I am thinking about trying some 180 gr scirrocos in my 300 win mag. Does anyone have any experience with the scirrocos in any caliber? How is the accuracy and more importanly how do they perform in the dept of weight retention? This would be my primary elk rifle and I am worried that the bullet might come apart before it reached the vitals.

Want me to send you about a half box to see what you think of them? I did not care for them in my 300 RUM. I had one blow up on a shoulder # 48 yards and at longer ranges they just icepick on through.....very mediocre performance. We used them to legally cull does on a plantation and they just did not get it done. You pay postage and I'll send em to you.

Hank

I've used 180 gr scirrocos in my 300 win for the past few years, but have only taken one cow elk with them. I did not recover the bullet since it penetrated and exited through both sides of the rib cage and the farside shoulder blade. Range was about 70 yards. Some users are concerned about them opening too soon and mushrooming too much, but I haven't incurred that problem. My use was with the original version rather than the newer design.

Accuracy was terrible in both of my 300ultramags.Groups averaged around 2-1/2" compared to 5/8" for the tsx and 1" for the accubond.Copper fouling was also extreme with the scirrocco and virtually non existant with the other bullets.

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Originally posted by stubblejumper:
Accuracy was terrible in both of my 300ultramags.Groups averaged around 2-1/2" compared to 5/8" for the tsx and 1" for the accubond.Copper fouling was also extreme with the scirrocco and virtually non existant with the other bullets.

My experience was similar in my 30-06

I've only tested the old Sciroccos and found they penetrated a bit less than I'd like (for elk). However, the Scirocco II's have been toughened to not open quite as wide and penetrate farther. Here's an interesting test (different caliber though):

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/Impact_.html

Looks like a pretty decent bullet to me.

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like I'll try a different bullet. Any suggestions on a good 180 gr bullet that will perform well on both elk and smaller game like whitetails and pronghorn. I have been considering the trophy bonded bear claw or swift a-frame, but am looking for a little higher ballistic coefficient. Any opinions on the speer grand slams?

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Any opinions on the speer grand slams?

IMO the best bullets available today are A-Frame, TBBC and Northfork. At least of those with real lead in them. All of them are machined bullets BTW!!!

Nosler Accubonds and Hornady interbonds are also excellent bullets.

The tsx is proving to work well on all big game,as is the accubond.

There is no doubt in my mind that the tsx will perform wonderfully on all big game, but what about on smaller game like whitetails. I am afraid that the all copper bullet will act like a FMJ if it doesn't encounter heavy bone.

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what about on smaller game like whitetails.

For whitetails one can used dried bubblegum for bullets. They are not hard to kill as long as you shoot well.......and if you don't the best bullet in the world isn't going to help.

The tsx has a redesigned nose cavity that results in much more consistant expansion than the original x bullet.They expand much better on smaller game and at lower velocities.

Thanks for all the info. I just read an article where the hornady interbonds were tested in a ballistic medium with great results. I think I'll try both the interbonds and tsx and see which are more accurate in my particular gun.

I have shot 2 elk, several pigs and several deer with nothing bigger than 150gr bullets. The last Elk was with a 140gr Nosler BT at 398yds(rangefinder) She dropped like a rock. It is bullet placement. I like the Nosler Partition and I am flirting with the Accubond now. That Elk was hit broadside and the bullet mushroomed perfectly and was recovered on the off side hide. I am a fan of speed and not an overly large projectile.

Don't overlook the Nosler Accubonds. 10 hunters in our group took 90 animals (plains game..Eland to Duiker)in SA this past April, mostly using the Accubonds which gave superb performance. Several were taken with the TSX and a few with the Interbond, which also performed well. The Interbonds were on par with the Accubonds and most were pass throughs even on the big stuff. Those that were recovered were perfect mushrooms and at least 75% retained wt. One TSX was recovered and it was the advertised perfect X. Unless one needs that extra measure of penetration ability the TSX, IMO are not worth nearly twice the cost. The Nosler Accubond and Hornady Interbond are among the best bang for the buck.

I feel the Speer Grand Slam bullets are highly underrated.

If kept at moderate velocities and closer ranges, they are a tough bullet to beat.

If you are going to be shooting at a high velocity and long distance, go for something 'pointier'

-Spencer

I was on a recent antelope hunt, and used 180 scirrocos in my 300 ultra mag. They worked well, but expanded rapidly causing alot of damage to the meat. I also shot a fox on that hunt at about 20 yards. I hit him in the chest angled away, so it came out behind his shoulder. I took off the whole right side of his body form his front shoulder back. It was like a mini explosion.

Have'nt used 30 cal. Scirrocos but have used them in 7MM in my 7x57 AI.Accuracy was moderate at best.Not worth the additional cost.Much better performance out of Sierra's.

I shot a handful of them this weekend for the first time.

One group was less than 1/2" out of a 7RM but, I haven't done near enough shooting w/ them to form a more valid opinion. I also bought some 180s for 300 mag but, I haven't got a chance to put em down range yet.

I will say that one thing that disappointed me w/ them in the 7RM was the fact that they shoot almost 100FPS slower than equally weighted Noslers and the same charges w/ the same lots.

Good Luck

Reloader

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the Speer Grand Slam bullets are highly underrated.

I can attest to that fact, works good as mentioned. I have used the Scirocco and was surprised that the bullet retention was not as the A-Frames but they are two different bullets. They did kill nonetheless and accuracies was good. Shot them out of my .300 Win. Mag on Ak. Moose at no more than 250yds with the .30/180grnrs.

Have maybe 33 or something like that left to reload and I am not gonna be using them-you reload?

Okay guys, so now I am looking at the hornady interbond and swift-aframe. To my surprise, these bullets have the same ballistic coefficient (.480), despite the semi-spitzer design of the a-frame. I wonder if the a-frame will mushroom sufficiently on deer size game? Anybody have experience with this bullet on medium size game.

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I wonder if the a-frame will mushroom sufficiently on deer size game? Anybody have experience with this bullet on medium size game.

I have. It works well on deer.

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Originally posted by molar1:
Okay guys, so now I am looking at the hornady interbond and swift-aframe. To my surprise, these bullets have the same ballistic coefficient (.480), despite the semi-spitzer design of the a-frame.

Hornady under-rates many of their plastic tipped bullets. Some by a lot. Shoot both over a pair of Oehlers and you'll find they are far from the same.

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Originally posted by Jon A:

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Originally posted by molar1:
Okay guys, so now I am looking at the hornady interbond and swift-aframe. To my surprise, these bullets have the same ballistic coefficient (.480), despite the semi-spitzer design of the a-frame.

Hornady under-rates many of their plastic tipped bullets. Some by a lot. Shoot both over a pair of Oehlers and you'll find they are far from the same.

Either that, or Swift overrates the BC for the A-Frame. BC numbers are notoriosly overstated, quite apart from apparent issues with BCs changing under various conditions such as barometric pressure (altitude), temperature and bullet velocity. Go figure...

- mike

I shoot the 180 Scirroco in my 30-06 for moose here in Alaska. I love them! Accuracy is good, Penatration is good, one shot kills are the norm. I did shoot Nosler Partitions and didn't like them at all. Tips always broke off in moose. Happy I switched.

My father-in-law, brother-in-law and myself have all used the Scirocco at some point on deer and elk. The terminal performance has always been the same...dead! We have shot big bull elk at 40 yards and average cow elk at 400+ yards so we have tested the reasonable range of these projectiles. I am in load development with the new Scirocco II and I feel like it is the best of the bonded polymer tipped bullets for the type of hunting we do.

For reference, the bullet we have experience with is the .308 caliber 180 grain version. We shoot them at 3,150 out of .300 Win Mags.

Hopefully I will be able to give you a terminal report on the new Scirocco II's this fall.

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Originally posted by stubblejumper:
The tsx is proving to work well on all big game,as is the accubond.

+1

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skyeskye:I did shoot Nosler Partitions and didn't like them at all. Tips always broke off in moose.

What tips? Partitions don't have plastic tips. Are you referring to the complete disintegration of the bullet forward of the partition? If so, personally, I wouldn't refer to that as "broke off," since that's what it's designed to do - fast, almost explosive expansion, followed by complete penetration of most critters.

Jaywalker