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

[Hondo64d]

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 like the Berger hunting bullets and the Hornady ELDs for a do it all solution. Bergers are getting so danged expensive though, that I'm mostly in the ELD mode. Starting to play with the Tipped Match Kings as an alternative, and they look promising.

John

 

[Mike Matteson]

My go to bullets for hunting have been Nosler BT & AB in any caliber. I drive then very hard. 165gr @ 3300fps and 200gr @ 3230fps. Short range and out to 500yds or so. These are the rifles I use most of the time. My 25/06 is my go to rifle for deer hunting. Never check the 25/06 for velocity. 120gr lead tip, Almost out of them. Partition found the front half comes unglued and blood shots half and animal.

 

[Morrison]

There are many new and wonderfully engineered bullets. However, I haven't seen a single one that can perform better than the Sierra Matchking for punching holes in paper. I am also using its sister Gameking in my 25-06 for Pronghorn and my 35 Whelen. I have on occasion used it in my 300 WM for Elk. My favorite bullet is no longer available from Combined Technologies or Winchester due to cost issues. This would be the famed "Fail Safe" and I bought up all that I could find over the years and I do have lot's of the 140g-7mm and a small amount of 160g-7MM which populate my 7mm Mauser, 280, 280AI, 7mm WSM, 7mm RM and even my 7mm RUM. I can also give a shout out for the Combined Tech Partition Gold but it too is no longer in production. You may find some at Gun shows.

 

[memtb]

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! memtb

Many folks are concerned about the expansion of the Barnes Bullets at extended ranges…..the LRX's helped address this somewhat!


The extended range velocities aren't a point if interest to us, as we limit our distances at which we shoot game to within our comfort zone….. and were are well within the minimum velocity expansion distances.

Plus…..we use cartridges/bullets somewhat larger than the majority of hunters on the forum use for big game! They may not be a measurable improvement over smaller calibers, but we feel that it's a bit of an insurance policy…..especially on a "marginal" hit!


Virtually nothing can remedy a poorly placed/bad hit! memtb

 

[Laser Man]

If I'm reading the correctly, you want to know which bullet I like because of it's performance. I've been a predator hunter since 1973, and have worked up various loads with different bullets for different reasons. Through the years, I have used .222, 223, 22-250, 243, and 6mm to connect with fur bearers. After a great deal of trial and error,(aka research and development) I believe the Hornady V-Max is the best projectile for knocking down fox and coyotes, or any other critter that bears fur. My personal choice for the past 15 years or so has been the 6mm 58 gr V-Max. The slug goes in and doesn't come out. Preserving the all important hide of the animal you're shooting at. I'm not a long range shooter, but have used my Model 7 Remington to take coyotes at distance of around 500 yards. I also use a Leupold 4.5x14Vari XIII which helps immensely. One more thing. I have also used the V-Max with my Remington 700 in 7mm Mag. A 120 grain bullet placed in the chest area is devastating to say the least. All the energy is absorbed by the animal, as the bullet does not create an exit wound. I realize there will be objections to my favorite slug, but don't knock it until you try it.

 

[Critter Picker]

I used to say if the box isn't green I won't buy it. Match king for targets and Game king for hunting. I now have a 7-08 that likes ballistic tips.

 

[Buttermilk]

Back in the 90's I shot a lot of Sierra bullets, then kinda moved to Nosler BT's, and AB's. I am primarily a hunter, and all my shooting is done with that end goal in mind.

Somewhere along the way, I started shooting Berger bullets, and hunting with them. I have had excellent results with Berger bullets, accuracy and on game performance wise.

I've even used the Hornady A-Tip on game with stellar results. I've also used the ELDX on game with excellent results.

 

[Sobewan]

Ever use the TTSX? I have A Bunch of Barnes factory loaded 280 REM 140 ttsx , it was a deal I absolutely couldn't pass

I picked up a box of Barnes 180gr TTSX BT and a box Fed 175gr Terminal Ascent out of curiosity for my 30.06 but haven't had a chance to try them out yet. Curious to see what other have to say.

I primarily hunt WT using Hornady InterLock as there seems to be less damage. Doesn't take much to kill WT under 200 yds so I look for doing as little damage to the meat as possible. I get best results using heavier bullets more often than not - the 129gr 6.5CM rifle loads do more damage than the 150 and 165gr 06 loads on similar sized deer at similar distances. As for larger game I still need to do some research but leaning toward Nosler Partitions as they group better for me at longer distances but will have to see if I like either of the above (TTSX or TA).

I don't do much target shooting outside of test loads and zeroing. For fun with grandkids, I pull out a .22LR and let them set up some targets and take turns. For my own fun I like to lob 200 gr .44-40 Win at 200 -300 yd targets using iron sights.

 

[340 in Va]

Over the past 40 years of reloading my go to hunting bullet has been the Hornady Interbond. Family and I have 8 308's that shoot the same load .75 or better. 180 in 300 win and wby and 200 in 340 wby. Did not see much difference in interbond vs accubond except hornady was half the price. Never liked the SST except for practice, too much meat damage. 223 (1in12) 53 Hornady or Sierra match. 140 BT and Hornady match in cm and ELD-X in RPM. Tried Barnes years ago, had way too many pencil holes and tracking jobs or multiple shots. Sound like they have fixed that problem, but at my age I'll just stay with what works for me.

 

[Greatgrandad]

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

Target: Whichever my rifles like best and performs best at distance. Over the decades and depending on caliber, cartridge, distance and match, I've run .224 Sierra 69MK, 75 Hornady Match, 70-75 Berger, 77 Sierra, 80 AMAX/ELD, 6mm 95 Berger, 105 Berger, 105 AMAX, etc. 30 caliber 155 Sierra Palma, 155 AMAX/ELD, Sierra and Hornady 168 Match, Sierra and Berger 175 BTHP, Sierra 180 and 190's, Berger 210, 338 cal. Sierra 300 BTHP, Berger 300, and a couple of 50 cals. Handgun bullets for IHMSA have been varied also, but on reduced Field Pistol courses, I've used a lot of my cast bullets.

Hunting: Bullets have run a similar gambit from Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Berger, Nosler, etc, and again, whichever my rifles/loads or handguns like best and performs well at intended distance and game being hunted. Also, I've used various cast bullets in some rifles and several handguns.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

For target I use Sierra, Berger and A-tips.
Hunting I use mostly Swift Scirocco, SST,
Accubond and Nosler BT. Have tried TTSX
and Hammers.

 

[PNWdude67]

Berger or Nosler is all I shoot at game, paper or steel. The hybrid bergers (elite hunter or LRHT) load with little effort saving time and components for down range activities. I really like the Nosler RDF ans accubond LR as well.

 

[skipglo]

Ever use the TTSX? I have A Bunch of Barnes factory loaded 280 REM 140 ttsx , it was a deal I absolutely couldn't pass

Hate them! Just me! Total pass thru...pencil in pencil out.... No blood trail per say and Deer went 150-200 yards in heavy timber....that's when I knew...I was officially....OLD
Edit: however...great accuracy so good for steel or paper...but too expensive for paper.

 

[skipglo]

Hornady, Lapua Scenar for hunting and target .