190 A-Tip on game performance?

Looking for real world experience, or links to other sites with on-game reports or ballistics gel performance.

For those screaming "You should use a hunting bullet!" at their screens, pipe down. Bergers were target bullets until they weren't.

I hunt deer in wide open country, so I don't need a bullet that will pass end to end through a hippopotamus at 30 yards.

I don't have much experience, and have only seen 4 deer killed in person. 2 were DRT with 30 cal 178 AMAX and 208 ELDM from a 300WM. One was a "run away" with a perfect shot with a 200 gr Game King from a 300 Win Mag at 350 yards that required a bit of chasing and a second shot to put him down, and one was a fluke DRT, but with a 150 gr Accubond LR from a measly 7mm-08 that grenaded in the neck meat of a deer at 400 yards, and penetrated less than 6 inches.

So...In my experience, I can't even imagine why anyone would hunt with a hunting bullet. They fail 100% of the time, while target bullets are 100% effective...(I kid, but hopefully you get my point)...

Anyway, please share any links, resources, personal experience, etc that you have on the 0.284 190 A-Tip on game.

entoptics said:

For those screaming "You should use a hunting bullet!" at their screens, pipe down. Bergers were target bullets until they weren't.

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LOL! I am glad you opened with this statement. I have used plenty of target bullets with excellent success. It's not 190, but I have some A-Tips and similar ones to try, but I have not loaded any yet. A friend harvested a bull elk with 110 A-Tip out of his 6MM CM at 500 yards, IIRC. Hopefully, you'll yield plenty of information you seek and the naysayers to stay away. Good luck, and happy safe hunting!

Ed

Great question and preface! Again, not the 190, but I believe Shawn Carlock has been having some success with the .338 300gr A-tip.

Here we go again! I used to shoot the 190 vld from the 300 WM with mixed success shooting game. If you can keep eyes on the animal you should be fine BUTTTT if you don't well let's just say the shot better be pretty much money. I know I'll get plenty of flack but in my experience over 40 something years of big game hunting if you shoot the grenades at long range especially on elk size game stay off the shoulder!!

Not my personal experience but my Smith uses the 284 190 Atip and also one of the 6.5 Atips and swears by them for hunting.

Hmmmmmm…….now I'm rethinking using them instead of my 195's in my 7saum. The 190's are freaking laser beams out of all of my 7mm's.

Scenars and/or EldM are great for hunting.
However, I have heard that Nosler CC are not good on terminal performance.

Longtine88 said:

Hmmmmmm…….now I'm rethinking using them instead of my 195's in my 7saum. The 190's are freaking laser beams out of all of my 7mm's.

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I'm going to try the 166 ATIP in my 7mmWSM. Seems like maybe a perfect fit for this.

With a Brux 27" barrel I tried the 190's in I was getting clover leaf 5 shot groups back to back at 100. At 750 I was hovering around 2" groups with them. I had to adjust the BC on the 190's and 110's. Slightly higher than what hornday advertises them.

Bwana Barry said:

Scenars and/or EldM are great for hunting.
However, I have heard that Nosler CC are not good on terminal performance.

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Agreed - had bad experience with Nosler 140CC.

I have used the 190 a tips on game. I do not recommend them for big game hunting. They kill slower than cwd.

There is no void behind the aluminum tip on the 190's. So expansion seems to be slower with smaller wound channels.


180 ELDM's are much more violent with field reports.

190 A-tips in a barrel that likes them are death to ground squirrels and shooting coyotes without hide damage. Not useful for game animals imo.

I dare anyone to use the ELDM bullets on deer size game and not be completely satisfied with the performance and outcome. Think outside the box just once if your doubtful about using match bullets for deer size game. I know there are those that absolutely won't do it but if your on the fence, do yourself a favor and try them. They are all I use in most of my hunting rifles that I hunt deer with.