters who do not roll their own) is an exceptionally good investment.

Doug

Really,not trying to stir up anything Doug, I use Partition's mostly for my premium stuff in the .338 and the 7x57, they have worked the best for me over the years,even better than Barnes. I find I don't need the X bullet or Partition for the smaller deer we have here and use standard stuff like Speer, Sierra and Hornady.
 
Know your gun, know your shooting abilities, know what your bullet does on (or rather 'to') a target in the worst circumstances possible, and damn well know you can haul out what you harvest! Factor all this into your decision to pull the trigger and that is the guide to ethical hunting in a nutshell I say! :rockOn:
 
Sticking the word Premium in the title is a marketing ploy. Average joe picks up the box of Federals (featuring the Sierra Game King) that say Premium thinking that they must be better than regular bullets for his moose hunt.

Then he puts Premium gas in his 1987 Ford pickup because he thinks that is must be better than regular and picks up a pack of "Light" smokes because he wants to limit his chance of getting lung cancer.


It has the word "Premium" so it must be better in all regards.:rolleyes:
 
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