Bullet Performannce

[weekender21]

I have a .270WSM as well and many years ago shot 140 grain accubond hand loads. I’ve never seen a deer take a step and never recovered a bullet with that combo. The typical deer I was shooting were more like 180 pounds though.

I switched to 140 grain Barnes TSX when they came out in the early 2000’s. I still have 6 or so left and might put one into action if my son lets me have a turn this weekend. Like the accubond, I’ve never recovered a Barnes TSX, always two holes.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be too disappointed with that performance. I’ve seen partitions with similar weight retention.

.270WSM really is a great caliber.


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[T.R.]

I have discovered that Winchester EXTREME POINT ammo produces a giant entrance hole but mediocre penetration. I will go back to plain Jane Power Point ammo because of much better penetration. - TR

 

[Drycreek]

I have discovered that Winchester EXTREME POINT ammo produces a giant entrance hole but mediocre penetration. I will go back to plain Jane Power Point ammo because of much better penetration. - TR

The old cup and core bullets have been around a long time but they work.

 

[Mennoniteman]

I have discovered that Winchester EXTREME POINT ammo produces a giant entrance hole but mediocre penetration. I will go back to plain Jane Power Point ammo because of much better penetration. - TR

Interesting how your experiences in the field influenced your bullet selection.
Oh, along with Power Point, don't overlook Federal Premium Power Shoks, one of my old standby favorites.
Federal Power Shok, Winchester Power Point, and Remington Core-Lokt are all soft point bullets that have somewhat similar performance, and these three together probably account for more deer each year than any other brand.
Talking about rifle bullet selection, I've gone through the Accubond, Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, etc craze, and shot some bears and moose and things, but I'm kindof like you, I've come full circle back to the simple power point. I really do think that a lot of a shooters bullet journey comes down to defining and realizing what kind of shooter they are.
There's three distinct kinds of rifle shooters, and each kind does their bullet selection a bit differently;
#1 Long Range Rhooters: These guys don't even shoot factory loaded ammo, they always reload their own, often selecting bullets more for accuracy than performance.
#2 Long Range Hunters: These 500 yard hunters are better shooters than the average person, have a good benchrest with sandbags, and will often buy a box of each brand for starters, to see which brand of factory loaded ammo is the most accurate in their rifle. These shooters like to try specialty bullets. This is who I thought I was.
#3 Average Deer Hunters: Ninety percent of us (yes I've been guilty of this) buy a certain brand box of ammo because their grandpa always bought that kind, lay their rifle across the hood of their pickup the day before the season and fire two shots, drink a coke and call it good. If the two shots were 3 inches to the right, they just hold 3 inches to the left if they see a deer.
While I am a better shooter than #3, and I still shoot a lot, I've come to realize more and more that what I enjoy about hunting the most is the thrill of the chase. And that I probably enjoy habitat work more than bench shooting.
So after rambling around and splitting hairs, I guess what I've figured out is that I am probably more like shooter #3 after all, because I just want a low tech bullet that won't let me down on opening day at 100 yards, and that's why I usually shoot Federal Power Shoks, or Winchester Soft Points.

 

[yoderjac]

Interesting how your experiences in the field influenced your bullet selection.
Oh, along with Power Point, don't overlook Federal Premium Power Shoks, one of my old standby favorites.
Federal Power Shok, Winchester Power Point, and Remington Core-Lokt are all soft point bullets that have somewhat similar performance, and these three together probably account for more deer each year than any other brand.
Talking about rifle bullet selection, I've gone through the Accubond, Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, etc craze, and shot some bears and moose and things, but I'm kindof like you, I've come full circle back to the simple power point. I really do think that a lot of a shooters bullet journey comes down to defining and realizing what kind of shooter they are.
There's three distinct kinds of rifle shooters, and each kind does their bullet selection a bit differently;
#1 Long Range Rhooters: These guys don't even shoot factory loaded ammo, they always reload their own, often selecting bullets more for accuracy than performance.
#2 Long Range Hunters: These 500 yard hunters are better shooters than the average person, have a good benchrest with sandbags, and will often buy a box of each brand for starters, to see which brand of factory loaded ammo is the most accurate in their rifle. These shooters like to try specialty bullets. This is who I thought I was.
#3 Average Deer Hunters: Ninety percent of us (yes I've been guilty of this) buy a certain brand box of ammo because their grandpa always bought that kind, lay their rifle across the hood of their pickup the day before the season and fire two shots, drink a coke and call it good. If the two shots were 3 inches to the right, they just hold 3 inches to the left if they see a deer.
While I am a better shooter than #3, and I still shoot a lot, I've come to realize more and more that what I enjoy about hunting the most is the thrill of the chase. And that I probably enjoy habitat work more than bench shooting.
So after rambling around and splitting hairs, I guess what I've figured out is that I am probably more like shooter #3 after all, because I just want a low tech bullet that won't let me down on opening day at 100 yards, and that's why I usually shoot Federal Power Shoks, or Winchester Soft Points.

I'm sort of the same, just a hunter and 95% of my shots are under 100 yards. A couple years ago, I ventured into the Smokeless Muzzleloader world for the first time. My SML is only a 300 yard gun. This was my first introduction into high performance bullets. I ended up going with Pittman 275 gr accumax bullets for this gun. I have to say they are devastating on deer with a muzzle velocity of about 2500 fps coming out of my gun and accurate as well. I'm not a hand loader for rifles or pistols, so this is my first experience with custom bullets. I will say...They ain't cheap!

 

[Drycreek]

I load for both rifles and handguns, but I’m not a long range or target shooter. I’m simply a hunter who wants a particular load to hunt with. I also enjoy loading my own ammunition both for practice and hunting. I can get the most accurate load for my rifle with the bullet I want to use. I can load hot or mild, cast or jacketed, soft point or hollow point for my single actions. The rifle, after I worked up the load, I will shoot a few times each year, usually a three shot group from a bench to confirm zero, then however many deer, hogs, or coyotes that I want to shoot. That would be a couple deer, and 100% of the hogs and coyotes. Including the confirmation group, I probably won’t shoot over a dozen times with my .280 Rem.

The handguns, including .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt are another story. These are the ones I enjoy shooting. I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag getting a facelift as I type from RW Grip Frames (Ronnie Wells) in Houston, TX. A sneak preview of the work he is doing. This revolver started life as a plowhandle grip Blackhawk. Ronnie is installing one of his many designs based off of the Bisley grip but tweaked to provide a more recoil friendly grip. He will also install a hammer of his own design. I hope these pics appear in the sequence I intend. First, the stock gun with a Vortex Venom red dot. Next the installation of the new brass grip frame in progress. New grip panels too !

 

[Mennoniteman]

View attachment 29159View attachment 29160I load for both rifles and handguns, but I’m not a long range or target shooter. I’m simply a hunter who wants a particular load to hunt with. I also enjoy loading my own ammunition both for practice and hunting. I can get the most accurate load for my rifle with the bullet I want to use. I can load hot or mild, cast or jacketed, soft point or hollow point for my single actions. The rifle, after I worked up the load, I will shoot a few times each year, usually a three shot group from a bench to confirm zero, then however many deer, hogs, or coyotes that I want to shoot. That would be a couple deer, and 100% of the hogs and coyotes. Including the confirmation group, I probably won’t shoot over a dozen times with my .280 Rem.

The handguns, including .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt are another story. These are the ones I enjoy shooting. I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag getting a facelift as I type from RW Grip Frames (Ronnie Wells) in Houston, TX. A sneak preview of the work he is doing. This revolver started life as a plowhandle grip Blackhawk. Ronnie is installing one of his many designs based off of the Bisley grip but tweaked to provide a more recoil friendly grip. He will also install a hammer of his own design. I hope these pics appear in the sequence I intend. First, the stock gun with a Vortex Venom red dot. Next the installation of the new brass grip frame in progress. New grip panels too !

Yeah, when I wrote that most shooters fall into category 1, 2, or 3, I was speaking in the broader generalities, there definitely is a tremendous amount of hunters like you that handload for hobby, accuracy, and bullet selection, or even to save money, who aren't long range target shooters. I should probably have made a #4 group to reflect this. But it's also impossible to put every person in a box.
About the handguns, I like the work you're doing on the .41, send pics when finished. Do you like a Bisley grip better than the plow handle? One of my favorite shooters is my stainless 6" new model single six plow handle. I have big hands and the plow handle gives a very unique feel that makes this gun feel like a continuing extension of my arm. But then, I do like the Bisley style grip on my redhawk.

 

[Native Hunter]

I sometimes make long shots at big deer near thick cover, and prefer lung shots. I like a 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in a 300 mag. This combo gives exceptional accuracy with full throttle handloads, and the blood trails are super easy to follow.

 

[Drycreek]

I sometimes make long shots at big deer near thick cover, and prefer lung shots. I like a 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in a 300 mag. This combo gives exceptional accuracy with full throttle handloads, and the blood trails are super easy to follow.

Can’t disagree with two holes, one in and one out.

 

[Drycreek]

Yeah, when I wrote that most shooters fall into category 1, 2, or 3, I was speaking in the broader generalities, there definitely is a tremendous amount of hunters like you that handload for hobby, accuracy, and bullet selection, or even to save money, who aren't long range target shooters. I should probably have made a #4 group to reflect this. But it's also impossible to put every person in a box.
About the handguns, I like the work you're doing on the .41, send pics when finished. Do you like a Bisley grip better than the plow handle? One of my favorite shooters is my stainless 6" new model single six plow handle. I have big hands and the plow handle gives a very unique feel that makes this gun feel like a continuing extension of my arm. But then, I do like the Bisley style grip on my redhawk.

All of my Rugers are single actions and all wear Bisley grip frames except for the rimfires. It just feels better to me, and it mitigates recoil from the big bores. I have .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt revolvers. Here’s a sneak preview of the one being worked on. This is a modified Bisley grip frame (brass) made by RW Grip Frames in Houston, TX. This is a .41 mag.

 

[9x56MS]

View attachment 29159View attachment 29160I load for both rifles and handguns, but I’m not a long range or target shooter. I’m simply a hunter who wants a particular load to hunt with. I also enjoy loading my own ammunition both for practice and hunting. I can get the most accurate load for my rifle with the bullet I want to use. I can load hot or mild, cast or jacketed, soft point or hollow point for my single actions. The rifle, after I worked up the load, I will shoot a few times each year, usually a three shot group from a bench to confirm zero, then however many deer, hogs, or coyotes that I want to shoot. That would be a couple deer, and 100% of the hogs and coyotes. Including the confirmation group, I probably won’t shoot over a dozen times with my .280 Rem.

The handguns, including .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt are another story. These are the ones I enjoy shooting. I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag getting a facelift as I type from RW Grip Frames (Ronnie Wells) in Houston, TX. A sneak preview of the work he is doing. This revolver started life as a plowhandle grip Blackhawk. Ronnie is installing one of his many designs based off of the Bisley grip but tweaked to provide a more recoil friendly grip. He will also install a hammer of his own design. I hope these pics appear in the sequence I intend. First, the stock gun with a Vortex Venom red dot. Next the installation of the new brass grip frame in progress. New grip panels too !

My journey has been like yours. I have found unless you are shooting a high velocity caliber you really have no need for expensive boutique bullets. Not only have I returned to cup and core but I am trying to reload with round nose cup and core bullets as my experience has shown my that their impact has a visual impact on game not seen with spitzer bullets. They also seem to run less.