Ballistically +/- identical - 25-06 and 7mm-08: Which would you choose and why?

[Mac11700]

Mac:  Want to relate a story about the 30 cal, 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.  Nosler says it is for big game, OK so I loaded up a box.  I took them out Caribou hunting.  I shot a small Caribou, I do mean small, about the size of a Whitetail Buck.  Using my NEF, 30-06, I made a 40 yard neck shot, thinking I would drop it instantly.  The bullet blew a hole about the size of a softball in the neck.  Very shallow, little Caribou just wandered off.  Never fell or even staggered.  At 80 yards I made a second shot in the middle of the hole in it's neck.  This time the little guy fell instantly.  Still there was no damage beyond the spine.  I won't use Nosler Ballistic Tips on anything bigger than a Coyote.  Rog

I know what you mean Rog...I always thought the Ballistic tip in 30 cal never had their jackets made thicker like all of the larger diameter BT's..even though Nosler said they did.When I was talking to them on a regular basis..they told me the  CT BST's did have a different jacket thickness on the base..but I never could prove that either since I didn't have a way of cutting several and measuring them in a lab. Neck shots or point of shoulder shots under 100 yards is something the company will tell you is something to avoid with the regular BT's..They have other bullets which hold up much better for those particular scenarios.I've had real good luck with the BT on broad side shots that gave DRT results..the closest was 50 feet..and the wound channel was overly large..but this wasn't unexpected with the 270 Winchester round and the short distance. That's one of the reasons I started loading the Partitions and Accubonds and other high end bullets...Even using them at extremely close range they will blood shot a lot of meat when the velocity is high.

There will always be trade offs we have to contend with,and I feel there is no 1 perfect bullet for every type of shot on the same animal from off the end of the muzzle out to 6-700 yards,but with the long range shots using the regular BT's is a much better option IMHO.They open up easily and will perform as stated. That is the main reason I always have a higher grade bullet chambered first in case the shot is real close when going to and from my hunting area or stand where I can get a real close shot..be it a Partition type or bonded type and will switch when the distance is going to be much longer. It takes a more effort on my part and little longer to find 2 good similar shooting loads and changing out when I do get on my stand but the extra effort works and is worth it to me,and is just some additional piece of mind with the confidence I have in what I am shooting.

Mac

[Sourdough]

Mac:  I had not given it much thought till after I got back home following that hunt.  Here I was carrying my Handi loaded with Ballistic tips, looking for Caribou.  In the one area of the state with the highest Grizzly populations in the state.  If I had ran into a Grizzly, Graybeards prophacy just could have come true.  I could have become Grizzly poo.  Those Ballistic Tips would have only ticked him off real bad.

I'm back to Partitions and Accubonds.

[Mac11700]

Rog:

I hear ya..Just came back home from my gun dealer...went to stock up on some Fed 215M primers since I'm using a 300 Winny now..and looked at his prices for what few Nosler bullets he has left for 30 cal..His Partitions are $4.00 cheaper a box than the BT's..for 165 grain up.. Hopefully they will be there come payday.. There are quite a few new type of premium bullets out now..the Hornady GMX bullets and Nosler's E-tip that show a lot of promise and look to be every bit as tough as the Barnes offering with better BC's for those longish type shot..course we always have a real good stand by bullet that will take a lot of abuse and still perform..and that's the Grand Slams..I've always had good luck accuracy wise with them..so they are worthy of a mention too...and would work great with either the 25-06 or 7-08 the OP is inquiring about here..

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Speer has a new economy bullet called Deepcurl that appears to be similar to Federal Fusion and replaced the Hot-Cor line.

On second thought, realizing the tie between Federal and Speer, it probably is the Fusion as a component!! 

Tim

http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/rifle/hunting/deepcurl.aspx

[Mac11700]

Speer has a new economy bullet called Deepcurl that appears to be similar to Federal Fusion and replaced the Hot-Cor line.

On second thought, realizing the tie between Federal and Speer, it probably is the Fusion as a component!! 

Tim

http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/rifle/hunting/deepcurl.aspx

It's possible they are the same..in which case if the become readily available,sure as heck wouldn't be a bad choice for the 25-06 for a all around load with their 120 grain bullets..the 160-175 grain ones would be a little heavier for the same in the 7-08..I never had any issues hitting the  3k fps mark with my 25-06 and the Fusion ammo,it's good stuff I'm not too sure about them if going after something that bites back though like Rog does..I personally would stay with a much better bullet like the Partitions or Northforks IMHO..

Mac

[moorepower]

Until one knows what your intended use is and where your going to use it, its kind of tough to answer.