Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Workhorse bullets - in each line, which ones shine?

#1 = Partitions in every game caliber 6mm on up - though in larger than 338 caliber with the cartridges I shoot Hornady Interlock which works every time too

#2 = Interlocks especially heavy for the caliber - 7mm on up

For varmints - there's many

If I lived in the republic of Kalifornia I'd go with TTSX and TSX over other mono bullets

Hornady interlock in every cal I use.
257 RN kills out of the roberts like a much bigger gun
Still using 180 cor loc in 30-06 old production I hear the new ones are not so
Good but these old ones 1980s probbly have never failed me
Win psp 55 in 223 and 22-250 are deadly on coyotes

That narrows it down!

Hornady 50 V-max or 55gn SP for 223's and 1:14 twist 22-250's.
Hornady 75gn A-max for 1:8 twist 223AI and 22-250's.

243 and up over the last 15 years has been almost exclusively Barnes TSX with the exception of a Kimber MT in 270Win I had rebarreled w/1:8 Lilija which I have used the 150gn ABLR exclusively.

243Win 85gn TSX
25-06 and 257Wby 100 TSX
270Win 140 TSX (this would be my workhorse of workhorses)
7-08 120TSX, 280Rem and 7 WSM 120 TTSX
308 155gn Scenar
300Win 200gn TSX (workhorse #2 for stuff bigger than deer)

I'm waiting on a nice cool/calm morning/day to confirm loads for my 257Wby and 1:8 Kimber 270Wn utilizing Badlands Bulldozer II .257 95's and .277 140's. I plan to have one of them in-hand during our deer season this fall.

I’ve had good luck with handloaded Sierra GameKings, Hornady Interlocks, Nosler Ballistic Tips, Nosler Accubonds, Nosler Partitions, Swift A-Frame, and Barnes TTSX. In factory loaded ammo, I’ve had good luck with Federal Blue Box and Fusion. Fusion has shot well enough in several of my guns that I don’t bother handloading if there is some available.

I’ve never used any other bullets or loads on game. My hunting rarely results in really short shots or really long shots. So, between 100 and 400 yards with elk being the biggest game I’ve taken, I’m not really sure I’ve ever really put a bullet to the test. So, my sample size may be more of a statement on how easy deer are to kill vs how well the bullets performed.

I have had excellent luck with the Hornady spbt.
117 gr in 25-06
162 gr in 7mm STW
190 gr in 30-06

Some are discontinued.

.35 Whelen 250gr Hornady, extremely consistent performance.

Swift A Frames followed by Nosler Partitions and Hornady Interlocks.

The original Winchester Silvertips also always worked for me.

I'm shooting the 250 Interlock thus year and I'm interested in hearing your results on game both large and small.

As a do it all, cheap, accurate bullet for hunting medium game at sensible ranges (which accounts for 99.999% of my hunting) the Hornady Interlock Flat base would get my pick. I have found them very accurate in a range of calibres and rifles over 25 years.

.25 100gn
.26 129gn
.28 139gn
.30 150/165gn
.31 174gn RN

Since I only hunt in Alaska with a 30-06 or .338 Winny any Barnes TTSX or LRX bullet or Nosler Partition will work. They work so well I really have no need to look further. I am also venturing into the peep sighted lever action guns, so have laid in a a good supply of Kodiak Super Bonded bullets in .348 and 45-70 caliber. The .356 Win. is a work in progress as I am trying to come up with my version of the perfect .356 Win. load for Alaska. I am modifying 225 grain Partitions and Woodleigh bullets and have a bunch of 220 grain FN Speers and 200 grain Shock Hammer bullets.

My wife who is a small 72 year old lady will be toting the Big Bore .356 Win. so the 200 grain Shock Hammer will be more recoil friendly for her, if there is such a thing. Eventually I will try some of each in some water jugs and magazines and see what looks best for moose and big bears up close if needed.

I’m looking forward to seeing your tests 1AK. That’s a solid set up of rifles you’ve got.

When my wife started hunting big game, i bought her a New England Arms single shot in 243 Win. The second day of moose season, she dropped a nice cow with one shot at 30 yards with a 90 grain XFB. Busted a 4" chunk of rib back through the lungs. Dead Moose. She stole my Tikka 30-06 for the next season, and dropped a nice buck at 200 yards with a 150 grain Partition. It went 15 yards before it folded up. A couple years later she dumped a nice bull moose with the ole 06 at 60 yards using a 150 grain TSX, and the bull dropped where it stood.

I have used 165 and 180 Hornady Interloks in both my 3006 and my 300WM. All one shot kills on moose, deer and bear. I have switched to Barnes 168 TSX for both my 06 and 300 Win. They are accurate at the ranges I hunt -- 50 to 250 yards.

My belief is that if you put a bullet of appropriate construction into the vitals, there is no magic. It is just smart shooting. I don't take low percentage shots. And I HATE chasing wounded game.

A 243 is not a moose rifle, but it works good if done right. You don't need a 300 Mag for even the largest deer, but they work fine. My 6.5 SWEDE kills way bigger than the numbers it generates.

Enjoy our sport, and tweak the shooter as much as the hunter.