What is your favorite bullets for hunting and target and why?

[Nells1776]

When shooting my 6.5 CM on the 1,000 yard range at Quantico, I shot the 142 gr Sierra Match King. Other common bullets on that firing line were the Hornady ELD-M and various versions of Berger target bullets. Some shooters used other bullets of course, but Sierra, Hornady, and Berger were what most people who loaded their own were shooting. As for hunting, Nosler Ballistic Tips, Hornady GMX and CX, and the Nosler Partition have been good, and I've also had excellent terminal results with the Swift Scirocco II. After years of reloading and shooting, I prefer a hunting bullet with a strong internal design as opposed to a cup and core bullet. That said, bullet preference is largely a matter of opinion, which honestly is far less important than effective bullet placement at ethical hunting distances. But when I reload hunting ammunition, my preference now is to develop a load with good accuracy in my hunting rifle (sub-MOA) from a bonded bullet, a mono-metal (i.e., Barnes X or Hornady CX), or a segmented design like the Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame. And the load development to find what works well is most of the fun!

 

[bultinkle]

I've used tons of bullets that did either well, but if I was to make a bullet that did both things as well as I thought they could be done there are two

Berger 215 hybrid

Sierra 130tmk

They combined the best accuracy with fantastic terminal performance.

I'm sure there are others out there, but I'm kind of tired of looking for the next best thing

 

[BrentM]

Being I've only used cup&core type, ( yes many tipped) Nosler Partition and Barnes, ( Barnes only on paper) I'm curious what's THE BEST or your favorite for game and paper/steel
I've had DRT's or short runs But didn't like some results due to high velocity @ closer distances

I've used the hornady a tip in both 6mm and 6.5. I've shot a pile of yotes, a couple lions, half dozen wolves, a few deer with them. I have very happy with the overall performance. Prior to the a tip I used a lot of eldm's and had excellent results. The a tip is very expensive so likely I'd just run the eldm and call it good. Right now my comp 6.5 runs 140 eldm and my 223 is 88 eldm.

 

[Rosebud]

Over the decades I've used most all of them.
But at the present!
#1 Hunting, Hammer Hunters. 120 in 7mm, 85 grain in 6.5, 92 in .257, 250 Grain SH in .405 Win.
#2 Paper and steel. ELDM 120 in 6.5, VMAX in .223.
I'm working on a 7 PRC, as soon as its back from warranty services ill let you know, but have175 Berger Elite Hunter bullets in bound, and 143 HH on hand.

 

[cstanley14]

I've had great luck with 168 Barnes TSX in my 30-06. I've dropped every deer I have shot with it in their tracks. My 7mm likes the Federal Premium Trophy Copper (yeah, factory ammo) in140 gr. Again, no deer has taken another step once hit with this. My 300 PRC likes the Hornady 212 ELD-X both on paper and for game.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I let my gun tell me what bullets it likes. I guess I am a little odd in that I don't really have a "favorite". I also like to experiment, so when I get something new, I usually get a good selection of different bullets in the weights that I want to shoot, load up various ladders and get to work. A lot of times I am fireforming at the same time, as I shoot a lot of wildcats. I realize that a lot of people don't want to do that due to time or money constraints, but for me, I have found it is the best way. So, with that being said;
I use NBTs in a few of my rifles/hunting handguns
My wheel-guns are all shooting XTPs
My 260 prefers Lapua Scenars
A few of my rifles are using ELDX/ELDMs
I have some Sierra GK, TGK, TMK rifles
And I still have two that are using NABs due to having bought quite a few of them a long time ago and am still working through them. Once they are gone, both of those barrels should be pretty well on the last legs so those rifles will be rebarreled and I will start the work-up process again.

 

[thomasbangs]

I tested the Nosler Ballistic Tips when they first came out 25 or so years ago in 257 Roberts (100 gr.), 270 Win. (130 gr.), and 30-06 (125 and 165 gr.). I found them to be super accurate in my bolt guns (pre 64's Model 70's), the 125 shot very well in my M-1. I don't believe they were recommended for hunting when they first came out but I did shoot a nice Whitetail buck with the 257 Roberts at 300 yds. Since the early Ballistic Tips I have acquired several boxes of the newer 150 gr 270 Winchester Ballistic Tips that I want to work up a accurate target load for but haven't got around to it yet.

 

[Alibiiv]

My wife uses 225 grain TTSX's in her .338 WM. For a while, I used 250 grain TTSX's in my .375 AI. Both worked very good for us.

I don't like light for caliber bullets, but the 250's had the best BC at the time for my rifle….I'm now running 270 LRX's, but, I haven't killed anything with them yet.

I loaded some 140 TSX's for my daughter's 270 Win. She doesn't hunt much, but has taken a couple of deer with it! mem

What did you think about the performance of the 140s in the .270? I've been thinking about trying them in our .270 AI

 

[memtb]

What did you think about the performance of the 140s in the .270? I've been thinking about trying them in our .270 AI

It was 15+ years ago…..I was still working the. I wasn't with her, don't know her bullet placement, wasn't there for the autopsy!


If I may……consider the 127 LRX ( 1-8" suggested twist rate) or 129 LRX (1-10" suggested twist rate) unless it will be used for game larger than Elk. If primarily for stuff lager than elk…..maybe the 155 (1-8" or faster). The LRX's have higher BC's, and are supposed to open more readily and to lower velocities.


I chose the 140's long before the LRX's arrived on the scene, and I tend to like heavier bullets….even in mono's. But, many folks use much lighter mono's than I would consider on anything larger than a typical deer!

All I know is …..she killed the deer with her 140's. Sorry, I can't be of more help! memtb

 

[Gpkhill2]

I've killed a dump truck load of whitetails over the past 30 years with Nosler Accubonds. In recent years I've switched to BTs with great success even at 3400fps out of a 257 Roy. And Berger elite hunters and VLDs have also treated me well. I load the the 140s in all my 6.5 stuff for hunting and steel

 

[Rosebud]

I've killed a dump truck load of whitetails over the past 30 years with Nosler Accubonds. In recent years I've switched to BTs with great success even at 3400fps out of a 257 Roy. And Berger elite hunters and VLDs have also treated me well. I load the the 140s in all my 6.5 stuff for hunting and steel

Loved Bergers for years, Then was unable to get them due to political problems. Hammer bullets were available and worked well. I've stuck with them for now.
But if a better mouse trap shows up I'll take a look at it.

 

[Nipper]

I never had experience with the earlier ballistic tip but heard they were explosive.
I've only had great results from them and at one time decided to try something else. Something else worked for a couple years and then it didn't so switched back to the ballistic tips and have been happy happy happy!

I'm with you birddog, you turned me on to the new 120 gr 7 mm ballistic tips and even with shoulder shots didn't explode like the ones I used in the latter 70's. Very accurate and tough. I'm much better since my stroke..
And thought I'd say Hello also!

 

[WYO300RUM]

I had a dream last night about a bullet thread. I had it over and over like ground hog day
I'm trying not to bite... Trying really hard...

 

[WYO300RUM]

I've killed a dump truck load of whitetails over the past 30 years with Nosler Accubonds. In recent years I've switched to BTs with great success even at 3400fps out of a 257 Roy. And Berger elite hunters and VLDs have also treated me well. I load the the 140s in all my 6.5 stuff for hunting and steel

You joined LRH 2 days before me in 2011. I know, woo hoo !