Is there a bullet maker that is doing an exceptional job?

Bullet quality and variety certainly has improved over the years. I have pretty much settled into Hornady as their quality and performance seems to be very good and they do have a good range of products that seem to be available when I need more. I have used Sierras in a couple calibers with good results as well.
I can remember back once buying some Winchester silver tip bullets (one of my favorite factory hunting loads many years ago). I tried loading them and discovered the crimp grooves were really inconsistent. I had them up to 25 thousands different between one bullet and another. Those types of problems seem to have gone away as customers demand better consistency.
 
For me, (a hunter) I chose Nosler years ago and have been tickled with about everything lIve tried.
I also use Sierra and have liked those too.
For hunting I am going to stick with Nosler Accubonds Btips and Partitions.
For plinking anything Sierra and Hornady works for me, and I use RDFs from Nosler.
If it came to Benchrest precision, the Vapor Trail bullet would get the nod.........if I could get them, they set a new Light gun record at 1000 yds last week with a spread of 1.068, that's nuts.
 
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I probably shot more Sierras than anything else starting in 1954 through 1973 or 4. Tried Hornady's 100 gr. SP in the .243 and they worked OK for coyotes and a few Mule Deer. Then I went to the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core that was the only bullet a very fussy .308 I owned would shoot. When it came time for elk I went with the 200 gr. Speer one time and the 225 gr. Barnes TSX ever since. I did shoot one elk with the 165 gr. Accubond and it worked just fine from my 30-06.
Paul B.
 
Nathan said:
I see some Sierra and Speer mentions.....are they doing something to improve their rifle bullets in the last 5-10 years? What?
Click to expand...

They've made some minor changes throughout the years on how the lead core is shaped/molded and such. What keeps them at the front of the pack is their QC and consistency in their manufacturing process.

One thing to consider: Many manufacturers make a good bullet. However, every rifle/pistol has their own personality, so to speak. The ogive of one bullet maker can be different than another, for example. That single variable may provide fantastic accuracy in one gun, but poor in another. Has nothing to do with the quality of bullet.
 
I shoot mostly hornady because it’s whats always in stock and acceptably priced. Never had any troubles with them. I like the Speer btsp and hot cor bullets. Nothing fancy, cheap, and really easy to get to shoot accurately. No gimmicks there. I don’t buy nosler. While I know they are good bullets, they’re ridiculously overpriced for what they are, the only bullets I’ve ever found with defects plainly evident (not counting exposed lead being dinged up on any and all soft points from any manufacturer at some point) were noslers. Noslers ballistic coefficients are the most exaggerated (tested by Bryan lite against hornady, Berger, Sierra, and Barnes), and this especially with the accubond long range bullets original published bcs. They have since revised the bc’s for those particular bullets. They had no choice. People were quickly figuring out that they were in fact too good to be true. Hornady and Berger are the most truthful/accurate bc claims among the big bullet makers. I’m sure Bergers are great but not worth the extra cost for me.
 
Most of my hunting rifles I use Partition,E-Tip,ABLR,Accubond and use Barnes. My 243 and 243AI shooting Berger 95gr Classic. I'm not going to hunt with it this but been shooting 162gr ELD-X in the 284.

I shot Sierra when I first started reloading then Speer,Hornady and over the years moved to Nosler. I shoot more Hornady's in varmint rifles same with
Berger.
 
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