Preferred impact velocity?

[WildRose]

I am curious to hear what everyone's perfect impact velocity is on whitetails.

If you could pick the impact velocity what would it be? Please list specific bullet with weight and caliber (not cartridge).

I don't want this to be about cartridge or distance, as those specifics get threads side tracked.

Think this will be an informative bullet performance topic.

Steve

Energy on impact would probably be a better comparison. I have shot them with everything from a 204 Ruger to .375 Ruger, 260 Remington to 300 Rum.

The ideal velocity for a the .204 is close to twice what I desire out of the 6.5's, 7's, and .30's, and 3x the ideal for the 45-70, .41RM and .44mag.

There's also a great deal of variation depending on bullet type.

 

[LVJ76]

This is where the cartridge comes in to play, for example:

140gr Ballistic tip on a 7mm Rem Mag leaving the muzzle at 3,250 fps is a disaster waiting to happen, why? If you end up shooting a deer or Elk at 100 yds with this bullet still going well over 3,000 fps that bullet will likely blow up on impact causing little penetration and a slow kill and maybe a lost animal.

Now this same 140gr Ballistic Tip on a 7mm-08 with a muzzle velocity of 2,850 at 100 yds going at a little over 2,700 fps will work well with nice bullet expansion and good penetration, and will work up to 500 yds on deer or smaller sized game.

If on the 7mm Rem Mag I used a 140gr Accubond instead at a 100 yds it will hold together perfectly with good expansion and also great penetration. Now this bullet will also expand and penetrate at lower velocities at longer ranges, making it a more versatile bullet.

So it depends on the cartridge and what distance you might shoot. In my case my shots can be between 50 yds and 500 yds, so on the 7mm RM I will use a bonded bullet and on the 7mm-08 an SST ot Ballistic Tip. Now on the 7mm-08 you can also use a bonded bullet as well and will work great.

 

[LVJ76]

A little repetitive I know but I think I explained it better this time, at least I hope so Lol

 

[J E Custom]

So I think we can all agree that there is no one perfect velocity just like there is no golden bullet. There is a best impact velocity for each bullet depending on the distance and the game to be hunted.

To somewhat answer the OPs question, I generally want a bullet near the top of it's rated performance velocity. and in most cases like to stay around 2800 to 3000 ft/sec muzzle velocity and adjust the range accordingly. Most bullets will still work with less as long as they don't get much below 2000 ft/sec.

The More range that is needed, The More velocity needed to keep the impact velocity in the bullets performance range.

J E CUSTOM

 

[preventec47]

I have not studied it very much but I always got the feeling that the Barnes solid copper bullets would have the widest velocity range of effectiveness. I saw a video once whereby their bullet at super hi point blank velocities would shed the forward petals that peel back but the base of the bullet would remain intact for deep penetration.
I put my money on that strategy and began shooting Barnes TSX ( I think that is what they are ) 110gr in my 7mm Rem Mag at 3600 fps. I only hunt deer and I only take ribcage/lung shots to avoid destroying any good meat and they always blow a good
hole resulting in quick kill.
I have not tried a shoulder shot on a heavy muscled animal and I do not know for
certain how they would perform.... Like I said, I saw a video one time and it convinced me.

 

[Greyfox]

I use 140/142 gr Berger and JLK VLD's. A minimum of 1800FPS up to 2800 FPS has produced excellent terminal performance on medium game with these bullets.

 

[5.56×250]

I have not studied it very much but I always got the feeling that the Barnes solid copper bullets would have the widest velocity range of effectiveness. I saw a video once whereby their bullet at super hi point blank velocities would shed the forward petals that peel back but the base of the bullet would remain intact for deep penetration.
I put my money on that strategy and began shooting Barnes TSX ( I think that is what they are ) 110gr in my 7mm Rem Mag at 3600 fps. I only hunt deer and I only take ribcage/lung shots to avoid destroying any good meat and they always blow a good
hole resulting in quick kill.
I have not tried a shoulder shot on a heavy muscled animal and I do not know for
certain how they would perform.... Like I said, I saw a video one time and it convinced me.

I've tended to subscribe to the mono metal design lately also. I really like the idea of a easy opening mono for all around deer sized game performance. Although I dont have practical experience with barnes lrx bullet, I think , in theory, the design makes perfect sense for someone who will encounter wide variations in their hunting ranges on any given hunt. The mono metal design SHOULD be able to stay together for close range, high velocity impacts, but due to a softer design, still expand reliably at ranges that cause velocities that fall as low as 1600 fps. And as a side benefit, I've always seen excellent accuracy potential with barnes monos in general.
If anyone at barnes is listening , a 100 gr lrx in 6.5 cal would be on my wish list for the Ga whitetails I hunt with both the grendel and creedmoor

 

[5.56×250]

Maybe rockymntmt already offers something similar to the softer barnes lrx in a light for caliber bullet. I was in no way excluding the hammer. I just didnt know your company existed till this week. I'm a noob to the forum.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Maybe rockymntmt already offers something similar to the softer barnes lrx in a light for caliber bullet. I was in no way excluding the hammer. I just didnt know your company existed till this week. I'm a noob to the forum.

We do have 99g Hammer Hunter and 110g Hammer Hunter bullets that are great in the creed and grendel.

 

[BoomFlop]

Once again, only for the reloader. You need to change this quick!

 

[5.56×250]

Who is this in reference to ?

 

[BoomFlop]

My comment about only for reloaders is for Steve. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[5.56×250]

No problem. I'm new to the forum and thought I might have pushed a button. Just wanted clarification . Thanks

 

[LVJ76]

No problem. I'm new to the forum and thought I might have pushed a button. Just wanted clarification . Thanks

Pushing buttons? Ha, not long ago I asked Steve if he thought a 120gr Barnes TTSX would work on my 7mm-08, only to find out later he's with Hammer bullets, Lol, he was cool about it though and pardoned my ignorance at the time.

And FYI, you'll definitely push some buttons here and there but we get over it, its all about learning and having fun.