Most Accurate hunting bullet?

[redneck2]

getting my 7 Mag pretty soon. Now, I understand that a 1 1/2-2” hunting rifle is considered adequate. Still, I’m pretty fixated on accuracy. I looked at Berger, thinking they’d pretty much be a good place to start. They have some high BC hunting bullets, and their quality is very high.

Well, Berger says their goal is to make bullets that break up on impact. They’re not into deep penetration. I’m old school, want something that holds together better. Not shooting prairie dogs.

Need thoughts on something with good performance in regards to accuracy and performance

 

[HamSlamma]

What are you going to be hunting?

What range?

Do you reload?

 

[cp1969]

Sierra has a reputation for accuracy.

Nosler does, too. Not so much the Partitions, but the Ballistic Tips and Accubond.

 

[farmerboy78]

I would still say Berger. Only the front portion breaks! The back end keeps trucking through

 

[Allen One1]

Hard to beat the Hornady ELD-X.

 

[dgod]

The ELD-X is very accurate, I have had good luck with Sierra A-Frame Bullets, pretty impressive at 150 yds. Really depends on what your use will be.

Good Luck
dg

 

[jmr40]

Well, Berger says their goal is to make bullets that break up on impact.

They don't break on impact. They stay together very well for the 1st 3-4" then pretty much explode resulting in very quick kills. They are not the best choice for shooting an elk in the butt and expecting it to penetrate to vitals. The Barnes copper bullets are the best option for that.

I keep reading how well the Lapua Scenar bullets work. Same principle as the Bergers, but lots of guys say they are more accurate, kill better and are easier to load for. Some of the Bergers are sensitive to seating depth. I ordered a box of 30 caliber 155's that came in today. Will load them up and see how they shoot next week in my 308.

There is no free lunch, everything is a compromise. Softer bullets like the Bergers, Scenars, SST's, ELD-X, Nosler Ballistic Tips and some others expand violently resulting in quick kills. They also expand well at slower speeds encountered at longer ranges and their high BC's retain speed and energy at longer ranges. They tend to be among the most accurate as well. All work very well if you hit vitals, but don't penetrate far enough to be reliable if taking shots at bad angles. If you use heavier for caliber bullets this helps with penetration.

Harder bullets like the Barnes TTSX, Accubonds, Interbonds, Partition, and others penetrate deeper from bad angles. But don't expand as well usually resulting in game running farther even with a good hit. They also don't expand well at extended ranges where speed has dropped off and as a rule aren't quite as accurate.

Pick one. Understand how it works and don't ask a bullet to do a job it wasn't designed to do. They all work as long as they are used as designed.

 

[splattergun]

Good choices have already been named above. You are the best one to answer the question "What is the most accurate hunting bullet in my gun?

 

[joed]

I've always used Sierra or Nosler and have found their bullets extremely accurate. I don't have much experience with Hornady or Berger but I'd bet they're just as good. I don't think there is a bad choice.

 

[Slamfire]

I purchased a bunch of Federal Fusion bullets in 277 and 308. These are electroplated bullets.



I am of the opinion that these are less accurate than my cup and core bullets. They just don't cluster as well as brand name cup and core, such as Sierra, Hornady. They are probably excellent bullets once they hit. I have had buds shoot Hornady ballistic tip bullets in across the course matches, and they shot well with the things all the way out to 600 yards.

You know, if the barrel likes them, I have had very good experiences with Remington Core Lokts. My M700 in 6.5 Swede shot them well, the M70 in 6.5 Swede puked them out, so what I learned was, different barrels like different bullets. My 308 barrels all like my 165 grain Core Lokts. In all my barrels, regardless of caliber, my Sierra Match Kings are the accuracy champs, but these not appropriate for hunting bullets.

 

[someguy2800]

I've never had a problem getting sub moa accuracy from a traditional soft point cup and core bullet provided the gun was up to it. The premium match bullets give great ballistic coefficients but a soft point can be very very accurate. My favorite hunting bullets are Federal fusion. Very accurate for me.

 

[someguy2800]

This is a typical group from my Tikka 25-06 with hand loaded pulled federal fusion bullets.



This is a group from my brother in laws 270 ruger that I accurized. This is with pulled federal 150 grain round nose soft points. Believe it or not there is 4 shots in that hole on the right. If not for the hole on the left it would have been the best group of my life.

 

[Mn Fats]

Nosler does, too. Not so much the Partitions, but the Ballistic Tips and Accubond.

Nosler BT's have been incredibly accurate and effective for me.

 

[FROGO207]

The Core Locts are really accurate for an inexpensive MOA cup and core bullet IMHO. Those and the Grand Slams are my go to hunting bullet of choice these days. The really long distance accurate bullet is usually a target bullet so as noted above there is a compromise to be figured out. Still some of the good ones (read expensive) will not shoot worth crap in some of my rifles. Speer, Combined Technology, Remington and Sierra all make what I consider good hunting bullets for the price and will try each of them to see what each rifle likes the best. Good luck finding your "best"

 

[Glockula]

I have had issues with Bergers not expanding and penciling through game. I have shot 4 deer with Berger 168 .308 in 308 winchester. I recovered a doe and an 8 point and lost a doe and an 8 point. I will never again use a Berger on game

Sierra gk's, hornady interbonds and Nosler partition projectiles have worked very 23ll 20th no complaints. The Interbonds are surprisingly accurate in my 300wsm.

 

[George P]

My 7mm mag most accurate load is a 160 Sierra BTSP - 3 shots in 1.25" @ 200 yards. My best hunting bullet is the 160 Nosler partition, 3 shots in 1.75" @ 200 yards, but total destruction and deer a DRT every time.

 

[redneck2]

What are you going to be hunting?

What range?

Do you reload?

Potentially antelope, certainly deer, maybe elk.

Range? Dunno, other that antelope and even deer can be extended distance. I supposed elk too.

I’m not looking for 1,000 yard shots. But, if I get a good shot at a really good antelope, I’d like to have the confidence that I could rely on the rifle at 350-400 yards

I’ve gotten exceptional accuracy from Blitzkings in my .204 and Nosler BT’s in my Varminter AR. Just looking for ideas for hunting rounds in larger calibers

Thanks for all the input so far.

 

[horsey300]

Potentially antelope, certainly deer, maybe elk.

Range? Dunno, other that antelope and even deer can be extended distance. I supposed elk too.

I’m not looking for 1,000 yard shots. But, if I get a good shot at a really good antelope, I’d like to have the confidence that I could rely on the rifle at 350-400 yards

I’ve gotten exceptional accuracy from Blitzkings in my .204 and Nosler BT’s in my Varminter AR. Just looking for ideas for hunting rounds in larger calibers

Thanks for all the input so far.

Pro hunters from Sierra will get you accuracy you'll hardly believe, they're tuff and you can run em out to 500 easily. That being said, the closest thing you'll get to an all around magic bullet that penetrates and expands is a bonded offering, think Nosler accubond or ablr, hornady interbond, Norma oryx, federal fusion, Speer hotcor. Btips up close may not penetrate enough for your liking, and coppers at distance may not expand right either so the middle ground is a cup and core soft point, or upper middle being bonded. Accuracy will depend on your barrel twist, loading capabilities, and pickiness of the rifle in general, I would guarantee the pro hunters and other flat bases to be accurate, and everything else will be an experiment.

 

[Blue68f100]

I've always got sub MOA using Sierra 160gr GK. They have done their duty since the 70's, see no reason to change. This is both a Rem 700 and Ruger M77.

 

[DLrocket89]

My girlfriend's .243 Axis shoots 95 grain Nosler Ballistic tips into one hole at 75 yards (with a new trigger mind you).

My Savage 111 in 6.5x284 shoots 143 grain ELD-Xs into a cloverleaf at 100, easily go 10/10 shots on a 4" gong at 350 yards.

My friend's 260 Savage shoots a cloverleaf at 100 yards with 143 gn ELDXs.

Recommend all of them.

 

[LoonWulf]

Lots of good suggestions so far!
IMO for the ranges expected you dont need the super high BCs, and if your going with 150+ 7mm bullets youll be in the mid to high .4s atleast any way. I also think that offten times its more a rifles preference than particular bullet when it comes to accuracy.

I would suggest picking a bullet for your expected uses, that provides performance your comfortable with and see if it delivers the accuracy you want.

The largest game ive shot with my 7mms were wild cattle, and the shots were fairly short. The bullet used were 175 sgks, which produced 1" groups from my rem mag and slightly better from my STW. Launch velocity for those were 2800 (stw was downloaded), and performance was excellent.

Id be comfortable shooting to 400-500yds with those relatively low cost bullets.
I also used to run 162amax from my Rem at 3050, and those are deer hammers, qnd accurate in 3 7mms to boot.

Were i looking for a "do all" bullet id go with a bonded. Probably the 168 or 175 ABLR, or the 154 interbond.

But again with a heavy 7mm bullet its hard to wrong.

Ive got some spare 160tmks, 162amax, and some iothe stuff if you want to try some.

 

[Rule3]

Potentially antelope, certainly deer, maybe elk.

Range? Dunno, other that antelope and even deer can be extended distance. I supposed elk too.

I’m not looking for 1,000 yard shots. But, if I get a good shot at a really good antelope, I’d like to have the confidence that I could rely on the rifle at 350-400 yards

I’ve gotten exceptional accuracy from Blitzkings in my .204 and Nosler BT’s in my Varminter AR. Just looking for ideas for hunting rounds in larger calibers

Thanks for all the input so far.

So the most "accurate" bullet in what gun, with what twist with, what powder and what bullet weight, are You shooting, Fred or Daryl?

"Accuracy" is such a "subjective" subject. So many many variables.

What bullet "performs" the best when it hits the animal? Will the actual bullet make a difference of 1" or 2" at 300 yards?

Unknown range for probably deer but maybe something else?

Don't all the major brands make bullets that are more accurate than the individual shooter?

Ford or Chevy.?

 

[Driftertank]

Unfortunately, there's no "right" answer to this question. You'll have to experiment a bit to see what your rifle likes.

Inside of 500yds, i would go for a bullet with tougher construction, rather than a lightly constructed, high-BC "Long Range" bullet. As previously pointed out, a bullet designed to expand at 1,000yds is likely to pretty much explode inside 300.

For a do-it-all round, i agree that a bonded, tipped round is a good bet, if you can get it to shoot. My experience is that Bergers tend to be jump-sensitive, Noslers vary, Hornady is cheaper and a bit more flexible, but terminal performance reports vary depending on bullet design, Sierra is a well-regarded all-rounder, but tends towards the fragile side of impact characteristics. Again, no perfect bullet exists.

I tend to like to run the heaviest bullet my barrel will fully stabilize, that way even relatively fragile bullets will have more mass to shed as they come apart, giving better penetration and doing more damage.

 

[Bigmike79]

Modern commercial hunting ammo from any reputable manufacturer like Winchester, Federal, Remington etc is extremely accurate out of most modern bolt guns.

Things have changed a lot in the last 30 years in regards to off the shelf accuracy with entry level hunting rifles and department store hunting ammo. Pretty much any Walmart special $300-400 Savage, Remington, Ruger etc bolt gun in a capable caliber will shoot sub MOA off the shelf these days.

If you got the money to blow, there is nothing wrong with dropping $1500 on a Weatherby or Browning rifle with high end German glass and premium ammo, but unless you plan on dropping Bambi from 500+ yards, it's definitely not required.

As another poster pointed out, most modern ammo is more accurate than the people shooting it, so spending time shooting your rifle will tighten those groups up more than anything for most hunters.

 

[Dale shaver]

The one that takes down your game