Bullet Performance Database

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

This 400 Gr Swift A frame was fired out of a 404 Jeffery at 2300 FPS. The Eland was hit slightly above the shoulder on the right side. The bullet was recovered just under the skin on the left side.
The shot was taken at approximately 80 yards. Retained weight was 391.6 Gr. I didn't request an autopsy or other report on what the bullet went through. The animal attempted to take a step backward but before he could do so, collapsed in his tracks never to move again.

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Shootist43
That's impressive performance and a beautiful eland
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

400 grain 416 Woodleigh Hydrostabalized projectile.
MV 4550fps
Entered chest of Cape Buff facing front on about 50 mts. Found a few inches from the skin of the rump after passing through the pelvis. View attachment 186801

Rule 303
Man o man Greg that's some speed for a .416. What's the recoil like
Cheers mate Bob.

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

I'm all for recovered bullets, but... I'd rather have an exit hole.

The late Natie Oelofse from Namibia, kept meticulous details of clients shots and told me this:

He segregated animals into three groups ( small, medium and Large), and found that if there was an exit hole, the animals traveled 1/3 the distance as those that did not have the bullet exit.

what was interesting, is that all three groups had the same results.

But I never pass up a chance to recover a bullet if I can.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Madcox, the Eland I took recently, but I loaned my gun and ammo out for the kudu.
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Bullet found under skin.
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56” kudu
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Ridgewalker
Beautiful animals mate got to be happy with them
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

View attachment 238773 My profile pic is of a recovered PRVI Partisan 208-grain bullet in 8x56R and part of its jacket, shot from my ancient straight-pull Steyr Mannlicher 95/30 carbine. The bullet passed through the chest cavities of two 90-pound hogs. It was recovered under the hide on the far side of the second hog. They were unlucky enough to line up next to each other, so I said why not.

Trail Rated
Nothing wrong with that mate saves ammo. I did a similar thing with the 35 Whelen AI but my second one was hit in the dead. Used a 250grain Woodleigh PPSP.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

This 400 Gr Swift A frame was fired out of a 404 Jeffery at 2300 FPS. The Eland was hit slightly above the shoulder on the right side. The bullet was recovered just under the skin on the left side.
The shot was taken at approximately 80 yards. Retained weight was 391.6 Gr. I didn't request an autopsy or other report on what the bullet went through. The animal attempted to take a step backward but before he could do so, collapsed in his tracks never to move again.

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Shootist43
That's one big mother of an eland
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Whitetail deer 35 Whelen 225 Nosler Accubond 230-250 yards quartering towards bullet entered neck and exited behind shoulder opposite side breaking 5 ribs.
This rifle is now my son’s now and he is putting it to good use the accubonds do open up but they drop deer in there tracks.
Shawn

Shawn54
Love the accubonds in my Whelen absolutely devastating with grey penetration. The woodleigh PPSP are just as good in 225grain.
The 250 grain Woodleigh PPSP is superb in my rifle @ 2,700 fps but I don't need that sort of penetration on the deer or pigs I hunt
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Federal Factory 35 Whelen 225g Trophy Bonded Bear Claw recovered from an eland bull, guessing these were the shots from about 70 yards broadside. I can't seem to find them, but I know I put them somewhere when I left SA. If I do find them, I'll weigh them.
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Goose Cracker
Good performance mate. How would you rate them compared to the accubonds and woodleigh projectiles.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Federal & Speer are both owned by Vista Outdoors. The TBBC was developed by a Texan named Jack Carter (now retired) in 1988 before Federal was involved. Jack Carter sold bullets with pure copper jackets as components only, never loaded ammo. Federal has made a few changes to his design such as using gliding metal for jackets. Component bulkets for reloading were then offered under the Speer label when Jack retired. They haven't been available as a component bullet for reloaders for years. This thread prompted me to look, Federal is / will be offering them as component bullets again but only in four calibers. "Back in the day" TBBC component bullets were offered in many more calibers.

https://www.federalpremium.com/products/reloading/bullets/trophy-bonded-bear-claw-component-bullets

Federal developed the Trophy Bonded Tip in 2008, using some elements of the TBBC but geared for less tough game than the TBBC was developed for.

Mr Zorg
Do you know if they are/Will making the 225 TBBC in 35 cal. Would love to be able to get them in Australia.
Cheers mate Bob.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Warthog Boar
30-06 180gr Nosler AB @ 2695 f/s at 132 meters. Quatering ever so slighly towards me. Double lung shot.
Ran about 60 m before it expired.

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Alchemists
Typical accubond performance and what a cracking warthog.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

you certainly would not rule out the oryx and the corelokt based on that.
there is however a difference between a shoulder joint and a water jug.
this might tip things more toward the barnes for bigger species.
bruce.

Bruce moulds I
The performance of the big 220 would leave nothing to be desired either.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m curious if anyone has used Hornady factory load ELD-X ammo on a PG safari and how it performed. I’m planning to use my Tikka .308 and Hornady ELD-X 178gr. Largest animal I intend to hunt is a waterbuck. It shoots incredibly accurate out of my rifle but I’m wondering how the bullet will hold up. Alternative I’m looking at is Nosler AB or PT. If this has already been discussed please let me know. Thanks!

JnB06
I'd forget the ELDX .
One hunter used them in a,300 win mag and got continual core separations even on warthog. These were ove 200grains in weight.
At least the accubonds will hold together better and 8n my humble opinion the accubonds out class the ELDX.
My 15year old son used a Howa 308 mainly loaded with 150grain accubonds and flattened everything including Oryx.
Cheers mate Bob.

 

[Rule 303]

Rule 303
Man o man Greg that's some speed for a .416. What's the recoil like
Cheers mate Bob.

Bob, that velocity was achieved on the keyboard by using fat fingers to type.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, that velocity was achieved on the keyboard by using fat fingers to type.

Rule 303.
While your at it with those fingers how bout you work out the recoil mate it would be very interesting.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Also tested a 162 grain ELD-X out of a 28 Nosler at 50 yards. Bullet was in second jug
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Mike Van Horn
They perform well in water jugs, but real life with them is a different story. One hunter in our group was using a 300 win mag with 210 odd grain ELDXs and even tho the killed game, sometimes needing two or three shots he found them to be a disaster. A projectile he retrieved from a warthog was just a jacket but no core, same on his zebra. The zebra stallion took 2 shots we don't know if it was the first or second shot separated as only 1 projectile was recovered.
I personally wouldn't recommend them for anything bigger than Springbok and impala after seeing that. I have no confidence in them. The projectiles are the cheapest part of the hunt even if they cost $10 each. Choose an appropriate bullet for the game you hunt.
My 2 cents worth.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Between my dad and I in SA last year, we recovered 2 bullets. Both were Barnes TTSX, 1 from my 35 Whelen and the other from his 375 H&H. We put 7, 175gr Barnes LRX from my 300WM @ 3,200 fps MV through 6 animals and never recovered any.

35 Whelen
200gr Barnes TTSX
2810 muzzle velocity
150 yards
Waterbuck
Straight into the chest
Bullet was found near scrotum with 1 pedal broken off.
Never weighed it, but I can tonight.

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Gayer
Ya got to love the Whelen!!!!!!!
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Mike Van Horn]

Mike Van Horn
They perform well in water jugs, but real life with them is a different story. One hunter in our group was using a 300 win mag with 210 odd grain ELDXs and even tho the killed game, sometimes needing two or three shots he found them to be a disaster. A projectile he retrieved from a warthog was just a jacket but no core, same on his zebra. The zebra stallion took 2 shots we don't know if it was the first or second shot separated as only 1 projectile was recovered.
I personally wouldn't recommend them for anything bigger than Springbok and impala after seeing that. I have no confidence in them. The projectiles are the cheapest part of the hunt even if they cost $10 each. Choose an appropriate bullet for the game you hunt.
My 2 cents worth.
Cheers mate Bob

I agree, what l have tested the ELD-X is best with a muzzle velocity less than 2900 fps, and with shots past 150 yards.
The 143 grain works good in a 6.5-284 with longer shots.
For the most part l like Barnes and Northfork bullets

 

[Longwalker]

I’ve been one of the people who are quite skeptical of some Hornady bullets, especially their old style DGX. But I just went digging in the soil behind the backstop at my shooting range and found these bullets that I fired from my .450-400 3” They passed through a plywood target holder, then a couple meters of wet snow, then hit the soft ground. Not a very scientific observation, but encouraging.
The two with cannelure grooves closer to the base are Woodleigh weldcore. The other two are Hornady DGX bonded. They seem quite comparable.
Last year I shot some of the old original style DGX bullets under the same conditions and they either expanded erratically or split and ejected their lead core. Perhaps Hornady got it right with this Bonded design.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

I'm all for recovered bullets, but... I'd rather have an exit hole..

Two holes bleed better than one!

 

[Forrest Halley]

What bullet company is this? Seconds from Midway USA left this gem behind today. Unknown .458

500 grain soft points.