Bullet selection

[Bonecollector]

Couple threads concerning bullets active right now and didn't want to change OP tread flow. I'm looking for good hunt bullet and long target bullet. High BC and SD.
I've eliminated the nosler ablr bullet from my selection. I'm down to the 168 Berger or a hornady Eldx.

What is difference between new Eldx and SST? Other than polymer tip, the bullets are very similar when reading the descriptions. I see Eldx is a bit more aerodynamic for long range guys. I like this.
I realize the SST is a ballistic tip but website says use for small game up to and including elk so this confuses me. Seems the Eldx will eventually replace the SST. I'm also surprised the Eldx does not come in super performance in factory rounds.
Regardless I'm leaning toward the Eldx over the Berger bullet as I start to reload. Thinking the 162 or 175.
Thanks for any insight.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Main difference as I understand it is the shape and material the tip is made out of. Both are interlock designs I believe, although both are said to be softer than the regular old lead tip interlock, but do not know for sure. I've killed plenty of game with the old lead tip interlock, they worked well, but have not used either of the plastic tipped offerings yet. Am going to try some 150's in my 280, if it likes them, plan to try them on deer and cow elk and see.

 

[papabearxx]

I am currently shooting the 210 grain ELD-X from my 300 wm and 162gr from my 7SAUM. So far the accuracy has been very good and they do not seem to be so picky with seating depth. I shot a cow elk with the 7 last season. It was about 400 yard shot and it worked very well. I did not recover the bullet, but did find a few fragments in the offside shoulder. Broad side shot, behind the shoulder.

 

[Prerylyon]

Gonna try to bump this thread by our good friend the collector of bones.

I ordered a box of the 150 gr 7mm yesterday to mess with in my .280 REM.
Agree-a few study breaks worth of data mining online yields very little in the way of reported elk kills and performance with this bullet.

I did find a Hornady white paper (that read like one of my engineering trade studies at work lol) that had elk kill data that looked encouraging.

My informal 'finger in the wind' take, on what I did find, seems to indicate terminal peformance (not addressing range in this statement) on par with standard cup and core hunting bullets. Maybe if one takes the range aspect of all this, then maybe its claim to fame is just that, 'cup and core bullet performance over a longer range/velocity span'.

I'll attach the white paper to this post. There are two bullets recovered from elk shown in the paper. The one reportedly passed through both shoulders and looks pretty gnarly, but looks aside, I guess it did its job? To my untrained eye with limited kill experience, these ELDX recovered bullets look similar to what recovered Sierra Gameking or Speer Hotcors I seen in other articles and postings.

Regards,

http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/58c42c3e9e655/ELD-X_ELD-Match_Technical_Details.pdf


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[Colorado Cowboy]

I'll probably get a few peoples dander up, but here goes anyway.

With the advent of the ultra long range hunters and TV shows, the need for a better bullet to fit THEIR needs surfaced and Berger really stepped up. But I am not a ULR hunter. For me probably 500 yards is about as far as I'm going to shoot. The further out you shoot, the variables increase fast. I have killed an antelope over 500, but that probably won't ever happen again.

For me staying within my selfimposed 500 yard limitation does not warrant any change in bullet design from what has served me well for over 50 years. In my .300 Wby, I shoot 180gr Nosler Partition exclusively for elk & moose. My 30-06 shoots 150 gr Sierra Game king BTs for deer & elk. My 25-06 shoots 117 Gr Sierra Game King BTs for deer & antelope. All shoot around 1/2 minute groups out to 500 yds. The bullet does its job for expansion & penetration. I tried a Nosler Ballistic Tip in my .257 Wby Mag on antelope and totally destroyed a front shoulder when the bulled exploded after hitting a bone.

For my use, old is good....and dead is dead.

 

[Prerylyon]

CC, good points. I doubt I will get any 150 gr bullet much past 2,900 fps out my 1970s vintage model 70 .280 REM.

Based on some past shooting I've done and some predictions from the ballistics programs, given all that, 400 yards is really a 'Hail Mary' pass for a city slicker like me.

I've only killed one mule deer out west and it was with a 140 gr Sierra Gameking HPBT. 270 yards and DRT.

All these options and discussions help pass the time and the proven experiences of others is greatly appreciated.

Regards,


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[alaska2go]

I am with Colorado cowboy on this. Unless you shot over 500 yards a boat tail bullet doesn't offers any real advantages. I have used sierra game king bullets with great success. I have also used Speer grand slam & BT bullets with great success. I really think Sierra bullets are over looked when it comes to long range hunting bullet.

145 gr speer boat tail recovered from a caribou @2800fps, range 170 yards or so. quarter away shot found off side blow hide on backside shoulder. 7-08 remmy

My oldest son killed a mule deer buck 2016 with same load and the bullet passed threw both ribs & the off side shoulder @ 185 yards the buck staggered 15 yards.

Now if you shot a magnum use a heavier bullet. I shot 175 gr SBT out of my 7mm rem mag with a 5 shoot group @ 200 yards in a 1-1/4" group.

I am as guilty as the next guy trying new bullets and have that mental thinking if I only had the perfect projectile. I have learned use the proper bullet for the animal you hunting. I also have loaded up rounds in my weaponry that will shot both a BT and flat base and have similar impact @ a range of 300 yards. So if I go elk hunting and have a deer tag also I use my 7-08 with 145 speer BT for deer & the 145 grain GS for elk. I also load my 338 RUM where the 250 gr SBT & the 250 gr Speer GS have the same impact @ 250 yards.

 

[88man]

Most of my loads on various set ups are very similar to Colorado Cowboy. However, I just love my 7mm dakota with 180 grn berger vlds. Its killed 4 bull elk, Bighorn Sheep, Oryx and antelope at ranges from 250 yds to 690yds and a few of the shots have been pass thru.

 

[Slugz]

I'll throw my hat in here.
Something I think we overlook with the ULR trend that we need to ask ourselves. How many practice shots do we get a year past 400 yards ? If a considerable amount and you are able to be proficient then good on ya. Its legal hunting as long as you can produce a clean kill...IMO. I just dont like the trend in advertising these days that gets a lot of people thinking outside of their ability.

BC, I'd be interested in the caliber you are shooting and are we talking two different guns when you mention good hunting and long range target ? Or we talking the the same gun. What kind of barrel are you using ? I think that all goes into it.

Regardless of those answers I think you will be hard pressed to find a better middle ground between the two other than the Bergers.

 

[Bonecollector]

Same gun - Browning LRH chambered in a 7mag (26" barrel)

 

[shootbrownelk]

I'll probably get a few peoples dander up, but here goes anyway.

With the advent of the ultra long range hunters and TV shows, the need for a better bullet to fit THEIR needs surfaced and Berger really stepped up. But I am not a ULR hunter. For me probably 500 yards is about as far as I'm going to shoot. The further out you shoot, the variables increase fast. I have killed an antelope over 500, but that probably won't ever happen again.

For me staying within my selfimposed 500 yard limitation does not warrant any change in bullet design from what has served me well for over 50 years. In my .300 Wby, I shoot 180gr Nosler Partition exclusively for elk & moose. My 30-06 shoots 150 gr Sierra Game king BTs for deer & elk. My 25-06 shoots 117 Gr Sierra Game King BTs for deer & antelope. All shoot around 1/2 minute groups out to 500 yds. The bullet does its job for expansion & penetration. I tried a Nosler Ballistic Tip in my .257 Wby Mag on antelope and totally destroyed a front shoulder when the bulled exploded after hitting a bone.
View attachment 18615
For my use, old is good....and dead is dead.

That's been my experience with Ballistic tips too Cowboy. The Interbonds and the Accubonds hold together better.The Partitions are great too. The Barnes TTSX bullets hold together best, if your particular rifle shoots them well. Mine do.

 

[xtreme]

Wearing this story out, but I used 168 gr Berger at 150 yds for bear. I left my grandson on a stand at 14 years old. I did not want a bear to charge him so I used the Berger with complete confidence. I am not a long range shooter but 600 yds is my limit. I can shoot that distance with complete confidence. The Berger clocks 3067fps, its fast and accurate. I know exactly what to expect so in this lifetime I won't have a need to experiment. If I go to dark timber or other close quarters I use Remington core-lokts 150 pointed soft point. The 160 gr is bonded. Never used the 175 pointed soft point which probably would be better in the tight stuff. BTW I do shoot to 600 several times a year.

 

[Slugz]

Same gun - Browning LRH chambered in a 7mag (26" barrel)

Bergers will give you the best of both worlds then. While handloading they are a little finicky at first IMO due to the longer /slender shape. Be aware of compressing some of your loads. I also saw they liked to be a little closer to the lands then my Accubond loads.

 

[droptine]

Like was said, I'd go with the bergers. I'd start .010 off the lands. I'd bet they'll be right in there for ya. That's the way it was with my rifles

 

[SansSouci]

Hi Bonecollector.

Nosler Partition used to be the definitive big game bullet. While shooters could spend a lot more for "premium" bullets, I'd doubt that they'll kill any deader than a Partition. I've killed a HUGE bull elk (374, over 900 pounds) with a single 160 grain Partition fired from my 24" barreled 7MM Rem Mag. The bullet penetrated through-and-through the bull's huge chest leaving an exit wound of about an inch in diameter. I'd doubt that a 2 dollar bullet would have killed it any deader.

For deer-size game, just about any bullet will work, at least that's the way it has worked for me.

The variable that's hard to pin down is finding the bullet that shoots most accurately in your rifle. Partitions aren't the most accurate, but they'll print under an inch in my .270 Win rifles & my 7MM Rem Mag. That's more that acceptable accuracy for my hunting needs. GameKings will print .25" in my .270 Win rifles.

I wish you best of luck and many successful hunting seasons.

 

[SansSouci]

I won't condemn ULR hunters, but the NRA, Safari Club, and Boone and Crockett have condemned ULR hunting.

My belief is hunters have to stick together regardless of hunting preferences. We have too many whack jobs trying to deny us ability to hunt. They will try to divide us in order to conquer us. They have interest in getting us to turn on each other.

I'm an ultra close-the-distance hunter. If I see a head of big game that's 400 yards distant, I'll figure out how I could close distance. I'd rather shoot at a hundred yards than farther. But that's just me.