What do you like in bullets ?

[blarby]

As in- what types do you prefer ?

Where do price and performance meet in your eyes ?

Would you purchase precision manufactured bullets from a licensed dealer outside of the normal big company groups for hunting or target/competition use if they fit your purpose ?


I'll admit....there is probably an ulterior motive here....but I'd like to get some opinions from the group.

 

[mc223]

What do you like in bullets ?

Lead






Berger mostly. Sometimes Barts.

Never worried bout price, cause the bullets are good.

Yes and have used some 1 man shop bullets. Also very good.

 

[gamestalker]

First of all, I only shoot jacketed stuff. For my handgun needs I load Hornady or Speer. For the high powered rifles I like Hornady, Speer, and Sierra. Occasionally I'l load some Barnes or Nosler for high powered rifle if I'm feeling expensive.
But the match grade stuff is more I than I need for the type of shooting I do. I don't do any shooting that would justify spending $80 for 100 rounds. But even if I did use the expensive stuff, it is still less expensive to shoot than factory. A bullet at .80 each, powder charge at .20 and a .03 primer is still only costing $22 per box. Considering the best factory money can buy for my 7mm rem. mag. is around $45 a box, and I've seen it significantly higher than that too. Some of the custom ammunition manfacturer's charge $100 per box to load with your brass and recipe. I never really never thought about it until you posted this question, thanks!
Maybe I'll shoot the high end bullets now and then since you've helped me put it into perspective.

 

[bluetopper]

99% of my reloading is for handguns and I buy match grade hard cast lead bullets and have them delivered to my door. Have been for years.

I see no need at all to spend extra money for anything else.

 

[hey_poolboy]

I load more handgun than rifle. In handgun I load hard cast lead, usually S&S casting. I've been very happy with them.
Loading for HD or SD just doesn't seem practical for me. I can buy just a couple boxes to check function then use another box for the intended purpose.
As for what I actually look for in a bullet. I prefer LSWC for accuracy, hard cast lead for the price, and I chose 185gr. just because it's pretty available at my LGS.

For rifle loads it depends on the purpose. Varmints get a 50gr. Hornady V-max. Targets get more of the same, or some soft nose bullets.

 

[LiveLife]

Where do price and performance meet in your eyes?

For me, SD/HD loads are "mission critical" and realize without regular and deliberate practice, I may not hit my target under more stressful SD/HD situations. I won't shoot factory JHP to practice due to prohibitive cost. For these reasons, I use Golden Saber and Gold Dot bullets. I like the fact that I can buy "bulk" versions of the same projectiles as factory rounds and function check/range practice out of my SD/HD pistols at much lower cost. I further reduce the cost of practice by using commercial JHP projectiles like Montana Gold JHP bullets. These are all high quality manufactured projectiles with consistent performance and accuracy.

DoubleTap Ammunition:
9mm+P Golden Saber 124gr @ 1310fps / 473ft. lbs. from G17
40S&W Golden Saber 165 gr @ 1140fps / 476 ft/lbs from G27 (carry pistol)
40S&W Golden Saber 165 gr @ 1240fps / 563 ft/lbs from G22 (SD/HD)


For match/practice/plinking loads, I want economy but with as much quality and consistency as I can get. I usually stock up when I see a good deal/sale.

Montana Gold JHP - For SD/HD practice rounds loaded to closely match factory Golden Saber felt recoil/POA/POI.

Montana Gold FMJ (lead base) - For accurate match shooting with good obturation of the bullet base.

PowerBond plated bullets - With very thick copper plating and same diameter as jacketed bullets, I push these at max jacketed load data.

Rainier plated bullets - Same diameter as jacketed bullets and I push these at mid-high range jacketed load data.

Berry's plated bullets - Slightly larger diameter as jacketed bullets and I push these at start-mid range jacketed load data.

Missouri Bullets - Since primer cost is same regardless of the projectile used, lead bullets provide the most economical reloading option in cost and uses less powder charge than jacketed loads. Missouri Bullets offers different hardness options (10, 12, 15, 18 BHN) so I can customize my loads and they are not just for economy either. 45ACP 200 gr SWC (IDP #1) loaded with W231/HP38 is capable of 1" shot groups at 25 yards. So, with some lead loads, I even get economy and accurate performance too.


For reloading rifle bullets, I am fairly new and primarily shoot paper/steel targets at 100-600 yards out of semi-auto rifles. For .223, I plink with X-treme bullets from TJConevera due to cost and good performance (1.5" @ 100 yards so far). I am planning to try the air pulled bullets from RMR Reloading due to cost.

For .308, I plink with Hornady bullets (also from TJConevera) due to cost and good performance (just over 1.0" @ 100 yards so far). Also planning on trying pulled bullets from RMR Reloading due to cost.

 

[DM~]

What do you like in bullets ?

For my hunting rifles, i want my bullets to have thin foreward jackets with soft noses so they expand easily on smaller animals or at longer ranges, BUT, the rest of the bullet has to hold together and drive in deep, even on big animals! I also much prefer and exit hole...

This is why i use NP's (Nosler partitions) for my hunting. They do the job right EVERY time i pull the trigger, and i've found them very accurate too.

DM

 

[918v]

What do I like?

A pure lead core, thin jacket, and enough consistency to get me +/-.001" OAL variance.

 

[GLOOB]

I like a good deal, first and foremost.

Right now my preferred bullets are:

9mm: Berry's 124 gr FPHB-DS
or Rainier's 124 gr HP

I also shoot some lead, but it really doesn't save me enough in luger to continue buying it, unless the Berry's are out of stock.

40: Berry's 155 gr FPHB-DS
or Nosler 180gr HP

45: Berry's 230 RN
or Rainier's 230 HP

.357: MBC 158 gr Action! Might try a more local casting outfit. Somewhat cheaper, and the bullet style is exactly the same. Looks like the same mold and lube, with a similar BH. But MBC has the advantage of having PV as a distributor. This cuts the shipping costs when I have other stuff to order.

Come to think of it, the common factor here is PV. I can buy all my bullets, powders and primers there, except the Rainiers. And their price on the Berry's is about the cheapest I can find, anywhere. Even if another outfit sold equal quality cast bullets slightly cheaper than MBC, I'd probably still buy MBC because of PV. Aside from their price and selection, I like the simple website. I can get in and out a lot faster than many of the other large retailer sites. There are very few pics, no ads, no featured items. Just show me what you have in stock and I'll decide what I want to buy, thanks!

 

[41 Mag]

Well in years past I tried to get the best I could afford, which was usually Nosler Solid Bases, or Barnes X. Then they both dropped them, and I move over to the Ballistic Tips in several calibers and Partitions and TTSX in the rest.

That said in the past 10 years I have shot some custom built Wildcat bullets in several calibers, but the absolute most I shoot is plain ol Rem CL's. For what I hunt and the places I hunt it, they work just fine time and time again. I have no issues what so ever with their performance, and I shoot hundreds of them from several calibers every year. Don't get me wrong, I still run quite a few of the Solid Bases down range as well as some of the other assorted top end bullets, but only for specific rifles and for specific needs.

With my handguns, the pistols are usually loaded with Gold Dots, as they work and are accurate as all get out. The revolvers get a mix of cast and again, Remington bulk bullets. As with the CL's they just work for my needs and I see no reason to switch to a higher priced bullet just because.

 

[ranger335v]

"What do you like in bullets ? As in- what types do you prefer ?

Generally speaking,I have no personal preference... but my rifles always do. My job is to find something that will work for my needs and the rifles like well enough to give the accuracy I'm after. We have to start somewhere so I usually start with a box of whatever is available and seems right for the cartridge. But choosing a brand or style rather than planning on doing some experimental work seems almost pointless.


"Where do price and performance meet in your eyes ?"

In my eyes, they don't meet; bullets should first be chosen for what we intend. Accuracy may or may not be obtained from anything specific but performance in game is easier to quantify. Premium bullets are only needed when using a cartridge that is marginal for the game or range anticipated. If the game and cartridge are well matched and the ranges are rational, almost any 'cup and core' bullet designed for that type of game will work fine.

 

[ljnowell]

I load a small amount of jacketed handgun bullets, usually either from Speer(Gold Dots) or Rocky Mountain Reloading. For lead i only purchase from Missouri Bullet. I have no need to go elsewhere.

 

[BossHogg]

9mm -Plated

38 spl -lead all the way

45acp/45 colt - lead 90% 10% fmj , when I find a good price.

 

[blarby]

New respect for hornady 150 gr round nose for .30/30 in todays 20mph winds.

 

[Bmac1949]

For the handguns inexpensive and more accruate than me. Lead pistol ammo is fine by me. And as far as SD rounds I'll let the commercial reloaders take care of that. And for hunting I'm mostly developing my ammo around bullets that I was familar with before I started reloading. That gives me a guage as to how well I'm doing with my reloading. As get further into it I'll consider loading more "exotic ammo".

 

[BigBob3006]

blarby,

I've spent a lot of time and money on components researching the bullets I'll use. To use anything else at this stage of the game would be a waste of time and even more money. So I'll just buy what I know will do the job. I figure that will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[RhinoDefense]

I've tried several small business boutique type bullets over the years. Nothing I tried was ever better than the big companies. This is the jacketed/plated variety. Lead alloy is a different story.

On and off I've casted my own bullets commercially. Now I just source lead bullets from the only company I trust: Missouri Bullet Company. They have emerged as THE lead bullet company in the country. Oregon Trail/Lasercast, Penn, that guy in TX that ships bullets two years after you order them, and several others can't compete for the quality and value MBC bullets possess.

If you compete solely on price, you are a fool. You compete on value. That's performance for the price. Maximum performance for the lowest price. That is a balance you must find. Your competition has already found theirs. You will have to find yours.

 

[788Ham]

I've used Hornady since I started reloading 35 years ago, I've used Speer and Nosler, but like Hornady's HP bullets for my .223 better than any of the others. I've used 52 and 53 grain bullets in the .223, tried some A-Max bullets awhile back, might have to change my way of thinking now, shot the best group ever with this 52 gr. ballistic tip, .366 MOA @ 100yds. YMMV

 

[MtnCreek]

To date I'm 100% jacketed. Although that may change.
For pistols I like Win bulk FMJ's because of cost and they shoot really good. For full power .357 I load Hornady XTP. Great bullet and shoots well. HD autos (9mm, .40, .45) I load Gold Dots. The GDots shoot great and I've read great things about performance on target.

With rifle, I'm either looking for a fairly good shooter (Hornady FMJ) or a great shooter (A-Max or SMK). I also load some game loads with Nosler BT's or soft point.

I'll admit....there is probably an ulterior motive here....but I'd like to get some opinions from the group.

What's the motive? Should we expect to see some Blarby Bullets in the near future?

 

[357Shooter]

HORNADY
Besides looking like jewelry, they are accurate and on sale, and they are quite often, they aren't that much more than bulk Rems etc. I've used them for 30+ years. Did I say they look cool? I do slot of 357 & I think my average in the last two month purchases (about 3000 assorted) is $15.50 a box, no tax, including shipping. And...they look cool!