It’s no surprise that through a few minutes of scrolling over the component bullet section of any major retailer’s website, you can find a near-dizzying selection of available projectiles. With modern bullet designs, having added more options to the mix for hunters and shooters, there’s a large array of bullets to choose from. So, knowing some important factors can help you in most parts to find the right bullets.
However, you should always try to choose the most accurate bullet like Hornady bullet that can suit any small or big game and give you an effective result.
Let’s have a look at these 4 things that you are waiting to explore right now.
Target Bullets
There’s a lot of exciting factors for target rifle shooters. The Sierra MatchKing remains the industry standard, while the Tipped MatchKing adds a polymer tip. Although Berger’s Extreme Outer Limits Elite Hunter series was created as a hunting bullet, this makes a fantastic long-range target bullet. The bullet is often heavy for caliber and has unrivaled BCs. Usually, this demands a faster-than-normal rate of twist, but these are well worth a trial for long-range shooters.
Hornady’s ELD Match, as well as Nosler’s Custom Competition, are still great options. Cutting Edge Bullets that offer MTAC (Match-Tactical) lathe-turned, all-copper bullets are available in both conventional and single-feed formats for loaders who want to go beyond the usual cartridge overall length and magazine length constriction. The main thing is that with the popularity of long-range shooting, loading up some match-grade bullets for the price of a box of projectiles can be a lot of fun.
Hunting Bullets
Hunting rounds are still evolving, and reloaders have a wide range of component bullets to choose from. Don’t think negatively, classic bullets like the Sierra GameKing, Hornady InterLock, and Nosler Partition still perform suitably in a variety of conditions, but there are nearly many options on the market for any one of us to test in a lifetime of hunting.
Many hunting rounds can compete with match-grade target bullets in terms of accuracy, which is a good side. AccuBond and AccuBond Long Variety from Nosler have printed really nice groups while also providing the proper terminal ballistics across a wide range of impact velocities. It’s nothing more than a Sierra GameKing with a translucent green polymer tip, but it’s shown to be effective in some rifles.
Many of Federal’s most popular series, such as the Edge TLR and Trophy Bonded Tip, Fusion, and the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solid, are now available in component form. Peregrine Bullets from South Africa has a fascinating lineup, with a distinctive scheme that has served well in a variety of calibers. You might be overwhelmed by these few designs that can make the selection so confusing.
Moreover, a hunting bullet must fulfill a number of functions. Firstly, it must be accurate enough to hit the animal exactly where it is needed. Secondly, it has to be durable enough to sustain a wide range of impact speeds. Thirdly, it must spread sufficiently to induce severe hemorrhaging, but not excessively so that it is stopped before reaching the requisite organs. The original cup-and-core design is still in use, and it works well in moderate cartridges at common ranges.
Copper Considerations
Lead-free monometal designs that started with the Barnes X, are now mandated in some locations and are gaining favor. While loading the copper bullets, remember that compared to lead-core designs, the core of gravity is positioned backward, which keeps the bullet weight average. The longest bullets will not be stabilized correctly until the twist rate is raised, especially in designs with more extended ogives and higher BC values. That problem can be overcome by shortening the bullet’s length.
Like the Peregrine BushMaster, is a copper-only bullet with a flat meplat and a brass plunger into a hollow interior. As air is difficult to compress, the brass plunger causes the sidewalls of the bullet to burst outward upon impact, ensuring consistent expansion. Despite this, Peregrine can typically provide its monometal at standard weights due to the conformation.
The 400-grain bullet in its.450/400 3-inch NE and.404 Jeffery, as well as the 500-grain bullet in its.470 double, are popular among shooters. There’s no uncertainty about their consistency because they’re lathe-turned, and their design provides long-lasting terminal ballistics. The usable weight in a standard-twist barrel is limited by the lead-free construction of the Peregrine Plainsmaster or the Cutting Edge MTH. It’s just the way the beast is.
The Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Trophy Bonded Tip bullets that are designed by Federal have a shorter lead core in the front and a copper shank in the back, which drives the center of gravity forward. Because the lead core is chemically linked to the copper jacket, both of these bullets can endure high impact velocities, but they will also grow at lower velocity further downrange, particularly in the case of the Tip.
Because it is designed with the long-range hunter in mind, Federal’s Edge TLR takes the concept of a compact lead core up front a step further. The Slipstream polymer tip assists provide dependable expansion at speeds as low as 1,400 fps according to Federal.
Narrowing the Field
So, which of these designs will suit you best as a hunting reloader will depend on a number of criteria, including your preferred cartridge, planned game, and hunting distances. The hunting fields will reveal what happens to a bullet when it impacts hide, bone, and flesh from various angles, while ballistic gelatin will only tell part of the story.
However, find a bullet that meets your needs, research the load data and select the right bullets. As a reloader, there should be nothing more enjoyable than selecting the right bullet for a specific hunt, one that builds a load in your rifle and positions the bullet well directly on the animal.
