Author Topic: Cast or Jacketed? (Read 515 times)

jaberegg · « **on:** November 19, 2003, 02:22:36 PM »

My neighbor and I shoot a couple of hogs a year with both cast and jacketed bullets. We were talking the other night during happy hour as to which is the best. At the ranch we have two benches that we can shoot out to 275 yards an another area that is cleared to 90 yards with one bench. Our hunting pretty much consist of sitting a gun on the bench then waiting for a hog to come in while we're screwing off doing something else. The longest shot has been at 165 yards ( jacketed ) with the majority being 100 to 125 yards. So my question is....... what's the range you shoot and do you prefer cast or jacketed bullets? I don't want to get into what's the best gun/caliber but, if you feel cast or jacketed is better for the way you hunt I'd like to know. Personally I feel out to 125 yards there isn't much of a difference. Then again the biggest has been 150 pounds an all are head shot except the one that got it in the shoulder with the .223 and ran 26 yards with a jacketed bullet.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2003, 06:21:47 PM »

For me to answer that question I have to discuss the round being used as it varies. For big bore handguns in .44 to .475 caliber I prefer a heavy hard cast bullet. Same would apply to a big bore rifle of .44 or larger.

For smaller caliber rifles I'll go with a jacketed bullet but when the rifle caliber goes to .35 then a hard cast is once again a good option I think. Either way I like heavy for caliber bullets and if you are ever gonna use a premium bullet big hogs are the place.

GB

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2003, 11:34:42 AM »

I prefer the expansion you get with jacketed bullets whether in a handgun or rifle. Our hogs run a bit bigger than yours is seems(the largest I have taken went over 380 pounds) and I prefer to chew on the hog not the other way around. I have seen cast bullets fail and fail miserably(bullets acted just like full metal jacketed solids on body shots) on these leaving a wounded hog you have to go into the brush after. This will quickly separate the men from the boys. Lawdog

wener · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2003, 03:55:48 AM »

customcastbullets.com I put out a cast bullet designed for hogs! a 44 in 310gr. gas check soft nose bullet. pure lead nose and hard base. the nose isn't glued or melted together! its a keith type and the whole nose has a shank at the base so the hard lead goes around it and the top driving band would be where the hard lead starts! putting out quality cast bullets for over 20 years.

markc · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2003, 04:11:51 AM »

holly smoke! Personally I prefer to be up close and personal.. Maybe because the woods I hunt are quite thick and a long shot would be around 50yds!. Last hog I shot with the Marlin .44 was less than 10 yds. Thats just where she emerged from the thick stuff. For hogs, jacketed or cast, but nothing light weight.
markc