Streamlining My Choice Of Bullets

[bullet]

I have over the years been involved in a lot of hunting, reloading and shooting. Needless to say I do love all three. They are my hobby and outside of my Christianity and family are my passion. I will finish this year with the 225gr Sierra G/K as the hunting load for my 358Win, although last year I took a buck with the 225gr AccuBond while hunting with GB300wm (Jerry) and it was a one shot drop in his tracks 105yd shot. I will finish this year with the 165gr Sierra HPBT G/K in my 300Wim Mag. I have decided to use one bullet for each that will allow me to hunt with either cartridge and kill what ever I am hunting from a coyote to a bear or bison and everything in between.

After the hunting season is over for me I will be going to the range to develop new loads that will allow me the use of one bullet for all my work with either caliber. Now this has not been an easy choice since I have used everything through the years including Sierra, Hornady, Swift, Speer, Nosler, Barnes, Remington, Woodleigh and a few others. After much though and experience, I have decided to move to the 225gr AccuBond for my 358Win and the 200gr AccuBond for my 300Win mag. It was a real struggle in my mind in the final evaluation between the Partition and the AccuBond, but I have settled on the AccuBond.

It will be interesting to see just how this pans out in my rifles but I believe it is the best over all choice for both my major hunting rifles. :mrgreen:

 

[Greg Nolan]

bullet
Sounds like excellent choices. You just can't go wrong with the AccuBond. After having tried most every bullet also they remain my first choice in all cases and have never let me down. I do wish they would put out a few more calibers and weights but they are slowly getting there. In the mean while I have to revert to other bullets for some loads.
Greg

 

[JD338]

Tough to beat the AB. Several calibers and weights to choose from. High BC's, very accurate and dependable on game performance.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Sounds good Mike.

Can you seat the 225 AB deep enough in the 358 for decent velocity?

 

[bullet]

I made a correction on my original post, It was a 225gr AccuBond that I shot the deer with last year.

 

[DrMike]

Mike,

My sole caveat on your post is the 225 grain AB in the 358. I can seat is and shoot it, but I have been singularly unsuccessful in generating sufficient velocity in my Hawkeye with that bullet. I will watch your post with interest. Best of luck in your explorations, and a blessed and prosperous New Year to you.

 

[SJB358]

Same here. I am able to shoot the 225gr Sierra GK pretty well out of my Browning, and I was able to get 2450 and great accuracy. Looking forward to the AB load work, but I think I am going to switch to the PT and call it a day! Good luck with your load work Mike. Scotty

 

[bullet]

Mike,

My sole caveat on your post is the 225 grain AB in the 358. I can seat is and shoot it, but I have been singularly unsuccessful in generating sufficient velocity in my Hawkeye with that bullet. I will watch your post with interest. Best of luck in your explorations, and a blessed and prosperous New Year to you.

Mike, use TAC powder and make it a compressed load. Start at 48grs and don't be afraid to work up to 50. Use a drop tube or tap the bullet as you slowly put in the Tac. Also use Fed 215 or CCI250 primers and you will be over 2500fps. I am getting 2552fps and still under an inch at 100yds. Devastating round!!!! When I hit that buck last year with that 225gr AccuBond in January at 105yds, he did not shake and fall like when I hit him with a 300Wby or 300Win with a 165gr bullet, but he immediately folded up and just clasped and never moved. My shot placement was just barely behind the shoulder where the bullet cuts just across the top of the heart and through the lungs.

I have chosen to go the the AccuBond because of the construction of the bullet being bonded making it very hard for a core and jacket separation of any kind (which I have never had that happen using the AccuBond), plus the added advantage of the BC. It really makes a difference in my 358Win over the Sierra Game King as far a my down range ability. With the AccuBond the 358Win is a true out to 300yd cartridge and still has a lot of energy when it gets there.

Scotty, I think the Partition will be great for the Browning since it can't use the AccuBond. I have already posted my load work on this forum for the 225gr AccuBond last year.

Ballistic Chart
358Win Ruger Hawkeye
225gr AccuBond
2555fps
Ramshot TAC powder
Sight in at 3" high at 100yds

1000 foot pounds energy as minimum on deer size game

Yards--------Velocity-----Energy-----(above/below line of sight)

0--------------2555------3261-------------(-1.5")

100-----------2348------2275-------------(+3")

220-----------2213------2232-------------(Zero)

275-----------2010------2095-------------(-5”)

313-----------1941------1881--------(-10” P/B-hold top of shoulder)

371-----------1837------1686--------(-10” from top of shoulder)

390-----------1804------1626--------(-14” from top of shoulder)


The cartridge is highly accurate as demonstrated in an out of the box Ruger Hawkeye with no extra work of any kind done to the rifle.

 

[DrMike]

That is interesting ballistic data, Mike. TAC works well for me, and I've used it with several bullets in my Hawkeye, albeit at lower charges. I do get better accuracy with other powders. Consequently, I'm slightly behind you in velocity with 225 grain Sierras, but with similar accuracy. However, I am impressed with TAC in the 250 RM, where I get exceptional velocity and accuracy. I'll examine this again with the AB as I get opportunity to shoot this winter. Consequently, QuickLOAD projects that a charge of 44 grains of TAC is maximum with the 225 grain AB. Do you see any pressure signs with your load at 48 grains?

 

[bullet]

That is interesting ballistic data, Mike. TAC works well for me, and I've used it with several bullets in my Hawkeye, albeit at lower charges. I do get better accuracy with other powders. Consequently, I'm slightly behind you in velocity with 225 grain Sierras, but with similar accuracy. However, I am impressed with TAC in the 250 RM, where I get exceptional velocity and accuracy. I'll examine this again with the AB as I get opportunity to shoot this winter. Consequently, QuickLOAD projects that a charge of 44 grains of TAC is maximum with the 225 grain AB. Do you see any pressure signs with your load at 48 grains?

I do not see pressures signs even when I am using a compressed charge of 50grs which is my hunting load. The 358Win just does not create a problem with any of the powders it likes when it come to pressure. All of my good loads have been compressed charges. My Sierra load is a compressed charge of AA2495BR. Double Tap uses TAC to get their velocities in the 358Win with the 225gr AccuBond. Now, I would suggest for you are anyone to begin at 44grs and work up in half grain steps and you will be able to check for signs because each rifle is different. I love the 358Win, because with powders like IMR4895, H4895, AA2495BR and TAC, you can't put enough powder in the case to cause a problem. Now this is my experience with my Hawkeye, so work up from the load data you have and you will find when you are getting close to the limit if you find the limit at all.

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, I use a lot of A2495, IMR3031, IMR4895 and 10X with good results. I do like the 358. Awesome cartridge. I'll start work with the 338 Federal shortly.

 

[BK]

This is good stuff. I am going to start loading for my .358 Hawkeye All Weather, and this will help me narrow down powder choices. I think I'm going to stick with the .225 Partition, unless the rifle clearly shows that it doesn't like them.

Just as an aside, has anybody checked to see if there is a cheaper bullet that has the same (or close) BC as the Partition?

 

[SJB358]

I think the cheaper bullet option is buying the 225gr Nosler 2nds when they run them. I have 250 of them right now and I think they were about 15 a bag when I got them. Second choice would be the 225gr Sierra's. They are a pretty economical bullet that would still hammer big game also I believe. Keep your eye on the Shooters Pro Shop, when they release them, they go FAST! I am still waiting on the 250gr PT's as their companion bullet is the 250gr Speer with identical shape and BC of the PT. Scotty

 

[bullet]

I think the cheaper bullet option is buying the 225gr Nosler 2nds when they run them. I have 250 of them right now and I think they were about 15 a bag when I got them. Second choice would be the 225gr Sierra's. They are a pretty economical bullet that would still hammer big game also I believe. Keep your eye on the Shooters Pro Shop, when they release them, they go FAST! I am still waiting on the 250gr PT's as their companion bullet is the 250gr Speer with identical shape and BC of the PT. Scotty

Well since you are going with the Partition you might want to let go of those 225gr Accubonds and sell them to another country boy. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

Sorry, that is what I have, the 225gr PT's 2nds. Never bought any AB's cause they are too long for me. Scotty

 

[bullet]

Sorry, that is what I have, the 225gr PT's 2nds. Never bought any AB's cause they are too long for me. Scotty

Well, like a lot of times I go fishing, I didn't catch anything :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

Sure enough. I have gone to pretty much all PT's in my loads for the most part. Been very happy with that choice. I don't feel like I will ever need more. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

Heck of a load Mike!

 

[bullet]

Yes, it sure got that buck's attention for brief moment and then he didn't have any other thoughts from then on.

 

[BK]

I think the cheaper bullet option is buying the 225gr Nosler 2nds when they run them. I have 250 of them right now and I think they were about 15 a bag when I got them. Second choice would be the 225gr Sierra's. They are a pretty economical bullet that would still hammer big game also I believe. Keep your eye on the Shooters Pro Shop, when they release them, they go FAST! I am still waiting on the 250gr PT's as their companion bullet is the 250gr Speer with identical shape and BC of the PT. Scotty

Yeah, last time I went through Bend I bought up all of the 225 Partitions they had.