ORIGINAL: spaniel

Excellent post, Chap.

I totally agree, fragmentation is not a good thing in a hunting bullet. Unless you're using your ML for self-defense I'd stay away from a bullet with known fragmentation issues on animals the size you plan to hunt.

Staying within the recommended velocity range is a starting point, but you can "force" bullets into fragmenting even in this range if you hit a ton of bone. You still must factor in the intended purpose when choosing a bullet, even if you're in the suggested velocity range. For example, you may want to avoid fragmentation by using a bonded bullet. However, many bonded bullets do not expand as well as non-bonded versions, so while the bonded bullet may do fine on elk it may not open well enough on a whitetail doe.

Fortunately, bullets have come a long way. There are few bullets I've really heard reliable reports of fragmentation problems. These would be Powerbelts driven too fast and light (240gr and lighter) XTPs also driven fast. Also the 250gr Shockwave fast at close range, although the other weights seem to be fine.