Bullet choice

[4xforfun]

I have a friend who loves to hunt....especialy deer (who doesn't). I do his loading for him. Two years ago he buys a new 300 Win mag. It shot great with 180 Nostler Balistic tips and RL22. It would hold around 1/2 moa 3 shot groups, but would start walking bullets after 5 or 6 shots. The thin BBL heated up pretty quickly, and I don't like to do that to a gun. I also tried some Berger 210 VLD's (hunting) and it shot even better. I Had thoughts of shooting it in the factory class at an Iowa 1K match, but like I said, it started to walk shots as it warmed up.

Anyway.....he has now drawn a once in a lifetime moose hunt where we live. Now, the moose are not especialy large around here, and I don't suppose the shots will be "WAY OUT THERE".......probably less than 400. He asked me if he should shoot the 180 NBT's at moose. I know from experiance that they are devistating in deer, but have never hunted moose. I sujested we try some "priemium" bullets, as we still have a few weeks. He was not to hot on that idea. Then I asked about the 210's. I would think that the 210 berger would be better than the 180 NBT, especialy on larger game. I have been shooting 210's forever and is all I would ever shoot....on anything.....period!!....and if something goes wrong....my fault, the bullet's fault, the games fault, whatever...., it's on me!!

Well, what do you think? 180 NBT or 210 VLD Hunting?? Both shoot EXCELLENT in his gun!!

What say you?

 

[MTBULLET]

I would suggest partitions or the VLD, which ever he is most accurate and comfortable with.

 

[tnshooter111]

why take a chance go with a partitions or barnes TSX.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

A well placed shot with the 210 Hunting VLD will do the job quite well, If he feels comfortable with that combo go with it, confidence in your equipment make a huge difference in the game fields. I wouldn't recommend the Ballistic Tip for game that large... will it work? Probably, but in my experience it's a real coin toss on how that bullet is going to perform on such a heavy animal. My .02 says load him some Barnes 180 TTSX and watch the bang/flop.

 

[4xforfun]

I can tell you exactly what will happen if I say to swich to a "priemium" bullet. He will say never mind...no big deal, and go to his closet and drag out some 20+ year old 150 grain factory shells. NOT PRIEMIUM 150, mind you!!! He liked how the factory 150's shot in his old gun. All he wanted from me when he baught the new gun was to break in his gun and sight it in ...all with the 20 + year old factory 150's. I just couldn't do it. After I finished my load work I drug him to the range with his factory shells, my hand loads, my chrono, and some targets.....and he was still not fully convinced!!! Even after showing him some down range energy numbers!!

He is just not a hand loader, and he stated yesterday that he would "rather switch back to his 150's than to mess with that priemium stuff".

Now he LOVES the 180's. And he knows that I love and shoot the 210's, which also work GREAT in his gun.....just never tried them at moose.....

NOPE...the choice is 180 NBT, 210 VLD, or old crappy factory 150's. That is it. I recomended Barns, Patritions, and Fail-Safe's...I have all three on the shelf.
He say's no.

So again......180 or 210...that is the question.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

That's too bad, why not have your cake & eat it too!? Anyway, if I had to make the call I'd go with the 210 VLD's...

 

[Willys46]

Switch to the Accubonds and tell him its the NBT and do not look back. the accubonds are a great bullet!

With a well placed shot, you can kill anything with any bullet. How may animal have been killed with the old Rem corelocks..I know people that have not shot anything else for 20 years. Kills stuff just as dead!

 

[tnshooter111]

Sounds like he needs to read the reason the partition was made.
How the bullet failed to penetrate the mud-caked moose hide and massive shoulder bones. This animal being shot by John Noslers 300 H&H which is pretty close to a 300 win Mag.

 

[4xforfun]

Well....problem solved.....I talked him into using 180 Accubond's. I have tried 200 gr Accubonds in several guns......none of the guns were "shooters". They did a litttle worse than average. I hope that the 180's will work in this gun, since the 180BT's work so well .

You can still leave me your thoughts though.......180 or 210?

 

[liltank]

Well....problem solved.....I talked him into using 180 Accubond's. I have tried 200 gr Accubonds in several guns......none of the guns were "shooters". They did a litttle worse than average. I hope that the 180's will work in this gun, since the 180BT's work so well .

You can still leave me your thoughts though.......180 or 210?

I was thinking the 180 or 200 Accubonds or the 180 SST. If they are short shots (200 or less) then a good old round nose will do the trick also.

Tank

 

[winmag]

Switch to the Accubonds and tell him its the NBT and do not look back. the accubonds are a great bullet!

With a well placed shot, you can kill anything with any bullet. How may animal have been killed with the old Rem corelocks..I know people that have not shot anything else for 20 years. Kills stuff just as dead!

+1 my sentiments exactly! Thats funny, Ive been reading this thread and thinking all the while whats the dif between the NBT, and the Berger? They both just grenade at/after impact. Id lean towards the 210 just beacuse it may retain enough wt to keep going if you hit bone. At 400 yds and less he would be far better suited with an Accubond,Partition,TSX,TTSX,SciroccoII,A-Frame,IB....
If your streaching it way out there then stick with the Berger, they have a solid trac record at longer range.
If I had to choose between those two ONLY, Id go with the Berger. I think they'd hold up a tic better than the NBT at any range.
But Im an opinionated person who prefers tougher bullets because I hunt at all ranges, near and far, so Im an Accubond fan.

But again as Willys46 said, People have been smokin game with good ol Core-Lokt's ''the deadliest mushroom in the woods'' hehehehe for years. A well placed shot with most any bullet will work.

I see you went with the Accubond. I think he will be happy with the choice considering the game, and range.
He's lucky to have a buddy like you who cares. Good luck on the hunt! I want pics!!

 

[Shutster]

The walking bullets are prolly caused by improper bedding or the stock, or the fit of the stock.

If he's shooting deer a long range, he'll need a bullet that will expand properly on out there even when the bullet has slowed down. That's not what a "Partition" or other "Controlled Expansion" bullet will do.

For the real long shots use a Ballistic Tip or a target bullet. They'll open up at the lower velocities.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

The AB should have the same point of impact as the BT. Good choice to go with a more heavily constructed bullet. Your friend should listen to you more often. He may not sound so dumb.

Steve