Author Topic: Swift A Frame, Trophy Bear Claw and Fail Safe Bullets (Read 563 times)

cynrays · « **on:** December 05, 2005, 03:26:10 PM »

I shoot a 30-06. I am having trouble getting exit wounds from Rem Soft Points. Will the above bullets give exit wounds in the 165 to 180 grain bullets? Thanks

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2005, 03:36:27 PM »

What are you shooting? Whitetail or Brown Bear? I'd say any of the newer bonded bullets would perform well in that category as well as ol faithful, the Nosler Partition.

Ian

cynrays · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2005, 04:03:43 PM »

I am shooting whitetail deer with 150 grain bullets...

june6th1944 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2005, 03:46:42 AM »

The bullets you mentioned are heavy-duty construction. I would reserve those for bear, elk, and moose. For deer, I use the 150g Nosler Accubond in a .30-06 Springfield load with 51.4g IMR 4064 and CCI Magnum Primers. I get sub-1/2 inch groups from this load (I am trying for one hole but I think "operator-error" gets in the way).

I loaded the Accubonds for the first time this year, and shot a deer at ~150 yards quartering away and to the right three weeks ago. I hit it in the right shoulder and it exited in front of the left shoulder. There was a roughly 1/2-inch exit wound, and it was a very clean kill. The deer dropped when it was hit, in fact, I had to look for the entry wound b/c there was no blood visible when I walked up to it. I am pleased with the Accubond results.

As Haywire mentioned, new, bonded-core bullets like the Accubond are something to consider and the Nosler Partition is hard to beat for any game. I do like these Accubonds though, the tips cylce well in my Remington 700 ADL.

Good luck.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2005, 04:46:17 AM »

Just shoot a 180 made by anyone and it will exit. I am amazed at the folks who want the lightest and fastest when what really works best is the heavy for caliber bullets and with them premiums are not needed unless on dangerous game.

cynrays · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2005, 12:27:00 PM »

Greybeard. I agree with you on the 180 grain bullets. Thanks very much....

jerkface11 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2005, 01:37:46 PM »

I'm with GB on this. Just go to a heavier bullet you don't need a more expensive one. A nice winchester or remington 180 grainer will do the job. Though I'd go with a sierra.

varmit_master · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2005, 10:43:07 PM »

Hi if you reload try the Barnes TSX bullets. I think they will work for you. VM

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:45:35 AM »

Quote from: varmit_master

Hi if you reload try the Barnes TSX bullets. I think they will work for you. VM

I second that.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2005, 04:10:01 PM »

Can someone explain to me why A-Frames are so darned expensive?
I can buy Woodleighs for about half the price and I don't think the Woodleighs are a lesser bullet.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:13:09 AM »

I believe at the end of each workday, all the hands in the shop carefully load up the day's work and thake all the bullets home with them. They carefully set them up around the dinner table, serve them tea and honey give them a short polishing afterward and tuck them into bed. The following day they bring them back and allow them to be sold.

Treatment in this manner causes better bullets that move straighter and always drop the animal if shot where the vitals are......Oh yeah and it adds to the cost too..............

:-D

kombi1976 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:44:46 AM »

Quote from: Reed1911

I believe at the end of each workday, all the hands in the shop carefully load up the day's work and thake all the bullets home with them. They carefully set them up around the dinner table, serve them tea and honey give them a short polishing afterward and tuck them into bed. The following day they bring them back and allow them to be sold.

Treatment in this manner causes better bullets that move straighter and always drop the animal if shot where the vitals are......Oh yeah and it adds to the cost too.............. :-D

You're not pulling my leg, are you, Ron?

Reed1911 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2005, 06:13:48 AM »

Of course I am

No offense to the super-premium bullet makers intended, but a lot of them are built for a very specific purpose. They work better hunting animal X under X conditions. Other than that, they are just like any other bullet and to me are a waste of money. I can see no reason whatsoever to use an A-Frame, TSX, XLC, MRX, or the like on a deer. That is like using the Nosler 60g Partition .224 bullet on a prairie dog! Does it work well? Yes! Does it work any better? No!
All the super premium bullets work as intended and certainly "one-up" their competition under certain circumstances, but it makes no sense to use them arbitrarily. Many of the gun rags word articles in such a way as to convince people that a good bullet will take the place of a good shot. We all know that is not true. It falls along the same lines that a better rifle will make you a better shooter. There is no reason to take your 6mm PPC benchrest rifle while hunting deer (unless that is all you have). Is it super accurate? Sure. Does the deer care? Nope, not bit.

kenscot · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2005, 01:08:06 PM »

Well I guess I will meet you guys half way in suggesting 165gr nosler ballistic tips for deer , always done fine buy me in 30-06

Reed1911 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2005, 01:15:35 PM »

Nosler BT bullets will work fine, personally if I can get a rifle to shoot the same accuracy from a lower cost bullet I'll use it. Then again, I spend most of my time killing paper and ballistic gel. Nosler's are in the premium cost range, but the BT's are really pretty cheap compared to many and they do work well. If you are a high volume shooter then I would consider Hornady SST's or even "gasp" Winchester CL bullets.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:28:29 PM »

Oh, I'm no high volume shooter.
I WISH!! :roll:
The bullets I use most are 90gn Sierra GameKings in my 303/25 and I'm quite comfortable to throw them at the landscape.
So I really can't see the point of spending AUD$110 on 50 bullets, of which most will be used in load development, ony to use them once a year and to have it give me a pang each time I pull the trigger.
The way I figure a premium bullet should make you feel better about dispatching your target, not the feeling you may have to sell you first born to buy another box! :eek:
Woodleighs are about $35 a box of 50 for everything smaller than .375 cal and I'm happy enough with that.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** December 09, 2005, 07:20:54 PM »

Quote from: cynrays

I shoot a 30-06. I am having trouble getting exit wounds from Rem Soft Points. Will the above bullets give exit wounds in the 165 to 180 grain bullets? Thanks

Back to the original question, the Swift A-Frame, Speer Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Combined Technology (Nosler/Winchester) Failsafe, Barnes X/XLC/TSX, Swift Scirocco and North Fork should all give reliable exits. As should Nosler Partition, Nosler Accubond, Hornady Interbond, and Speer Grand Slam, all of which are much less expensive than the others listed.