Bonded bullet performance; with respect to Zachary and Gunnut

[SuperstitionCoues]

Zachary and Gunnut,

You two have made some good points regarding conventional bullet performance, enough to cause me to take another look at things.. 

I'm not really wild about Nosler partitions.  I could never get them to work well (or any Nosler product) in my .25-06, and that is why I started using Sierras and Hornadys. 

Hornady makes both the SST (I've used it and like it) and their newer Interbond.  I haven't tried the Interbond or any other bonded bullet yet.  I was wondering if you have?

If anyone in these forums has I would like to know about your experience and test results with the bonded bullets, especially in 7mm and 30-06.

Thanks in advance.

[thumbcocker]

I've been using 140 gr. accubonds in my 7 saum. So far it has been the most accurate bullet I've tried in it. I use 58 grs. of H-4350 and get a little over 3150 f.p.s. Shot a deer last year with it, no complaints.

[kudzu]

YES,YES,YES, That's what I'm talkin bout. A good ole boolit discussion.

First off I will say that I'm not a big fan of reg BT for hunting other than the smaller game (varmit & pred). Several years back when I first got my 7rum, I loaded with the 140 NBT. However very accurate, I was not satisfied with it's on game(deer) performance. I then went to the 150 scirocco and was very pleased with it, as accurate as the BT and it's on game performance has been near perfect. Have about 20 + WT kills with them and have had great results. On the inside 100 yard shots the bullets have held together yet expanded for great terminal damage. On the 300+ yard shots I have experianced double shoulder hits were the bullet still passes thru both sholuders and exited. IMO a bullet that goes in AND comes out with a 11/2 - 3'' hole is a very GOOD thing. Again this is on deer size game. Have had the same good performance with the 140 accubonds out of my 270wsm. Have only taken 4or5 deer with it and one with the 130 BT. Again the accubond is more of what I look for in bullet performance on game. The Fed factory loaded 140's from my Ruger M-77 laminate/stain at 100 yrds is hole for hole every time. IMO the Scirocco and accubonds are very similar in build and performance. They both are tipped bullets which assist in long range performance and are not as hard as the heavy bonded bullets that may not open up as well with reduced velosities.
Unless I'm hunting something that may be hunting me back I will probally not use an advertised bullet of more than 90% weight retainage. Again this is just MHO, but for deer size game a good 70 to 80 % bullet like the two above is near perfect. If you look at ballistic charts, I have not found any bullet with equal weight shot at equal velosity that holds energy with the scirocco. The accubond has very good ballistics also. For now these are my two bullets of choice for mid size big game hunting. Everyone looks for differant performances in bullets, but these two fit my needs and wants best and to me that's the bottom line when choosing a bullet for YOURSELF. 

regards, DM

[Coyote Hunter]

The North Fork 160g has given me the smallest groups my 20+ year-old 7mm Mag has ever shot - at 0.266" for 3 shots @ 100 yards.  Unfortunately the only North Fork I have taken game with is a 350g in my .45-70 - but I was very impressed on deer and elk.

My buddy uses the 160g Trophy Bonded in his 7mm Mag.  Unfortunately we don't know how it works because the one deer he shot didn't stop the bullet.

Personally, I am sold on bonded bullets for use on game.

[kudzu]

nomo has to be out of town !!!!!!!!!

[Zachary]

Coues,

I have used virtually every bullet out there, but not all of them on game.  I have used the Interbond on a whitetail in .30 caliber and it worked very well.  Believe it or not, I used to get better accuracy from the traditional Hornady Boat-Tails than the SSTs and Interbonds, but not by much.  I was not able to recover the bullet from the whitetail, as the shot was about 100 yards away and it was right behind the shoulder.  The entrance hole was small, but the exit wound was pretty good size - a bit bigger than a golf ball.  The deer didn't run.  best I recall, it just dropped.  I can't say that the bonded bullet was responsible for such a shot, but the bullet did have good terminal performance.

You really don't need bonded bullets for 150 pound thin skinned whitetail deer when shots are about 100 yards away.  Now, if you are using smaller cartridges at higher velocities then a bonded bullet becomes more justified so as to avoid being blown-up.  For use on hogs, I would never hunt without a bonded bullet or other premium type bullet like a partition, etc.

Zachary

[grousehunter]

I am not a LOADER or claim to be, but a few yrs back when Hornady was loading 90 gr. 270's I shot them for whitetail! did a very fine job! inhole was finger size and exit was not much bigger than your thumb! JUST make your first shot count!

[nomosendero]

Dancoman, customers have been loading me up lately & I am coming in late most of the time.

SC, did you try the 120 Gr. Partition in your 25-06 & a stiff dose or RL25. This powder is great in the 25-06 & AI!!!It is wicked in my Sendero & very fast as I have mentioned before. I have also found the 180 Part. a great bullet in my 30-06AI.

Though not bonded the 25cal. 125 Wildcat is super & now I hear that some of Richard's ULD bullets will be bonded & this style
bullet has never been bonded before!!!

I am about to test some 200Gr. Accubond bullets in my 300 Sendero, many of my friends have gone to this bullet as the
long range choice for 300 Mag. due to long range accuracy & terminal effect. The BC of this bullet is incredible.I believe in the 30-06 I would try the 180 as it matches the cap. a little better.

Though monolithic instead of bonded as you asked about, the TSX should always be considered & shoot good in almost every rifle I have tried. If you look at the latest Barnes website, you will see that they are adjusting the BC values downward, I am glad as they were overstated. Some who had bad luck (alot of those) with the original X are too dang stubborn to try the TSX & that is a pity.