Favorite bonded bullet

[jmorris]

Lots of guys loving the 110 in the ar platforms from what I'm seeing.

I don’t know about others but that one continues to impress me. Used it again this weekend and it remains a DRT bullet. The only pigs that haven’t fallen right where they stood, were already running when they ball up.

Got this one Saturday night.

 

[DRM7997]

I'd say start him with the 30-30 and the 170gr corelokt. I've killed many a deer with that combo. I do most of my hunting with cup and core.

 

[Captcurt]

Most medium to heavy cup-and core bullets will work fine if you are hunting whitetails. That said, I have taken a truck load of deer with the Accubonds in calibers from 257 Weatherby to 300 WSM. They have worked from 30 to 350 yards. The only time that I was disappointed was with a 150gr in the 300. It made a mess of a doe at the extended range of 30 yards, but I was pushing it around 3100fps.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Your question was about bullets, not caliber.

All 3 types you mentioned will work for deer.

But if 300 yards is a requirement, the .308 is a requirement IMHO.

That said, I’m a big fan of Nosler’s accubond bullet.

I’m also a fan of a couple of calibers folks recommended to you for future purchase.

The .280 Rem is a fine deer/elk round. I like 150 grain projectiles in this caliber. It’s a long action and is a 30-06 case necked down to .284. If memory serves me (questionable) the shoulder is bumped out 10 or 20 thousands. I gave mine to my son when he was big enough to handle it, around 13.

The 7mm-08 is another fine deer cartridge. And sufficient for elk with the right bullets. My wife has killed a couple of bulls with hers that died in their tracks. It’s a short action cartridge based on the .308. It’s my personal perfect caliber for a woman who won’t outgrow it. I load this caliber with 139/140 grain bullets.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[TEXASJD]

Well the most normal rifle I have is 308. I can't imagine handing junior a 30" barrel or a premium 6.5x55 Spanish mouser. The only other realistic choice would be a win 94 in 30-30. My rifle choices for actual hunting are sad but I'm not a hunter. At 14 he is more likely better off with one of my pistol carbines in 357 or 45 colt. I'm pondering looking for a 280 for him later and possibly a follow-up shot if he isn't effective.

Sierra’s 2130 150 will do the trick, Berger’s 155vld hunt are also vary nice

 

[AJC1]

Sierra’s 2130 150 will do the trick, Berger’s 155vld hunt are also vary nice

If I'm going cup and core in 308 the 165 sgk is first choice. I have a big pile loaded up for reasons. If all else fails I'll dial in and let him use that.... I have a high and low node with n135 so for hunting I'll grab the high box. Had only a box of 20 made up in the high bracket the bulk is in the low. The bonded was a step into new territory

 

[Bfh_auto]

I look at it more of what result do you want, not does it get the job done. I would very much like to avoid bits of lead and jacket spread through the animal. That idea applied is hunting small game with 22 vs shotgun. Fortunately my Bing bangs don't generate the velocities to make it a serious problem, but that in mind they don't generate enough speed to make monos optimal either. That technology continues to improve though.

That's a bit of an apple to oranges comparison. But I get the gist of what you're trying to say.
308 doesn't push enough velocity to have issues if you run a 165-168 class bullet. I liked 168 AMAX closest kill was 25 yards. It didn't scatter lead.
Which gun does you son shoot the best?
Which one does he want to hunt with.
I would let him choose the firearm.
280s are pretty sweet.

 

[tominboise]

I killed a very nice mule deer buck in SW Idaho using a 280Rem and Hornady interbond bullets. One hole in, one hole out. I am looking for a photo but can't find one at the moment. The range was probably 75 yards. Based on a sample size of 1, I'd say they work fine.....

Edited to add this photo, from 2005. That's the exit wound....the rifle was a Weatherby Accumark in 280 Rem. A lovely rifle but too heavy for hunting IMO.

 

[41 Mag]

Personally I've used a variety of bullets over the past 50ish years of hunting. I would say however I've put more meat in the freezer with a CorLokt than any other bullet across a dozen or so calibers.

Nowadays I still prefer the 150gr CL in my little short Ruger Compact in .308 or the 165gr CL in my pop's old1 03A3, but have switched to the Hornady Interlock for most of my other rifles. I still use a Partition in my standard 25-06 but use a 120gr CL in my AI version.

I wouldn't hesitate to use either the Hornady or any of what you listed above. Deer still haven't acquired the ability to grow Kevlar at least in our area.

 

[Varminterror]

A 308 is basically the same class as the 7-08 the 280 I think is a different class, but I could be wrong.

Eh… on paper, sure. But we have to play a game of cudbeshudbe to pretend there’s a real difference in the field. Everything in North American COULD BE cleanly harvested with any of these three, but it’s up to the individual hunter to decide whether they think a given round SHOULD BE used, according to their personal standards. 280rem is a 7-08 burning ~10grn more powder to run ~150fps faster… 5% more speed, 5% more momentum, 11% more Kinetic Energy…

It seems, also, you’re looking to put your son on deer, which simply does not necessitate a bonded bullet. Deer don’t benefit from spending extra on bonded bullets unless they’re doing things they shouldn’t be doing. For example, I’ve found the 105 Berger Hybrid traveling around 2800fps to be one of if not the fastest deer anchoring bullets I have ever used… just a cup and core BTHP… Are NAB’s better? Eh, not really. They don’t open as much, internal damage is less, deer travel more, and they just tear up the hide on the far side more.

And towards the future, personally, if I pick up a long action hunting rifle, I want mine chambered for magnum cartridges. I don’t find any advantage for a long action to hunt deer, rather I’ll use a 100-140grn bullet over 30-45grn powder in a short action 6-7mm cartridge and live happy the rest of my days in the deer woods. If I’ve increased game size beyond what is within the bounds of my personal “cudbeshudbe” with a short action, it means I’m after game which is large enough and with rare enough opportunities - or hard enough opportunities to manifest - AND in sufficiently unfamiliar territory that I don’t want to risk any undue tracking distance, such that I simply don’t bother with standard boltface long action cartridges. Personally, for larger game, I’m taking a short action magnum like 300wsm or 6.5 PRC or long action magnum like 300wm/PRC or at least 7rem mag. I’ve played the games pushing 280rem AI and 284 Shehane to crazy pressures to match the 7rem (or almost so), but in reality, I’d rather be carrying a 30cal magnum with enough case to reach out and hammer these true big game animals.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Personally I've used a variety of bullets over the past 50ish years of hunting. I would say however I've put more meat in the freezer with a CorLokt than any other bullet across a dozen or so calibers.

Nowadays I still prefer the 150gr CL in my little short Ruger Compact in .308 or the 165gr CL in my pop's old1 03A3, but have switched to the Hornady Interlock for most of my other rifles. I still use a Partition in my standard 25-06 but use a 120gr CL in my AI version.

I wouldn't hesitate to use either the Hornady or any of what you listed above. Deer still haven't acquired the ability to grow Kevlar at least in our area.

Yup. Core-Lokt, Game King, Pro Hunter, Hot-Cor…. They all work well and some better than the others. I never lost an animal because of a bullet or ate bullet because of the way it was made. Every bad hit was me and my mistake.

 

[AJC1]

Eh… on paper, sure. But we have to play a game of cudbeshudbe to pretend there’s a real difference in the field. Everything in North American COULD BE cleanly harvested with any of these three, but it’s up to the individual hunter to decide whether they think a given round SHOULD BE used, according to their personal standards. 280rem is a 7-08 burning ~10grn more powder to run ~150fps faster… 5% more speed, 5% more momentum, 11% more Kinetic Energy…

It seems, also, you’re looking to put your son on deer, which simply does not necessitate a bonded bullet. Deer don’t benefit from spending extra on bonded bullets unless they’re doing things they shouldn’t be doing. For example, I’ve found the 105 Berger Hybrid traveling around 2800fps to be one of if not the fastest deer anchoring bullets I have ever used… just a cup and core BTHP… Are NAB’s better? Eh, not really. They don’t open as much, internal damage is less, deer travel more, and they just tear up the hide on the far side more.

And towards the future, personally, if I pick up a long action hunting rifle, I want mine chambered for magnum cartridges. I don’t find any advantage for a long action to hunt deer, rather I’ll use a 100-140grn bullet over 30-45grn powder in a short action 6-7mm cartridge and live happy the rest of my days in the deer woods. If I’ve increased game size beyond what is within the bounds of my personal “cudbeshudbe” with a short action, it means I’m after game which is large enough and with rare enough opportunities - or hard enough opportunities to manifest - AND in sufficiently unfamiliar territory that I don’t want to risk any undue tracking distance, such that I simply don’t bother with standard boltface long action cartridges. Personally, for larger game, I’m taking a short action magnum like 300wsm or 6.5 PRC or long action magnum like 300wm/PRC or at least 7rem mag. I’ve played the games pushing 280rem AI and 284 Shehane to crazy pressures to match the 7rem (or almost so), but in reality, I’d rather be carrying a 30cal magnum with enough case to reach out and hammer these true big game animals.

I found a nice pile of 6.5 prc today... it looks like a fun round.

 

[troy fairweather]

I found a nice pile of 6.5 prc today... it looks like a fun round.

It's a very nice round, getting 3100 with a 140 gr pretty easy from my 24" barrel, now to find primers to load, ammo local is almost down to $ 50 a box which isn't much more of I had to buy everything to load.

 

[bluejay75]

Bonded or copper is best for not getting a Kachink… in your meat grinder but that fragmentation kills stuff quick.

I am running the 168 Gold dot in my number 2 hunting rifle but would not hesitate to pull the trigger on a full case of 150s. Either the standard or 300 blackout version.

Johnny’s Reloading Bench tested both in 300 win mag and they stayed together.

So in short, great choice.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I found a nice pile of 6.5 prc today... it looks like a fun round.

That is a pretty sweet round. A former co-worker has one. It's accurate and relatively flat shooting.

 

[wankerjake]

Another fan of the Accubond here

 

[Anchorite]

You appear to be in Tennessee. There’s really nothing in the eastern US, or southeast US, that you need to use a bonded bullet or mono bullet for. A good ‘ol cup and core will do just fine for deer-sized game (or hogs for that matter).

Don't overthink this. Deer are not hard to kill.

 

[wankerjake]

Bonded bullets do consistently what cup and core claim to do (but often fail at)

Cup and core are fine for deer. Bonded are still better. Why not use them?

 

[AJC1]

You appear to be in Tennessee. There’s really nothing in the eastern US, or southeast US, that you need to use a bonded bullet or mono bullet for. A good ‘ol cup and core will do just fine for deer-sized game (or hogs for that matter).

Don't overthink this. Deer are not hard to kill.

It wasn't about the kill but more the bullet not exploding leaving fragments. Admittedly the depth of my knowledge in this area are youtube jelly tests.

 

[WVRJ]

For less meat damage a bonded bullet at 308 velocity is just the ticket.I do about of my deer hunting with a Remington M7 that turns about 2825 out of the 19 inch barrel I put on it.Swift Sirocco and Nosler Accubonds are both great bullets.I use either one in the 150 grain weight,and have had no problems at all,except for the fact that a deer will usually run a short distance when hit due to the controlled expansion both bullets have.For my longer range 308's I use 168 grain Berger Classic Hunters in one and Hornady A-Max in the other.I've never seen a deer take a step after being hit with either one,even as far out as 600 yards.OP is on the right track,use the 308 with a multitude of bullets and it'll be hard to do much better.

 

[Mel1776]

.30-30 and some 150 Gr Core-Lokts, can't go wrong.

Exactly what I've done for my grandchildren.

 

[Nature Boy]

Sierra GameKings

 

[CraigC]

I've developed a strong distaste for common cup & core bullets. Most of my hunting has been done with handguns and most of that with cast bullets. As such, I don't much care for a bullet that doesn't hold its wad on the critter. A big game bullet that fragments like a varmint bullet has no place in my guns. So when a jacketed pill is up the pipe, I want it to be bonded. For deer, it doesn't have to be a deep penetrator like the Partition but I do want it to mostly stay together and penetrate, even if it costs me a little on expansion and the corresponding wound tract. It's why I use Barnes bullets in the .300Blk and .250Savage, Woodleighs in the .405 and currently Gold Dots in the 6.5Grendel. The only cup & core bullets I use are in single shot pistols, where the impact velocity is much lower than they were originally designed for.

 

[AJC1]

I've developed a strong distaste for common cup & core bullets. Most of my hunting has been done with handguns and most of that with cast bullets. As such, I don't much care for a bullet that doesn't hold its wad on the critter. A big game bullet that fragments like a varmint bullet has no place in my guns. So when a jacketed pill is up the pipe, I want it to be bonded. For deer, it doesn't have to be a deep penetrator like the Partition but I do want it to mostly stay together and penetrate, even if it costs me a little on expansion and the corresponding wound tract. It's why I use Barnes bullets in the .300Blk and .250Savage, Woodleighs in the .405 and currently Gold Dots in the 6.5Grendel. The only cup & core bullets I use are in single shot pistols, where the impact velocity is much lower than they were originally designed for.

How about these

 

[CraigC]

I like cast bullets in the .30-30 and its brethren, like the .38-55.