I think what this thread has established is the fact that there is not one bullet/cartridge combination that is good for all game animals all the time.
I am not an expert but back when about all that was available for the reloader were Sierra, Hornady and Speer bullets, Sierra were the quickest to blow up, Hornady were in the middle and Speer were much tougher. It was rare for a Sierra to stay together, Hornady mushroomed and often did not pass through. Speer would usually pass through. Factory Remington Bronze tips were quite devastating as the were like a hollow point with a tip... not unlike Ballistic tips today. Winchester Silvertips also really opened up. Great killers on lighter game but not reliable of heavy skinned game at higher velocities. There always were some custom bullets designed to hold together and Nosler came out with the Partition bullet. At higher velocities and heavy game they perform really well. At slower velocities (longer distances) and light skinned animals they often don't expand much at all.
You have to decide what you are hunting and do you want a devastating kill with all or most the energy from the bullet left in the animal, or a pass through with less energy left in the animal. Shot placement is also extremely important. For game animals there is nothing better than a broadside heart/lung shot through the ribs.... Hopefully with no exit as far as I am concerned. The animal is quickly bled out and won't go far. Dangerous game is different - breaking shoulders is considered the safe way. One bullet will not do both of these jobs well.
I hunt mostly game animals with Hornady bullet usually. Here is a picture of the 139 Hornady that went through the chest at a downward angle and stopped short of going through the far shoulderbone. It expanded to .60 caliber and still weighs 125 grains.
I am not an expert but back when about all that was available for the reloader were Sierra, Hornady and Speer bullets, Sierra were the quickest to blow up, Hornady were in the middle and Speer were much tougher. It was rare for a Sierra to stay together, Hornady mushroomed and often did not pass through. Speer would usually pass through. Factory Remington Bronze tips were quite devastating as the were like a hollow point with a tip... not unlike Ballistic tips today. Winchester Silvertips also really opened up. Great killers on lighter game but not reliable of heavy skinned game at higher velocities. There always were some custom bullets designed to hold together and Nosler came out with the Partition bullet. At higher velocities and heavy game they perform really well. At slower velocities (longer distances) and light skinned animals they often don't expand much at all.
You have to decide what you are hunting and do you want a devastating kill with all or most the energy from the bullet left in the animal, or a pass through with less energy left in the animal. Shot placement is also extremely important. For game animals there is nothing better than a broadside heart/lung shot through the ribs.... Hopefully with no exit as far as I am concerned. The animal is quickly bled out and won't go far. Dangerous game is different - breaking shoulders is considered the safe way. One bullet will not do both of these jobs well.
I hunt mostly game animals with Hornady bullet usually. Here is a picture of the 139 Hornady that went through the chest at a downward angle and stopped short of going through the far shoulderbone. It expanded to .60 caliber and still weighs 125 grains.
Last edited:
Been using them for over 40 years, and have yet to see one let me down. I'm talking a trainload of game here, and by now I should have experienced this failure to expand, but it just hasn't happened, even at the mild speeds of the 300 Savage and 7x57. Not saying it never happens, just saying I haven't had it happen to me. I have seen two that shed the rear core after tumbling in game, but even that is quite rare. I do like the new Accubond so far, but only 4 head of game isn't enough yet to make a real meaningful observation.Time will tell, I guess. In the meantime, this ole fossil isn't ready to chuck the Partition.
