Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Big Bore Ballistic Tips

Saw another human at the range today for the first time in two months. This sub-arctic crowding is getting to me!

Anyway two lads getting ready for a bison hunt. They need to clearly identify a bull sop usually get within 100 yards. Given the range they shoot at I found their armament choices intresting..but I said nothing.

One lad had a 300 Ultramag the other a 338. I was interested that they chose ballistic tips as their bullets.

I am wondering about these bullets for heavy game. muledeer wrote that the 33 and 35 caliber BT's were much heavier jaclketed than in lighter calibers. My own testing suggests that the 225 grain 35 will shed it's 100 grain core every time. I can't see it being the best choice for hevy bone impacts but further testing is suggesting that even so penetration is better than expected.

then again a poster called Klikitarik had a 358 BT blow it's core on impact with a fox!

Any other experiences with the heavier caliber B.T.'s

I hope those boys are bringing plenty of ammo on their bison hunt---they'll likely need it. Sounds more like a job for an X.

I have witnessed a 200gr out of a .338winmag shoot through a very large bull moose.Since the bullet exited,I can't comment on weight retention.I have taken 8 elk and 2 moose myself with the 180gr ballistic tip out of my 300ultramags.One bullet was recovered after passing through both shoulders of an elk and the remaining bullet weighed 111.7gr for 62% weight retention.The rest of the bullets exited.

I believe the 200 grain 338 is in a different class than the 35 caliber. I have never shot one through a moose (though I have done it broadside through the ribs with the early 180s in 30-06.) I have several recovered 200s fired from my 340 which came from a couple of moose. They typically look like this (the bullet on the right):



The other bullets are also recovered from moose, the two on the left being premiums from the same gun at similar distances and velocities.

A friend took a musk ox a few years back with his 375 JDJ contender, and used the 260 gr balistic tip. He shot 5 times, and as I recall, every bullet shed it's core. That is at the sedate muzzle velocity of less than 2000 fps.

Takujualuk,

I have used the 200 gr. Ballistic Tip successfully on 3 Black Bear, a Dall Sheep, and any number of Coyote (it's rather decisive there! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) The bear and sheep were taken from 50 yards to 212 (lasered) yards. All achieved full, sideway penetration. I do not shoot these smaller animals with a bent on breaking them down to stop their advance. All of these hits saw the critter fall where they stood...with just a little F.I.P. (flopping in place) going on. (Gravity did take one of the bear 50 or so yards down hill...but it took 5 or so minutes for him to start rolling from the wet, grassy edge he was on. I had to tie a rope around his head to a patch of alders so I could skin em' out. It was close to a 40 degree slope.)

With that said, I wonder why something obviously more substantial would not be used on a critter that can easily match the weight of the largest moose or a very large bear. None of the above are too hard to dispatch; however, a Partition, "X", or A Frame would be a better choice.

The "sticking spot" is still the most important factor for me. Confidence in a projectile is one less thing that one must think about when the time comes. If the question crosses the mind then something else should be used.

Just a "nuther" IMO from the bush. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

best,
bhtr

Hmmmmmm.............bison hunting in the NWT. I assume
they are going around Ft. Smith or the Mc Kenzie Bison sanctuary? Is this on a draw or are the boys GHL holders?
Here in Alberta we do not even need a hunting licence, since bison are not regarded wildlife.
The downside is that many have TB, Brucellosis or the combo.

It's a draw system up here for residents. Season is Dec 1st to March 15th and it cost $50.00.

Hunting areas are North of Ft Providence on the west side of Great Slave Lake or around Ft Liard a ways West of us.