Why are hard cast bullets so great and FMJ so bad?

[35 Whelen]

35 Whelen, For years I have read every Gun Digest I could lay my hands on. In one EK dissed the 30-06 as an elk rifle and also told how he put down 3 bull elk with one clip out of a Springfield. He said he used his special "root of the tail" aiming point. I find myself thinking that those two commentaries don't go together. In another issue of GD Col. Cooper talks about the brilliant future he for sees for the Bren 10. Both these guys set off red flags of doubt in their prose. Of course they aren't the only ones. If putting words on paper pays the rent you pull them out of somewhere. In all the answers given in this thread I am sure some are correct. I cast boolits. I read a lot about casting boolits. I reload with cast boolits. I shoot cast boolits. I love cast boolits. I am going to think and analyze what I hear and read and if it trips my baloney alarm, that's that. Townsen Whelen also had writings that seemed to come from Oscar Mayer.

First, I agree with your points regarding Keith. I've almost finished his book "Sixguns" and find some of his ideas odd and a time or two he's contradicted himself. For example it never made much sense to me that he thought the 30-06 too light for elk, but a .44 Special revolver just the berries for them. Regarding Cooper I used to read his column in G&A magazi e and found he a d Keith to be similar in personalities and writing styles in that they were both very outspoken, but men such as them with decades of REAL experience tended to be that way...and rightly so. However, whether Keith shot bull elk in the butt or Cooper was wrong in a prediction has nothing to do with cast bullets, their effectiveness, and what makes them effective.

One need only look at today's trends in bullets. The cast SWC has been in existence and steady use for almost 90 years now and for a good reason, the design works. If they didn't work well, as in the case of the homely lead round nose bullet, nobody would use them for hunting and self-defense.

While there's nothing wrong with asking "why", to try and argue, especially without merit or evidence, is pointless.

35W

 

[murf]

and now, with the advent of powder coated cast lead bullets, there is more reason to sling lead bullets down range: no smoke, no lead fouling, and pretty colors!

murf

 

[jhb]

How does the newer lead free copper alloy of some sort bullets fare vs. Hardcast?

They should punch hard through meat and bone I would think...but here is my rub....I think and really don't know. Y'alls take on it? Thanks in advance.