Author Topic: Best bullet construction (Read 3051 times)

Coyote Hunter · « **on:** June 18, 2004, 07:41:42 PM »

There are a lot of new bullets out there, and some excellent bullets that have been around a bit longer.

Here's a poll (if I did everything right) to see which bullet you guys think is best.

leverfan · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2004, 10:20:26 PM »

Well, my vote would be for the Nosler Partition or Partition Gold Moly-free, if it was up there. That's as far as all-around hunting is concerned, because the Noslers just do everything well, at least for me. They open fast, but they still go all the way through on broadside shots (if you're using one that's as heavy as it should be for the game hunted).

Carl l. · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2004, 02:02:53 AM »

Coyote Hunter, I have only tried 3 on your list and my gun wouldn't shoot them very well at the Benchrest. I use Sierra's in all my guns but once in a while I will try some of the new bullets. I like accuracy first and if they don't shoot well I give up on them. But this is only my opinion. If we all liked the same thing's, they would make just one of everything. I can't vote for any of them. Carl L.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:39:45 AM »

I prefer the Nosler Partition. It expands easily and always holds together. I perticularly like the consistancy, they always do the same thing... The front section is soft enough to expand when velocities are quite low and yet the divider stops expansion and practically guarantees the exit wound.. I've used them on everything from whitetails to moose.. They perform.

longwinters · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:44:00 AM »

Of the different bullets I have tried I would also choose the Nosler partition. It just does everything well in every caliber I have shot it in.

Long

azshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2004, 06:09:35 AM »

Quote from: leverfan

Well, my vote would be for the Nosler Partition or Partition Gold Moly-free, if it was up there. That's as far as all-around hunting is concerned, because the Noslers just do everything well, at least for me. They open fast, but they still go all the way through on broadside shots (if you're using one that's as heavy as it should be for the game hunted).

Nosler partirions are high on my list but the lead tip is vulnerable to deformation in the magazine when under heavy recoil. So my vote goes to the CT Failsafe. I used them to drop two Bison this year with one shot each.

Lawdog · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2004, 09:36:07 AM »

Coyote Hunter,

You forgot the King, the one all the rest compare themselves to. That is where my vote goes.

NOSLER PARTITION.

azshooter,

Quote

but the lead tip is vulnerable to deformation in the magazine when under heavy recoil

Never had that happen even in my big bore magnums. Not in the over 40 years I have been using Nosler Partitions at least. Small Groups and tight lines to all. Lawdog

RaySendero · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2004, 04:31:35 PM »

I voted for the Swift A-Frame because its the same internal design as the Nosler Partition.

Longcruise · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2004, 07:13:19 PM »

Here's another nosler part vote. Six kills with them and they never failed. Last year I used the Barnes 30 cal 180 XBT and the results were really better than partition but the accuracy was 4 moa at best. Ok for my thick timber elk hunting where shots are 100 yards and less but probably won't use them again.

Also, the plain old Winchester silver tip worked real good for me on antelope.

Daniel · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:14:17 AM »

The Barnes Triple Shock gets my vote.

Thunder38849 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2004, 07:28:56 AM »

What?

The ol' faithful for years, Winchester Power Point isn't listed?

Longcruise · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2004, 09:23:38 AM »

Power Point!!! Yuck :eek:

Only used in .264 Win Mag so it's probably not a fair test. Bullet blew up very very badly

Thunder38849 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2004, 09:49:37 AM »

Yep, I will agree they will blow up.... but the "target" isn't gonna move very much after they do blow up. As you can see below.

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2004, 10:09:17 AM »

Personally I would rather eat the venison instead of giving it to the dogs or throwing it away. That is the trouble with Power Points. I found that Power Points blow up regularly at any velocity over 2,800 fps.(about the same as Ballistic Tips, SSTs and other plastic tipped bullets). In something like a .300 Savage they work fine, in a .300 magnum you get dog food. And many times you end up with a wounded critter that you have to track down and shoot some more, thus ruining more meat. Sorry no Power Points for me. I tried them, got sorry results. Small groups and tight lines to all. Lawdog

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2004, 11:21:03 AM »

I voted for the Barnes triple shock, but the Barnes X is my bullet of choice and second would be Nosler partitions.

Longcruise · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2004, 11:30:04 AM »

Quote

Yep, I will agree they will blow up.... but the "target" isn't gonna move very much after they do blow up. As you can see below

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

That's just what I was talkin about. :shock:

I hear (see) a lot of guys on the net talking about liking that kind of performance on deer and apparently where they hunt there is some concern that if the animal does not fall on the spot it gets claimed by someone else. I've never encountered that problem where i hunt and would rather the animal walk or run 20 or 30 yards and not have the blow up effect.

That kind of terminal performance on an elk or larger animal can leave you with inadequate penetration and a single lung hit and an animal that travels a long way. Maybe miles. Gotta get both lungs

Zachary · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2004, 03:11:28 PM »

Of the bullets mentioned, I would generally pick the Barnes (IF it's accurate in your rifle). The problem with the Barnes is that it doesn't expand as well as other bullets.

The A-Frame and Trophy Bonded are also great bullets, but they are not nearly as areodynamic as other bullets.

I think that the best all-around bullet is the one that has been around the longest, the Nosler Partition. From whitetails to Moose, it expands and penetrates.

Zachary

sabotloader · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2004, 06:19:10 PM »

Easy decision for an old guy like me, but not in your poll
Nosler Partition hands down....[/b]

azshooter · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2004, 06:56:06 PM »

Quote from: Lawdog

Coyote Hunter,

You forgot the King, the one all the rest compare themselves to. That is where my vote goes.

NOSLER PARTITION.

azshooter,

Quote
but the lead tip is vulnerable to deformation in the magazine when under heavy recoil

Never had that happen even in my big bore magnums. Not in the over 40 years I have been using Nosler Partitions at least. Small Groups and tight lines to all. Lawdog

Hmmm - Deformation of partitions is a definite problem in my Ruger M77 in 25-06. As far as design - can't go wrong with the front end of a Barnes X and the rear end of a partition to give it weight.

Bighorn75 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2004, 05:43:22 AM »

I would also choose the nosler partition although I've never been disappointed in the performance of good ole' Remington Core Lokts.

Rmouleart · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2004, 06:23:42 AM »

I have found that the BarnsX/Speers Grandslams/Nosler Partitions /Hornadys Interlocks work the best in hunting situations for me, I have found not much bullet weight is lost using any of the bullets I mentioned, bye far the Barns X has the best Mushroom affect, this in tern increases Meplat causing dramatic results to the game animal hunted, The interlocks don't change shape that much, but don't fall apart either, very good in Big bore rifles, I use them in my Marlin 450 guidegun .458, I have found very good results using them on German boars, tough critters,need a good bullet when hunting them, Interlock seem to fit the bill, Partitions work well in my 454 casull, penetration is at the top of the list using the 454 casull/338win mag/300 Savage/308 Win...Grandslams are well known field tested bullets, perform well in the 30 cals & 338win mag, All these bullets had very good accuracy as well. once I find the right bullet I stick with it. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.
P.S. this is a pic of my boar cross sectioned before I butchered it, the .458 Hornady interlock 450 drove through both shoulders without much increase in meplat on the exit, but did a good job on penetration. I dropped that German boar in his steps.

Lawdog · « **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2004, 07:34:27 AM »

azshooter,

Quote

Hmmm - Deformation of partitions is a definite problem in my Ruger M77 in 25-06.

What do you think is causing this? The reason I ask is I have a Ruger M77V .25-06 that I bought in 1976 and never had a Partition tip deform yet in it. Also got a Remington M700 .25-06 and the story is the same there too. I don't believe recoil is causing the deformation of Partition tips in your Ruger. I have never had a Partition tip deform in any of my Ruger M77's(6 of them from .25-06 to .450 Rigby). I am not trying to flame you I am curious as to why this is happening. I believe this is something that can be fixed. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2004, 12:16:14 PM »

For you guys suggesting the Partition, your suggestion is welcome but perhaps I should mention that all the bullets on the poll were solid construction or bonded. This was intentional.

Will be home in a few days and will post my thoughts then.

Longcruise · « **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:08:32 PM »

Quote

For you guys suggesting the Partition, your suggestion is welcome but perhaps I should mention that all the bullets on the poll were solid construction or bonded. This was intentional

Hmmm.. Swift A frame not a partition type? :?

azshooter · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2004, 04:47:32 PM »

Quote from: Lawdog

azshooter,

Quote
Hmmm - Deformation of partitions is a definite problem in my Ruger M77 in 25-06.

What do you think is causing this? The reason I ask is I have a Ruger M77V .25-06 that I bought in 1976 and never had a Partition tip deform yet in it. Also got a Remington M700 .25-06 and the story is the same there too. I don't believe recoil is causing the deformation of Partition tips in your Ruger. I have never had a Partition tip deform in any of my Ruger M77's(6 of them from .25-06 to .450 Rigby). I am not trying to flame you I am curious as to why this is happening. I believe this is something that can be fixed. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

Now that you mention you do not have problems all I can think of is that the bullets are seated too deep allowing more space in the magazine between the bullet tip and from of the magazine. When under recoil it might be slamming the front of the magazine.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #25 on:** June 23, 2004, 02:44:38 AM »

Quote from: Longcruise

[Hmmm.. Swift A frame not a partition type? :?

Although cut-aways show similarities in construction, the Swift A-Frame's front core is bonded while the Nosler Partition's is not. The result is that the Partition often loses its front core and its corresponding mass, while the A-Frame consistently retains the front core and looses mass only to lead being smeared away. Thus the Swift A-Frame has exceptionally high weight retention (often the highest) in test after test.

This is not to say the Partition or other goood bullets won't do the job (I have had excellent results with Speer Grand Slam bullets), but I specifically excluded bullets that did not have a solid- or bonded core.

Longcruise · « **Reply #26 on:** June 23, 2004, 05:04:06 AM »

Hey Coyotehunter, I'm just to picky to satisfy.

I just figgered that the existence of a "partition" in the A Frame bullet should put it in the category of a "partition" bullet but not of course a Partition (as in Nosler)

Lawdog · « **Reply #27 on:** June 23, 2004, 09:16:44 AM »

azshooter,

Quote

Now that you mention you do not have problems all I can think of is that the bullets are seated too deep allowing more space in the magazine between the bullet tip and from of the magazine. When under recoil it might be slamming the front of the magazine.

Are you trying to say you are seating your bullets to deep? I have never gotten good accuracy doing that. All my loads are seated very close to the lands no matter what the caliber. This has been my practice for over 40 years of reloading. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

Mac11700 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 23, 2004, 06:47:06 PM »

Coyote Hunter:

I'm really surprised you didn't mention 2 of the longest running premium bullets going...the Partion or the Grand Slam... While I know they aren't as new as those North Forks you used last season with good results...I'm still wondering how the Speers stack up.....since I just picked up a box of the 308 caliber 150 grainers on close out.....I know the Noslers work great for my 45-70 and don't have a need yet to experiment with anything else for our Missouri Whitetail.....

Mac

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** June 25, 2004, 02:37:51 PM »

Quote from: Mac11700

Coyote Hunter:

I'm really surprised you didn't mention 2 of the longest running premium bullets going...the Partion or the Grand Slam... While I know they aren't as new as those North Forks you used last season with good results...I'm still wondering how the Speers stack up.....since I just picked up a box of the 308 caliber 150 grainers on close out.....I know the Noslers work great for my 45-70 and don't have a need yet to experiment with anything else for our Missouri Whitetail.....

Mac

Mac -

I guess you didn't see my last two posts above - only bullets with a bonded or solid copper front section were included in the list. Thus the Partition and Grand Slam were specifically excluded.

The Grand Slams work very well - my buddy and I have dropped 6 elk with them in the last 5 years. Have only recovered one Grand Slam in over 20 years, and that was after it destroyed both shoulders of a 5x5 bull elk. Still have the bullet. It started out at .284" and 160g, but is now beautifully mushroomed at .542" and 113.7g (71% retention). Most of the weight loss appears to have been from lead smearing off, hardly surprising after all the bone it went through. All the others were pass-throughs, whether at 100 yards or 350.

Poll

Assuming the game is in North America, which of the following would you would rate the "best" hunting bullet, and why?

Author Topic: Best bullet construction (Read 3051 times)