Hunting Bullet Showdown...

Back in the early days of TFL we had a similar discussion, although it focussed more on 30-caliber and a good bit on Sierra bullets. I emailed the Sierra folks, and one of their guys got in on the discussion.

I'd had a 150-grain SPBT blow up in a mule deer's neck. 30-yard shot. No exit. Sure, dead deer, but I was surprised by the blowup.

The gist of it was that the BT is of lighter construction that the flat-base, in that weight. The BT doesn't do well at impact speeds above 2,700 or 2,800. Otherwise, fine and dandy. Well, okay; most prior kills were down at that speed. (26" barrel; book-max loads, mostly beyond 100 yards for me.)

I've mentioned before the superior performance of 180-grain SPBT Sierras, as to cratering on steel compared to not much mark. I'd assume that 200s would be similar. More heavily built than the 150s, by that "adequate smidgen".

I guess the point to all this is that consideration must be given to the package. "Package" includes muzzle velocity and distance to the critter as well as bullet construction and shape. Some very good bullets can give poor results if forced outside their design parameters.
 
As long the game is down and dead, theres meat to bring home. I guess we are bombarded by advertisement in magazines and internet about how good premium bullets are . These of course are written by gun writers paid for by these companies. They have been successful at conditioning us all of going for more expensive ammo while the plain jane ones are as good.

But hey, I have to get some WInchester Super X at local Walmart.
 
Bullet

Art what you say makes perfectly good sense. But as you said the deer probably died in its tracks. And as you know the bullet sheds a lot of velocity so when the bullet is 100 yards or so down range the bullet would be back in its so called "expanding velocity" range.

I just get a kick about all the hunters who recommend 243's and 25-06's as an elk rifle, but when you discuss a 200 grain Sierra hunting bullet instead of a $1-$2 bullet hunters will say it will not hold up for elk. Tom.
 
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