Favorite Projectile

[MeccaOz]

Ok guys what is the hunting projectile you use ? I dont mean which is the best on paper but what do you use when reloading and why ? is it price, performance, brand ? Also has anyone used otm projectiles for hunting ? I hear the disintegrate fairly easy on impact but are great on light skinned animals.

[on_one_wheel]

When I chose to go down the reloading path for my .243 I was sure I wanted 80 grn, because I always thought they shot the best .

So to be sure I went out and bought a pack of 65's 80's 100's , not exactly the whole box and dice but I figured I could easily burn out a barrel by trying out all the possible combinations of weights and speeds. At the end of the day I found the 100's shot the tightest group so I went for them.

I wanted a quality projectile at a good price that was readily available, and found Sierra 100 gr. SBT GameKing fitted the bill. It's a boat tail soft point, and they suit all the game I am likely to hunt.

[bigfellascott]

I've always found these to be great projectiles - they shoot well and kill very well

Sierra Game King 55gn (AKA Sierra Super Roos) this particular box is from Sth Africa hence the Super Bok name.

















Interesting cutaway of a few projectiles for comparison.

[Lorgar]

They're expensive, but I do like Nosler Ballistic tips.

They've just always shot consistently for me in a number of calibres and rifles. .243, 7mm-08, .308, 300 WM etc. Rugers, Tikka's and Remingtons...

I've gotten good results with a number of Hornady and Sierra pills in the same rifles, but it took more work to get there.

My only centrefire these days is my 7mm-08 Tikka, and I only use it for hunting... I might shooting 100 - 200 rounds a year so the extra 30c per bullet or whatever it isn't really a problem. They're the most accurate round I've found for my rifle so I'm using them.

Hornady SST would be second choice.

Sierra Pro-Hunters third.

[Kater]

Can't go wrong with Sierra Game Kings IMO.

[Aussier]

Half the price of Lorgar's BT's too.

A +1 for Game Kings from me.

[brand]

Hornady V-Max shoot awesome in my .243.

I'm using their SST's at the moment and they seem just as good too.

Price for both is about average, not expensive. And they're accurate.

[Hucka]

When I chose to go down the reloading path for my .243 I was sure I wanted 80 grn, because I always thought they shot the best .

So to be sure I went out and bought a pack of 65's 80's 100's , not exactly the whole box and dice but I figured I could easily burn out a barrel by trying out all the possible combinations of weights and speeds. At the end of the day I found the 100's shot the tightest group so I went for them.

Depends on twist too of course.

Remington .243 twist is 1:9 right?

Guys with 1:10 or especially 1:12 wouldn't do so well with 100's I expect.

[Kelix]

Remington .243 twist is 1:9 right?

It's actually 9 and 1/8th. Just to be annoying

[on_one_wheel]

Depends on twist too of course.

Remington .243 twist is 1:9 right?

Guys with 1:10 or especially 1:12 wouldn't do so well with 100's I expect.

To be honest I'm not exactly sure. I pulled my rod through heaps of times with it marked at 12:00 and recon its somewhere between 1 : 9 1/2 and 1 : 9 3/4.

There is no mention of its twist rate in the owners manual.

[Kelix]

The 9 and 1/8th I got off their website

[bobnob]

Hornady Interlock soft points in all calibres.

Cheap, accurate, and very reliable re penetration and expansion.

Also like the Speer Hotcors for the same reasons, but the Hornadys have been a little more accurate for me.

[Vati]

Where are you getting your Speers bullets from bob?

Never see anyone selling them here. Just manuals in reloading kits.

Good reports from blokes in the states on their bullets too. Not like they're a small brand... Just not much interest here it seems.

[Carter]

Berger Hunting VLD.

[Oldboy 7mm Dakota]

Plus 1 on that Carter, cant beat them in my rifles.

Some say they cant get them to shoot but we have never had a problem in all cals we own.

[MeccaOz]

Plus 1 on that Carter, cant beat them in my rifles.
Some say they cant get them to shoot but we have never had a problem in all cals we own

Ive never reloaded any bergers, but I was under the assumption that due to their length you might want to drop the weight of the bullet to get them to work. What do you think Oldboy ?

[Oldboy 7mm Dakota]

MeccaOz

You need to match the barrel twist rate with the proj weight

You can get a weight to twist on the Berger site, which should help you.

[MeccaOz]

Thanks Oldboy

[MrClark]

Hornady Interbonds for me. Best accuracy out of the two rifles I use them In, excellent terminal performance, excellent BC, cheaper than Accubonds. And when they connect, it's as if someone put a steel fist into a bazooka and let it go!! Hahaha.

But they are more expensive than say interlocks

[Lorgar]

Can't go wrong with Sierra Game Kings IMO.

I tell ya, I could just never get the Game Kings to work for me.

Full spread of load testing, all the usual business, the groups just never tightened up.

[Shotfox]

I tell ya, I could just never get the Game Kings to work for me.

Full spread of load testing, all the usual business, the groups just never tightened up.

Flick over to Blitzkings, these are much more consistant although hard to get at times. I find these to be a great performing bullet

[Lorgar]

That rifle's gone now so it doesn't matter any more.

My Tikka loves the Ballistic Tips and I can't be bothered ever working up another load for it, so I'll stick with them

[yoshie]

I like Hornady SST and Speer Hotcores.

Also Barnes TTSX but they are a bit pricey.

[portph]

Lots of Hornady SST fans.

[Bennybigbores]

Favourite was nosler 70 gr ballistic tip in my .243, local shop sold out so I had to try something new, tried Speer varmint hollow points 75 gr, wow , is all I can say deadly accurate and explosive on light skins, looks like bunnies stepping on land mines

[COLLECTOR 1]

Forget the rest. Nosler Ballistic Tips....unless your after some seriously dangerous critters,,, then Woodleigh's or Barnes....

Collector 1

[Baronvonrort]

55 grain Sierra Blitzking for the 223,2nd choice Hornady 53 grain Vmax

150 grain Swift scirocco 2 for the 308, the black tips look cool they work well,125 grain SST for smaller stuff.

[brett1868]

55 grain Sierra Blitzking for the 223,2nd choice Hornady 53 grain Vmax

150 grain Swift scirocco 2 for the 308, the black tips look cool they work well,125 grain SST for smaller stuff.

+1 on the Blitzkings, been using both the 50 & 55gr in my 22-250 with some good results. 50gr with CCI 200 primer + 37.5gr AR2208 leaves the muzzle at 3834fps and absolutely detonates bunnies.

In the 338Lap I like the 250gr Hornady BTHP Match #33361 with 82gr of 2213SC for 2728fps

On the big gun I'm using 750gr Hornady AMAX and 700gr Woodleigh brass VLD, not exactly a hunting round but I once vaporised an unlucky marsupial with an AMAX so it sort of counts

[MeccaOz]

55 grain Sierra Blitzking for the 223,2nd choice Hornady 53 grain Vmax

150 grain Swift scirocco 2 for the 308, the black tips look cool they work well,125 grain SST for smaller stuff.

+1 on the Blitzkings, been using both the 50 & 55gr in my 22-250 with some good results. 50gr with CCI 200 primer + 37.5gr AR2208 leaves the muzzle at 3834fps and absolutely detonates bunnies.

In the 338Lap I like the 250gr Hornady BTHP Match #33361 with 82gr of 2213SC for 2728fps

On the big gun I'm using 750gr Hornady AMAX and 700gr Woodleigh brass VLD, not exactly a hunting round but I once vaporised an unlucky marsupial with an AMAX so it sort of counts

LOL, Vaporised being the operative word

[Timb0]

.223 - 55gr Sierra GK, cheap come in a jumbo pack.
.243 - 80gr Barnes TTSX, good flat shooting but stout enough if you come across a small deer, pig etc.
- 100gr SGK good on small deer
.270 -130gr SST not too expensive, they shoot well, expand well for the things I shoot, accurate.
- 130gr Barnes TTSX and 150gr Nosler partition on large deer.
.270 Wby - 150-160gr nosler partitions
-150gr AccuBond long range, great BC, accurate ( hard to get though)
.30cal - 150-165gr SST accurate, expands well.
-180r remington Core-lokt big deer etc
-178gr Amax long range hunting ( not a hunting bullet, I'm a bad person I know)