Shock Wave-vrs. bonded

[25/06]

Can someone tell me whats the difference between the SW controlled expansion and the SW bonded core. I have used the controlled expansion the last couple of years. Have not lost a deer, knock on wood, although I havent had that great of blood trails. They havent went very far. So what could I expect from the bonded? Any experience?

[Big Z]

In general, bonded bullets are less likely to experience jacket/core separation and penetrate better. MLs operate at such mild velocities that any decent bullet isn't going to let you down. I personally wouldn't spend the extra money on bonded bullets for deer. If it was a big critter like elk-- they're tough and thick, and then I'd spend the extra... JMO. Deer are an easy kill and don't require the fanciest.

[Kathwacckkk]

X2.

It is my understanding the bonded bullets (blue tip) are designed for deeper penetration on game such as elk, moose, etc... For deer size game, the unbonded (yellow tip) is the way to go.

I wonder if many of the people who say Shockwaves do not expand on deer, may be using bonded Shockwaves (blue tip) and do not know there are two different bullets. This may explain some of the "lack of expansion" issue people talk about.

[Krypt Keeper]

I shoot the regular yellow tips in my 3 BP rifles. Something is expanding on them as I get a pinky finger entrance and coke can exits.

[ADVWannabee]

I have some of the blue tip Shockwaves but haven't tried them yet. I am using Hornady SST's instead, but from reading here it sounds like they are the same bullet. Does anyone know which Shockwaves are the same as the Hornadys?

[25/06]

Im using the yellow tip shock waves. What about the super glide sabots? Is there a reason to spend the extea money on them?

[Krypt Keeper]

depends on the bore diameter or your gun. some guns are tighter than others. My wife picked me up a pack one day thinking they were all the same.

I went to use them in my guns to not waste or piss her off thinking she got the wrong sabots..

my older elkhorn gun they fit just fine, in my hawkens however they slide down the barrel faster than a kid on a slip and slide lubed down with astro glide.

I was almost afraid of using it that morning for aiming down from my tree stand I would see the little booger fall out the end of my barrel.

The plastic jacket is just thinner on the super glides.. the bullet/sabots are the same as regular shockwaves though.

[falcon]

The early 250 grain Shockwaves and the early 250 grain Hornady SST bullets had soft plastic tips. Later Shockwave and SST bullets have hard plastic tips. IMO: The ones with the soft plastic tips give better expansion on hogs.

The bonded Shockwave is made for TC. The jacket of that bullet is much heavier.

My Encore and Black Diamond guns give the best accuracy with the tight fitting red and the tight fitting black MMP sabots. Accuracy is not nearly as good with the low drag sabots but is is acceptable to me. Accuracy with the super glide sabots is non-existent. The Harvester crush rib sabots also give good accuracy in my guns.

If the wrong ramrod tip is used, it is possible to deform the nose of the SST/Shockwave bullet just behind the tip. A bullet so deformed will not expand right, if at all.

[Krypt Keeper]

yep best to use the ramrod tip made for the shockwaves.

[Big Z]

Originally Posted by ADVWannabee

Does anyone know which Shockwaves are the same as the Hornadys?

The yellows. I buy hdy cause they're cheaper anyways