Whats up with Federal Power shok bullets?

Suther

Suther

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What I mean, is with the bullets they choose for their heavier loadings.

My two examples are from 303 Bristish and 270 winchester. Both heavy loads (180 grain and 150 grain, respectively) use a soft point round nose bullet.

These bullets have TERRIBLE ballistic coefficients, and they lose so much velocity/energy compared to others. Due to this, the lighter bullets seem like a better choice for all but the closest of ranges.

For the 270 winchester, at 200 yards the Power Shok round nose bullet offers only 2166 fps, and at 400 yards 1606, meanwhile the Vital shok load with a Nosler Partition (the worst BC bullet of the vital shok line) is doing 2446 and 2093fps respectively. And thats with identical muzzle velocities.

So what gives? At least with the 303, I can rationalize that its intended for a short-range heavy brush round, but I dont consider the 270 to be a short range bush gun with any load - its meant to reach out and touch something.

Also I should note that the winchester Super X does not have this problem. Their 150 grain 270 load gives 2336 and 1879fps respectively. Not Vital shok speeds, but for the price difference I dont expect that.

Finally! With the 303 winchester super X load my 303 180 grain bullets are faster at 400 yards than the 150 270 federal load, due to that terrible BC.... Thats just not right!
 
You probably wont get the real answer unless you contacted Federal directly.

What a cartridge was intended for means little as to how many people actually use them. I know a guy using a 300WSM for white tail in thick brush where all his shots are 25yds or less. It's the rifle he has and he doesn't want to "go through the trouble" of selling or trading it for a more suitable rifle. It works, he shoots half a box a year, and he'll continue using it as he is.
 
I know what ya mean, I think its similar with Remingtons Corelokt offerings, the 130 is pointy an the 150 is reasonably RN but I don't believe as bad as the Fed offering in 150....

I just figured its to get the weight into the smaller .277 projectile but I guess they make pointy ones too.... so yeh, what gives!?

WL
 
Spitzer or pointed bullets will have more shank inside the case to maintain the same OAL as they'll have to be longer due to the longer ogive. Perhaps the lawyers take issue with this as it reduces case volume and could increase pressure? Round nose bullets keep more of the weight outside the case.
Perhaps customers are requesting more round nose bullets for some reason? I've talked to a couple guys who talk about how round nose expand less and get better penetration (not necessarily true but lots of people believe myths about guns and ammo).
Just thinking out loud.
 
It is called catering to a diversified market, broaden your product and you will appeal to a wider spectrum of users, not everybody wants to shoot what you do.

Kind of sounds like a first world problem, buy what you want and use it, pretty simple.
 
I would say that the majority of big games in North America (i mean 80 %) are harvested inside 150 yards (and I generous in the yardage). Rendering bc comparaison useless by field use.

Mush
 
Oddly where ibwork. The power shok and core lokt sell the most. With a box of 308 180 grain sp core lokt going at 19.99 for a box of ammo, many of the older hunters dont want to spend anything more than that for ammo.
For most things.. in ontario anyhow the round nose sp's work very well.
 
Aries- said:
Oddly where ibwork. The power shok and core lokt sell the most. With a box of 308 180 grain sp core lokt going at 19.99 for a box of ammo, many of the older hunters dont want to spend anything more than that for ammo.
For most things.. in ontario anyhow the round nose sp's work very well.
Click to expand...

The VAST majority of big game in Ontario is shot at less then 50m. It doesnt really matter what type of bullet is used.
 
From what I witness at the local range most people shouldn't be shooting at game much more then 100 yards here anyway. Se so many guys show up with 3-5 boxes of "bullets" and then chase their point of impact around all day and still can't zero the rifle. They end up leaving with somewhat of a group measuring 4-12 inches off of a rest and a concrete bench. See it every year.
 
hometownhero said:
From what I witness at the local range most people shouldn't be shooting at game much more then 100 yards here anyway. Se so many guys show up with 3-5 boxes of "bullets" and then chase their point of impact around all day and still can't zero the rifle. They end up leaving with somewhat of a group measuring 4-12 inches off of a rest and a concrete bench. See it every year.
Click to expand...

Wow, Sounds like you were out at the Sask WF range! I get a laugh out of the guys who pull out their 300RUM, 300WM, 300WSM and proceed to SPRAY their targets and get the exact results you post of looks like they have been shooting shotguns at the targets! Most of them blasting away with somewhere between 3 and 7 different brands of shells, differing in weights, performance and point of impact. I always get a chuckle out of them when I watch them flinch every time they pull the trigger. I do however pity the game they line up in their sights, cause I know its gonna be ugly and the chance for wounded animals is high!

That said, this season I picked up a beautiful old Parker Hale 270 with a beauty of a barrel and decided to take it hunting. Unfortunately the only ammo I could find for it was either Power Shok 150Gr, or Rem Core Lokt 150Gr as I wanted the heavier bullet for Moose. Both similar in make-up and ballistics, as I tried out both at the range they seemed to group really good and I have to say I was pleased with the performance. I cannot say the the moose I dropped with a single shot out of my 270 at about 300 complained. Seeing as it only moved about 20 feet from where it was shot, I'm surely not going to complain about the performance. :)
 
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