Bullet selection. (ELDX/Accubond/Barnes/Hammer/)

[kgarrett]

I should mention that I have no experience with the Hammers because I don't hand load. They have a good reputation for accuracy though and are said to get a higher than expected velocity for their weight due to their design.

 

[std7mag]

Regardless of which bullet you choose, one thing to keep in mind.

Ya gotta scrub the bejesus out of the barrel. Down to bare steel.
Then season the barrel with whichever bullet you choose.

Unfortunately my Ruger 77 MKII in 280 Rem takes almost 50 rounds after a good cleaning to get the accuracy back.

 

[FEENIX]

Over the last 8-9 years, we've taken 14 Yukon Bull moose. All with 300 RUM's.
Closest being 80 yards and furthest 707 yards. All shoulder shots, straight on shots, and behind shoulder shots. A mixture of each. Never a bullet failure. ELDX performed the best.
Most of these moose were taken using 200g ELDX. Prob 8 of them. The remaining with the 200g Accubonds and 215 Bergers. All but 3 were 1 shot kills. The 3 that required more than 1 were the 215 Bergers. The Bergers worked fine. Just not the same results as the ELDX or Accubond. I would still use them without hesitation in the future. They just seemed to lack penetration. Especially on closer shots under 400 yards. But ultimately, they still died the same.

With that said, I'd really like to try a copper….something like a Cutting Edge, Hammer, CX, Barnes etc.
And I know. Why change what works. But the Coppers have always intrigued me.
With a few moose hunts coming up, I'd like to give one a try. I've always preferred shooting heavy bullets. My 300 PRC's I stick with 230 Bergers and heavy ELDX's.
But in the world of copper, usually you gotta back down quite a bit in weight. With that said, has anyone had any experience positive or negative with using a copper on moose or bear?
And I would not even know what grain to start with with my 300 PRC or my 300 ultra mag?

I was a long-time Nosler (NP, NAB, and NBT) end-user before I transitioned to Berger as my go-to bullet. I prefer the ELD-Ms over the Xs. The bottom line is that, despite some of the claims, there is no magic bullet.

 

[Horse1]

200gn TSX @ 2950fps via 300Win Mag, Canadian bull moose @ 200yds. Slightly quartering away. Bullet entered the back 1/3 of the rib-cage, passed through the off-side scapula and came to rest just under the hide of the off-side shoulder:

I don't recall what it weighs anymore, I believe it's over 190gn still.

After the hit, the moose stood in the spot where I shot him for about 10sec, then reared up like a horse and tipped over backwards.

Those are what I consider the pertinent facts. Feel free to form you own opinions.

 

[Horse1]

Regardless of which bullet you choose, one thing to keep in mind.

Ya gotta scrub the bejesus out of the barrel. Down to bare steel.
Then season the barrel with whichever bullet you choose.

Why? I've got 4 bone-stock factory 7-08's in Rem (SS 700 Mt rifle and M7), Win (M70 Ranger), and a Kimber Montana, that I use 120 V-max for practice/varmints, and 120 TSX for filling tags. All of them will run same/same POI/POA out past 500yds. Using R-15 the ES/SD's are inside each other with the different projectiles.

 

[med358-boise]

Regardless of which bullet you choose, one thing to keep in mind.

Ya gotta scrub the bejesus out of the barrel. Down to bare steel.
Then season the barrel with whichever bullet you choose.

Unfortunately my Ruger 77 MKII in 280 Rem takes almost 50 rounds after a good cleaning to get the accuracy back.

That has not been my experience at all across at least a dozen rifles shooting Barnes bullets. I clean them at the end of the season - no more than usual, fire a couple of fowlers. Fire a couple of groups, usually 200 and 400 to make sure nothing strange has happened and I am good to go.

 

[JAYgs8163]

Why? I've got 4 bone-stock factory 7-08's in Rem (SS 700 Mt rifle and M7), Win (M70 Ranger), and a Kimber Montana, that I use 120 V-max for practice/varmints, and 120 TSX for filling tags. All of them will run same/same POI/POA out past 500yds. Using R-15 the ES/SD's are inside each other with the different projectiles.

Many will say when switching projectiles and doing "New load development" it's recommended to start with a clean barrel free from any foreign alloys so you get an accurate reading and what you can expect to come. I do the same when doing new load development, shoot 4-5 foulers and then start shooting my test rounds. To each their own though.

 

[smkymtnboy]

Bow does one get to shoot 14 moose in 8 or 9 years? Is this some secret club?

thats a couple moose hunts per year. easy enough if ur wallet and wife allow.

 

[med358-boise]

Bow does one get to shoot 14 moose in 8 or 9 years? Is this some secret club?

Reading his first Post carefully, you will note he said "we've" as in we have. So, he is referring to at least 2 people and perhaps three or four all shooting the same cartridge.

 

[Hard rock]

Excellent info. This is extremely helpful!

If you want more info on HAMMERS , go to the HAMMER TIME FOURUM and you can find all the info about HAMMER bullets you need ,etc.

 

[Horse1]

Many will say when switching projectiles and doing "New load development" it's recommended to start with a clean barrel free from any foreign alloys so you get an accurate reading and what you can expect to come. I do the same when doing new load development, shoot 4-5 foulers and then start shooting my test rounds. To each their own though.

I don't disagree that a "fresh" bore is a good idea for load development.

I don't however think a fresh bore is required when swapping back and forth between different projectiles assuming the loads are established.

 

[shooters]

Maybe this will help simplify things for you. Forget about any issues at close range, there won't be. This is one of the strongest attributes of mono's, they don't explode at extreme velocities. You said you are heavy bullet guy, so you could just look at the maximum bullet weight that your barrel can stabilize. Assuming your 300 PRC is an 8.5 twist, and the 300 RUM is a 10 twist, the PRC will be able to stabilize larger bullets.
I have extensive experience with Hammers, and after taking bears, deer, African game from Impala to Kudu, t) out to about 1150 yds. At 700 yds, the velocity is still above 2300 fps, which is still well within the effective performance range of the bullet. At this yardage, there is still over 1900 ft lbs of energy, if you pay attention to energy values. I think this would be a great place to

Thank you!
Both are full builds.
The PRC is a carbon Bartlein 1:8
The RUM is a carbon Bartlein 1:9
Both are built on SAAMI but Wyatt's installed.
I'll try and figure out how heavy of hammers or cutting edge I can run.

 

[shooters]

Bow does one get to shoot 14 moose in 8 or 9 years? Is this some secret club?

Myself and family members.

 

[KH_Outdoors]

I have been fortunate to take two Alaskan Moose & two Grizzly Bears. All with monolithic copper bullets. Both Moose with Barnes TTSX's. The first Grizz with Hammer Bullets Hammer Hunter, the second with a McGuire Ballistics Copper Rose. All cleanly killed. Can't imagine you wouldn't be happy with any of them.

In your 30 caliber rifles I would be looking at projectile weight options in the 180-200 gr give or take. I'm currently subscribing to the theory that copper does best with higher velocities and speed make bullets work. However, the above mentioned bullets designs are very efficient now so not necessarily the case "every time".

In the Mcguire's line consider the 30 cal 195 & 178 gr CR offerings. In the Hammer line possibly the 180/181 & 199 gr HH or the 182 & 203 gr HHT models. Those are what I would personally start with for your application.

For Moose/Bear assuming it's Brown/Grizz... if I were you my personal first choice would be the McGuire 195 CR in the 300 PRC or RUM

Quick edit: forgot, it was three** Grizzly Bears, one with a Barnes TTSX as well. So yes, mono's kill great