Decision Tree for Bullets




Very low cost---Yes-->Harvester Cast bullets 300g or larger, any cast large Meplat conical (BullStop, etc)
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|no
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Cost, low cost? ----yes----> 300g XTP, 300g Gold Dot, 250g Gold Dot,
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| No, terminal performance is most important to me
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Shooting Long distances most of time?—Yes---> 290, 250g Barnes TMZ, 200g SW,
| 200g Lehigh, 275g Parker Ballistic Extreme
|
|no
|
Take oblique angle shots----Yes-->300, 250, 260g Nosler Partition, 250, 300g Barnes MZ
| Sight in 3” high at 100, for MPBR of 170 yards
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| take only bow shots at deer i.e. broadside behind front shoulder
|
|
Any bullet that is 3” or smaller group size at 100 yards and doesn’t fragment in it’s performance range

What other logic to add to the tree? I believe this is the collective wisdom of the board, or at least what I have learned from being on this forum for last 2 years.

Chap

Chap - Maybe it would be better or easier to pick a bullet if you listed the bullets across the top of a page. Then under each bullet, write down the assets and flaws for each one. Then the one that has the most assets and least flaws for your given criteria would be the one you pick.
Examples of assets: Accuracy, penetration, weight retention, etc.
Examples of flaws: Fragmenting, poor expansion, inaccurate, etc.
Just a thought.

Then there are the ones that have to be used with in a certain velocity range, at long range they have slowed down to much or with some people that like light loads they don't open at any range. Except for a few like the hard cast and the full metal jacket which should only be used for extreme penatration, I believe most modern bullets will do a reasonable job if used with in there proper velocity range.
I also believe that people using the wrong velocity have put a bad rap on some good bullets. Lee

Add some Parkers

I think this is asking for a high level of detail there won't be good agreement on. It's easy to agree on high-level stuff, but there if fair disagreement once you get to that level.

I agree with lemoyne, I think overall differences between bullets are hyped way too much.

They make great bullets for sure. The 275grn BE was the best for me.

Done, I used them all 2007 season in my Savage and I liked them overall. I consider them a great long range bullet. Chap

Basically, my statement at the end of the decision tree says that, an accurate bullet in your gun. However if something "matters to you" i.e. you wanna shoot long distances above all else or you want shoot cheap bulletsabove all else, then the bullet that is recommended to do that is in the "Yes" part of the decision tree. Notice I didn't put the 300g SW or the 348g Powerbelt on the decision tree, but of course they are covered in the "any bullet that has 3" of accuracy at 100 yards, consistently.
Chap

I didn't do that since it causes some folks grief to hear that bullet XXXX fragments or some other term that is not good. I believe this chart speaks to penetration, mushroom diameter, width of wound channel and weight retentionon several of the bullets in this tree. The tree is a bit more general, but
this coupled with the tree should be a good start for most new folks or folks looking to change bullets.
I don't think many are going to changebecause of this decision tree, but some will change over from ShockWaves from Grouce45's pictures and descriptions.
Chap

Yeah...I use the 275gr BE in my Pro Hunter. Love 'em


And Chap,
Thanks!