To hunt with Standards or Monos...that is the question.

Before you remind me, yes, I know, this has been discussed a few thousand times, minimum. Truth is, I've read those posts. Countless good, solid answers. Advantages and disadvantages of each. Pros and cons. So why do I still not know the "best" answer?

Very likely that answer "will depend." Game animal, cartridge, distance, bullet fps & weight & the list goes on. Over the decades I've been partial to Accubonds & Partitions. Over the last year or so, I keep seeing positive reports on Barnes & other monos. Tempting.

So, why am I asking? Because I'd very much like to decrease and simplify my bullet inventory for each of my 3 rifles / cartridges. Will be making a few bullet purchases this coming week.

You may not have THE answer but your opinion will be given serious consideration.

TIA.

Cheers!

What my GUT feels….and nothing else. I've been up and down that road a bunch of times and always come back to Berger….but who knows next week maybe back to Hammer Hunters. Sorry, not much help.

Me I base off of what or how the bullet reacts hitting an animal and the damage is done to it. If it's blood shot all over, that ends the use of that bullet for good. If it doesn't open up much, I may try it again. Generally I use Nosler BT, that's been the best luck is with them.
Now I push my bullet at the top end of velocity also. I generally don't use heavy bullets, because my range is generally 500yds or less. I try and use my velocity cover me on limiting my problems in FPE, deflection on wind. I used for years a 308NM with 165gr BT @ 3300fps or so. I now use a 338WM with a 200gr BT @ 3200fps. I have push them through with a Texas Heart shot a few times. Without much blood shot. Those shot were under 100yds. So that is really putting the test on how that bullet reacts for close up shot. I have also made my shots @ 500yds with the bullet doing it job also.
I also look at the BC of a bullet at the same time. I don't use target bullets for hunting big game. I will use them on Varmits or a FMJ bullet if I am after a hide to use.
Other than that there a hold world out there. I haven't as of yet used all copper bullets yet. I only have one rifle set up for that, but will have a 2nd on shortly. Those are in 6mm & 25 cal. I tried in the late 90's an all copper bullets. Found them hard to push and the grouping wasn't what I wanted either. So they got put back up on the shelve and paration too. Had them come apart and blood shoted entire side of a deer. Those hit the shelve too and thats where they stayed.

Rick Richard said:

What my GUT feels….and nothing else. I've been up and down that road a bunch of times and always come back to Berger….but who knows next week maybe back to Hammer Hunters. Sorry, not much help.

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Or as you previously noted ...

Monos made by McGuire and Apex are growing on me… for deer and pigs at ranges generally 500 and less.

I doubt any animal has ever not died due to using a cheap or premium bullet.

Shot placement is key no matter what.

OP - What are you hunting? If deer only, then it frankly doesn't matter that much. You sure don't need premium bullets to kill a deer, shoot what bullets shoots best in your rifle. Bigger game? Then you have something to think about, but your rifle still has to like that particular bullet, It's not always the bullet with the most fans and best advertising.
Good luck

Reverend Mr. Black said:

Before you remind me, yes, I know, this has been discussed a few thousand times, minimum. Truth is, I've read those posts. Countless good, solid answers. Advantages and disadvantages of each. Pros and cons. So why do I still not know the "best" answer?

Very likely that answer "will depend." Game animal, cartridge, distance, bullet fps & weight & the list goes on. Over the decades I've been partial to Accubonds & Partitions. Over the last year or so, I keep seeing positive reports on Barnes & other monos. Tempting.

So, why am I asking? Because I'd very much like to decrease and simplify my bullet inventory for each of my 3 rifles / cartridges. Will be making a few bullet purchases this coming week.

You may not have THE answer but your opinion will be given serious consideration.

TIA.

Cheers!

Click to expand...

If you are happy with your current bullets, be happy. If you want to know what's on the other side of the fence buy some of what your curious about and give them a run. If NC hasn't changed too much since I used to hunt out there, you can get enough tags to get an ok idea if you like or love or hate a bullet pretty quick. You know you can always go back to the tried and true. Don't worry too much about making a bad choice, most of todays bullets are pretty darn good to downright excellent. That scale is according to each users expectation and perception, so really, you just have to get out and perceive a little. Also good to have more than one bullets from more than one manufacturer JIC.

Thank you. Good thoughts sincerely appreciated. Every single word.

Based on a few decades of shooting / hunting, will stay with what holds my confidence and continue to ponder. Maybe add a few Interlocks or Ballistic Tips to the stable this week for Deer?

Be safe.

Cheers.

adam32+P said:

I doubt any animal has ever not died due to using a cheap or premium bullet.

Shot placement is key no matter what.

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Bullet construction makes a huge difference
Ive had animals not die, or at least they counldnt have been found from poor quality bullets

Using my small bore .224's & 6mm's anything over 100 pounds gets a mono bullet. The monos kill deers real good and penetrate thru 2 or more feet of the deer's body. For the 6.5's anything over 300 pounds, big beasts, gets a mono.

Solid copper Barnes bullets with the peal back petals inflict max trauma thru deep penetration.

Reverend Mr. Black said:

Before you remind me, yes, I know, this has been discussed a few thousand times, minimum. Truth is, I've read those posts. Countless good, solid answers. Advantages and disadvantages of each. Pros and cons. So why do I still not know the "best" answer?

Very likely that answer "will depend." Game animal, cartridge, distance, bullet fps & weight & the list goes on. Over the decades I've been partial to Accubonds & Partitions. Over the last year or so, I keep seeing positive reports on Barnes & other monos. Tempting.

So, why am I asking? Because I'd very much like to decrease and simplify my bullet inventory for each of my 3 rifles / cartridges. Will be making a few bullet purchases this coming week.

You may not have THE answer but your opinion will be given serious consideration.

TIA.

Cheers!

Click to expand...

Well Mr. Black……simplification is quite easy to do, though heavily frowned upon by the "unwashed masses"!

My wife and I get along just fine with one cartridge (we each have our favorite) and one bullet for "all" of our big game hunting…..from Pronghorn up through moose. One cartridge, one bullet, one zero …..for all of our hunting! It doeuget much simpler than that!

That said, neither one of us shoots game @ long ranges……her limit 500 yards, and myself 600 yards!

I see many people that complain about the performance of Barnes Mono's……however since 1991, I have zero to complain about. In fact…..I've taken a couple of large game animals, in which a lesser bullet would have failed miserably!

Many claim that the mono's are too hard for "small" big game, but "knock on wood"….we've yet to have a Pronghorn or deer walk away after being shot!

But, we also do not use small-bore cartridges, we both use medium-bores ……which may account for our having no disappointing results!

So…….to complete the "simplification process" - buy/build the largest, most powerful cartridge that you may "ever" need, and use it exclusively! There is no such thing as overkill……only excessive meat damage due to "HIGH" velocity impact with frangible/fragmenting" bullets! memtb

nube2.0 said:

Bullet construction makes a huge difference
Ive had animals not die, or at least they counldnt have been found from poor quality bullets

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For the most part... yes.

"Bullet Construction" is the key.

"Poor quality" claim could merely be a specific bullet design used in the wrong scenario.

Example: Thin walled LR match bullet at high velocity on quartering elk shoulder at 50 yards or solid copper on Elk soft tissue at 600 yards... They may both fail and the elk survive even though they could be high quality bullets.

Kinda like "Use the right tool for the Job".

nube2.0 said:

Bullet construction makes a huge difference
Ive had animals not die, or at least they counldnt have been found from poor quality bullets

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You don't know that since you didn't find the animal. Could've been a poorly placed shot and the bullet wouldn't have mattered one way or another.