Covert Mission
New member
In the last two years hunting medium/big game (4 deer, one antelope, and one elk), I've tried several bullets: Nosler Partition and Ballistic Tips, and Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, with mixed results. In studying those results, and doing some extensive post-season reading this year on the subject, I've learned some things about bullet selection. I'd like to hear some opinions from veterans out there, too.
First, there's no magic or universal bullet, it seems. You have to choose the bullet for the application, though some seem to be far more versatile than others. I have an acquaintance who uses the Ballistic Tips in his 7mm-08 for everything from deer and antelope to elk... not a good decision, imo, but it's hard to argue with the 15 elk he's killed!
I have found that at closer ranges/higher impact velocities, that the Ballistic Tip nearly explodes, losing much of its jacket and core, and can do a lot of meat damage. At longer distances (200+) in my .270, it performs ok on deer/antelope, expanding well even with dimished terminal velocity. At 500 yards in something like .300WM/WSM or Ultra, or 7mmSTW, it might be great due to its excellent accuracy, but I just don't shoot at those ranges. I would not attempt to take a heavy boned animal like elk with the B'Tip, though.
The Partition performs ok. It was the best in its day I guess, but the competition has closed the gap or even pulled ahead. Its weight retention isn't anything close to what I experienced with the bullet I used for the first time on my 1st elk. I used Winchester Premium Hi-Vel ammo, with the 140gr TROPHY BONDED Bear Claw, and it performed superbly. The bullet I recovered (one was through and through the ribs/lungs) entered the ribs, went through the lungs, and lodged in the opposite shoulder inside. It formed a perfect mushroom to about 2x caliber, and retained 137 of its 140 grains. Hard to beat that, even if they are $1 apiece A friend of mine stopped a charging Cape Buffalo at about 40yds with a Bear Claw in his .375 H&H. It retained 295 of its 300 grains, even after bouncing off the spine and traveling 5 feet down the critter.
Ross Seyfried recently called the Winchester Fail Safe the best hunting bullet ever. Good articles in Gun Tests.com rate bullets 1) for the .300 WinMag and also 2)Premium Bullets, and the Swift A-Frame (which i have no experience with) rated #1 and the Bear Claw #2 (article #1). They also rated highly as a 'best buy' the Winchester Power Point 180gr soft point. Read it at: www.gun-tests.com/performance/oct97gggwinmags.html
www.gun-tests.com/performance/mar96premium.html
Any thoughts here on bullet performance based on experience, especially the premiums vs the budget models, for a varielty of medium & big game? Of course, central to any bullet's performance is shot placement... I don't expect an A-Frame or Bear Claw to do the job with a poorly-placed shot, even from a WunderMagnum. Cheers
First, there's no magic or universal bullet, it seems. You have to choose the bullet for the application, though some seem to be far more versatile than others. I have an acquaintance who uses the Ballistic Tips in his 7mm-08 for everything from deer and antelope to elk... not a good decision, imo, but it's hard to argue with the 15 elk he's killed!
I have found that at closer ranges/higher impact velocities, that the Ballistic Tip nearly explodes, losing much of its jacket and core, and can do a lot of meat damage. At longer distances (200+) in my .270, it performs ok on deer/antelope, expanding well even with dimished terminal velocity. At 500 yards in something like .300WM/WSM or Ultra, or 7mmSTW, it might be great due to its excellent accuracy, but I just don't shoot at those ranges. I would not attempt to take a heavy boned animal like elk with the B'Tip, though.
The Partition performs ok. It was the best in its day I guess, but the competition has closed the gap or even pulled ahead. Its weight retention isn't anything close to what I experienced with the bullet I used for the first time on my 1st elk. I used Winchester Premium Hi-Vel ammo, with the 140gr TROPHY BONDED Bear Claw, and it performed superbly. The bullet I recovered (one was through and through the ribs/lungs) entered the ribs, went through the lungs, and lodged in the opposite shoulder inside. It formed a perfect mushroom to about 2x caliber, and retained 137 of its 140 grains. Hard to beat that, even if they are $1 apiece A friend of mine stopped a charging Cape Buffalo at about 40yds with a Bear Claw in his .375 H&H. It retained 295 of its 300 grains, even after bouncing off the spine and traveling 5 feet down the critter.
Ross Seyfried recently called the Winchester Fail Safe the best hunting bullet ever. Good articles in Gun Tests.com rate bullets 1) for the .300 WinMag and also 2)Premium Bullets, and the Swift A-Frame (which i have no experience with) rated #1 and the Bear Claw #2 (article #1). They also rated highly as a 'best buy' the Winchester Power Point 180gr soft point. Read it at: www.gun-tests.com/performance/oct97gggwinmags.html
www.gun-tests.com/performance/mar96premium.html
Any thoughts here on bullet performance based on experience, especially the premiums vs the budget models, for a varielty of medium & big game? Of course, central to any bullet's performance is shot placement... I don't expect an A-Frame or Bear Claw to do the job with a poorly-placed shot, even from a WunderMagnum. Cheers