Minimum velocities to expand bullets well.

[Savage99]

What are the minimum velocities to expand bullets well that are suitable for big game? The assumption here is that a limit to a bullet is it's ability to expand and at long range that diminishes with velocity.

Could Nosler respond with two bullets for expample. Take the .277" 140 gr AccuBond and the .308" 150 Ballistic Tip please. The game would be whitetail deer and if you deem necessary data for game larger than deer.

The only feedback I have so far is from Sierra on this question for long range coyote hunting and they say 2300 fps for that small animal.

What say you?

 

[Zeke Menuar]

http://www.seahook.com/bestbullet.jpg

ZM

 

[LoneStar]

The problem with the referenced test is that it uses a rather firm medium for the testing. The results may be relative to each other, but they will not necessarily be indicative of what the bullets will do in an animal. The wet paper is tough and homogenous - animals are not. The typical shot into the lungs means the bullet penetrates an inch of hide, fat and flesh, then 10" of air, then an inch of flesh, fat and hide. A bullet which expands well in wet paper may not expand at all on a typical lung shot. A bullet which expands well on a lung shot may go to pieces in wet paper. To me the most informative part of the test is the lack of expansion of some bullets below 1900 fps. If those bullets won't open up in wet paper, you'd probably have to hit bone to get them to expand in an animal .

The chart certainly represents a lot of testing effort, but the results shown require some thought on the part of the reader. The pictures cannot be taken at face value. 8)

 

[Zeke Menuar]

Trying to predict actual bullet performance in game is a crapshoot at best.

This test allows for a pretty fair comparision of bullet performance between brands in a standardized test.

It also tells me that most any standard cup/core bullet will work just fine at speeds under 2800fps. At speeds above 2800fps the premium bullets such as Partitons and the like should work better. Not a perfect test, but it is one of the better controlled tests I have seen on the web in recent years.

I recently bought a 300 WBY. This test made picking a bullet simple. Saved me tons of work and time(ended up picking factory 2nd 180gr Partition protected points).



This is my opinion. Your opinion may vary.

ZM