Looking for advice on Bullets

[300magman]

Hello everyone, I'm new here, so please bare with me if this is a topic that is beaten to death.
I'm just getting into handloading and pretty much have the process down. Now its time to pick some good Hunting bullets to fire at deer and moose this fall.

I'm loading for a .308, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, and 300 Rem Ultra Mag. (my hunting party's guns)

Game will be deer, up to 300 lbs. and Moose up to 1000lbs. Our hunting locations varry but shots could be 50 yards or a half mile. (but we only shoot when we are certain of a clean kill)

I want to create 2 loads for each rifle, one for shorter ranges and then one to push it out there as far as possible (for deer) ......and then, a 3rd load that is just as heavy as possible for those big moose (at any range)

What are some good bullets to start with...something that will have a good flight (high bc, consistent grouping) but also desireable terminal performance on the animals?

I'm favoring 180, and 200gr Nosler Accubonds as moose bullets at the moment, but am open to suggestions...and have no idea where to start for deer as of yet.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Accubonds are a great choice for both animals at all ranges. Bullet weight will be the issue with the broad range of 30cals you are using.

For the 2 magnums I would use the 200g

for the others I would use the 165 or 180s

 

[300remum]

i load the 200 accubond in my RUM
and the 168gr TTSX are exremely accurate in 3 rifles we tested them in.
groups are in the ,25 to .5" with factory guns. that should be an excellent bullet to hunt moose and deer at close range. (up to 400 yards).

 

[300magman]

I've never fired a "premium bullet" in my life, the only experience I have is with soft pointed lead tipped bullets. So I have to ask, the ttsx and accubond are both controlled expansion bullets (from what I read), are they really going to mushroom fast enough to transfer a lot of energy to an animal like a smaller deer? ... yet still travel through a Moose's shoulderblade? (should a bad shot strike one there)


One other question I had was about VERY long range deer bullets. Is there anything that will perform well on a deer but still have a super high BC that is well into the .6xxx range?

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

One other question I had was about VERY long range deer bullets. Is there anything that will perform well on a deer but still have a super high BC that is well into the .6xxx range?[/QUOTE]

210g Begrers
210g JLK's
200g Accubonds
208g AMAX

 

[300magman]

JLK ? - - I'm unfamiliar with that one, who makes it?

As for the bergers and Amax, have enough people put these to the test in the field to now reliably say they are "proven" game bullets? A while back I kept reading a lot of mixed reviews as to thier actual terminal performance...(some people argued they were perfect, others would say were target bullets and couldn't humanly be counted on to always put down an animal in its tracks) ..... but those BCs sure are tempting.

 

[300remum]

I've never fired a "premium bullet" in my life, the only experience I have is with soft pointed lead tipped bullets. So I have to ask, the ttsx and accubond are both controlled expansion bullets (from what I read), are they really going to mushroom fast enough to transfer a lot of energy to an animal like a smaller deer? ... yet still travel through a Moose's shoulderblade? (should a bad shot strike one there)


One other question I had was about VERY long range deer bullets. Is there anything that will perform well on a deer but still have a super high BC that is well into the .6xxx range?

i shot 2 deers and 1 coyote so far with the 168 g barnes ttsx.
both deers were shot in the ribs with impact velocity being 2700 fps approx.
inside the rib cage we could see 1"-1.5" entrance holes, (exits were the same) showing that the bullet opened completely in the skin. the small coyote ( a 20 pound female) was shot at 305 y. velocity was about 2500 fps.
both entrance and exits were 1.5"-2" shot was low beind the front leg.
when i lifted it by the hind legs, large chunk of internals were droping by the holes.
so yes they will open as quick as their video shows (fully opens in 2" gel.)
and they will go thru a moose shoulder blade no matter the distance or impact velocity. i made a test shooting them against 200 gr. accubond at 100 yards in a clay bank. and they were a lot better in weight retention then the accubond, but i wont use them past 500y. cause i want to keep impact velocity over 2100-2200 with them barnes.

 

[Pdvdh]

JLK ? - - I'm unfamiliar with that one, who makes it?

As for the bergers and Amax, have enough people put these to the test in the field to now reliably say they are "proven" game bullets? A while back I kept reading a lot of mixed reviews as to thier actual terminal performance...(some people argued they were perfect, others would say were target bullets and couldn't humanly be counted on to always put down an animal in its tracks) ..... but those BCs sure are tempting.

Here's a recent Thread with user experiences posted on the Hornady Amax. The Amax fits into the camp of the very long range game bullet better than your closer range bullet of choice.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/max-hunting-bullet-55970/

 

[Oliveralan]

All big game I have ever shot except my first doe has been with either an A-max or Berger VLD. The amax will expand well at low impact velocities. Haven't tried it in any big magnums. I use in it my .308win. I use 210 VLDs in my 300 win mag and ackley mag. The bergers are devestating! But not one animal I have shot with the A-max wa left alive either.

 

[kc]

The responders are right on, what they gave for advice,,,, you wont fo wrong.

I use Hornaday bullets A-MAX and SSTs in my .3006 and my .308 I like my 165gr Bullet
any other in 220gr Bullets..With My rifle they are very accurate..thats because I found the best load, length, priner and the case. you will find the best for you..
Don't pass on the Berger there an A+ Bullet.