Hornady has strange recommendations

What do you fellers do when there's more than 1 option as a lunch special at the cafe? Lol, what would we do without the engineers and marketing department at Hornady, if you don't like them or believe in them buy something else, just my .02
 
Shoot enough game and you'll see weird stuff happen.

It's anectodal, but a friend of mine tagged an elk last year with a .338 230gr ELD-X. The impact velocity was 2550ish fps. Bullet broke the shoulder but stopped on a rib, never did make it into to the chest cavity.

I've personally bounced a 165gr Accubond off a whitetail deer. Hit and broke the humerus on a uphill shot. The bullet was deflected enough that it never entered the vitals.

It's about leverage - if you hit 'em in the right spot, it don't take much.

On the other hand, bones are hard. If want to break em, choose appropriately...
 
Maybe the manufacturers should be more clear about the performance parameters, based on real world data from the field, independantly verified. But that will most likely never happen. It's way too much to ask and too many variables. I spent a lot of barrel life changing from one poor performer on a game hit, then rejecting that bullet and start over. Wait on a tag for a year or two. Times a wastin'.....
 
Well I have a 1983 Marlin 336 in 35 Remington caliber. Just acquired last year and it is pristine and has only had 40 rounds fired through it. In northern New Hampshire I live right up against the woods barely 15 yards from heavy woods. We have Black Bear that come around 2 to 3 times a week. At best, with the woods around me I can shoot 50 yards. Not long range but I am counting on my 35 Remington with a 200 grain Hornady FTX bullet with Muzzle velocity of 2225 F.P.S. or a 200 grain R.N.S.P. with a Muzzle velocity of 2040 to kill a bear IF I HAVE TO when it threatens my family. The Marlin 336 in 35 Remington is zeroed in at 25 yards and hits dead center at 200 yards with said ammo. I do shoot long range with my 308 Howa Bolt action and 5.56 AR-15 rifle but i don't trust the 5.56 to bring down a Bear at 50 yards and the 308 is a heavy barreled bolt action zeroed at 200 yards.
 
Well I have a 1983 Marlin 336 in 35 Remington caliber. Just acquired last year and it is pristine and has only had 40 rounds fired through it. In northern New Hampshire I live right up against the woods barely 15 yards from heavy woods. We have Black Bear that come around 2 to 3 times a week. At best, with the woods around me I can shoot 50 yards. Not long range but I am counting on my 35 Remington with a 200 grain Hornady FTX bullet with Muzzle velocity of 2225 F.P.S. or a 200 grain R.N.S.P. with a Muzzle velocity of 2040 to kill a bear IF I HAVE TO when it threatens my family. The Marlin 336 in 35 Remington is zeroed in at 25 yards and hits dead center at 200 yards with said ammo. I do shoot long range with my 308 Howa Bolt action and 5.56 AR-15 rifle but i don't trust the 5.56 to bring down a Bear at 50 yards and the 308 is a heavy barreled bolt action zeroed at 200 yards.

When I started hog hunting in Florida all I had was a Contender in 35 Remington. No hogs ever left the bait. Devastating short range round.
 
I have mixed emotions about hornady to begin with - their superformance stuff is the worst. I watched my buddy spend a couple hundred dollars on that stuff with two different rifles praying it would group - he consistently got 11-12" groups @ 100 yards. He switched to federal premium and the groups dropped below 1".

But I freaking love the precision hunter and match ammo. The precision hunter has killed elk, mule deer and black bear with my 270wsm. Would I use the precision hunter on a grizzly? Hells to the yes! But maybe I am crazy, because I would also use my 270wsm on a grizzly.

I have seen the SST explode on a black bear - its like a nosler ballistic tip. I would never use that on a grizzly...smh
I'd use my 7 rm on grizzlies, and brown bears
So I guess I'm as crazy as you are
 
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