"
the 160gr LeverEvolution has a slightly higher muzzle velocity than the standard 150gr loadings in spite of using a 10 grain heavier bullet."
That's a fact. Though the MV of the 160-grainer is charted at only 10-20fps faster and the trajectory is no great improvement over the 150gr round nose, the retained energy of the 160-grainer at 100 and 200 yds. is significant, to wit...
150gr Round Nose is
1278 ft/lbs at 100 yds. and
832 ft/lbs. at 200 yds.
compared to the
160gr Leverlution with
1649 ft/lbs. at 100 yds. and
1304 ft/lbs. at 200 yds.
The Leverlution then has about 30% more ft/lbs. at 100 yds. and 57% more at 200 yds....and, at first blush, that sounds like "
a lot better".
But we're talking two different bullet designs and the purpose of energy, after all, is to cause the bullet to perform with desireable result upon striking the game. The 160-grainer
needs that extra energy, methinks, to perform as well as the 150-grainer (totally different design) does with its' more modest velocity. What usually doesn't get said is that the 150gr. round (or flat) nose bullets from the 30/30 are absolutely beautiful performers on deer, hogs, and black bear. (Fact is, they do great on coyotes too.)
Back in the late 80s Winchester still made their wonderful Silvertip ammo in 30/30 flat nose flavor - the lead exposed at the tip resembled a rose petal and, in fact, "rose petal" was sort of a nickname for it. It was accurate enough (though not the
most accurate) but it's really endearing virtue was its' performance on deer, etc. That flat nose "rose petal" bullet from the 30/30 was one of the very best bullets I've ever seen for consistantly good mushrooming. I had a relative in northern Minnesota who had a jar full of them he had dug out of various deer and black bears and they were absolutely "textbook". If someone had ever told him he needed more than a 30/30 he would have been highly suspicious of their mental stability.
I don't know this - but I'm guessing the performance gain from using the Leverlution ammo might be quite a bit more significant when used in the Contender/Encore handguns than it is when used in lever-action rifles. But that's only my instinct speaking because I haven't done any such trial of them and haven't compared its' rifle vs. handgun velocities.
I noticed Winchester now markets a 150gr. flat-nosed hollowpoint for 30/30s and I would expect that to be an absolute
GEM. With any luck I'll get to try them someday.
P.S.
Happy New Year, Y'All !!