When someone starts a thread asking "what is the best bullet?"...

[Balrog]

There are a lot of threads started by folks asking what is the best performing bullet for some situation.

Inevitably, we always get folks chiming in with several things that we all know are too but are irrelevant to the very specific question asked, including some of the following:
1. Shot placement is more important than bullet selection
2. Reliability in the gun is more important than bullet selection.
3. Ballistics tests are imperfect and do not reflect real world performance.
4. Practice is more important than bullet selection.

I am sure there are others as well. Yes, these things are all true! We know shot placement is more important. But for 2 identical shot placements, bullet performance may make a difference. We all know a round that jams in your gun is worthless. No need to keep saying that. Ballistics tests are imperfect, but they are the best and most consistent test we have and at a minimum shot not be completely disregarded. Practice is important, but people can't practice 24/7, and during the times you aren't practicing, what is the harm of pondering the minute differences in bullet performance?

I think everyone knows the 4 things listed above are true. They don't need to be a part of every thread. Why can't people just answer the question or at least not participate?

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I try to ignore all of the "what is the best" of everything because of the open ended endless answers to that type of question. I cannot tell you what will work best for you based on my likes and dislikes. In my opinion, it is a foolish question.

 

[RX-79G]

There are some loads that have been extensively lab tested and are legitimately among "the best" for what they designed to do, so I don't find all such inquiries meaningless.

 

[larryh1108]

IMO, if it's a modern premium bullet made by a well known company and you found that it works perfectly in your gun then there is negligible difference in the performance of the bullet. The companies that make these bullets pour millions of dollars into the research for the best product they can produce. Their name and reputation is on every box they produce and sell. Choosing Hornady over Speer in the same caliber and bullet weight and design will perform the same inside the body.. It's like choosing Ford over Chevy or Toyota over Honda. It's just a matter of choice.

 

[RX-79G]

IMO, if it's a premium bullet made by a well known company and you found that it works perfectly in your gun then there is negligible difference in the performance of the bullet. The companies that make these bullets pour millions of dollars into the research for the best product they can produce. Their name and reputation is on every box they produce and sell. Choosing Hornady over Speer in the same caliber and bullet weight and design will perform the same inside the body.. It's like choosing Ford over Chevy or Toyota over Honda. It's just a matter of choice.

Well, in some cases it is like a 1980s Ford vs a 2010 Chevy. Lots of outdated designs still being sold.

 

[JO JO]

Well, in some cases it is like a 1980s Ford vs a 2010 Chevy. Lots of outdated designs still being sold.

yes but both trucks will still get you from point A to point B , there is no magic wand here !

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

So, we can eliminate all of the "what is the best" posts by reading the advertising claims of the various manufacturers? I think it will still end up Ford vs Chevy with the side roads trailing off to an endless swamp. It is just human nature. Even I sucked in as I should have just kept my fingers off of this subject.....

 

[JO JO]

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2015/1/14/federal-premium-hst-ammunition/
An interesting read about the HST which is a very modern bullet looks like the 40 has
an edge in the modern test seems like a a modern bullet is developed it benefits all the calibers,

 

[RX-79G]

yes but both trucks will still get you from point A to point B , there is no magic wand here !

An analogy taken too far. Winchester Silver Tips are a dated, fragile design that will less reliably make the sort of deep, wide wounds that newer bonded designs like Speer Gold Dots do. There are no magic wands, but there are designs that work well every time.

 

[GRIZ22]

There are a lot of threads started by folks asking what is the best performing bullet for some situation.

Inevitably, we always get folks chiming in with several things that we all know are too but are irrelevant to the very specific question asked, including some of the following:
1. Shot placement is more important than bullet selection
2. Reliability in the gun is more important than bullet selection.
3. Ballistics tests are imperfect and do not reflect real world performance.
4. Practice is more important than bullet selection.

I am sure there are others as well. Yes, these things are all true! We know shot placement is more important. But for 2 identical shot placements, bullet performance may make a difference. We all know a round that jams in your gun is worthless. No need to keep saying that. Ballistics tests are imperfect, but they are the best and most consistent test we have and at a minimum shot not be completely disregarded. Practice is important, but people can't practice 24/7, and during the times you aren't practicing, what is the harm of pondering the minute differences in bullet performance?

I think everyone knows the 4 things listed above are true. They don't need to be a part of every thread. Why can't people just answer the question or at least not participate?

I think those 4 things are repeated because there are many out there who think there is a magic bullet. There isn't.

 

[RX-79G]

I think those 4 things are repeated because there are many out there who think there is a magic bullet. There isn't.

So why do you think so many people who assume the person asking is ignorant and needs straightening out?

 

[GRIZ22]

So why do you think so many people who assume the person asking is ignorant and needs straightening out?

Their question shows they believe there is "one bullet" that is better than them all.

There isn't.

 

[RX-79G]

Their question shows they believe there is "one bullet" that is better than them all.

There isn't.

No it doesn't. It is a simple way of requesting a group of people provide the information they have on the best cartridges for a particular role.

You don't have to take everything literally, and you don't have to champion against a false paradigm that may not even be a factor in the question. If someone is suffering from delusions, that will likely come out in the discussion and be dealt with then instead of prejudicing threads with presumptions.

 

[JohnBiltz]

If you are shooting a four or five inch barrelled 9mm or .40 or a 5 inch .45 there are a lot of good options. You go down to a short barrelled carry gun then things really change and in a lot of cases even inside a line there might be a far superior choice. Like with Gold Dots. There are a number of name .380s that are frankly dangerous to be carrying because they don't penetrate.

 

[Snyper]

So why do you think so many people who assume the person asking is ignorant and needs straightening out?

Because of the type of questions being asked.

There is no one "best bullet" for their particular situation.
It's all too subjective and they will still need to experiment to find what works best in their firearms.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I used to be one of those people, I'd pour over the forums and gel test videos trying to find the most "effective" load for many different calibers.

But with more knowledge and time I came to realize shot placement and reliability are most important. As long as it doesn't have gross overpenetration yet penetrates enough, and runs flawlessly in your gun, that is what's most important. The small differences in sizes of expanded hollow points between brands etc., doesn't really matter.

 

[GRIZ22]

No it doesn't. It is a simple way of requesting a group of people provide the information they have on the best cartridges for a particular role.

You don't have to take everything literally, and you don't have to champion against a false paradigm that may not even be a factor in the question. If someone is suffering from delusions, that will likely come out in the discussion and be dealt with then instead of prejudicing threads with presumptions.

"Best" is a superlative. "Best" is very subjective. What's best for your situation is not necessarily the best for mine whether it be shotguns, bullets, or pickup trucks.

 

[RX-79G]

"Best" is a superlative. "Best" is very subjective. What's best for your situation is not necessarily the best for mine whether it be shotguns, bullets, or pickup trucks.

Ah, the lectures people must get when they ask where the best place to get coffee is.


The main reason I'm agreeing with the OP is that it is so tedious to have so many threads with straightforward questions that are answered with 70% lectures on the presumed foolishness of the questioner.

 

[larryh1108]

Ah, the lectures people must get when they ask where the best place to get coffee is.

Ah, but the answers are still opinions and not definitive. I don't see where a lecture would be appropriate, therefore, your sarcasm is moot.

 

[RX-79G]

Ah, but the answers are still opinions and not definitive. I don't see where a lecture would be appropriate, therefore, your sarcasm is moot.

The point being - it is okay for non-definitive answers to be posted, even somewhere really important, like on a web gun forum. It may be nicer than insulting each other's intelligence and then packing a thread about a straightforward premise with well-tread irrelevancies.

 

[GRIZ22]

Ah, the lectures people must get when they ask where the best place to get coffee is.


The main reason I'm agreeing with the OP is that it is so tedious to have so many threads with straightforward questions that are answered with 70% lectures on the presumed foolishness of the questioner.

You like Starbucks. I like Dunking Donuts. All subjective.

You call it presumed foolishness. I call it not knowing the nature and extent of the questioner's knowledge.

You can continue to presume everyone is as knowledgeable as you are. Most best caliber, best bullet, best defensive handgun threads are by people seeking knowledge.

You can "presume" a lot of things. If you get feedback from the person asking the question you have no way of knowing if your presumptions are correct.

"What do you think is best" or "What do you prefer" are much different than "What is the best".

 

[RX-79G]

You like Starbucks. I like Dunking Donuts. All subjective.

You call it presumed foolishness. I call it not knowing the nature and extent of the questioner's knowledge.

You can continue to presume everyone is as knowledgeable as you are. Most best caliber, best bullet, best defensive handgun threads are by people seeking knowledge.

You can "presume" a lot of things. If you get feedback from the person asking the question you have no way of knowing if your presumptions are correct.

"What do you think is best" or "What do you prefer" are much different than "What is the best".

I don't presume that everyone is knowledgable, but I think it is a better policy to not assume that they clueless.

 

[Merle1]

I try to ignore all of the "what is the best" of everything because of the open ended endless answers to that type of question. I cannot tell you what will work best for you based on my likes and dislikes. In my opinion, it is a foolish question.

Yep, me too. These threads always degenerate into personal preferences - then name calling.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

The "best bullet" is one that demonstrates nearly identical penetration performance in both bare gelatin and gelatin covered by four layers of heavy denim cloth, and also penetrates a minimum of 12" in gelatin after passing through automotive windshield glass. In actual shootings bullets with these attributes mirror bullets tested against gelatin covered by four layers denim cloth.

 

[jmr40]

There are significant differences between the good bullets and bad bullets. There are many good ones though, and the differences among those may be minor