Bullets that well advertised but were not that great

[30-06Ken]

I think the "problem" we have today is finding a bullet that doesn't work well for whatever you are hunting. I remeber back in the late 70's hunting with my dad, he shot a whitetail doe on the shoulder with his 30-06 knocked it down she got up and started running, shot again but this time she was running the opposite direction and he shot the other side, same result, finally the 3rd shot put her down after she couldnt get up. We found the the first 2 shots completely blew up on the shoulder's but didnt penetrate. Some of the bullets back then were as bad as the cars from the '70's. (Pinto, Vega, Gremlin, Pacer, Yugo etc.)

Explosive type bullets like SST's, Ballistic Tips, Game Kings, for thin skinned antelope and small whitetails. Bonded bulletes like Trophy Bonded (old Bear Claw), Scirocco, ELDX, Grand Slam's, for bigger plains type game. Super penetrators like the A-Frame, Partition, Barnes T(T)SX, North Fork.

No matter what you choose remember that a great bullet does not make up for poor marksmanship.

 

[Flbt]

I think the "problem" we have today is finding a bullet that doesn't work well for whatever you are hunting. I remeber back in the late 70's hunting with my dad, he shot a whitetail doe on the shoulder with his 30-06 knocked it down she got up and started running, shot again but this time she was running the opposite direction and he shot the other side, same result, finally the 3rd shot put her down after she couldnt get up. We found the the first 2 shots completely blew up on the shoulder's but didnt penetrate. Some of the bullets back then were as bad as the cars from the '70's. (Pinto, Vega, Gremlin, Pacer, Yugo etc.)

Explosive type bullets like SST's, Ballistic Tips, Game Kings, for thin skinned antelope and small whitetails. Bonded bulletes like Trophy Bonded (old Bear Claw), Scirocco, ELDX, Grand Slam's, for bigger plains type game. Super penetrators like the A-Frame, Partition, Barnes T(T)SX, North Fork.

No matter what you choose remember that a great bullet does not make up for poor marksmanship.

That sounds like the 125gr hp 06 that some guys used down here for low recoil in the rem 742 and such
There were a lot of wounded deer from them

 

[BGGMKLR]

As a young hunter and reloader in the late 60s. I used think how pretty the new bullets looked. The advertising was so good at blowing smoking up our rear and not knowing any better we bought it. Then as many of you have pointed out that the hype was not real.
The one bullet that I remember most is the original winchester silvertip. Oconnor loved it. I found that the jacket and core often separated forming two separate wound channels, but really not that effective IMO. Anyone, have bullets that did not live up to the advertising? Or, cost them a lost animal?

On a '90 hunt in Zim I had 5 of what I would call "complete failures " of Winchester Silvertips in 375 H&H.
They grenaded and were each recovered in 4-6 pieces.
I don't know if it was a bad lot...or simply a horrible bullet as I never purchased or shot a single one since.
I pulled the bullets on my remaining rounds and reloaded them with solids.
Spike

 

[Russ16]

It’s a tough world for bullet makers. They design a bullet formal thing it gets used for anything else then everyone yells about it breaking up too easily or not expanding enough.

Went if you consider just whitetail deer. There is a huge difference between a Texas hill country deer that might weigh 100 pounds and a big deer yo north that might be nearly three times the size.

That doesn’t even account for the different velocities someone might load these thing in. A 180 grain .308 bullet could be in a mild 30-06 or .308 load or a hot rod magnum that’s till hits an animal at 50 yards.

The BT is a perfect example. The 165 gram in my 30-06 was instant death in Texas deer when I was still living there and shot great in every gun I loaded it for. But I wouldn’t have thought of putting it in my .300 wby and going to chase a moose or elk. It was a good bullet for what I used it for if I had used it on those bigger animals I would have hated it.

 

[steve white]

Forgive me for uttering heresy, but the Woodleigh Hydrostatic Solid has been a pathetic performer for me. My only experience has been in Federal factory loaded 375HH ammunition. Could it be too small a caliber, too slow a speed, or other? I do not know. But it did not perform well even on plains game like zebras where we failed to get a friggin pass-through.

I suspected defective ammunition so I sent it back to be tested. Federal claims it was to spec so I do not know what to think?

Do you happen to know if the bullet is stabilizing, without excessive yaw? Monometal bullets are longer, after all.

 

[Sabre]

The inverse question to the OP is where can I find a weak bullet? Good, STOUT bullets are plentiful these days whether NF, A-frame, Oryx, or other. Sometimes we just want to kill a deer real quick to shorten recovery or explode a coyote. Finding a devastating bullet (aka one that people on this thread would complain doesn't work well for larger game) is more of a pickle than finding a stout bullet.

My opinion on that would be the Hornady Precision Hunter. I have felt like they come apart quite a bit on impact on animals. But they have been incredibly accurate from my experience as well.

 

[Sabre]

It’s a tough world for bullet makers. They design a bullet formal thing it gets used for anything else then everyone yells about it breaking up too easily or not expanding enough.

Look here, I bought the CCI .22 Stingers, because they said they would be good on Ground Hogs. So, if they won't also drop a moose with one shot to the shoulder, then what the hell good are they anyway? I deserve my money back, and the right to b*tch about it on the internet all I want!


(Just joking, incase anyone couldn't tell that)

 

[ftrovato]

Forgive me for uttering heresy, but the Woodleigh Hydrostatic Solid has been a pathetic performer for me. My only experience has been in Federal factory loaded 375HH ammunition. Could it be too small a caliber, too slow a speed, or other? I do not know. But it did not perform well even on plains game like zebras where we failed to get a friggin pass-through.

I suspected defective ammunition so I sent it back to be tested. Federal claims it was to spec so I do not know what to think?

Did you run them over a chronograph before you used them?

In the rare event I'm going to use factory ammo, I shoot (at the least a box) over a chronograph. I trust no one!

I used a 500 NE 570 grain Woodleigh Hydro Solid (Loaded by Federal) in my second barrel for Buffalo last fall. I put one in a bulls left rear hindquarter and it exited the size of a half dollar coin through the right front shoulder. I think it's still going....

 

[deewayne2003]

Balistic Silver Tips - worst hunting bullet ever advertised in my opinion.

Sierra Game Kings - just too soft, I think their target bullets with a misleading name.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I think the "problem" we have today is finding a bullet that doesn't work well for whatever you are hunting. I remeber back in the late 70's hunting with my dad, he shot a whitetail doe on the shoulder with his 30-06 knocked it down she got up and started running, shot again but this time she was running the opposite direction and he shot the other side, same result, finally the 3rd shot put her down after she couldnt get up. We found the the first 2 shots completely blew up on the shoulder's but didnt penetrate. Some of the bullets back then were as bad as the cars from the '70's. (Pinto, Vega, Gremlin, Pacer, Yugo etc.)

Explosive type bullets like SST's, Ballistic Tips, Game Kings, for thin skinned antelope and small whitetails. Bonded bulletes like Trophy Bonded (old Bear Claw), Scirocco, ELDX, Grand Slam's, for bigger plains type game. Super penetrators like the A-Frame, Partition, Barnes T(T)SX, North Fork.

No matter what you choose remember that a great bullet does not make up for poor marksmanship.

A great bullet will not make up for poor marksmanship, but a bad bullet can undo a good shot. Both factors count.

 

[Flbt]

On a '90 hunt in Zim I had 5 of what I would call "complete failures " of Winchester Silvertips in 375 H&H.
They grenaded and were each recovered in 4-6 pieces.
I don't know if it was a bad lot...or simply a horrible bullet as I never purchased or shot a single one since.
I pulled the bullets on my remaining rounds and reloaded them with solids.
Spike

Wasent silver tips and Remington brones points basically BT with a metal tip?

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Look here, I bought the CCI .22 Stingers, because they said they would be good on Ground Hogs. So, if they won't also drop a moose with one shot to the shoulder, then what the hell good are they anyway? I deserve my money back, and the right to b*tch about it on the internet all I want!


(Just joking, incase anyone couldn't tell that)

You mean CCI Stingers aren't good for moose? No! You should get your money back!

 

[CBeck]

The inverse question to the OP is where can I find a weak bullet? Good, STOUT bullets are plentiful these days whether NF, A-frame, Oryx, or other. Sometimes we just want to kill a deer real quick to shorten recovery or explode a coyote. Finding a devastating bullet (aka one that people on this thread would complain doesn't work well for larger game) is more of a pickle than finding a stout bullet.

Not explosive or weak necessarily but hard to beat a Core Lokt

 

[ftrovato]

Not explosive or weak necessarily but hard to beat a Core Lokt

Core Lokt have been getting it done all over North America for decades. In my observation, anyone that doubts them hasn't used them.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

As a young hunter and reloader in the late 60s. I used think how pretty the new bullets looked. The advertising was so good at blowing smoking up our rear and not knowing any better we bought it. Then as many of you have pointed out that the hype was not real.
The one bullet that I remember most is the original winchester silvertip. Oconnor loved it. I found that the jacket and core often separated forming two separate wound channels, but really not that effective IMO. Anyone, have bullets that did not live up to the advertising? Or, cost them a lost animal?

Well sir, I do remember the old bronze points. Failed to expand on anything. Current Nosler ballistic tips now work great. Berger? I've taken several deer with them but plan to stop using them as I don't like the way they come apart. For premium bullets, I'll stick with Swift A-Frames or North Fork

 

[Sabre]

I had poor performance from Winchester Supreme. They had a black bullet with a red tip, which I believe were supposed to be Accubond CT bullets made by Nosler.

Accubonds seem to have a good reputation. But for me, with those, I was really disappointed. In their defense, they killed everything I shot with them. But there was next to zero expansion.

 

[dogcat1]

Most of Hornaday's offerings, Bergers are target and long range bullets - not good on flesh.
I do not like Nosler Ballistic tips - very explosive and do not penetrate.

Best bullets - A Frames, TSX. TTSX, Partitions, Barnes Solids, Core-Lokt and the old Trophy bonded Bear Claws.

 

[Raven]

I have repeatedly read reviews from hunters that popular RWS Uni Classic (TUG) cartridges .375 H&H Mag does not work very well on the bear. They might be good for moose or big deer, but something didn't work out with bears.

Also, my friend recently reported the same problem with these bullets RWS in 375 caliber when he shoots the bear. They break up too much and don't do enough damage. And I have no reason not to believe him.

I usually shoot bears with South African PMP in .375 H&H Mag. No one advertised them much, but they turned out to be very reliable and deadly. And as long as I have them in stock, I will not switch to another ammunition.

 

[Dr Ray]

The original Nosler Ballistic Tips. Way to explosive on game.

I shot a Rusa deer using Nosler ballistic tip bullet. About 110 m with a 270. Absolutely destroyed the entire off shoulder. I shot an inch below the spine and an inch behind the shoulder bone. The bullet hit and traveled downwards and exited right at the bottom of the deer near the front leg.
I already shot a red deer at the very long distance and the bullet didn’t mushroom. It just (apparently) drilled through the heart area and exited.
I don’t use the ballistic tips anymore!!

 

[Datchew]

NBT
Anything Berger
Eldx

I’m not a explosive bullet fan , bonded or mono ,H brace design like A frame, north fork
Only for me now

Another nod to Berger in the disappointment category.

Ran through about 70 of the VLD-H in 308 and 155 grain. They grouped very well in my ruger no 1.
But after tracking a nice buck for almost 200 yds, (on my hands and knees at times,) and then finding it was a excellent shot but not enough stopping power or blood, I decided to move back to accubonds.

Both lungs and the heart were hit. Perhaps this particular white tail was just a stud but it was not confidence inspiring.