Why RN Bullets Over SP?
- Thread starter mmattockx
- Start date
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I was successful getting drawn for Moose in MU 5 in B.C. this year and the plan is to use a recently acquired Husqvarna in 358NM. Prior to getting the rifle I picked up a good quantity of Norma 250gr factory loads so that's likely what I'll use. They're classified as SPSP, soft point semi pointed, round nose to my eye. If, in the meantime, I can work up loads using some 225gr Barnes TSX I may go with that instead.
A good friend explained about the Speer 250 Hot-Cor's, and what great success he's seen with these in the .358 Winchester...I just can't seem to find any! I thought perhaps for now, I'd try the 250 grain RN bullets and get it sighted in with those. I did manage to get my press set up after all, and loaded some .358 ammunition today.
Has anyone used the 250 grain .35 cal RN Hornady Interlocks in a .358 Winchester chambered rifle? It seems to me they may be great for this calibre.
I have in a BLR that I used to own. It was the most accurate bullet that I tried in it and I did try a lot of combinations.
My load was 49 grains of BLC-2 over a Winchester primer. Take it for what it's worth, your mileage may vary.......
For big bores used for dangerous game, there is no advantage to flat trajectory, because no professional hunter in his right mind is going to let Nimrod start the dance with a dangerous animal at 200+ yards. You start the dance with dangerous game close enough to get the hit, and close enough for the dance to be exciting. Elsewise, just go shoot targets.
Some folks use .338 (where legal) and a spirepoint can be useful for reaching out at plains game. Ditto for .375. I doubt many guys are poking gemsbucks with .404's or .416's, though.
Some folks use .338 (where legal) and a spirepoint can be useful for reaching out at plains game. Ditto for .375. I doubt many guys are poking gemsbucks with .404's or .416's, though.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I don't know, when I was shooting my .416 Rigby I was able to shoot it pretty well from field positions and although prone was challenging, I could hold it for 3 shots. I never was able to make a "good" 4th shot with it from prone, so that defined my recoil tolerance quite accurately. Recoil is an acquired taste, and I've shot lessor rifles which I found more objectionable than the .416. Loaded with a 350 gr X bullet over 102 grs of H-4350 for 2850, the Rigby would reach out pretty well, allowing me to make some bragging sized groups at 400 yards despite the limitations of the low power scope. Still, while I personally rate the large capacity .416s as general purpose cartridges, for me they produce the upper limit of recoil which I can tolerate, so for me they define the upper limit of the general purpose rifle. My definition of a general purpose rifle is one which the marksman can shoot from any position to solve his problem, whatever his problem might be. Like a .375, the single rifle hunter can take his .416 to Africa and use it effectively on game from dik-dik to elephant, yet benefit from a .30/06 like trajectory should a long shot be called upon. But if he can't manage the recoil he is better served with a 9.3 or a .375 and it is unlikely the game would know the difference.
As for the correct bullet in a heavy rifle, heavy being a .458 or larger, consider the professional hunter who is faced with a wounded dangerous game animal, and I'm thinking of buffalo here, that makes cover quickly and reappears 250 yards away. Under these circumstances a spitzer might be a better choice for the PH than his round or flat nosed slugs, if he has a choice.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Your experience depends much on the nature of the individual buffalo and the wound he has suffered. If your shot is immediately fatal, the buff drops like any other beast. But killing a buff with a single shot is the exception to the rule. If your shot has hit the spine and he can't move his back end, you will be in awe of his strength and courage as he attempts to attack you, dragging himself on his front legs, all the time shaking from the effort. A wounded African Buffalo that remains mobile is potentially the most dangerous animal on the planet. Depending on his life experience, some have survived by running others by fighting. If your buffalo as survived by running, it could take hours if not days to follow him up on foot, and you might not prevail. But if he has survived through a willingness to fight, the African Buffalo has a single minded focus and will stalk and attack his antagonist from short range with a vengeance otherwise unknown in the animal world. He can't be reasoned with, he can't be escaped from on foot, he can't be stopped short of killing him, and short of killing him he won't stop until you are nothing more than a smear on the ground. Thats what makes those horns on the wall special.
Makes a grizzly bear seem like a scared puppy.
Thanks Boomer. Had an old friend killed by a buffalo in tall grass. He wasn't even hunting buffalo at the time.
I suppose it is best to shoot a buffalo without him knowing of your presence.
Thanks Boomer. Had an old friend killed by a buffalo in tall grass. He wasn't even hunting buffalo at the time.
I suppose it is best to shoot a buffalo without him knowing of your presence.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Perhaps, but the real joy in hunting dangerous game is in the confrontation. Otherwise you might as well be hunting plains game.
I have in a BLR that I used to own. It was the most accurate bullet that I tried in it and I did try a lot of combinations.
My load was 49 grains of BLC-2 over a Winchester primer. Take it for what it's worth, your mileage may vary.......
Thanks Bill...I'm gonna' try that precise load in mine!
Nice hearin' from you.Any thought on the similarity in performance (in the .358 Winchester from a 20" barrel) between the Speer 250 HotCor spire point, and the Hornady 250 Interlock Spire point?
I'm wondering, as my local shop has lots of Hornady's and no Speers.
I'm wondering, as my local shop has lots of Hornady's and no Speers.
Larger caliber RN bullets look really cool...
Good logic.
I kinda likes the round nose bullets for the same reason. Plus for most big game hunting, I find the shots are 100 yards or less. For bear or moose hunting round nose bullets are just fine.
I only fuss the spitzer/boattail for deer cartridges. Then I just grab the appropriate weight Nosler Accubond for whatever cartridge I'm hunting with, and load up a bunch.
Hornady in my experience hold thier cores more than the Speer. Both are still very good bullets.
