Your Favorite big game bullet

[stinger 327]

For about 40 years, nearly all my deer/elk were taken with CoreLokt and Win PowerPoint.
Simply because that was readily available in small town America.
And both those bullets happen to work great.
Not one loss due to the bullet's inability to perform.





Here's my term paper on "Effective Range":

I would bet that 95% of all hunters possess good but limited skill.
Probably every bullet made, from 6mm to .338, will easily outperform the skills of 95% of all hunters.
The effective range of the bullet probably far exceeds your own 'range'.
But a bad shot is easily blamed on the bullet and/or gun.​

That's my term paper on the subject.

But there are so many selections of different grains in 30.06. I shot the 125, 150, 165, 180 and 220 yesterday and I couldn't tell a difference in the recoil. They were all equally mule kickers.

 

[Art Eatman]

Well, Stinger, I'll tell you what generations of hunters have told other hunters who worried about the recoil of an '06: "Get a .243." However, I've found that interposing a sandbag between the buttpad and my shoulder takes all the pain out of the benchrest equation. I've never noticed recoil at all when Bambi or Wily was in the crosshairs.

When the US military transitioned into the Mauser-style cartridge in .30 instead of 7mm, they first stayed with the 220 grain bullet. Testing proved that the 150-grain bullet (actually, 153-grain) shot flatter (plus the increases from the better smokeless gunpowder then coming into use), making it easier to get hits at longer ranges. Call it "A lesson from the Cuba experience."

Different bullet weights for different purposes--which holds true for all cartridges. The 110- and 125-grain bullets are intended mostly as varmint bullets. The 150- and 165-grain bullets are mostly intended for deer-sized critters. The 165-grain overlaps with the 180-grain for elk, moose or black bear. Other weights and designs for target, as 168- and 190-grain bullets plus the 230-grain VLD.

R&D in bullet construction has made the 180-grain hunting bullet as effective for penetration as the 220-grain bullets which were thought to be needed for moose and bear. While the 220-grain bullet still might be one's choice for the Big Bears, it's rather rare that the '06 would be the cartridge of choice over those with more Oomph.

 

[Fremmer]

Sierra Gameking is my choice, but only because it shoot the most accurately out of my rifle.

 

[stinger 327]

Well, Stinger, I'll tell you what generations of hunters have told other hunters who worried about the recoil of an '06: "Get a .243." However, I've found that interposing a sandbag between the buttpad and my shoulder takes all the pain out of the benchrest equation. I've never noticed recoil at all when Bambi or Wily was in the crosshairs.

When the US military transitioned into the Mauser-style cartridge in .30 instead of 7mm, they first stayed with the 220 grain bullet. Testing proved that the 150-grain bullet (actually, 153-grain) shot flatter (plus the increases from the better smokeless gunpowder then coming into use), making it easier to get hits at longer ranges. Call it "A lesson from the Cuba experience."

Different bullet weights for different purposes--which holds true for all cartridges. The 110- and 125-grain bullets are intended mostly as varmint bullets. The 150- and 165-grain bullets are mostly intended for deer-sized critters. The 165-grain overlaps with the 180-grain for elk, moose or black bear. Other weights and designs for target, as 168- and 190-grain bullets plus the 230-grain VLD.

R&D in bullet construction has made the 180-grain hunting bullet as effective for penetration as the 220-grain bullets which were thought to be needed for moose and bear. While the 220-grain bullet still might be one's choice for the Big Bears, it's rather rare that the '06 would be the cartridge of choice over those with more Oomph.

What's a 230 gain VLD?
That's what I thought as far as what military started with figure there had to be a medium for range for bullet weight & trajectory which goes to why they went to a lighter grain 150 / 153 grain bullet. So that puts the 165 grain right there in the middle from 150 grains + 15 grains = 165 with another 15 grains = 180 grains.

 

[Art Eatman]

"VLD" = Very Long Distance. A target bullet for those with 30" barrels who play with targets on out beyond 1,000 yards.

 

[stinger 327]

I see.

 

[bad-hunter]

Best Hunting bullet

I hunted plains game in South Africa last month and I used my 338/06 with 215 gr. Sierra GameKings. From Blesbok to 520 lb. Wildebeest, that bullet worked. Of six animals, 5 were one shot kills, and none of them went anywhere after being hit. One hunter with us was using a shoulder cannon -300 Weatherby and he had expensive loaded ammo with 180 Nosler partitions. They didn't make up for poor shooting as he wounded and lost a Wildebeest and my PH used my 338/06 to finish off his other wounded animal, a 390 lb. Gemsbok.
Like Fremmer, Sierras are accurate in all my rifles, none of which are magnums. I just don't like heavy recoil so I stick with mostly Sierra Pro Hunters or GameKings. I use some Speer Hot Cor but they are not as accurate as Sierra. I also have used Partitions but didn't see a difference. Dead is dead. Ther are no degrees of dead.

 

[palabman]

My choice is different for each gun I hunt with. My Ruger M77 .243 Win loves 100 gn Sierra SP Game Kings (The boat tails not so much). My Remington 760 favours 168 gn C/T silvertip boat tails. I have tried other bullets but always come back to there two.

 

[Perforate]

Nosler all the way.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Nosler Ballistic Tip in .260 and 6.5x55 swede for whitetails.

 

[stinger 327]

Well, Stinger, I'll tell you what generations of hunters have told other hunters who worried about the recoil of an '06: "Get a .243." However, I've found that interposing a sandbag between the buttpad and my shoulder takes all the pain out of the benchrest equation. I've never noticed recoil at all when Bambi or Wily was in the crosshairs.

When the US military transitioned into the Mauser-style cartridge in .30 instead of 7mm, they first stayed with the 220 grain bullet. Testing proved that the 150-grain bullet (actually, 153-grain) shot flatter (plus the increases from the better smokeless gunpowder then coming into use), making it easier to get hits at longer ranges. Call it "A lesson from the Cuba experience."

Different bullet weights for different purposes--which holds true for all cartridges. The 110- and 125-grain bullets are intended mostly as varmint bullets. The 150- and 165-grain bullets are mostly intended for deer-sized critters. The 165-grain overlaps with the 180-grain for elk, moose or black bear. Other weights and designs for target, as 168- and 190-grain bullets plus the 230-grain VLD.

R&D in bullet construction has made the 180-grain hunting bullet as effective for penetration as the 220-grain bullets which were thought to be needed for moose and bear. While the 220-grain bullet still might be one's choice for the Big Bears, it's rather rare that the '06 would be the cartridge of choice over those with more Oomph.

When the US military transitioned into the Mauser-style cartridge in .30 instead of 7mm, they first stayed with the 220 grain bullet. Testing proved that the 150-grain bullet (actually, 153-grain) shot flatter (plus the increases from the better smokeless gunpowder then coming into use), making it easier to get hits at longer ranges. Call it "A lesson from the Cuba experience."

So as far sharpshooting goes the 150 grain is the better bullet per military?
Then again todays Remington 220 grain bullet probably uses better powder than back then but still the same holds true that you will get better range with todays 150 30.06 than the 220 grain 30.06 grain bullet of today?

 

[7mmstalker]

Accuracy--Sierra Game King
For several years my "do-it all" rifle was a Ruger M77 in 7mmRemMag. It shot very well with 175gr. boattails.
My old standby 30-06 will make cloverleaf 3shot groups with Speer 180s.
I dont choose the bullet, the rifles seem to choose their favorite from what I offer to them!

 

[black_elk]

Speer Spitzer Boatail in everything but my 22-250 that gets Hornady A-max's. I don't have a rifle using speer's that won't clover leaf groups on a regular basis the rest is my human error. From deer, elk, bear they have never let me down or preformed badly not once and that says alot to me.

I've seen alot of animals taken and if I was to recommend a bullet for all around preformance besides my speers. My vote would go to the Nosler Partition I haven't seen that one fail yet either. There's alot that I have seen fail that I'd rather not start debates over. Just because it's new on the market don't mean it works well.

 

[tc54]

i've used partitions (factory and hand loads) for over 40 years, for everything i've hunted from alaska to florida, with a 30-06 and/or a 270 win. i like one load for everything. they have always worked for me, so i'll stick with em'. i sometimes wander and kill deer and hogs with core-lokts or power points, but when i check zero before a hunt, i do it with partitions. others do it differently, i'm sure.

 

[RangerHAAF]

Core Lokts are old school and they still work. I stay with what works, no reason to change. However saying that there are some newer bullets out there that I would like to try, like Federal's Fusion line, a totally enclosed copper jacketed hollow point.

 

[stinger 327]

Core Lokts are old school and they still work. I stay with what works, no reason to change. However saying that there are some newer bullets out there that I would like to try, like Federal's Fusion line, a totally enclosed copper jacketed hollow point.

Core Lokts are reasonably priced compared to that Silver bullet stuff from Winchester that costs over $40.00 per box.

 

[scythefwd]

They are also different types of bullets. One is a controlled expansion bullet, the other isn't.

 

[stinger 327]

They are also different types of bullets. One is a controlled expansion bullet, the other isn't.

Shoot em in the head any bullet will do the job then.

 

[Dr T]

My favorite depends on the caliber:

6 mm: Nosler Solid Base 85 gr. (out of production)
6.5 mm: Nosler Solid Base
270: Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
7 mm: Speer 145 gr BTSP (very, very accurate in my 7-08)
30: 180 gr. SPFB interlock (and favorite overall: It is inexpensive and it works well)

I don't really have any favorites at this time in 22, 35, or 375.

I wish Nosler would bring back the solid base. I am not sure that the little plastic thingy on the tip buys you much in the real world, except that it (fortunately) helps the DoW guys to convict poachers.

 

[scythefwd]

stinger - if you can pick a deer off at 250-300 yards in field conditions by using nothing but head shots you are a way better shot than many.

 

[stinger 327]

stinger - if you can pick a deer off at 250-300 yards in field conditions by using nothing but head shots you are a way better shot than many.

Yes I wish.

 

[stevelyn]

Nosler Partitions. I never know what I may run into.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Of the bullets listed I prefer the Partition, as it is reliable and predictable. It will rarely produce the "exciting" results occasionally seen of the more frangible bullets, but it will never let you down as those bullets might, especially for situations that call for more-than-average penetration.

Regarding the 220 SP in .30 caliber (and the 175 SP in 7mm, and 160 SP in 6.5) they can be tremendously effective even on smaller deer and such. They hit much harder, in my experience, than can be expected, and normally produce absolutely reliable results, despite - or perhaps because of - their plain construction. And of course they tend to be quite affordable as compared with the fancier bullets.

The downside is supposed to be that they are less accurate and not good for longer shots. The first claim, in my experience, is nonsense, and the second not much better. It is true that they start out a bit slower and drop a bit more, but close examination of the ballistics tables show that it is actually a relatively small effect out to reasonable ranges. There are those of us, of course, who make a habit of shooting at game animals at tremendous distances, and I defer to their experience when it comes time to select a bullet. I myself refuse to shoot at an unwounded animal beyond 250 yards, so see no practical limits with the heavy round nose bullets.

 

[stinger 327]

Of the bullets listed I prefer the Partition, as it is reliable and predictable. It will rarely produce the "exciting" results occasionally seen of the more frangible bullets, but it will never let you down as those bullets might, especially for situations that call for more-than-average penetration.

Regarding the 220 SP in .30 caliber (and the 175 SP in 7mm, and 160 SP in 6.5) they can be tremendously effective even on smaller deer and such. They hit much harder, in my experience, than can be expected, and normally produce absolutely reliable results, despite - or perhaps because of - their plain construction. And of course they tend to be quite affordable as compared with the fancier bullets.

The downside is supposed to be that they are less accurate and not good for longer shots. The first claim, in my experience, is nonsense, and the second not much better. It is true that they start out a bit slower and drop a bit more, but close examination of the ballistics tables show that it is actually a relatively small effect out to reasonable ranges. There are those of us, of course, who make a habit of shooting at game animals at tremendous distances, and I defer to their experience when it comes time to select a bullet. I myself refuse to shoot at an unwounded animal beyond 250 yards, so see no practical limits with the heavy round nose bullets.

How about at 100 yards with 220 grain Remington Core Loks in 30.06?

 

[scythefwd]

stinger . ANY .30-06 round is good out to 250 y and more. You have to be up to the task, but you won't find a .30-06 round that will fail out that far. Some might not give you the exact results you are expecting, but they will all do admirably. The .30-06 is good out to 500-600y if you are. If you aren't expecting to shoot more than 100y, get the cheapest thing your gun will shoot well... it isn't going to matter. If you are shooting out at 600y, then you need to think more about bullet selection.