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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
TARGET BULLETS ARE NOT HUNTING BULLETS!
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<blockquote data-quote="Brad Norman" data-source="post: 3057857" data-attributes="member: 33163"><p>Thanks for sharing your experiences Sir! I hope you've healed up fully from your falls. Hunting can be treacherous at times! I see you're in N/W Wyoming. I had an Uncle who lived in the N/E corner, in Moorcroft. I love Wyoming. </p><p></p><p>I too like to get closer, when possible. Shot placement is the key. Being closer makes that much easier, especially in a field position and in uncertain environmental conditions. The steep wide-open valley where we found my Son's spike contained 65 Elk, and several were good spikes. As we snuck over the ridge, laid in a snow bank and glassed the herd, we found they were spread throughout the valley. Trying to work our way closer to the big spike he wanted would have spooked the cows near to us, and blown the hunt. I built my Son's rifle, along with a local gunsmith / suppressor maker, and that darned 6.5-284 cartridge sure is accurate with my handloads. As I mentioned, we enjoy stretching out our practice sessions and have good reliable dope out to 1200 yards. Still, 702 yards is a long shot on a big tough animal such as an Elk. They can be tough to kill quickly. The ELD-M has always performed great for us in 6.5mm. </p><p></p><p>Your impressive experiences with the terminal performance of Hammers and Barnes bullets does not surprise me. It's incredible how much destruction a rifle bullet creates. I haven't used the TSX-style bullets in our rifles, but only because I've not had them shoot accurately. I tried several options with various powders and, for whatever reason, I couldn't get them to shoot well at all. I know many many folks have had success, so I'll never discredit them. For close hunting shots I have had wonderful results with bonded bullets (e.g. AccuBonds, Norma Oryx and Lapua Mega) and I don't know that there's anything better than a Nosler Partition. I have also had surprisingly good experience with Sierra Game King hollow points in 6mm and .308 caliber. You'd think a hollow point would "open up" faster and fragment but these must have tougher jackets. They create a good wound channel and punch through. I've never recovered one, and they blow a golf-ball sized (or larger) hole through big Mule Deer. Sierra's soft point Game Kings are more fragile and serve better out past 200 yards. Of course your mileage may vary, as they say.</p><p></p><p>I've long been a proponent of using tougher bullets up close and more accurate, more fragile (or frangible) projectiles at a distance where they perform the best terminally. Years ago I stumbled upon the writings of Nathan Foster. The amount of game-hunting experience he has is truly unparalleled. He also recommends "dual loading" by using tough bullets up close at high impact velocities and more accurate bullets at distance which will create much better wounding and quicker kills. I highly recommend his books. Finding a tough bullet (bonded, mono or otherwise) that shoots to the same point of impact at 200 yards as your longer-range bullets is not difficult. There are so many good options to select from now. </p><p></p><p>Best of luck to you on your future hunts. May you have many more years ahead, keeping the family freezer full of healthy game meat!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brad Norman, post: 3057857, member: 33163"] Thanks for sharing your experiences Sir! I hope you've healed up fully from your falls. Hunting can be treacherous at times! I see you're in N/W Wyoming. I had an Uncle who lived in the N/E corner, in Moorcroft. I love Wyoming. I too like to get closer, when possible. Shot placement is the key. Being closer makes that much easier, especially in a field position and in uncertain environmental conditions. The steep wide-open valley where we found my Son's spike contained 65 Elk, and several were good spikes. As we snuck over the ridge, laid in a snow bank and glassed the herd, we found they were spread throughout the valley. Trying to work our way closer to the big spike he wanted would have spooked the cows near to us, and blown the hunt. I built my Son's rifle, along with a local gunsmith / suppressor maker, and that darned 6.5-284 cartridge sure is accurate with my handloads. As I mentioned, we enjoy stretching out our practice sessions and have good reliable dope out to 1200 yards. Still, 702 yards is a long shot on a big tough animal such as an Elk. They can be tough to kill quickly. The ELD-M has always performed great for us in 6.5mm. Your impressive experiences with the terminal performance of Hammers and Barnes bullets does not surprise me. It's incredible how much destruction a rifle bullet creates. I haven't used the TSX-style bullets in our rifles, but only because I've not had them shoot accurately. I tried several options with various powders and, for whatever reason, I couldn't get them to shoot well at all. I know many many folks have had success, so I'll never discredit them. For close hunting shots I have had wonderful results with bonded bullets (e.g. AccuBonds, Norma Oryx and Lapua Mega) and I don't know that there's anything better than a Nosler Partition. I have also had surprisingly good experience with Sierra Game King hollow points in 6mm and .308 caliber. You'd think a hollow point would "open up" faster and fragment but these must have tougher jackets. They create a good wound channel and punch through. I've never recovered one, and they blow a golf-ball sized (or larger) hole through big Mule Deer. Sierra's soft point Game Kings are more fragile and serve better out past 200 yards. Of course your mileage may vary, as they say. I've long been a proponent of using tougher bullets up close and more accurate, more fragile (or frangible) projectiles at a distance where they perform the best terminally. Years ago I stumbled upon the writings of Nathan Foster. The amount of game-hunting experience he has is truly unparalleled. He also recommends "dual loading" by using tough bullets up close at high impact velocities and more accurate bullets at distance which will create much better wounding and quicker kills. I highly recommend his books. Finding a tough bullet (bonded, mono or otherwise) that shoots to the same point of impact at 200 yards as your longer-range bullets is not difficult. There are so many good options to select from now. Best of luck to you on your future hunts. May you have many more years ahead, keeping the family freezer full of healthy game meat! [/QUOTE]
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TARGET BULLETS ARE NOT HUNTING BULLETS!
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