bullet choice - another dummy question
 

Alright, I' ll ask (another) dumb question. I' m looking around at different bullets, and wondered what the relative differences between them are (other than weight). For example, what does a ballistic tip do vs. a nosler partition at the point of impact? Trophy Bonded Bear Claw? Safari Grade, etc?

Thanks for the insight!

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

I would suggest going to federal, hornady, remmingtons, winchester...who ever bullets you plan to use and do some reading on the different bullets. All bullets are designed to expand and retain, just different ends to the means (ie: Ballistic Tip is design to expand rapidly and release a lot of energy which cause massive shock to the animal while a bonded bullet such as Nosler Partition is design to retain and punch through tough hides, bone, etc slower more delayed release of energy which causes less shock but further penetration.) The bullet used depends on the cartridge and the game you are hunting. For deer almost any bullet will work fine, moose & elk you require a bullet that is controlled and gets through that bigger bone, hide and muscle base (however some who use bigger, faster more effecient cartridges can chuck any style and still get good results such as 300RUM). What you find with bullets is most like a certain flavor, it usually boils down to field experience.

I personally love Ballistic Tip Style for deer and antelope but for Moose & Elk I have found Failsafes & Nosler Parts are the best route to go. While I have tried many other styles, these are the ones they have worked the best for me in the past so I just stick with them. If something comes along and I feel it is worth a go, then I will load it up and see how she flys. If the range tells me the rifle likes them, then it is to the field and game. I am not above change I mentioned Ballistic Tipos are my favorite for deer, but last fall I switched to the Hornady SST (It is a BT) and won' t be looking back to my Nosler Ballistic Tips any time soon.

Good Luck

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

All depends on what you will be shooting,and also what shoots from your gun.Trophy bonded are excellent,and I have had good results with nosler partion,and ballistic tips on thin skined animals like deer and antelope

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

i have god results with the sierragameling' s SPBT 165gr. out of my 30-06sprg for deer.

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

That' s not a dumb question at all Grizzlybear. There are a ton of bullets to look at & they all claim to be the best?
The Nosler number four reloading manual has a article on what bullet to pick for your style of hunting. They say the Nosler Partition is for large/heavy game Elk, Moose & large bears at any range. They also work fine on deer & antelope.
The Nosler Balistic tip are intended of animals such as deer, antelope, black bear & sheep at just about any range?
Most bullet makers should have information on there bullets, look on the net or in reloading manuals.
Good luck on your bullet choice.

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

Grizzlybear, These are not dumb questions. The only way you' ll learn is ask and read.The others gave you good advice so I' ll leave it at that.You do need to try different bullet weights ,brands and types of bullets to see what your gun likes.
Ruger Redhawk

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

Thanks guys!

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

While there are many good bullets out there, If I had to pick one to do ALL HUNTING and ALL GAME it would be the Nosler Partition. It will perform well at all ranges. It has good weight retention and open at even pretty low impact velocities. I do use the Balistic tip in some calibers for deer and smaller game. But to just pick one , the partition.

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

I have a question about ballistic tips. If they open right away and you hit a big deer in the shoulder will it sill punch through?

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

This is to answer the question.
A ballistic tip bullet has a plastic tip on the end.When shot in to the target ,the tip drive in to the face of the bullet there for causing rappid mushrooming,wich shrapnels through the vitals causing massive amount of dammage(in therory).

A partition on the other hand is more slow in forming a mushroom.It has a lead core coverd by a copper jacket.When shot in to a target it will break through bone and retain alot of it' s own weight wich carries it on through the target as it mushrooms.This bullet is one of the greatest killers.I use in every gun I hunt with big game.

Nuge15, a balistic tip will kill a big deer,try not to hit alot of bone with it,keep it in the soft spot behind the shoulder or in the neck.

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

Nuge, I haven' t shot a deer with a Ballistic Tip as of yet.I' ve heard different stories that if they hit a bone they disintegrate. My hunting partner has used them for a few years and has never lost a deer.Like any bullet shot placement is the key.I was going to use Federal Premium BT' s in my 7mm Rem Mag but my M-77 didn' t like them.I wouldn' t hesitate using them if my Ruger only liked them
Ruger Redhawk

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

Well I know some people who always shoot deer right through the shoulder and it hits the vitals but also breaks it shoulders which causes them to drop immediatetly or very quickly with little or no tracking. So my guess is I would not want to try this with a ballistic tip because it could just mushroom on the shoulder w/o penetration. BTW i shoot nosler partitions i am just asking because i want to know.

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

I have taken over 30 head of big game from pronghorn to bighorn to deer to moose to elk with ballistic tips and not one animal has covered 50 yards after being hit.Most drop on the spot or within a few yards.The bullets used were 100gr-.257" ,140gr-7mm and 180gr-.308" .The cartridges were the 257wbymag,7mmstw and 300ultramag with muzzle velocities from 3400fps to 3500fps.I use only lung shots as they have resulted in very quick kills for me.If you break both front shoulders the animal will drop with two quarters of meat damaged.If however you only break one shoulder an animal can run a long ways.I prefer my bullet to expend it' s energy destroying the heart and lungs which the ballistic tip does better than many other bullets.

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

I understand stubblejumper but what if you miss judge the wind on a long range shot and hit an animal in the shoulder? Will you be worried about penetration promblems or are you confident your bullet will punch right through?

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

nuge, I can comment my only poor experience with a BT was a flush shoulder hit on a good sized buck, it was purely the shooter fault as I yanked it right[:@][:' (]! It resulted in a busted shoulder and vital damage, but as SJ stated a deer can go a long way on one wheel. This buck did just that mostly because I pushed him, thinking I made a decent shot. He travelled a fair distance and it something I would not recommend in doing when using this style of bullet. Now mishaps can happen which it did in my case, but if you want to punch through shoulder bone better stick with a bullet that is meant to do that like a : Nosler Part, Failsafe, etc. BTW this was with a 130 gr. 270. My prefered shot is the H/l using the opposite side shoulder as backing or a straight through heart lung. In doing this I have never had a long track or lost animal with a BT style bullet and it is my bullet choice today for deer. Just in case or missing is something that never enters my mind, I approach it with when the shot is presented I will excute and that is how I load my rifle and pick the bullet style. Plain and simple if I can' t make the shot I don' t take it! If you are really worried about it or one who likes the just in case back up then go with a bullet that will be up to the task, however i would suggest you try and get over that fear. It will only make you a more confident and successful hunter in the end!

BTW I just tallied up my BT kills I am sitting at 19 and counting, of that the only problem was my fault which I explained. I think if you ask hunters honestly why a bullet may have failed it can be attributed to shooter error & not equipment error. This will of course include those who use the wrong bullet for the wrong application;)

RE: bullet choice - another dummy question
 

I have hit the shoulder a few times by accident.The result was still a deer that dropped as the bullet still did enough damage to the lungs for a quick kill.However damage to the meat on that quarter was extensive.