Best premium all around bullet

[sumpnz]

Supposedly the TSX bullets from Barnes has mostly solved the accuracy problems some people were having with the regular X bullets.

Also, H&H, the XLC is not a moly coating. It's some sort of proprietary baked on dry film coating that does not smudge off like a moly coating.

Art - What I remember reading (I think) on Barnes' web site was that they recommended .03-.07" off the lands.

Edit - Wow, just noticed that this was an almost 2 year old thread. H&H and Art likely then already know what I wrote above.

 

[CowboyEngr]

I have had such good results with Nosler Partitions that I really have not given anything else a chance. I'm sure there are some other good or better one's, but why screw up a good deal? Until I need to use a solid on something, the Partitions will be my mainstay.

 

[147 Grain]

For deer, I like Ballistic Tips.

Ballistic Tip Overview

Ballistic Tips (BT's) were designed by Nosler for violent expansion / explosion and medium penetration on light skin type animals like deer.

For most calibers shooting fragile BT's, you're better off using heavier projectiles with bigger Sectional Density's (SD's) than you would normally use for a regularly constructed bullet.

Why?

1. Heavier bullets for caliber are better in a BT because they tone down the violent expansion a bit and still have enough weight leftover for a complete pass-through.

2. The shock-value with the heavier BT will still be more than lighter standard bullets and you get more energy on target.

3. Short range shots also suit the larger round with a higher SD versus lighter weight BT'd bullets with less mass.

4. Raking quartering-away shots obviously benefit from a heavier round for adequate penetration.

5. A larger BT'd bullet is also more forgiving if you shoot accidently into the shoulder.


FYI:

Nosler says that beginning with the 30 caliber 180-gr. Ballistic Tips (and larger), the jacket's profile is changed or upgraded to a much stronger contour similar to the AccuBond (shown below). The lead core is also hardened over the 165-gr. and below bullets.

Lighter weight bullets like 165-gr. 30 caliber and lower (shown below) do not have the thicker contour which starts in the middle of the shell and goes down to the base.

In summary, one might suggest that the 180-gr. Ballistic Tip is simply a non-bonded AccuBond.

Caution:

* Standard bullets generally perform better on deer in lighter to mid-weight sizes.

* Ballistic Tipped rounds are the exception to the rule as outlined in the opening post. Reported problems of a BT blowing up too quickly are generally associated with too light of a bullet.

Steve

P.S.

I like a bullet to perform two things in my 30-06:

1. Violent expansion / shock.
2. Plenty of penetration for a pass-through.

Nosler makes 4 great rounds to accomplish any North American task - listed in order of toughness:

1. Ballistic Tip
2. Solid Base
3. AccuBond
4. Partition

* Light skinned / boned deer: 180-gr. Ballistic Tip / Solid Base / AccuBond

 

[147 Grain]

For larger Big Game like elk or moose, I like the Partition or Nosler AccuBond.

Seems that the front part of a partition has similar bullet construction to the excellent Solid Base design and that is what I like about Nosler's Flagship round:

1. Front Portion: Ability to fragment like a Solid Base with a hammer-effect causing shock - penetrating 7" to 10"

2. Rear Portion: Ability to keep on going like a Failsafe or Barnes X.

Partition


No other bullet provides the best of both worlds, with the AccuBond being the ONLY design I know of that has similar results (to the Partition). They sure must have done some tweaking and fine-tuning during the 4 1/2 years of research and development.

AccuBond

http://www.nosler.com/partition.html

 

[Dr.Rob]

Nosler Partition
Barnes X
Swift A Frame

Sierra Game King is what I use mostly... though it's a compromise between accuracy and possible seperation. I've had ONE seperation in this bullet in all my ears of hunting (dad and brotehr use the same bullet too) but Sierra's 165 gr .30 cal spitzer boat tail soft point is as good a bullet as there is for most North American game.

I've heard many a PH swear by Barnes x for African game.

 

[sumpnz]

I ordered 100 Barnes XLC 140gr 6.5mm bullets with my Lee Anniversary reloading kit. I figured that such a premium bullet would be just the ticket for an elk hunt this fall. If I don't get drawn for AZ, I have an open invitation to a place to hunt in CO. Either way I'd be hunting cows, not monster bulls.