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I have always respected Richard Mann's writing and testing. He gives a good write up here on 5 bullets out of the 300 Win Mag. The Barnes LRX and Berger didn't do so well at distance. Wished that he would have tested a 200 grain Partition. http://www.fieldandstream.com/long-range-shootout?src=SOC&dom=fbIn theory, the perfect big-game bullet would fly dead flat, expand to double its unfired diameter on impact, penetrate just through the far side of every critter, and then drop straight to the ground, having spent all its energy on tissue damage. And it would do this as perfectly at 800 yards as at 80.
Of all the challenges this presents to bullet makers, the key one, given our current long-range craze, is the last. As a general rule, a bullet’s ability to expand and damage tissue decreases as it slows. It’s one thing to mitigate this problem out to 300 or 400 yards, as some manufacturers have through better bullet construction. It’s quite another when those distances double.
With 21st-century riflemen shooting to previously unthinkable ranges, the bullet maker’s challenge in the new millennium is to design projectiles that shoot as flat as possible, that are minimally affected by wind, and that deliver deadly performance from the muzzle out as far as you can make a good hit.
In the Lab
In reality, the perfect bullet not only doesn’t exist—it can’t. The laws of physics prevent it. But that hasn’t kept makers from chasing the ideal. So in an effort to find the modern big-game bullet that gets the closest to perfection, I used Hornady’s ballistic laboratory to test five .30-caliber hunting projectiles at .300 Win. Mag. velocities. There, Doppler radar measured flight consistency (from shot to shot) and bullet velocity from the muzzle to 800 yards. I also fired each bullet into ballistic gelatin at 150 and 800 yards to gauge expansion and penetration. The listed scores are out of a possible 100, based on a comparison with our theoretically perfect bullet.
1. Hornady ELD-X, 212-grain
Total Score: 84
I’ve seen the ELD-X in action on big game to 700 yards. It is impressive. The bullet has a radically tapered jacket, an internal lock, and a new tip designed to increase flight consistency. It is only loaded in Hornady Precision Hunter ammunition.
• Velocity Lost at 800 Yards: 973 fps • Flight Consistency: 99.999% • 150-Yard Expansion: 0.515 inch (1.67 times original diameter) • 150-Yard Penetration: 24 inches • 800-Yard Expansion: 0.580 inch (1.88 times original diameter) • 800-Yard Penetration: 27 inches
Comments: Hornady let me use its lab based on its confidence in how this bullet would perform—and that trust wasn’t misplaced. The company had no influence on my testing or the results. The ELD-X’s top-ranking flight consistency, and near identical performance at 150 and 800 yards, earned it the top spot.
2. Nosler AccuBond LR, 190-grain
Total Score: 77
The AccuBond has proved to be a stone-cold killer inside 500 yards. The LR is engineered to fly flatter, and it is bonded to help keep it together. It’s available in loaded ammunition from Nosler.
• Velocity Lost at 800 Yards: 1011 fps • Flight Consistency: 99.986% • 150-Yard Expansion: 0.480 inch (1.56 times original diameter) • 150-Yard Penetration: 18 inches • 800-Yard Expansion: 0.480 inch (1.56 times original diameter) • 800-Yard Penetration: 28 inches
Comments: Expansion at 150 and 800 yards was amazingly identical, if moderate, and the AccuBond LR retained velocity reasonably well. It had the least consistent flight of any bullet tested, but the difference from best to worst was slight. And it produced the deepest straight-line penetration at 800 yards.
3. Barnes LRX, 200-grain
Total Score: 68
I’ve used LRX bullets at common hunting distances with great success in North America and Africa. This is an all-copper boattail bullet, with a plastic tip to initiate expansion and flatten trajectory. Barnes offers them in its VOR-TX line of ammunition.
• Velocity Lost at 800 Yards: 1121 fps • Flight Consistency: 99.990% • 150-Yard Expansion: 0.610 inch (1.98 times original diameter) • 150-Yard Penetration: 30 inches • 800-Yard Expansion: None (1.00 times original diameter) • 800-Yard Penetration: 34 inches
Comments: The LRX could not have performed better at 150 yards. Impacting the 800-yard target at 1666 fps, however, it exhibited no expansion and tumbled through the gel block. Solid copper bullets typically need to impact at 2000 fps or faster to show significant expansion.
4. Berger VLD Hunting, 190-grain
Total Score: 60
During a hunt in New Zealand, my party took almost 50 big-game animals using VLDs. We had no complaints, and some shots were beyond 500 yards. All Berger bullets are known for accuracy. The Hunting Shack offers VLDs in some loaded ammunition; otherwise they are for handloaders.
• Velocity Lost at 800 Yards: 1003 fps • Flight Consistency: 99.995% • 150-Yard Expansion: 0.535 inch (1.74 times original diameter) • 150-Yard Penetration: 18 inches • 800-Yard Expansion: None (1.00 times original diameter) • 800-Yard Penetration: 24 inches
Comments: In the short-range test, penetration was a bit shallow, but the VLD expanded wide and created a wicked wound cavity. Flight consistency was very high. However, the VLD failed to expand at 800 yards and tumbled through the gel.
5. Hornady SST, 180-grain
Total Score: 60
I’ve seen great things from SST bullets on various big-game animals inside 400 yards. Prior to 2016, this was Hornady’s long-range hunting bullet. It is a conventional design with a plastic tip. Hornady offers a wide selection of ammo loaded with SSTs, and in Remington ammunition this bullet is known as the AccuTip.
• Velocity Lost at 800 Yards: 1267 fps • Flight Consistency: 99.989% • 150-Yard Expansion: 0.655 inch (2.13 times original diameter) • 150-Yard Penetration: 17 inches • 800-Yard Expansion: None (1.00 times original diameter) • 800-Yard Penetration: 24 inches
Comments: Expansion at 150 yards was impressive, which limited penetration somewhat. At 800 yards the SST tumbled after impact, which caused the plastic tip to shear and the nose to smear in a way that looked like expansion but wasn’t.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
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Yeah, I saw that report on Richard's Facebook page. Very interesting!
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Yeah, it was kind of a eye opener for me.
And 800 yards is about my max range so this is a good report.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,036 |
What, no 200gr. partition????? Damn...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Berger and Barnes users might not like this, looks like the rest did well. I wish they could have tested the regular Accubond, I bet it does better than the suggested 500 yards max in the article. Interesting results.
Gerry.
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I wish they could have tested the regular Accubond, I bet it does better than the suggested 500 yards max in the article. I bet it does too, and better than the Nosler 190 LR bullet. I also bet the Sierra 200 gr. GK would do well.
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Joined: Nov 2013
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Would have been helpful if he'd included the design specs for expansion as well as the impact velocities.
It does reinforce my personal notion that an unwounded deer at over 500 yards is none of my business.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Very interesting - thanks for sharing.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Why do some guys still think terminal performance can be determined by looking at recovered bullets? Show the wound channels in the gel. Why compare the 190gr VLD to the 212 ELD. 210gr VLDs are a thing. I suspect the ELD-X is a fine bullet but the test was set up to favor that bullet by not showing the wound channels and purposely picking a lighter weight, lower BC VLD. Many here know I have been a fan of the VLD so this might my bias showing.
John Burns
I have all the sources. They can't stop the signal.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Interesting test and write up. Thanks for posting it.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Why do some guys still think terminal performance can be determined by looking at recovered bullets? Show the wound channels in the gel. Why compare the 190gr VLD to the 212 ELD. 210gr VLDs are a thing. I suspect the ELD-X is a fine bullet but the test was set up to favor that bullet by not showing the wound channels and purposely picking a lighter weight, lower BC VLD. Many here know I have been a fan of the VLD so this might my bias showing. Yeah, the 210gr LRAB would have also been a good comparison to the 212 ELD. Starting velocities would have been interesting to see. Also seems like in a controlled lab/range one could set up a chrono with bullet deflectors and directly obtain velocity at range, instead of using a Doppler radar - but that may be a non-issue. I'm working up loads with a .300 RUM, so it is interesting and timely to at least know what expands at range.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Tex, I'm working on 300 RUM loads too in my spare time, I'll settle on the 210 LRAB at 3K and a CDS, hope I can make it happen, got 600 on those damn bullets and 200 sticks of R-P brass.
Retumbo is looking very good last trip on the bench.
Trump Won!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Mine loves 180 Accubonds, and Reloader 26 will run them faster than they're supposed to go Still working on load development, but it will toss 190 LRAB into sub-MOA groups, running 3150 fps, so I think it's just a load development thing. I'll probably try Retumbo as well, but I can see using R26 in other calibers, and I'd like to stay with powders that I can use in multiple cartridges.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Campfire Outfitter
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A long shot for me is 400 yards.I guess my Bergers and Accubonds will work for me.
Its all right to be white!! Stupidity left unattended will run rampant Don't argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and then win by experience
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Campfire Outfitter
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Product 'hype' 100%....as usual!!
Even birds know not to land downwind!
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I've been killing deer & elk with the 30/06 Winchester 180 grain "Power Points" for years & years. I see not reason to change what's not broken. I'll probably buy a few more boxes when they go on sale. Bob
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Campfire Outfitter
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Why do some guys still think terminal performance can be determined by looking at recovered bullets?
Show the wound channels in the gel.
Why compare the 190gr VLD to the 212 ELD. 210gr VLDs are a thing.
I suspect the ELD-X is a fine bullet but the test was set up to favor that bullet by not showing the wound channels and purposely picking a lighter weight, lower BC VLD.
Many here know I have been a fan of the VLD so this might my bias showing. grin You have very good reason to show bias! Can't argue with results. I am kind of befuddled that the Berger didn't do the "grenade". Maybe just tumbled?
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Product 'hype' 100%....as usual!! Nosler 7mm 120gr Ballistic tip, launched at 3080 fps, zero'd at 200 yards: 15 mph crosswind, 600 yards, 45.18" wind drift, 66" drop Nosler 30 cal 210gr ABLR, launched at 3000 fps, same zero: ---->>>> 600 yards, 15mph crosswind, 23.99" wind drift, 56.33" drop. (calculated with Nosler's calculator) - which are the numbers that persuaded me to start working with these fancy bullets
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Mine loves 180 Accubonds, and Reloader 26 will run them faster than they're supposed to go Still working on load development, but it will toss 190 LRAB into sub-MOA groups, running 3150 fps, so I think it's just a load development thing. I'll probably try Retumbo as well, but I can see using R26 in other calibers, and I'd like to stay with powders that I can use in multiple cartridges. 10-4, one powder for several cartridges sure simplifies trips to the component sales facilities.
Trump Won!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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The Partition probably would have had a pretty good showing in that test.
Also, if the two/three bullets that tumbled actually did so inside of an animal after impact, then that would have worked pretty well anyway.
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