Big Bullet test!!! Lots of Pics!!!

[DeerTracker]

We had a blast tonight guys! Literally and figuratively. We shot 11 different bullets from 8 different cartridges. We went through 49 jugs. Jugs are about 6-8" wide and were shot from about 20 yards. I might have to break this up into a couple of posts but here we go!
The bed of my pickup was full!

243 Winchester out of a Remington Model 700 ADL
Federal Premium 85gr TSX with advertised muzzle velocity of 3200fps
Found in 3rd jug with a dent in the back of the jug
Recovered weight of 85gr for 100% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .554"

243 Winchester with handloaded 95gr Ballistic Tip
Found in 3rd jug
Recovered weight of 56.6gr for 59.6% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .485"

243 Winchester with Hornady 100gr BTSP factory ammo 2960fps advertised
Found in 1st jug
Recovered weight of 68.4gr for 68.4% weight retention (if you can call it that)
Did not measure diameter

Tang Safety Ruger M77 MkII 25-06 100gr Ballistic Tip: handloads
Found in 2nd jug
Recovered weight of 51.6gr for 51.6% weight retention
Expanded diameter of jacket: .442"

Ruger Hawkeye 270 Winchester
130gr Federal Fusions with advertised velocity of 3050 at the muzzle
Found in 3rd jug with dent in the back
Recovered weight of 101.5gr for 78.1% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .657"

270 Winchester with handloaded 130gr AccuBond
Found in 3rd jug with dent in the back and dent in front of 4th jug
Recovered weight of 91.3gr for 70.2% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .508"

Remington Model 7 7mm-08
Handloaded 139gr Hornady Interlock
Found in 3rd jug with dent in the back of the 3rd and front of the 4th
Recovered weight of 110.9gr for 79.8% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .75"

7mm-08 with handloaded 140gr AccuBond
Found in 4th jug
Recovered weight of 99gr for 70.7% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .607"

 

[DrMike]

Some good data there, DT. The InterLock performed surprisingly well, though they have served me well over the years. The AB was about what I expected for weight retention. All good stuff to mull over.

 

[DeerTracker]

Custom 7mm-300Weatherby with handloaded 160gr Sierra Spitzer
Muzzle velocity around 3400fps
Found in 2nd jug
Recovered weight of 52gr for 32.5% weight retention
Expanded diameter of jacket: .410"

Marlin 336CC 30-30 150gr Federal Fusions with advertised muzzle velocity of 2390fps
Found in 4th jug!!! I couldnt believe it.
Recovered weight of 135.3gr for 90.3% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .645"

Remington 700 300WSM with handloaded 180gr AccuBond muzzle velocity of 2900fps
Found in 5th jug with dent in the back
Recovered weight of 122.2gr for 67.8% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .612"

Remington 700 300RUM with handloaded 180gr AccuBond muzzle velocity of 3250fps
Found in 3rd jug
Recovered weight of 105.9gr for 58.8% weight retention
Expanded diameter of .640"

And group pictures

 

[DeerTracker]

Sorry some of the pics are blurry. I guess the lighting wasnt real good in the reloading room.

 

[DrMike]

Great data that gives lots to think about. Thanks for taking the time and for posting.

 

[DeerTracker]

here's a few videos

 

[SJB358]

DT- Awesome shoot man! That was GREAT! That 95gr BT, 30-30 and 270 Fusion and 7-08, along with the AB's were pretty danged impressive! That really starts to sort out the bullets a little when they are cooked into jugs like that! Great show man! Really appreciate those. Looks like it was pretty fun as well. Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

DT -
Thanks for taking the time to post all of this data! A couple things really jump out at me from the pictures;
1. The 95 grain BT in .243 is a tough little bullet and I am glad that is the bullet I chose to build loads for my GF's son's rifle.
2. The Accubonds are impressive in their ability to penetrate and hold together.
3. The performance of the 7mm-08 140 grain AB over the 270 was not expected :shock:
4. That 30-30 load would be great black bear medicine.

 

[SJB358]

DT -
Thanks for taking the time to post all of this data! A couple things really jump out at me from the pictures;
1. The 95 grain BT in .243 is a tough little bullet and I am glad that is the bullet I chose to build loads for my GF's son's rifle.
2. The Accubonds are impressive in their ability to penetrate and hold together.
3. The performance of the 7mm-08 140 grain AB over the 270 was not expected :shock:
4. That 30-30 load would be great black bear medicine.

I can't wait to load up some of the Speer Deep Curls, as they are supposed to be the same bullet used in the Fusions. Should make for a nice close range thumper load. Hoping to get a chance with them this year! Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Great videos, DT. I truly enjoyed your production.

 

[DeerTracker]

Thanks. My Dad, brother, and I had a ton of fun. Might go back out and shoot a few more this evening. I forgot to shoot a few different rounds. Still have 22-250 60gr partitions, 243 Win 95gr Fusions, 7mm-08 120 and 140gr Fusions, 338 Lapua 300gr SMKs, 7mm-300Wby 160gr AccuBond, 270 Win 130gr Partitions, and Im sure Ill think of more!

 

[bbearhntr]

That is great information you shared with us! I am very impressed with the 30-30 penetration!

 

[FOTIS]

Great job! Very informative post.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I'm not surprised that the Fusions held together so well. I believe they are the best value of all the commercially loaded ammo on the market right now. I've played with the .270Win 130gr variety and was impressed with their accuracy in three different rifles and their velocity.

Glad to see the Interlock performed so well as I too use it in 7mm-08 loads. The NAB performed as expected, excellently. I liked the 300RUM NAB bullet which lost a piece of the jacket but still the lead core maintained it's integrity and bond.

Thanks for taking the time gathering this data and posting it. Kinda hard to thank you for going through all the effort in doing these tests cause I'm kinda jealous I wasn't there blowing up jugs with ya! :lol:

 

[Guy Miner]

Excellent tests Deer Tracker!

Thanks for all the photography, as well as weighing and measuring the bullets.

This stuff is a lot of fun to do, but it's also work, and can get expensive. I had some guys on another forum trying to get me to test this bullet and that - their favorites - I offered to read their posts when they shot 'em into water jugs and came up with something to measure and photograph! :grin: They never did post up about their own bullet tests, I didn't figure they would.

Good fun, and although our water jug tests aren't the last word in bullet testing, I think they give hunters an idea of what to expect from different bullets.

Good work! Guy

 

[DeerTracker]

Thanks guys. Wish ya'll could have been there. Didnt have time yesterday and Im not sure about today but I really want to test the other bullets I didnt get to shoot the other day.

 

[JD338]

DT,

Nice work!

JD338

 

[cloverleaf]

Very interesting! Thanks for all the work. I find it interesting that "now days " we talk about how well a bullet mushrooms and holds together, when once upon a time those bullets that fragmented would have been considered the best performers. Dad still swears buy a bullet that fragments partially as the quickest way to kill a deer. Just use enough bullet to get it in there before it does. I cant argue with his success, but its not the current school of thought. Again, thanks for the effort! CL

 

[1100 Remington Man]

Just came across this thread nice work. I have used that 100gr Hornady BTSP and it is a very good shooting bullet with a Max load of Reloader 22 in my 6mm Rem.
But yes I have found it to be a little to soft on Deer at close range inside of 100 yards, with that said it makes a great Antelope bullet where the range is longer with its high BC.
I will say this test makes a great visual aid and makes one want nothing but Bonded bullets.

 

[FOTIS]

Excellent test . Thank you for the share!