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

[Jon Bischof]

Good experience with Accubond And Speer Gold Dot (308 Winchester) and Fusion in several cartridges.
Also good experience with the old Sierra Gameking and Hornady Interlock.

For target, Hornady Black in 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[Curramore]

I generally only shoot at targets with my "hunting" rounds for scope zeroing, load development, chronography, and when checking windage and elevation calculations based on provided velocity and BC estimates.
Favourite rounds are: 1. .204ruger with 39 grain Sierra Blitzking used for wild dogs, foxes, feral cat, and macropod work. Push along at 3850fps. Accurate and very capable varmint round out to 400 metres as we aim to only head shoot, but mostly out to about 200 metres because of our Codes of practice in Australia. Flat shooting, can see hit down the scope, great for any predators, which may need a follow-up or are shot on the run. Macropods are only shot stationary. Devastating terminal performance. Disintegrate on impact so very safe for background animals. I have head-shot wild dogs successfully to 450 metres with a standard sporter weight Tikka T3.
2. .22-250 rem. with Sierra Game King 55 grain #1365 marketed here in bulk as "Superoo" at A$0.18 a pill, which are economically purchased in boxes of 1000. Sent at 3800 fps at macropods, feral goats, feral pigs, wild dogs etc. harder bullet which still penetrates and expands at distance. Also used in .223rem but will perform better at higher .22-250rem velocities. Match accuracy and cheap.
3. .243win. with Speer Hot Cor spitzer base 90 grain, again an economical pill at A$0.52 each and great for feral pigs, Fallow deer and predators. Pushed along at 3000 fps, good out to 400 metres. Swift Scirocco 2 preferred for larger game, but at A$2.00 a pill too expensive and hard to source. Nosler partition 85 grain are also good, but also too expensive here.
4. .308win with Sierra Game Changer 165grain at A$1.00 a pill, accurate and great terminal performance on feral pig, feral cattle, camel, donkey, red deer out to 350-400 metres. Penetrates and then expands, higher BC. Also, use the 140 grain in the .270win. as well for a bit more distance and flatter shooting.
5. .300win mag. with Woodleigh, Australian-made 165 grain protected soft point PPSN preferred, but running low as the factory burnt down a few years back, so use the Sierra Gamechanger 165 above as a second choice. Swift Scirocco 2 as a third choice, but A$2.70 a pill here and hard to get a good supply. Larger bovines, equines and cervids at further distances.

Go to all- rounder winner is the .243win., Speer Hot Cor 90 grain, one with a standard scope with an Olight Javelot Pro torch scope mounted and another one identical with a thermal scope. Cheers.

 

[bonie]

I've been using Nosler 180 BTs in a 30-06 for 40 years or so (whenever them came out around here) never had one run 100 yards most drop I've also used the 143 ELDXs in my 6.5 PRC Drops them. I use Berger 64 gr, colums in my 6PPC bench gun. I've tried Barnes Match Burnes 68 grain but have yet to find a good load for them. Berger 168 Classics in my 300 WSM lazers and real accurate but mixed results on game. target Berger gets my vote and Nosler or Hornady mention above for game.

 

[zerosprk]

Berger VLD's have always worked for me. They shoot the best and kill stuff dead - provided the tips are cleared out. I've also always been able to get Sierra Game Kings to shoot well as well.

 

[Prieto9000]

For me it depends on the rifle I´m shooting.
My Target 6.5 Creed loves the 140 hybrids and does well with 140 ELDM.
For my hunting 6.5 Creed 123 SST is my go to bullet. Had great success with them, if I'm after tougher game 125 partition is awesome too, but accuracy suffers a little.
My 6.5 PRC works awesome with 130 sciroccos, sub MOA and great MV.
My 7mm PRC really likes the 150 and 160 Hornady CX. Took a Bull Elk, Aoudad Ram and an Oryx with them last year. All DRT

 

[Mark B]

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

My group has used Nosler Accubond in our 270WSM for years. I like the accuracy tight groups at 100yds and longer shots out to 400yds. I tried Barnes and wanted to go with them but to get the .005-.008 jump for accuracy the bullets are to long for the holding case.
I tried Hammer Bullets all brass bullets in our 6.5 creedmore last year for elk and bear. Hammer likes speed and shoots a clover leaf group at 100yds. My g-som shot a cow elk at 280yds, one shot high in the shoulder. My son shot a bear at 425yds, one shot.
Hammer likes for fly fast and we don't have the meat damage that we get with Nosler's. I'm working up loads for a 300Wsm, 30-06and 375 wenchester and 30-30 super 14 contender

 

[Bryan Austin]

For my own fun I like to lob 200 gr .44-40 Win at 200 -300 yd targets using iron sights.

Just curious...define "lob"

 

[memtb]

Just curious...define "lob"

I'm guess'n there's quite a bit of "holdover" involved! Perhaps quite an arc in the bullets path! memtb

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Just curious...define "lob"

.44 x .50Cal 250gr MZL Maximus-12ct

The 44cal (.430" diam) 250gr solid copper bullet is designed to shed 4 large petals that break off an radiate outward while the base continues.

cuttingedgebullets.com

You know, like when the smoke clears and then you hear the thwaap...Lob...

 

[Bryan Austin]

Oh, just making sure "lobbing" wasn't the same as "ineffective".

A 214gr 44-40 lead cast bullet traveling at 1,350fps impacts a target at 300 yards at between 925 and 950fps...same as a revolvers velocity at the muzzle. Trajectory angle at impact is only 12 degrees. Not exactly "lobbing", unless compared to a high powered rifle cartridge.

Even a caveman can hit a target at 300 yards with a near zero trajectory cartridge...takes a bit of skill to do it with a large trajectory.

and no, I am not skilled, I have the memory of a goldfish!

 

[Sobewan]

Just curious...define "lob"

Ha! It's just my way of thinking of how it reminds me of tossing a baseball. There's the increasing arc to drop this big lead ball on target and because the loads are subsonic and waiting for that thwack is kinda like the pop a baseball makes hitting the mitt, I guess. I'm shooting .44-40 "cowboy" loads btw - muzzle velocity around 550-600 fps - so you got a sec or two before you hear the distinctive hit. It's a sweet sound and I enjoy shooting the .44-40 probably more than any other gun in my arsenal.

 

[Sobewan]

I'm guess'n there's quite a bit of "holdover" involved! Perhaps quite an arc in the bullets path! memtb

More or less lol... as it applies to iron sights. But you got the picture. You gotta know some dope.

 

[Bghunter338]

Maker T-rexs, and this is why.

 

[Sobewan]

Oh, just making sure "lobbing" wasn't the same as "ineffective".

A 214gr 44-40 lead cast bullet traveling at 1,350fps impacts a target at 300 yards at between 925 and 950fps...same as a revolvers velocity at the muzzle. Trajectory angle at impact is only 12 degrees. Not exactly "lobbing", unless compared to a high powered rifle cartridge.

Even a caveman can hit a target at 300 yards with a near zero trajectory cartridge...takes a bit of skill to do it with a large trajectory.

and no, I am not skilled, I have the memory of a goldfish!

You may have hit on my subconscious comparison - the cowboy loads I target shoot with are anemic compared to any my "high powered" hunting rifles.

I mentioned in my first reply I compare it to tossing a baseball. I joke with my son that if we had a thousand-yard range we could take turns fielding a few shots with our ball gloves... if only we could see the ball.

I don't reload for the 44-40 so I definitely have to know the dope to shoot the various commercial loads available at any distance. Depending on the manufacturer and bullet weight, muzzle velocity varies from around 550 fps (Choice Ammo) to 1150/1190 fps (Buffalo Bore/ Winchester Super X) with a host of others in the middle. It's a lot of fun with the added complexity of using a "ladder" rear sight.