Bullet vote please

[cjmac]

Looks like you have lots of replies. I’ll just say that I MIGHT have some ACCUBONDS that could be had cheap for the cause but won’t know until I get home from Zimbabwe on 9/1. Please message me so I don’t forget to look and I’ll let you know what I have.
DocCoffee

Will do . That would be awsome

 

[JMRhino]

For deer, put me in the Ballistic Tip camp. No need to spend more on a PT or AccuBond that will not work better than a BT on deer.

I concur with this opinion...

I have used both ABs and partitions. All are great projectiles but whitetails aren't that hard to kill and no real reason to spend more unless you desire and that's ok too...

 

[diverdown]

In other words, it worked well.
And it produced a quick, clean kill.

I got spoiled on Gamekings many years ago. I've always found them to be great on Deer and to be totally honest I have never lost a deer while using that particular bullet.

 

[cjmac]

I concur with this opinion...

I have used both ABs and partitions. All are great projectiles but whitetails aren't that hard to kill and no real reason to spend more unless you desire and that's ok too...

True . Just figured if I spent the money on a nice gun mine aswell put a nice bullet through it lol

 

[cjmac]

I got spoiled on Gamekings many years ago. I've always found them to be great on Deer and to be totally honest I have never lost a deer while using that particular bullet.

Iv shot 1 Deer with the 150 gameking btsp . Base of neck shot at 90yards . It didnt exit . Thay must have rapid expansion and dump energy instantly to not exit at 90 yards

 

[Blkram]

Impact velocity does have an affect on a bullets expansion, that is exacerbated when hitting heavier bone.

For example, a 165 gr AB out of a 308 Win as loaded in Nosler's factory ammo, has an initial muzzle velocity of approx 2800 fps from a 24" barrel, and will retain over 2600 fps at 90 yards (2630???). (You can subtract approx 25-35 fps/inch of barrel if your rifle does not have a 24" barrel, if you do not have a chronograph.)

According to Sierra's load data, top velocity for their 165 gr SGK is 2800-2850 fps. So its impact velocity could have been slightly higher, say up to 2680 fps, causing a little faster expansion.
To be honest, on your light deer, this is a desirable trait. Ensures better tissue damage for a quicker, cleaner kill.

There is the old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
You may be overthinking this just a tad...but not to worry, you are not alone in this! Many of us here go down this rabbit hole!
If the PT or AB shoots better in your rifle, then change over. If they do not, stick to the SGK!

 

[Heavy Barrel]

The first deer I harvested was taken with Federal Premium 150gr Nosler Partition in .308 Winchester, at 125yds there was no bullet recovered, just a pair of new vent holes in each lung, ran maybe ten yards and crumbled.

 

[cjmac]

Impact velocity does have an affect on a bullets expansion, that is exacerbated when hitting heavier bone.

For example, a 165 gr AB out of a 308 Win as loaded in Nosler's factory ammo, has an initial muzzle velocity of approx 2800 fps from a 24" barrel, and will retain over 2600 fps at 90 yards (2630???). (You can subtract approx 25-35 fps/inch of barrel if your rifle does not have a 24" barrel, if you do not have a chronograph.)

According to Sierra's load data, top velocity for their 165 gr SGK is 2800-2850 fps. So its impact velocity could have been slightly higher, say up to 2680 fps, causing a little faster expansion.
To be honest, on your light deer, this is a desirable trait. Ensures better tissue damage for a quicker, cleaner kill.

There is the old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
You may be overthinking this just a tad...but not to worry, you are not alone in this! Many of us here go down this rabbit hole!
If the PT or AB shoots better in your rifle, then change over. If they do not, stick to the SGK!

I have a chrono . Now im curious to see what sppe my one gun is pushing the gameking lol.. yeah the faster expansion is probably better option on little deer . The Partition states big game , thats why I wasnt to sure if it would open fast enough

The first deer I harvested was taken with Federal Premium 150gr Nosler Partition in .308 Winchester, at 125yds there was no bullet recovered, just a pair of new vent holes in each lung, ran maybe ten yards and crumbled.

Good to hear . Have heard the Partition isn't known for great accuracy. But just needs to be MOA for hunting round

 

[grry10]

When it comes to deer I wouldn't leave Nosler's Solid Base bullets out of your mix of choices.

 

[cjmac]

When it comes to deer I wouldn't leave Nosler's Solid Base bullets out of your mix of choices.

Iv never even looked at them

 

[grry10]

I've not tried the current production but what was previously discontinued were great in my 7x57 (140 gr) and 257 Ackley (120 gr). Some of the new production, .308 165 gr, should deliver today for developing a load for a Ruger #1AB in 30-06.

 

[JD338]

Have heard the Partition isn't known for great accuracy. But just needs to be MOA for hunting round

PTs are accurate and capable of sub .5 MOA with the right loads and rifle.
Here’s a recent load I worked up with a 300 gr PT seconds in my 375 H&H Magnum. The 3 shot group went .803”.

JD338

 

[cjmac]

PTs are accurate and capable of sub .5 MOA with the right loads and rifle.

JD338

Dang .all depends i guess

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

Honestly in a 308 shooting small deer, you are not likely to stress a bullet enough beyond what a BT can handle. I have shot countless deer with the 120BT out of a 260rem and a 150BT out of a 7mmRM. Stuff just isn't that hard to kill if you put the bullet in the right place. I think the BT range of hunting projectiles is largely underrated and too many people tapping away at keyboards (not intended for the good folk here) with little field experience will make you believe our game has become armour plated. If you were chasing elk or moose, the AccuBond, Partition or E-tip would all make great choices but for a small bodied deer you just don't need to be at the premium end of the bullet spectrum...and if you ever did have to make a substantially longer shot, the BT will also likely be a better option at the velocities you are likely to be running at.

 

[jimbires]

Dang .all depends i guess

I've always found the partitions easy to get accuracy .

 

[JMRhino]

Honestly in a 308 shooting small deer, you are not likely to stress a bullet enough beyond what a BT can handle. I have shot countless deer with the 120BT out of a 260rem and a 150BT out of a 7mmRM. Stuff just isn't that hard to kill if you put the bullet in the right place. I think the BT range of hunting projectiles is largely underrated and too many people tapping away at keyboards (not intended for the good folk here) with little field experience will make you believe our game has become armour plated. If you were chasing elk or moose, the AccuBond, Partition or E-tip would all make great choices but for a small bodied deer you just don't need to be at the premium end of the bullet spectrum...and if you ever did have to make a substantially longer shot, the BT will also likely be a better option at the velocities you are likely to be running at.

+1

I routinely use Nosler 120 BTs in my son's (x2) and my 7-08 and they have been outstanding with eastern whitetails. In my experience, they can handle the velocity and seem to have a better terminal performance over the 140 BT and 140 AB. I have had good results with the 140s but the 120s seem to be perfectly suited for my hunting style and ranges (50-300 yards). I don't see why the 308 Win BTs would behave too much different. I would not hesitate to use any NOS BT product on whitetails if they shoot well in one's rifle.

 

[cjmac]

Honestly in a 308 shooting small deer, you are not likely to stress a bullet enough beyond what a BT can handle. I have shot countless deer with the 120BT out of a 260rem and a 150BT out of a 7mmRM. Stuff just isn't that hard to kill if you put the bullet in the right place. I think the BT range of hunting projectiles is largely underrated and too many people tapping away at keyboards (not intended for the good folk here) with little field experience will make you believe our game has become armour plated. If you were chasing elk or moose, the AccuBond, Partition or E-tip would all make great choices but for a small bodied deer you just don't need to be at the premium end of the bullet spectrum...and if you ever did have to make a substantially longer shot, the BT will also likely be a better option at the velocities you are likely to be running at.

That Makes sense. How you feel about the Hornady sst ? Vs the nosler ?
Iv shot one with a Sierra gameking btsp at 90 yards in the neck . Bullet didnt exit. Guess it just dumped all its energy in first few inches . Maby thats what I need for small deer here ? Fast expansion?

 

[JMRhino]

That Makes sense. How you feel about the Hornady sst ? Vs the nosler ?
Iv shot one with a Sierra gameking btsp at 90 yards in the neck . Bullet didnt exit. Guess it just dumped all its energy in first few inches . Maby thats what I need for small deer here ? Fast expansion?

I know your questions weren't directly for me, and I don't have an opinion SST's performance on game, but I do have experience with the Sierra GK SBT in 165gn for 308 Win. All have died with rapid blood loss and very short runs. I shoot a traditional lung "behind the shoulder" shot with those bullets as i do think they are relatively frangible. They are also easy to develop loads for...

 

[cjmac]

That the sierra gameking boat tail soft point gameking your talking about ?

I know your questions wasn't directly for me and I don't have an opinion SST's performance on game but I do have

 

[JMRhino]

That the sierra gameking boat tail soft point gameking your talking about ?

Yes.