15Aug the Deer Season opens in the SC Lowcountry. I realize many Seasons don't open until September or October, but the Load choices should be Finalized by now. Time to be clearing Trails, hanging Stands, cleaning and replacing various equipment.

Question:
Will you be using a "New Bullet" or "Old Faithful Bullet" this year?

And if you care to comment, why are you going with what you selected?

Choices:
New Bullet.
Old Faithful Bullet.
Both.

 

I'm going to pick the third option and go with "undecided." I'm getting on a new lease this year and won't have access to it until Sept. 1. So I've still got a month to play with load development before other chores take priority.

My .243 has never killed anything in the 5 years I've had it, so there's an itch that needs scratching. It's pretty accurate with factory 100 grain loads, but since I've taken to reloading factory loads are no longer interesting.

One load with a 100 grain Sierra Gameking looks very promising, but TSXs have sure worked well in the past in my 06 and .375, so I bought a box of those too. The factory ammo that it has shot well with has been Hornady 100 grain BTSP and Remington 100 grain Core Lokt Ultra, which are now available as a component bullet.

So the plan is to try some more of the promising 100 gr Sierra load to see if it's as good as it looks plus some of the TSXs. If neither of those work and time allows I'll get some Hornady 100 gr BTSP. Otherwise the 06 comes out again this year.

Regards,

LWD

I`ve used the 6.5mm 129 gr Hornady SP in my 260 for over 6-7 years and haven`t been let down yet. If it ain`t broke, why fix it?

I'm loading some 180 accubonds in my .308 and .30-06 for an elk hunt......and I might just as well use them for deer too.....

This will be my first outing with the accubonds and I'm taking them just to try something different.....

I'll also be using 250 grain Barns "XFB" in my .375 H&H as a back up rfle and this will be the maiden voyage for that bullet as well....

maybe it's just an illness.....an obsession!!!

Really good tasting venision can be a little bit of an iffy proposition. I think I'll take the money I'd have used for hunting and fill the freezer with rib eye, porterhouse, and tri tip. roger

I use a FIFO system. First in and first out. Not sure I will live to use some of the new bullets since I have so many other to shoot up first.

Hot Core ----- My son and I will be using an old faithful bullet this year for Elk and Mule Deer. I just finished his load yesterday. A .358 STA shooting a 250 grain North Fork bullet (I managed to have several boxs when Mike shut down) at 3031 fps. I was having a good day at the trigger and managed to shoot a one hole group four inchs high at 100 yards. I will drop the group to 3 inchs and let him shoot extensively to determine his POI and move the group accordingly. I will shoot a .358 STA that will do the same thing with the same bullet but 100 fps slower. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by ireload2:
I use a FIFO system. First in and first out. Not sure I will live to use some of the new bullets since I have so many other to shoot up first.

My thoughts exactly. I have boxes of Sierra GKs that I bought back when they were $5.99/100 that work just fine for anything that Colorado has to offer. In the rare instances I have used "new bullets" I was less than impressed and considered it a waste of time and money.

quote:

Really good tasting venision can be a little bit of an iffy proposition. I think I'll take the money I'd have used for hunting and fill the freezer with rib eye, porterhouse, and tri tip

Dinner at Roger's place?

LWD

It is not by choice, but I will be using both this fall.


I am going to New Mexico this fall for a guided elk hunt and will hunt with the old faithfull 180 grain Nosler Partition in my 300 Weatherby Magnum. Proven several times on elk already. I will take along a 300 WSM loaded with the same bullet for a backup rifle.

However, I live in California and am faced with shooting non-lead bullets here this fall. I am undecided which rifle to use, but probably my 7-08 with 120 grain Barnes TSX or my 7mm Wby Mag with 160 Barnes TSX. Maybe both, we have deer, bear, pigs, coyotes, etc.

Hotcore -

I know this isn't a serious dilema for anyone except me.

Somehow during the years when I came across good buys on bullets, I had the money to make bulk purchases if I did without other minor things (like food, housing, eating out, new clothes, car repairs, visiting relatives, etc.). As a result I now have awakened to find I will never be able to shoot the bullets I have, whether plinking, hunting, competing, or however, all put together.

Currently have somewhere over 150 GI ammo cans full, approximately 40% .30 cal cans, and the other 60% .50 cal cans. As am now into my dotage, I figger there's gonna be one heck of an estate sale around here someday....wish I could be there as a buyer....

In the meantime, like another fella said, think I'll pretty much stick with Nosler Partitions for the bigger stuff, and cup-'n-core for the lesser stuff.

Since berger was good enough to let me shoot some of their new 7mm bullets.I will at least have to try one deer each with the 7 mag and the 7/08.
They shot well out of my factory ruger 7 mag and rem 7/08.

Will be using my standbys for 338 WM (225 Barnes X) and 9,3x62 (286 Nosler).

Going to try NPTs in 6mm and 264 Rem Mag. Pretty much the path already traveled ... just new calibers for me.

The usual 165 gr Core Lokts in .308.

First hunting outings with new calibers and bullets will try 225 gr Hornady SPs in .338-06 and 350 gr Speer Mag Tips in .376/.416 Steyr Improved. Both have gotten good reviews on this forum at velocities in my range.

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:


Going to try NPTs in 6mm and 264 Rem Mag. .

264 Rem Mag?? Horrors! Oliver Winchester must be spinning in his grave!

Same OLD bullets as always, 150 gr Rem Bronze Points... Bought 1000 of them years ago and still have most of them. They have done well for me on Mule deer and I see no reason to mess with a good thing.

This is the first year I will be able to shoot TTSXs at deer. So far I am really impressed with them. They are fully as accurate as anything I have shot. I love the performance of the TSXs once they hit game. I can't imagine the TTSXs are any less effective.

Sorry about that ... it is a .264 Win Mag

My apologies.

Well, I'll be using a new rifle so technically a new bullet too... I'll be blooding my .350 RMag this year... 250gr. Grand Slam's. Should be good!

I'll be using a new bullet this fall. Been shooting 225 grain Barnes X bullets out of my 338 WM since the mid 90s. Finally, came close to exhausting my supply so I bought 200 225 grain Tipped Triple Shocks and will try em on sheep in a couple weeks.

two rifles will be with me, my .30-338/180 Nosler Part. scoped for open shots and the VZ24 9,3x62/286 Noslers or 320 Woodleighs PP. Should be a good spot and stalk in that old glacier area.

I am first of all a luddite. And when I find something that works and works well to my expectations, I tend to build a hoard of it. Thus I have enough bullets to shoot into the next millinium. I even have a cache of Remington .224 Bench Rest Bullets. I even have some Zero bullets. I haven't bought a bullet in years.
When someone brags that their bullet will out penetrate mine and mine is going all the way thru an animal, all I can say is "Duh"? My old Corelokts and NP's and Grand Slams and Woodleighs have stood the test of time and work for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Hotcore -

Currently have somewhere over 150 GI ammo cans full, approximately 40% .30 cal cans, and the other 60% .50 cal cans. As am now into my dotage, I figger there's gonna be one heck of an estate sale around here someday....

Stillbeeman
Thus I have enough bullets to shoot into the next millinium. I even have a cache of Remington .224 Bench Rest Bullets. I even have some Zero bullets.

Would either of you guys like to adobt me and rewrite your wills? roger

i normally take 8-9 a year, so ill use everything from ML to 22's.

Since I've got the new 338-06 I guess you could say it's a new bullet to me. 200 Interlock is the same design I've used in the 270 and 257 Roberts for over 30 years so it's also the old familiar one. Only hunting deer this year so don't need the 210 partition, maybe next year.

I only use the latest in highly technical boutique equipment to hunt with.

IMR-4350, 165 gr Nosler Partitions, CCI BR Primers and Winchester Brass.

Like 'ol Joe says, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I don't need $2.00 a shot bullets to kill game.

Best wishes, Bill

New one. 130gr Nosler E-Tip in a .270 Winchester.

Accuracy has been very good and I killed two feral hogs with them a few weeks ago so they work.

quote:

The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

Now there is a signature truly worthy of note. It says it all.

Old reliables:

.270WSM Nosler 140 gr Accubond

6.5x55 Hornady 129 gr SP

.243 Nosler 100 gr Solid Base or 95 gr Ballistic Tip, still deciding...

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Hotcore -

I know this isn't a serious dilema for anyone except me.

Somehow during the years when I came across good buys on bullets, I had the money to make bulk purchases if I did without other minor things (like food, housing, eating out, new clothes, car repairs, visiting relatives, etc.). As a result I now have awakened to find I will never be able to shoot the bullets I have, whether plinking, hunting, competing, or however, all put together.

Currently have somewhere over 150 GI ammo cans full, approximately 40% .30 cal cans, and the other 60% .50 cal cans. As am now into my dotage, I figger there's gonna be one heck of an estate sale around here someday....wish I could be there as a buyer....

In the meantime, like another fella said, think I'll pretty much stick with Nosler Partitions for the bigger stuff, and cup-'n-core for the lesser stuff.

I think Alberta and I have the same take on bullets. The secret is.....they have no shelf life expiration.

from:
Barnes triple shock .308" 180 gr [$37.99/50]

to:
Barnes tipped triple shock .308" 130 gr [$36.99/50]
Barnes maximum range X .308" 180 gr [$31.39/20]
Barnes maximum range X .338" 185 gr [$31.39/20]


The cost of the bullets is not much compared to 3000 miles in gas, $600 in tags, and 7 weeks of no wages.

I have a new 7mm Mag, so will use a new bullet for that. Otherwise, the old stand by 150 gr SST for deer and VMAX's for varmits (thought with the wife pregnant, I won't be going after PDdogs this year.)

Gidday Guys,

Old favorite in 30-06:

150 gr NBT over 53 gr IMR4064

Old favorite in 260:

120gr NBT over 45gr H4350 (AR2209)

They always work so don't fix what ain't broke.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

i don't decide which caliber i am using until i get out of vehicle on the way hiking into hunt. usually have three rifles in the vehicle when i am going hunting. i am bad like that.

i came across some 140 grain grand slams a while back. never used them before in a 6.5, so i might try a deer with them this year. i have spoiled myself with the 180 hornady ssp grain from a 350 rem mag and the 100 grain hornady in 25-06 over the past few years.

I will be taking my 270 wby and a new CD in 3006 and found some 165 gr sierra sbt that I am working up a load for that I have never used for hunting. I have had these so long the price on them was less than $6 a box.

Rad

The elk season is approaching. I'll be using the 225 grain Barnes TTSX in the 338-378 Wby. My backup will be the trusty '06 using 180 grain Barnes TTSX.

Ken....

I would use "Old Faithful" but, it was a pass through and I never found him!


I found that 110grn Accubonds do a fine job from the 25-06 and 180grn Accubonds do even a finer job from the 300.

Gonna stick with them!

This will be my first year using hand loads in which I’m working on perfecting two loads for the 35 Whelen that I haven’t used in maybe 5-7 years.

Opening day as usual I’m heading down into the swamps for my buck and or bear here in NY. I’ll choose one of the two loads:
Hornady 200gr Spire Point in front of Rel 15 / or the
Hornady 250gr Round Nose in front of Rel 15.


A little over kill but, after the first deer the 7mm08 will come back out to play.

I'll be heading up to my lease in Ellaville, Georgia Oct. 17th, for the opening of deer season.

My Ruger Ultra-light 7mm-08 will be loaded with the new Barnes 140 gr. Triple Shocks. I'm looking forward to doing a little "field testing" with them for the first time.

My Remington Model Seven 7mm-08 will be loaded with Sierra 140 gr. Pro Hunters!

Well for Georgia white tails I have always used nosler ballistic tips or speer hot cores in various calibers with great results. Well this years I am breaking my mold and am gonna try Berger 168 vld's in my .308 this year. I have read a lot of different reviews about using them on similar sized game and everything was great so......here we go.

My 444 is going to see some hog hunting using the 240 grain XTP pushed to around 1900 fps. New to the 444 but used with good results out of my 50 caliber inline. My 35 Whelen will get some time in the deer stand using the 250 grain Speer at 2500fps as I have not shot a deer with this bullet yet. My 7x57 is going to use the 150 grain Ballistic Tip on deer and the 140 grain Partition on hogs. If I hunt Oklahoma I will use my 30-06 pushing 165 grain Ballistic Tips at 2800 fps, never used this bullet before.