Bullet Selection

The selection of the "best" bullet for any given task is a highly debated topic on the hunting boards.  Probably, second only to the "best" cartridge debates in popularity.  I have my opinions, just like everybody else and they are expressed here.

As mentioned on the Reloading page, I first started reloading primarily to be able to use "premium" bullets for hunting.  In all the gun rags of the time, the Nosler Partition was the bullet to use.  It was the bullet I wanted to be able to use and the only way to do it back then was to "roll your own".  As time has went by there have been more and more "premium" bullets introduced, some modeled after the Partition, some with bonded cores, and some mono-metal.  Below is a discussion of some of the types and my thoughts on each.  But first let's talk about the demands placed on a bullet by our rifles and the game we hunt.

The selection of the proper bullet is driven primarily by two factors, the size of the animal we're hunting and the expected impact velocty or range of velocities at impact.  If the rifle you prefer produces relatively low to moderate velocityies, your choices are many and the demands on the construction of the bullets are relatively simple.  You can use most any well constructed bullet from any number of sources and have your needs met well.  If, however, your preference falls in the realm of high velocity, the demands are high.  The higher the velocity the more extreme the demands.

Let's use an example I'm somewhat familiar with, the 300 Win Mag.  The 300 is capable of starting most 180 grain bullets at over 3000 fps. The table below is based on using the Partition started at a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps.

Range Yds	Path in	Come Up clicks	Velocity fps	Energy ft/lbs	Momentum lb/ft	Tof sec	Windage in	Windage clicks	Optimal Game Wgt
Muzzle	-1.5	0	3,000	3,597	77	0.000	0.0	0	1,312
50	1.0	-8	2,902	3,366	75	0.051	0.1	1	1,188
100	2.5	-10	2,806	3,147	72	0.104	0.6	2	1,074
150	2.9	-7	2,712	2,939	70	0.158	1.5	4	969
200	2.1	-4	2,621	2,745	67	0.214	2.5	5	875
250	-0.0	0	2,531	2,560	65	0.273	4.0	6	788
300	-3.4	4	2,443	2,385	63	0.333	5.7	7	709
350	-8.3	9	2,356	2,218	61	0.395	8.0	9	636
400	-14.7	14	2,272	2,063	58	0.460	10.6	10	570
450	-22.9	19	2,189	1,915	56	0.528	13.7	12	510
500	-32.9	25	2,108	1,776	54	0.598	17.2	13	455

Thus we potentially would need our bullet to not come a part at an impact veloctity of 2900 (50 yds) and still expand adequately at a little over 2000 fps.  I'm not going to get into the "how far is too far" debate, you pick it. But if you compare the energy values, obviously the stresses placed on the bullet vary a great deal from the muzzle out to 300 yds or beyond.  This energy is what makes bullets come apart, fragmenting, shedding cores, or whatever.  The various bullet makers have come up with a number of solutions to expand at "low" velocity while retaining "enough" mass for adequate penetration.  A few of the options are discussed below.

For those interested in an very detailed study of terminal ballistics, try Bullet Wounding: The Analysis of Terminal Ballistics.  This is probably one of the most informative articles I've ever read on the subject.  The discussion of wound channels created by various bullets and velocities should help you make an educated decision.

Nosler Partition This was the original dual core bullet.  The front section is soft to provide good expansion at modest velocities and the protected rear core will penetrate even if the front core fragments completely (as it will if you put it throught the shoulder of an elk at close to 3000 fps).  Many times I've heard hunters say that a Partition failed to expand, they found exit holes way to small for an expanded bullet.  My opinion is that in actuality, the bullet did expand, the front core was "wiped" completely off in the wound channel and the rear core and jacket exited the animal, just like it was designed to do. I have heard of the Partitions losing the rear core but have never experienced it personally. For use on tough animals at high velocities, the partition is a solid dependable work horse and is available in several brands of factory ammo.
Swift A-Frame This bullet is constructed very similarly to the Partition with additional benefit of a bonded core. They are significantly more expensive than Partitions but retained weight is significantly higher. This last year I used 180 gr A-Frames in my 300 Win Mag on elk (finally). The first shot was @125 yds, rear quartering to the off-side shouder, entrance was just behind the last rib. The second shot was a mirror of the first from the other side @135 yds. Both picture perfect mushroomed bullets were found just under the skin on the off-side. Weight retention was excellent 1 weighed 167.3 gr, the other 173.7 gr, after penetrating approximately 3 ft of elk. The only complaint one could voice about this performance would be the lack of an exit wound. The bull was dead after the first shot, he just didn't know it yet and neither did I, thus the second shot which put him down where he stood. Based on this limited experience I am very pleased with their performance.
Trophy Bonded Bear Claw The Bear Claw is purported to a litle "tougher" than the Partition due to the solid metal rear section and bonding the front core to the jacket.  Weight retention is enhanced but they don't expand quite as easily as the jacket is thicker. I've never heard a report of a Bear Claw failing.  The only downside is that you may have to track an animal a little farther due to the more controlled expansion, but it will do the job if you put them in the right place.
Barnes X This is my favorite bullet to date.  I have heard several reports of reloaders having accuracy problems.  I have not, they have performed well in every rifle I've tried them in.  Most of the rifles I use push bullets pretty fast, the slowest rifle I own is a 30-06 and it stays home most of the time.  For game the size of elk or larger, I invariably use my 300 Win Mag. usually loaded with 180 grain XBTs at just over 3100 fps.  This 300 is a BOSS equipped Model 70 and it loves these things normally producing groups in the .5-.75 inch range at 100. The only other complaint I've heard is that several years back they sometimes did not expand at all.  I believe this problem if it was a problem has been solved.  They advertise that they will expand at less than 2000 fps currently. One thing to be aware of is that all mono-metal bullets are longer than a lead core bullet of equal weight.  If your rifle is a slow twist for caliber it may not stabilize them adequately. The Barnes will almost always fully penetrate an animal (I have yet to recover one) but it does not produce the violent expansion associated with some of the others.  If your rifle will likes 'em, I don't think you will have any complaints with the way they work.
Combined Technologies FailSafe The FailSafe is the most complex bullet construction I've seen.  The front section is constructed like a mono-metal hollow point similar to the Barnes X with a rear lead core protected by a steel cup.  With all the pieces that make up a FailSafe, one could wonder about consistency and accuracy.  I have used these in Winchester ammo and had no problems with accuracy or performance on game.  In all honesty, they do not group quite as well as my tuned handloads but I never really tried to tweak them in with BOSS, just set it at the factory recommended sweet spot and called it good, grouped around 1-1.5 inches which is plenty good for a big game animal at reasonable ranges.
GS Custom HV This is another mono-metal bullet similar to the Barnes but the patented design with driving bands allows you to drive them 100-150 fps faster than the commonly accepted maiximum velocity for the weight.  I have some on hand that I plan to test in my 300 as soon as the weather breaks.  Gerard Schultz, the designer, "guessed that I should be able to launch his HV160s at 3300-3400 fps out of my 300.  If that's the case, I may have found a new elk load. This is one area where I really like the BOSS on my 300, you can load for maximum safe velocity, and then tweak in the accuracy with the BOSS.  Really, allows you to have your cake and eat it too. You may find the story behind the HV pretty interesting at GS Custom. Just click on the links in the "New Rules" table.
Lost River Technologies J36 This is a unique mono-metal bullet with a ballistic tip to improve the ballistic efficiency which provides higher impact velocity and flatter trajectory.  Both of these characteristics are near and dear to my heart.  Also they are unique in that they are made from a copper-nickel alloy rather than pure copper. The Ballistic Coefficient of the .308 180 grain J36 is .672 versus .552 for a Barnes XBT of the same size.  In my 300, assuming equal velocity of 3100, this equates to .5 inch less drop at 400 yards and an increase in impact velocity of +-120 fps.  You be the judge, if that impresses you, give 'em a try, they're only $2 a piece. They definitely have some interesting things to say about hunting bullets, give 'em a read at Lost River Technologies.