Premium bullet haters.

[Redhawk1]

I don't know why when someone ask's about bullet choice, and when some reply about our experience with premium bullets, do the standard bullet guys feel they have to bash the premium bullets?

What my point is, lately when Barnes X or for the matter any Barnes bullet is suggested, everyone wants to bash them except the ones that use them on a regular basis. Now if you have experience with them and you had bad results, I like to here that without the bashing. If I got the performance out of standard bullets that I wanted, I would use them. It sure would save me some money. But what I personally expect from bullet performance may be different than what other expect.

Just thought I would bring that up and get some of your thoughts.  

[John R.]

Redhawk I think some of the Premium bullet bashers are just to cheap to buy the good stuff. If a bullet costs more than $12.00 a hundred they won't use it. I'm not knocking the traditional bullets (used Core-locks for years) but in certain situations I'd rather put my faith in the premium bullets,and since we can't tell when that might be, I use the premiums all the time.  :grin:

[Swamp Fox]

I do most of my hunting with Winchester Power Points. For deer sized game they have never failed me and they are accurate.

I also load for competition. Different purpose, different bullets.

However, I would never bash a person for wanting some next level stuff in his hunting rifle.

[bajabill]

I dont condone bashing,

My feelings about "premium" bullets, (FOR MY SITUATION) is that they are overkill.   Too much experience with the cheapest winchester or remington bullet in a 30-30 (and many times upwards of 5 or 6 year old ammo) killing 175lb deer effectively to entertain the contrary.  I would shoot my gun 3 shots to confirm the scope did not move, and shoot one bullet into a deer.

Now, if I shot as little as I used to, the true dollar difference would be about 2 bucks a year - big deal.  But, now I shoot a few hundred holes in low quality paper and dont want to piss money away for no additional happiness.  If it made me the least bit more happy to send a dollars worth of lead/copper/unobtainium downrange with each bang, then I would do it and ask for nobody's blessing.

It is hard to argue with - "I wanted to", but if you are telling me that you need the latest and most expensive projectile to effectively kill a 175 lb deer, dont hold your breath waiting for me to agree.  Perhaps your demands are different.

[R.W.Dale]

For certain borderline calibers for particular game you'd want premium bullets. Like if using a .243 on whitetail at extended ranges. In those situations they have their place. But if you're going to load up the newest whizbang 150 grain triple shock or trophy bonded bearclaw in a .30-06 to shoot whitetail you've got more money to blow than i do.

[Graybeard]

I love premium bullets for those times when they are needed. White tail deer however is NOT one of those times unless maybe you're using a .22 or .24 on them. Thing is I just DO NOT agree that Barnes is a premium bullet. My results with them has been horrendous and of the posts I've seen made by others who addressed their results the majority seems to agree.

But the hard cold truth of the light of day is that if you don't use magnums then standard bullets will do for well over 90% of your hunting needs. Make that 100% if you're wise enough to use a big enough bore for the job and are using heavy for caliber bullets.

[Barstooler]

Greybeard, I concur.

Most of my rifles are built off variations of the 30-06.  (25-06, 6.5-06, 270, 30-06, 338-06, and 35 Whelen) I have never had problems using Speer, Sierra, and/or Hornady standard bullets to take game with them.

Also used standard bullets in the 243, 6mm Lee Navy, 256 Newton, 30-30, 30-40, and 45-70 with no problem.

My "odd ball" calibers are:

22-250 -- don't give a damn if the bullet blows up

and

338 RUM -- the only rifle I buy premium bullets for!!

However, if someone wants to buy and use premiums -- more power to em.  Great for the economy!

Barstooler

p.s.  Hello Redhawk, how have you been?

[Haywire Haywood]

I agree with most of the rest of you.  If I was going on a high dollar guided hunt where I didn't know the area, didn't know what kind of shot I was going to have, and was likely not to be able to do a repeat guided hunt if I chose not to take a quartering shot at range because I didn't know if my ammo was up to snuff for it, then I would probably not use my reloads at all.  I would find commercially loaded "premium" ammunition topped with a premium bullet that would shoot well in my rifle.

If I were going down to the local reserve to pop a doe at 75yds on a saturday afternoon, then my loads with run of the mill "standards" would do me just fine.

Ian

[victorcharlie]

For the Brazillianth time.......My guess is that a Remington Corelot has killed more game than any other bullet made.........That's good enough for me........what?  Dead ain't really dead?  

Was is P.T. Barnum that said " A fool and his money are soon parted"?  or was it "There's a sucker born everyday"?

[Redhawk1]

For the Brazillianth time.......My guess is that a Remington Corelot has killed more game than any other bullet made.........That's good enough for me........what?  Dead ain't really dead?  

Was is P.T. Barnum that said " A fool and his money are soon parted"?  or was it "There's a sucker born everyday"?

Just the comments I was not looking for.


When I am deer hunting in my State, it is a shotgun only state. I use remington copper solids, no matter the type of rifled barrel shotgun round is, it is considered premium bullets at around $11.00 for 5 rounds. But my point is, I don't use a premium for deer hunting. Now when I go to Alaska for Caribou or any other big game, I use premium bullets. If I go on any big game hunts and pay big bucks for a hunt, I want that added security of my bullets being up for the task. Weather it be in my mind or as I have personally witnessed on the performance.

Now when I go to the range to shoot, I don't sit there and blow up 100 rounds of premium bullets on paper. When I want to just sit there and shot all day, I get a 22LR or I shoot my 22-250 with Nosler BT.
As someone stated, when I shot a varmint round, I want it to blow up.

When I shoot my handguns, I almost always shoot cast bullets with gas checks. So there again I just don't send premium bullets down range.
All my guns that I load the premium bullets in are my special hunting guns, not my go shooting holes in paper or just blowing up stuff with guns.
I don't think anyone could afford to shoot premium bullets 100% of the time.  JMHO.  

[Chief]

I personally like the premium bullets for hunting but I also like cast bullets.  Now that sure sounds like something to get flammed on.  My 375 H&H doesn't like all premiums, seems to like Nosler partitions but not Barnes (at least in the light weights).  Now I don't like punching holes in paper with a premium bullets due to costs except to fine tune before hunting season but for hunting live game, I like the premiums for a couple of reasons.  It may be hopefull thinking but I want the little extra insurance.  For example, if I got to close to a moose kill being guarded by a grizzle who doesn't want to share.  In fact, the little extra insurance is why I went for a 375 H&H over a smaller caliber for moose hunting.  Now the other reason I prefer a premium bullet in hunting is I would hope they would hold together better and damage less eating meat.  I guess a bullet coming apart in the lungs might actually be good but one coming apart on a shoulder bone could make for a lot of tracking and more wasted meat.  I guess I'm assuming a premium will do what it's suppose to.  I have read of noslers lossing their front end but I haven't experience it.  Just my thoughts.

[Jerry Lester]

I'm pretty much of the frame of mind that if I can get the results I want as far as accuracy, and terminal performance from a cheap bullet, then that's what I'll be shooting. If I feel like a premium bullet is giving me more of either, or both of those, then I'll hunt with a premium bullet no matter what they cost.

I don't try to avoid premium bullets because it cost too much to shoot them. I just figure if a cheaper bullet will get the job done, then I'll use the savings to buy even more cheaper bullets, and enjoy that much more shooting.

A great example is the .357 Remington SP bullets I buy from Midway 2000 or more at a time. They shoot great in both my revolver, and rifle, and they perform on game consistantly. They do everything I expect from them(every single shot), and they do it as good as any premium bullet(better than some). Loading them though, unlike premium bullets ends up costing me less than $4.00 a box of 50, which translates into tons of practice shooting with the actual load I'm hunting with.

I'll use what ever I feel like I need to if it costs a lot, or very little. I prefer to use cheaper bullets, but I'm not a bit ashamed to shell out big bucks for the very top of the line if the need is there.

[sgtt]

What makes a premium bullet premium?  The cost?  The glossy ad?  The hype by some gun rag author who's bullets are paid for?  I think it to be performance.  I have been using Hornady Interlocked for yrs.  They have never failed me.  The game includes everything from rabbits to moose.  I used to use a spackling of Rem. until they changed the bullet construction a couple of yrs. back.  (It ain't the same corelokt it used to be.)  When Hornady introduced the Interbond I sent off an email asking why.  The response I rec'vd was from Steve.  To paraphrase he said they had to keep up with the competition.  I tried the Barnes X and the accuracy was attrocious.  Maybe I didn't (couldn't afford to) experiment enough.  Spend your money how you want.  My larder is always stocked and I would guess that the savings compiled in the last 32 yrs reloading Interlockeds has paid for more than one of the guns in the safe.

[Mac11700]

Redhawk1:  
 
I think the bashing occurs because...  
 
#1.. Some folks just love to argue  
 
#2..Some folks just love to tell you you spend to much money  
 
#3...Some folks just love to say that " They don't need no stinking premium bullet when cheap ones will work just fine" also say they have never lost an animal to bullet failure from a cheap bullet...and most likely wouldn't admit to it even if they did and could prove it...because they wouldn't want to discourage anyone from using their favorite brand... see #1 and #2
 
#4...Some folks have never tried them because the are too expensive to hunt with...
#4a...The real reason they are too exspensive is they need to use up 5 or 6 boxes of them just to site in their rifle... see #10
 
#5 ...Some folks only shoot 1 box of ammo in 3 of 4 years...1 to site in...1 to kill their deer...( I actually know several folks like this)...see #2
 
#6 ..Some folks are scared the premium bullet won't work properly on deer and just zip on thru them...they get much better blood trails from their cheap bullets making 6-10" entry holes(mainly very frugal people using on-sale/close out bargin bin bullets...usually varmint type bullets...but they shoot so darn good...type folks)...and yes...I  actually know a few of them too...
 
#7...Some folks just won't believe you might actually have a need for a premium bullet...just because they don't.... see #1
 
 
#8...Some folks won't use them...because a friend of their 3rd or 4th cousin removed 2 times...had a uncle who lost a deer to those real exspensive bullets  way back when...and has since killed 50 deer straight with ...(pick the brand)...bullet...
 
#9...Some folks won't use premium bullets because...they don't reload and their local gas station/grocery store/sporting good euporium doesn't carry any premium factory ammo..because their stores only buys in bulk from Walley World...
 
#10...Some folks won't use premium bullets...just because they don't want to have to clean their rifles...and those premium bullets might leave something in the bore and mess up their rifle...see #5
 
At least that's the way it seems to me with some of folks I know... as for myself and where I fit in...I like and use them both...and if I had to sacrafice and only buy 2 premium bullet type...it would be the Nosler Partitions or Accubonds...and at least Nosler sells their factory seconds at 1/2 or less on most of them....so they really aren't costing a whole lot more than the cheap bullets...

Mac

[warf73]

If someone wants to shoot premium bullets then who am I to say NO.

Is it necessary to shoot them all the time at all game NO.

But if you deem it necessary then buy all means spend away.

But on the other hand knocking/bashing folks that donÂ’t use premium bullets because you think its necessary, or think there cheap or whatever the case maybe is bull also.

I shoot 180 gr. Rem. Cor-Loks in 308 and 300WBY at white tail deer every year.
Does that make me cheap?

Do I use premium bullets yes I do, just not on game yet.
I haven't seen any reason for me to shoot 500gr. Swift A-Frames threw my 460WBY at deer yet.

Warf

[Redhawk1]

warf73, I agree, and I don't think anyone is cheap if the don't use premium bullets.  Like I said, use what makes you happy and works for you.  

When I get my guns sighted in with my hunting load, I will practice shooting with less expensive bullets just for trigger time. I also will not make adjustments to the scope for the bullets I use for practice. And before I go out on a hunt I always check my guns accuracy at home and after travel to hunting area with my hunting load.  

[John R.]

I didn't mean to imply that I used premiums for all shooting,just all hunting. I was using 115 Partitions in my 25-06, but I switched to the 110 Accubond this year. (Shoots 1/2" or better out of my Sendero.) I was using the 140 Partition in my 7mm/08 (great bullet) but I found the 140 Accubond to be a little more accurate. The Accubond groups like a Bal. Tip but hits like a Partition. I too load cheap bullets for plinking and general purpose shooting, but when hunting I like two holes (more air in more blood out) and I seem to get this more often with the premium bullets. That being said use what is accurate in your gun, :grin:  and what works for you.

[victorcharlie]

For the Brazillianth time.......My guess is that a Remington Corelot has killed more game than any other bullet made.........That's good enough for me........what?  Dead ain't really dead?  
 
Was is P.T. Barnum that said " A fool and his money are soon parted"?  or was it "There's a sucker born everyday"?

 
Just the comments I was not looking for.  
 
 
Well Sorry Redhawk......I really thought that the way this topic had been kicked around in the past that this was exactly the comment you were looking for!  I'm just trying to help you "stir the pot" so to speak.........
 
The great thing about America, at least for awhile longer, is it doesn't matter what I think!  What ever bullet you choose is your business, and none of mine!  But hey.......you asked........I told ya........Now if you just had $3.50 you could get a cup of yuppie coffee to go with my opinion, and you might have something you enjoy! :coffee:

[longwinters]

Why bash anything?  I like some stuff and don't like other stuff . . . this includes different bullets.  I don't use Rem Corloks because I have had several deer kills at under 25 yards and the bullets fragmented and never gave me an exit hole out of my 06.  Granted the 4 deer taken in this way never took a step, but I want an exit hole cuz it makes me feel better.  Out at longer distances accuracy and penetration were great.  But I can't get over those close shot results.  I shoot Accubonds, Partitions and Sierra GameKings. Used to shoot Ballistic tips but did not like the hugh holes they made, going in and going out close range and long range, so I don't use them for hunting either.  But it makes no sense to me to belittle someone elses choices cuz I don't like the "fit of the shoe".  Seems small minded and arrogant to me.

Long

[victorcharlie]

Yall need to lighten up some......I'm just playing devils advocate......seriously, I don't care what bullet anyone uses for what ever reason! :roll:

[myronman3]

i use what has worked for me.  i dont know if considered premium or not,  but i use nosler ballistic tips in my 270.   every deer i have shot with them dropped as if struck by a thunderbolt.

[Graybeard]

I don't use Rem Corloks because I have had several deer kills at under 25 yards and the bullets fragmented and never gave me an exit hole out of my 06. Granted the 4 deer taken in this way never took a step, but I want an exit hole cuz it makes me feel better.

Using those varmint weight bullets? If you'd use 180s you'd sure enough get an exit and a huge gapping one at that. There is no better up close deer medicine than 180 RN Corelocts in a .30 caliber rifle.

Like you I want an exit and I get it with heavy for caliber bullets NOT premium bullets for the most part. Now I do love those Nolser PTs tho and do use them a lot also. But I still go with 180s in my '06.

[goodconcretecolor]

I have had a similar experience to Longwinters. I have used mostly Hornady Interlocks. One time I had to use a Remington 150gr factory load(30-06). The Core-Locked diagonally traversed the neck of a 150 lb buck. About 20 inches or so of deer flesh. No bones were struck but the core almost separated from the jacket.
I have only recovered one interlock. It had gone through the chest cavity and smashed the shoulder joint on the far side and was found just under the skin.  Picture perfect          and no separation or losening of the core.
I've tried Interbonds and ballistictips but my rifle did not like them. So I am happily taking to the woods with 150gr Spirepoint Interlocks.

[longwinters]

I was using 180 gn out of my 30-06.  Maybe I just had a bad batch.

Long

[varmit_master]

The first gun my mom and dad bought me was a Rem 78 sportsman 30 06. I shot 180gr core-lokt out of it that is what my dad bought me . And i got alot of exits holes. My dad use to shoot core-lokt call the time in his 270 rifle . I talk him in to try some Nosler BT 130gr. now that is the only thing he shoots because i loaded him up 5 boxes of them.  But i havent loaded as long as some of the guys on here. They have been reloading longer than i have been alive . I have reloaded for some yrs and tried out diff, bullets out.  But i have always got back to Nosler bullets. They have never let me down and the few times i had made bad shoots i still got the deer. It is just what a person wants to shoot. If i am going to use a round to pactice with it is going to be the same round i hunt with. No need to change bullets just to practice with. I like to use a 125gr BT out of my 300 wby that is just me. I like shooting them in the shoulder and they drop. And VICTORCHARLIE is right dead is dead. No matter what bullet you shoot it with. And i will tell you up front i buy Nosler BT the factory 2nd's bullets  for my 22 250 and 223 . Never had a coyote could tell the diff. in the bullets. Just hunt and be happy with what you like . That is my .02 cents worth. VM  :-)

[NONYA]

I do all my hunting (rifle) with my 7mag and I only shoot my handloads,I load Nosler bullets and i use 1 load for everything (160 gr Accubond).When you have 1 gun and 1 load you want to use a quality bullet regardless of cost,I can reload rounds with Nosler bullets for less than it would cost me to buy Rem corelokts at Walmart and if you buy the Rem ammo with Nosler bullets the prices are insane.

[Dave in WV]

The only premium bullet I've used is the Hornady SST. It worked fine with more meat damage than with Core-Lokt of the same weight. I've witnessed the use of a Nosler BT by my son and while the kill was impressive we both feel they do too much meat damage.

If you mean controlled expansion bullets when you are speaking of premium bullets I have never used or needed them. Bashing which bullets someone uses is silly unless the bullet is woefully inadequate for the job and tactfully pointing out how the bullet is lacking is better than bashing.

[NONYA]

Only the heviest bullet in each caliber of the Ballistic tip bullet is recomded for hunting by Nosler,my father shot a MD at 110 yards with ballistic tips last year out of a 7 mag and they only penetrated about 4"before they came  apart,the deer took 4 rounds middle shoulder and had to be shot again when he walked up on it.I will NEVER load ballistic tips after seeing that crap,I shot 3 antelope with the Accubonds day before yesterday and they performed great!

[jerkface11]

I don't do any kind of hunting that requires a premium bullet. I figure i can probably kill deer with a 7mm rem mag shooting a 140 grain spitzer. If i was going after something tougher i'd use grand slams not some bullet that's $2 a pop.

[NONYA]

I pay $15 for 50 160 gr Nosler Accubonds,probably the best value in the bullet market.