How to compare the available bullets

[Smokey Joe]

Bullets, bullets, bullets! We are truly living in the good old days of bullet makingÑSo many excellent ones for the reloader to choose from. And that, my friends, is the problem!

Is there a source which compares all the different bullets, for penetration, accuracy potential, mushrooming characteristics, use or don't use with magnums, etc? I sure can't find one!

Why do I want this info? So that, when shopping for a new bullet to load, I have some idea of its liklihood of being good at what I want it to do, relative to the other bullets available for that purpose. I'm tired of buying bullets based on some guy's reccommendation, or the guesstimate of the guy in the gun store, partly based on what he has on hand, or a rave about a new bullet in a gun magazine.

Most reloading manuals have relative burn tables for all the different smokeless powders, and most go beyond that in comparing different powders. Some of the manuals advise that this or that powder was found to be most accurate in a given load. But is there a source which does a similar number on bullets.

Each bullet manufacturer touts their own bullet(s) as the greatest thing since sliced breadÑof courseÑbut none of them compares their bullets' performance to that of other manufacturersÑof course.

So that's the question, my friends. Any advice will be duly appreciated.

 

[WESHOOT2]

NOPE

Handgun only -- just ask me.

 

[dakotasin]

none that i'm aware of. lots of anecdotal evidence by lots of hunters. kind of a pull towards or away from certain bullets for certain situations. but a head-to-head, comprehensive shootout? no... occasionally the gun rags will do a shootout of sorts, but it is always lacking in some department that i would like to see directly compared.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Bullet choices

WeshootzÑWill bear your offer in mind. Actually am searching for rifle bullets at the moment, having just acquired a new smoke pole and being anxious to start loading for it. For hand-cannons I'm set, at the moment, on softish lead hollow base wadcutters for targets, and heavy hard-cast lead, large meplat bullets for hunting. See no reason to change, there. (However, I'm always open to further enlightenment.)

DakotasinÑYeah, you've hit the problem on the head. And while I read several gun rags, and save some articles, frankly I don't have the space to file every darn article on every darn bullet. (Not to mention the time to index them for quick reference.) My files are too full with what I HAVE saved over the years.

Gun writers, are you listening? Here's a market for a book that hasn't been written, and would have no competition from what's currently out there!

Meanwhile: Has anybody got anecdotal evidence on a great bullet for .300 WSM?? I want a regular petetrator/mushroomer for deer, and a much deeper penetrator/mushroomer for feral hogs, or elk. Both to be fiendishly accurate of course.

 

[swifter]

For thickskinned big game, I haven't had any failures from Nosler Partitions.
For thinner hides, I like the Ballistic tip.
Some folks like Barnes, but I've not found much accuracy with them.
Tom

 

[happy old sailor]

will second swifter on this.

for handguns, you already have it right.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Bullet choices

Swifter & Happy: Thanx for reccommendations on the Noslers. They DO have a good rep generally. Happy: Nice to hear that SOMETHING I've done is right (The pistol bullets). There are days I need to be told that.

Took the new .300 WSM out to the 200 yd. range today. With the Win Supreme ammo, 150 gr. (are they Nosler Ballistic Tips? Case is nickel plated, bullets are black w/black plastic tips) the gun put in 1 3/8" groups. I expect I'll have to work some at the reloading bench to beat that. Whatever powder Win loaded 'em with really stinks when it burns.

The gun is a Savage mod. 12VBSS with a B&L 4200 Elite 'scope. It weighs a ton, but I'm sure getting to like the accuracy of the rig! I even don't mind the Accu-Trigger, although it's taking some getting used to.

Any other bullets out there I should consider, guys?