Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting bullet experts ?

[Tractorat]

For you bullet experts out there. I went in to big 5 to buy a box of 30.06 180 grain bullets. They had a box of Federals for about $24, and some other brand for about $40. Both 30.06, and both 180 grain. The $40 box said they were "trophy" bullets. So can anyone tell me the difference between the $24 and the $40 bullets ? (btw, I bought the federal).

 

[jclark5810]

I think the federals use Nosler partition for the bullets. For off the shelf ammo i'd say you're good either way.

 

[GHarman]

tractorat,
You know that an "ex" is a has been and a "spert" is a drip under pressure??:-laf
Ammo sales is just that. There are loads with standard Lead Cored Projectiles. There are LCP's with the cores soldiered to the jackets, There are twin cored bullets (Nosler Partition), There are match quality hunting projectiles. There are solid copper projectiles, And numerous variations of these. Those made with more advanced manufacturing methods, newest technology or PC materials are usually the "most expensive"! But that also depends on proximity to hunting seasons and demand.
Buy what shoots best in Your Rifle. Wait for pre-season sales. Buy multiple boxes of the same ammo with the same lot number. That number is found on the inside of one of the end flaps of the boxes. Don't wait till the week before hunting season to get yer ammo!!
I hope this helps?
GregH

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks, I was just curious. I thought maybe the more expensive shells would cut and clean the deer for you.

I can go for years without buying a new box of bullets. Ill go to the range every few years just to make sure my gun still shoots straight. At 100 yards with my scope, I can usually get a very close pattern in the black with maybe 5 or 7 shots. Then I pack up and leave (trying not to increase the ringing in my ears :-laf) I really havent tried very hard to actually shoot a deer in decades. If I do shoot one, I have to deal with it. So, I dont work too hard at it. I go just to be out in the woods by myself and reset the world.

 

[GHarman]

Wear ear protection and shoot more! I love Range Time AND Woods time!
One range I belong to, is an old military Rifle Range in the National Forest, started by the US Army in 1917!
It was abandon after WW-2 and found by an original club member back in the early 1960's. After lots of improvements it is a fine place shoot.
Its one of my most favorite places to paper punch and it is back in the "Woods"!!
GregH

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Just wait until your state bans lead ammo and you have to buy a box of those fancy, all copper bullets. Talk about sticker shock :--) You'll learn to reload your own ammo really quick.

 

[Tractorat]

Wear ear protection

Yup, do that. But inside the dugout at the range ear protection sort of helps.

 

[GHarman]

Handloads, with the same "all copper bullets"! The Barnes bullets in .30 caliber are $0.65-$0.75 each.
GregH

 

[GHarman]

Tractorat,
Earplugs AND Earmuffs!
GregH

 

[GHarman]

Just came back from Walmart. Out of curiosity, I looked to see what their .30/06 ammo was going for.
Federal softpoint (not a premium game bullet, standard cup-and-core soft points) was $19.95 a box.
Not necessarily a deal, but considering the times, justifiable!
FYI!
GregH

 

[Tractorat]

Still not sure what the higher price hunting bullet buys you though.

 

[SSage]

Trohy is the premium Federal bonded tip expanding bullets. The added cost gives you a higher expanding bullet because it has a ballistic tip bonded to it. Those matter or make a difference when your shooting long range mainly when the energy drops off. For the average deer hunter it would matter zilch. In smaller calibers it will help take larger game with one shot. Honestly around here we seldom see over 200 yard hunts, most of the time I use hard cast reloads at 100 yards or less. In the SE 80 yards is common in brush, 300 yards across pastures and fields is my max usually. So, if its a field I use a 180 grain, in the woods a 125 grain fancy expanding bullet is pleasant and effective. Depends on what you want in recoil and accuracy verses stopping power and penetration. Its all very personal preference orientated and mainly bragging rites. Its amazing how accurate a dirt old 45/70 405 grain FN cast pushed at 1250 is on most game. Fancy bullets are over rated, but we men like our toys...

 

[GHarman]

Nothing Kills like a .45/70!!
GregH

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks for the explanation. Yup, the plain old federals and remintons work for me.
It must be trophy rounds that bignasty uses for those 3000 yard shots then. :-laf

 

[GHarman]

Nope! Nosler AccuBonds or Partitions in hand loads! The Accubond is like a Nosler ballistic tip, but with a soldiered core to jacket construction.
And Nope, no 3000 yard shots. YET !
GregH

 

[Tractorat]

And Nope, no 3000 yard shots. YET

I exaggerated a little for dramatic license. :-laf

 

[SSage]

Plain jane soft tips or cast work fine till you push things real fast.

I sold bullets for a while, but cast was still the biggest market with pro hunters. That $45 to $75 a box stuff gets expensive when you shoot 2,000 rounds or more a year actually hunting with the larger calibers. .338 is getting harder to find gas checks for, I got into gas checks heavy when shooting .458 and .500 S&W. Made my own and then started selling them. But, things are so slow now people are just using what they have stocked up and commercial bullet sales died. I guess too many started reloading cast. Once you learn to reload and cast your own its tough to go back to factory ammo. I'm glad powder prices are dropping some, the prices were up there too far. Its amazing what old bullet molds are going for on eBay.

 

[BIGNASTY]

nothing kills like a .45/70!! :d
gregh

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