Favourite bullets and why?

[308tikka]

Berger 52gn FB target, .224 in a .222, most effective and accurate foxing bullet I have ever used, even better than the 52gn A Max that I used to use.
Had a quick scan on my load development spreadsheet and the last 5 batches I have made up had 3 shot test groups after tweaking for bullet and powder batches of around 0.4" edge to edge at 100yds.

Good news as I have 800 or so remaining and I love the Amax!

Favoured .224 is sierra #1390 55gn however. Neat wound channels and drops everything.

30cal: Sierra #2125 150gn and the 165gn is awesome.

6mm: I think Id choose the 87gn berger.

 

[wabbit warren]

only shoot foxes with a .223 rem the round of choice is the Hornady superformance 53g v max factory ammo
got recommended it when i got the rifle and never felt the need to change
does what it says on the box

 

[YoungGun]

Barnes ttxs - muntjac to reds in the 30-06 without any fuss.

 

[takbok]

Peerless. One of the original turned copper bullets and still the best IMO. A pity that they were plagued by supply issues.

 

[Longstrider]

I think Muir and I might be on the same wavelength here, except I can beat 'cheap' with 'free'

I had a mate (sadly lost to us now) who loaded all my .270 ammo for me. His choice of bullet was the 130grain soft point (Hot-Cor) from Speer, so that's what he loaded for me. When we lost him his family all agreed that I should have his reloading kit and parephenalia. With the press, a number of dies and some odd pots of powder came a usefully large storage box full of bullets. A good many of these were the ever-present Speer 130's.
Having now made my way through some 6 or 7 hundred of them I now find myself with no more than about 350 left. When I run low I'll be buying the same again because I now know what load to run with them and I know how well they do what I ask of them. They group as well as anything else I've ever tried. They stop animals. They stop them right there, and so far they've been free !

 

[hybridfiat]

Hornady .358 200gn FTX - They are accurate, spitzer; so they carry the velocity, they vaporise rabbits, cut foxes into 2 or 3 pieces, punch massive holes in roos and will drop a deer or a big pig on the spot. What's not to like?
It's a bit hard to see but it's the middle round it has a red tip that hasn't come out in the pic.

 

[slider]

In .270, Sako Powerhead II 110g, because they just work.

But they seem to have stopped supplying them. There is a 130g version still to try them.

 

[Bowland blades]

its so rare to find a bullet that does not shoot to a very satisfactory standard , so i will just state the terrible
Barnes Varmint grenades in the 22 hornet slapped the target sideways if they made paper at all at 50 yards . Thats it in cf after many years and lots of different bullets and cf cartridges . In RF any of the shorts with the lighter bullets ( an apple at 20 yards is a challenge ) cci quiets are pretty darn good though with the normal weight / length bullet.
I must state i do not really shoot factory cf, last pack i bought was when my loading kit was in storage nosler 70 grain bt in the .243 . that was about a decade ago . Had my longest daylight fox with them 600 yards on the dog fox as he called the cubs that where already dead a couple of hours earlier ( mum died evening before ).
when developing a load though i have seen 2" at 100 during early stages but that's easy sorted. Though i never finished the 130 or was it 120 grain nosler bt in the 7-08 and the guy i sold it to later did by a powder switch, as it shot 140 gamekings so dammed good .
Talk terminal effects and i have much more to say on ammo quality in cf . RF loaded is a lot to do with quality control hence Remmington thuderbolt is a lot cheaper than top grade target ammo.

 

[hybridfiat]

Back when I was a very young Nimrod, we tested every kind of .22 FR on the market.
Winchester Rabbit Ammo was very high on the list for accuracy and consistent kills, but ICI Civic Solids time and time again proved their superiority.
I have no scientific evidence, we just kept going back to them for everything. Even roos.

 

[Ronin]

Berger 180 hybrids - absolutely superb target bullet

GS Custom 95g and 110 g in 6.5 mm - accounted for many with those - sadly unobtainium now and my stock depleted to the point I’ve swapped barrels to 7mm using 120 g GS Custom (HV)

 

[Puds]

150gr Sierra Gamekings in the .308; brilliant for muntjac & roe in woodland. I tried the Gamechangers but the damage they caused was unacceptable. A close 2nd are Sako 123gr; amazingly accurate but found them a bit too explosive (and expensive) at times.
58gr Vmax in the .243; foxes go splat. Sorted.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

We place so much emphasis on rifles, pet loads and kit that I've often wodered why there's not more in depth discussion on bullets. I thought I'd kick off by naming a few firm favourites in the field and why:

#1 Sierra Gameking 150's in 30 cal. One of the most reliable stoppers I've used, relatively inexpensive and superb accuracy. Never really felt the need to try anything else but will likely be forced over to monolithic either when costs become more reasonable with scale of sales or when forced over;

Are you talking about the tipped game kings or softpoints?

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

150gr Sierra Gamekings in the .308; brilliant for muntjac & roe in woodland. I tried the Gamechangers but the damage they caused was unacceptable. A close 2nd are Sako 123gr; amazingly accurate but found them a bit too explosive (and expensive) at times.
58gr Vmax in the .243; foxes go splat. Sorted.

I'm curious about those 123s. I was in my local RFD getting some 150gr Super Hammer Heads and the guy in the shop said he had the 123s that seem to be in high demand.

I have heard that they're flat shooting but can be explosive too

 

[RCS Deer Management]

150gr Sierra Gamekings in the .308; brilliant for muntjac & roe in woodland. I tried the Gamechangers but the damage they caused was unacceptable. A close 2nd are Sako 123gr; amazingly accurate but found them a bit too explosive (and expensive) at times.
58gr Vmax in the .243; foxes go splat. Sorted.

How many deer did you shoot with the game changers?

 

[RCS Deer Management]

I'm curious about those 123s. I was in my local RFD getting some 150gr Super Hammer Heads and the guy in the shop said he had the 123s that seem to be in high demand.

I have heard that they're flat shooting but can be explosive too

I shot a couple of hundred deer with sako 123gr. Phenomenal bullet, however performance drops off past 300m due to crap bc. For anyone who shoots sub 300m I would recommend them

 

[HandB]

Hornady SSTs are excellent allrounders in my experience, regardless of the size. I use 95gr SSTs in my .243, 139gr SSTs in my 7x57 and 180gr SSTs in my .308s. They are docile to reload and shoot consistently and accurately in all my rifles. I guess they are not fashionable as they can be found for relatively affordable prices if one shops around.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

I shot a couple of hundred deer with sako 123gr. Phenomenal bullet, however performance drops off past 300m due to crap bc. For anyone who shoots sub 300m I would recommend them

I was wondering if they'd be light and explode in the event of hitting a shoulder blade or something. I normally go for H/L shots. I might pick up a box, although, I've about 80 Super Hammerheads and another 40 Federal Premium Noslers BTips to get through first

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Hornady SSTs are excellent allrounders in my experience, regardless of the size. I use 95gr SSTs in my .243, 139gr SSTs in my 7x57 and 180gr SSTs in my .308s. They are docile to reload and shoot consistently and accurately in all my rifles. I guess they are not fashionable as they can be found for relatively affordable prices if one shops around.

I've head of the SSTs causing tremendous amounts of meat damage. A good work around is to shoot the heavier grain weights as they don't fragment as easily apparently. How do you find entry and exit/carcass damage?

 

[alun1960]

Sako 150gr sako hammerheads in 308 , 87gr vmax 243 100gr prohunter 243 as well same poi as vmax a bonus .

 

[HandB]

I've head of the SSTs causing tremendous amounts of meat damage. A good work around is to shoot the heavier grain weights as they don't fragment as easily apparently. How do you find entry and exit/carcass damage?

This is just target shooting - I don't have land for game shooting since the family farm was sold.