I use a duplex of 11 gr/59 gr VV N110/H322 or 10 gr/50 gr IMR SR4759/H4198. I am still using the old inefficient Savage style breechplug with 209 Primers. It has worked so well for me that I have not tried single powders.
I would try the Barnes. As I did, I would bump up the charge of H322. I would try to keep the pressure high to make sure that I got good "swell" on the bulletFacing a bit of a dilemma with the Arrowhead 300gr NSR bullets I have been using for almost a couple seasons now. I have no complaints about their accuracy at all (have shot them out to 200yrds on deer to this point, and holes touching at the same distance on paper). My concern is with their inconsistent results on deer. I have had anything from six inch exit wounds to no exit holes at all, with massive internal damage. Aside from the destroyed meat, my only real issue is getting that exit wound. For example, at the end of the 2022 hunting season I shot a doe at 10yrds. She dropped on the spot from a shoulder shot; however, there was no exit wound. There was massive internal damage, and the bullet blew to pieces inside her, but I just lost a nice buck recently with not a drop of blood to be found. He actually bedded down about 15yrds after the initial shot behind some brush. I reloaded and continued to wait for him to get up. As the minutes passed it was becoming later and later with darkness approaching. I determined that I couldn't wait any longer and maneuvered for the best shot possible (really a guess at his body position, because all I could see were his antlers). I also had to blow through some brush. The result was probably a miss, and he got up and limped off. I never saw a drop of blood when I went to look. I waited another 3-4 hours to pick up the trail, hoping he might expire in that time frame. There was no blood to be found. I can only assume I hit him in the leg and it wasn't a lethal shot. All that being said, I am looking for a bullet that will completely pass through, leaving me with the best possible blood trail. I liked the 300gr bonded Furys, but accuracy fell apart somewhere between 100 and 200yrds. At 200 yards there was no grouping at all. My rifle builder recommended I switch to the 300gr NSR bullets, which I did and they have been excellent in regard to accuracy, but inconsistent upon impact. I am shooting this bullet using 78grns of H322 out of a 26" Brux barrel with a 1:20 twist. I have also tried IMR 4198 with decent results, but the H322 worked best with both Arrowheads and Furys. I thought about trying a wad above the powder, in conjunction with the Furys but don't want to add that step due to time loss reloading in the field. Thoughts????
The majority if my shots are going to be under 100yrds, but then I can move to a field or a hillside and have a 200+ shot. I need a bullet for short and long range. I will be trying the Barnes, as well as others. I will be using a wad with the Fury 300gr bonded bullets. I am assuming any all copper bullets are too hard to size??You don't seem to be shooting long distance, less than 200 yards, so I would seriously try the Barnes TEZs. I use them out to 150 yards with good results.
Are you shooting bullet to bore (.45 barrel)?I have killed deer out to almost 300 yds with the Barnes 290 TEZ. They perform fantastic for me. Always an exit hole. I use 60 grains of 4198 powder and a wool wad.
No, I find it real hard to switch from the Barnes. I shoot all different kinds of bullets at the range, but always end up staying with the Barnes for hunting. At this point, the only reason I would change if I started hunting a place where shoots longer than 250 yards were a definite possibility.Another question for anyone out there- have any of you tried the 100% copper Lehigh Defense ML bullets with smokeless powder?
Yes, with a Dry wool wad.Are you shooting bullet to bore (.45 barrel)?
I think all those bullets have petals that blow off the bullet when it enters an animal, supposedly going into the vitals, and the core for passing thru the animal. I have a hard time with those petals maybe making it into the paunch or intestines making a mess when the shot itself wasn't in those parts. I like my Barnes but hope to next year collect an animal with a .40 225 grain Fury Star Tip bonded bullet to see what the terminal results are at smokeless speeds.Are you shooting bullet to bore (.45 barrel)?
Sounds like you want an all lead conicalFacing a bit of a dilemma with the Arrowhead 300gr NSR bullets I have been using for almost a couple seasons now. I have no complaints about their accuracy at all (have shot them out to 200yrds on deer to this point, and holes touching at the same distance on paper). My concern is with their inconsistent results on deer. I have had anything from six inch exit wounds to no exit holes at all, with massive internal damage. Aside from the destroyed meat, my only real issue is getting that exit wound. For example, at the end of the 2022 hunting season I shot a doe at 10yrds. She dropped on the spot from a shoulder shot; however, there was no exit wound. There was massive internal damage, and the bullet blew to pieces inside her, but I just lost a nice buck recently with not a drop of blood to be found. He actually bedded down about 15yrds after the initial shot behind some brush. I reloaded and continued to wait for him to get up. As the minutes passed it was becoming later and later with darkness approaching. I determined that I couldn't wait any longer and maneuvered for the best shot possible (really a guess at his body position, because all I could see were his antlers). I also had to blow through some brush. The result was probably a miss, and he got up and limped off. I never saw a drop of blood when I went to look. I waited another 3-4 hours to pick up the trail, hoping he might expire in that time frame. There was no blood to be found. I can only assume I hit him in the leg and it wasn't a lethal shot. All that being said, I am looking for a bullet that will completely pass through, leaving me with the best possible blood trail. I liked the 300gr bonded Furys, but accuracy fell apart somewhere between 100 and 200yrds. At 200 yards there was no grouping at all. My rifle builder recommended I switch to the 300gr NSR bullets, which I did and they have been excellent in regard to accuracy, but inconsistent upon impact. I am shooting this bullet using 78grns of H322 out of a 26" Brux barrel with a 1:20 twist. I have also tried IMR 4198 with decent results, but the H322 worked best with both Arrowheads and Furys. I thought about trying a wad above the powder, in conjunction with the Furys but don't want to add that step due to time loss reloading in the field. Thoughts????
Bullet performance on game - for everything from sidelock through modern rifle - is an interesting topic, for just the reasons that you mention. What we are all looking for is a bullet that will create a big wound channel AND punch all the way through with a big exit wound for good blood trails, regardless of range/muzzle velocity. Not an easy combination to achieve, for sure, especially at long ranges: The big wound channel requires either big bore, flat nosed bullets, or bullets that expand rapidly at all impact velocities, while punching all the way through requires bullets that maintain their shape and weight. Big bore flat nosed bullets can achieve both penetration and big wound channels if they're made of hard enough material, but they generally have rainbow trajectories, and therefore aren't too useful at long ranges. Small diameter, high velocity bullets that expand rapidly at all ranges generally don't maintain their shapes and weights, so penetration can be marginal, although kills can be spectacularly quick. Small diameter bullets that maintain their shape at all impact velocities tend to punch small holes, kill slowly, and leave poor blood trails.Facing a bit of a dilemma with the Arrowhead 300gr NSR bullets I have been using for almost a couple seasons now. I have no complaints about their accuracy at all (have shot them out to 200yrds on deer to this point, and holes touching at the same distance on paper). My concern is with their inconsistent results on deer. I have had anything from six inch exit wounds to no exit holes at all, with massive internal damage. Aside from the destroyed meat, my only real issue is getting that exit wound. For example, at the end of the 2022 hunting season I shot a doe at 10yrds. She dropped on the spot from a shoulder shot; however, there was no exit wound. There was massive internal damage, and the bullet blew to pieces inside her, but I just lost a nice buck recently with not a drop of blood to be found. He actually bedded down about 15yrds after the initial shot behind some brush. I reloaded and continued to wait for him to get up. As the minutes passed it was becoming later and later with darkness approaching. I determined that I couldn't wait any longer and maneuvered for the best shot possible (really a guess at his body position, because all I could see were his antlers). I also had to blow through some brush. The result was probably a miss, and he got up and limped off. I never saw a drop of blood when I went to look. I waited another 3-4 hours to pick up the trail, hoping he might expire in that time frame. There was no blood to be found. I can only assume I hit him in the leg and it wasn't a lethal shot. All that being said, I am looking for a bullet that will completely pass through, leaving me with the best possible blood trail. I liked the 300gr bonded Furys, but accuracy fell apart somewhere between 100 and 200yrds. At 200 yards there was no grouping at all. My rifle builder recommended I switch to the 300gr NSR bullets, which I did and they have been excellent in regard to accuracy, but inconsistent upon impact. I am shooting this bullet using 78grns of H322 out of a 26" Brux barrel with a 1:20 twist. I have also tried IMR 4198 with decent results, but the H322 worked best with both Arrowheads and Furys. I thought about trying a wad above the powder, in conjunction with the Furys but don't want to add that step due to time loss reloading in the field. Thoughts????
I wouldn't tell you that they did if they didn't. As I said, it happened to me twice (once shooting 150grns of 777 out of my Remington Ultimate at about 70yrds). The other time it happened was with my Savage ML II, using 57grns of N120 (probably around 50yrds). Both were shoulder shots. I guess I should specify that they were Barnes Original "Spitzers" instead of just Barnes Originals, but I doubt that makes any difference.You had Barnes originals 300 grn grenade on you? I find that hard to believe...I have literally shot 100s of them with 60 grn of N120 and only ever recovered one as they always passed through....how fast are you pushing them? It just blows my mind as to what speed it took to have a 300 BO blow up..
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