I've hunted with two bullets in my .300WM, a 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip and a 165 gr. Barnes TSX. The NBT gave good accuracy (1.25 MOA) and excellent terminal performance on deer, but I was concerned it might not be tough enough for a quartering shot on bear. The TSX gave excellent accuracy (0.75 MOA) but poor terminal performance on deer (lack of blood trail). I'm looking for a bullet that will give me the excellent terminal performance on deer of the NBT, still be tough enough for bear and the accuracy of the TSX. Am I searching for a unicorn?
I'm leaning toward trying more powders with the 180 gr. NBT and assuming that the bullet will be tough enough for black bears. Black bear are more than theoretical where I hunt. I have tracks, photos, and live sightings of bears within 100 yards of the stand I hunted this year.
Another possibility is the Nosler Accubond. I tried the 180 gr. with RL22 because that was the most accurate powder for the NBT, but it had poor accuracy in my rifle.
I also tried 180 gr. Hornady SSTs and Sierra GameKings. The SSTs gave poor accuracy with all three powders I tried. The SGKs had decent accuracy, but at a lower powder charge than the NBTs, so I never loaded them for hunting.
So what would you try next? More powders with the 180 gr NBT and assume that it will be tough enough for bears? The NAB in 180 gr with different powders? Go down to a 165 gr. NAB to ensure expansion in deer and expect that it will be tough enough for bear? I also have plenty of 150 and 165 gr. NBTs, but I'm not confident they would be tough enough for bear.
I'm leaning toward trying more powders with the 180 gr. NBT and assuming that the bullet will be tough enough for black bears. Black bear are more than theoretical where I hunt. I have tracks, photos, and live sightings of bears within 100 yards of the stand I hunted this year.
Another possibility is the Nosler Accubond. I tried the 180 gr. with RL22 because that was the most accurate powder for the NBT, but it had poor accuracy in my rifle.
I also tried 180 gr. Hornady SSTs and Sierra GameKings. The SSTs gave poor accuracy with all three powders I tried. The SGKs had decent accuracy, but at a lower powder charge than the NBTs, so I never loaded them for hunting.
So what would you try next? More powders with the 180 gr NBT and assume that it will be tough enough for bears? The NAB in 180 gr with different powders? Go down to a 165 gr. NAB to ensure expansion in deer and expect that it will be tough enough for bear? I also have plenty of 150 and 165 gr. NBTs, but I'm not confident they would be tough enough for bear.