Thread: Mushroom bullets

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

When the same combination is poked in to a tough animal close up, more speed will fragment the projectile sooner and it may not reach the vitals.
Soft projectiles kill great...... Until they don't. Then they leave a horrible mess.

You can play what if until the cows come home, but having used a 22.250 for years I'd shoot a "tough" animal in the neck, or through the ribs and into the lungs. Just like the not tough ones, both close and not so close.
More to the point, Trout has found a projectile that works very well for what he does, and he seems to be a good enough shot to avoid shooting some tough animal in a coating of mud, through a heavily muscled shoulder.
Most of his photos show clean bodied reds, and a high proportion of them look to be neck shot. I'd say he is doing pretty well, and doesn't need any advice from me.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

When the same combination is poked in to a tough animal close up, more speed will fragment the projectile sooner and it may not reach the vitals.
Soft projectiles kill great...... Until they don't. Then they leave a horrible mess.

flip that on its head........stout/hard projectiles work great untill you get lower velocity and/or have bullet drift slightly off point of aim and dot hit any bone so it meets no risistance..then you get a pencil type hole and next to no mess...mess=good

FFS this thread goes on. Use what projectile you’re comfortable with and can get these days. Have used Speer ‘hot core’ 150gr mostly for forty-five years in 308 on hundreds of animals, admittedly 400m would be max range pretty much. Only lost a handful of animals in that time, due to badly placed shots I’d say. Have used a fair few 150 gr Remington Corelokt’s which also work well. Nosler ballistic tips so-so, too many jacket separations for my liking. I still experiment with other projectiles but end up going back to old faithfull Speer. Mtcw.

one of the very best articals on projectiles Ive ever read is going back a few years now...in rod n rifle... one the .470 capstick with Asquare... back when it was still a new thing.
different projectiles for different jobs.... solids for buff etc and a dead tough softpoint when expansion was desired....like big cat where you want LOTS of mess in a hurry.
discription of how they worked on horse in striped pajamas is worth looking up.....
use what works for you....

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

A bit of advice, if you ever hunt dangerous game, don't be to cocky to get some advice on projectiles.

I wont be hunting dangerous game and if so id just use what the guide provides.I wont be spending hours discussing projectiles till the sun rises.

I like Hornady Superformance ssts 308 -150gr or 165gr.The 150gr has the highist velocity and energy out put of all off the SHOP SHELF ammo in NZ.For a 300yd point n shoot,most deer just fall over.Doesnt take much to dial up for 400yds-500yds shots either.I dont need a drop chart,all dial up increments in my young brain to 500yds.I like speed,energy and deer fall over.

Originally Posted by Ross Nolan

You can play what if until the cows come home, but having used a 22.250 for years I'd shoot a "tough" animal in the neck, or through the ribs and into the lungs. Just like the not tough ones, both close and not so close.
More to the point, Trout has found a projectile that works very well for what he does, and he seems to be a good enough shot to avoid shooting some tough animal in a coating of mud, through a heavily muscled shoulder.
Most of his photos show clean bodied reds, and a high proportion of them look to be neck shot. I'd say he is doing pretty well, and doesn't need any advice from me.

The Graf boys used a fatbum aka 22-250. Jon Williams a meatshooter over HB way used one .

Originally Posted by Tahr

No need to change something thats working.

Crack up. I only use 50k different types of 223 projectile. LOL.

Originally Posted by TeRei

The Graf boys used a fatbum aka 22-250. Jon Williams a meatshooter over HB way used one .

so did Alex Gale..but even he switched to something bigger during roar....30/06 no less...but bet he used big fat heavy loads LOL.

I always find it interesting as to when you get a pass through and when you don't. I guess many factors come into play distance whether you hit bone or not. Then to bullet construction and weight. I have found with softer bullets like the sst and eldm you get far better performance at range. Quite surprised the original post one lost it's core at that range

Originally Posted by TeRei

Crack up. I only use 50k different types of 223 projectile. LOL.

@TeRei I give advice, not take it I just don't want Trout's life to become confusing like mine

I dont use SST but have dug a few ELDX out of animals that came out looking like the original picture posted by trout, core seperated from jacket. All of those animals have dropped on the spot so theres been no need for a pass through / blood trail. One might call that a projectile failure because it seperated rather than holding together more and passing through but end of the day the deers dead on the ground without me needing to hunt for it without a blood trail so does it really matter?

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

I dont use SST but have dug a few ELDX out of animals that came out looking like the original picture posted by trout, core seperated from jacket. All of those animals have dropped on the spot so theres been no need for a pass through / blood trail. One might call that a projectile failure because it seperated rather than holding together more and passing through but end of the day the deers dead on the ground without me needing to hunt for it without a blood trail so does it really matter?

I don't call it a fail as they are not a bonded projectile.


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Originally Posted by Trout

I like Hornady Superformance ssts 308 -150gr or 165gr.The 150gr has the highist velocity and energy out put of all off the SHOP SHELF ammo in NZ.For a 300yd point n shoot,most deer just fall over.Doesnt take much to dial up for 400yds-500yds shots either.I dont need a drop chart,all dial up increments in my young brain to 500yds.I like speed,energy and deer fall over.

I found the superformance to be a little too spicy in velocity and less accurate than the plain old hornady 150gr whitetail (soft point). Haven't recently laid down a group with either, just didn't reliably hit a 150mm plate at 320m for me vs the standard load.
(T3x superlite chopped to 18.5", for those who care)

Speer 400gr, recovered from sika stags shot at 70m. Fired from 45-70, mv 1840fps.