What do you look for in your hunting bullets?

Is it different from what you want in your personal protection bullets? (Legal issues aside)

A large caliber to start with so expansion is not an issue.
HEAVY so it penetrates. I use 325gr cast in 45 Colt and 470 gr cast in .500 Linebaugh. Haven't recovered one yet.

Example-45+p or 45 super. Personal and hunting. A bullet that is Accurate out to the distance of the Particular Pistols Limitations that will hold together for the purpose. Example I shoot a Golden Saber Hollow point. Brass Jacket harder than a copper jacket. It also has a Driving Band that helps in the Accuracy and helps hold the bullet together for better weight Retention. My 44mag on the other hand is for bigger game and use a 240gr Gold Dot sp. Then when I practice or shoot cats using the same powder charge, I use the 240gr Hornady XTP. Or if had to use that gun for a Personal defence weapon I would use the XTP

ddunn, for the .44 and .45 use a heavy hard cast with a large meplat. For defense you better use factory loads with quick expanding bullets. If you use handloads the courts will say you loaded them to do maximum damage even if less effective then factory loads. If the perp survives you will have a large lawsuit on your hands. Make sure he doesn't get up.

For anything in NA, a 420 or 440 LBT at 1370 will do for anything that won't bite me. If I had a chance to for Kodiak bear, I'd talk to JD Jones and get his jacket penetrators for that. Obviously, I like full on penetration from one end to the other. I want to bust both shoulders whenever possible and at least one shoulder to put em down. I'm way too old to chase anything on four legs that is running up the mountain.

4bambam, I use the Hornady 240 XTPs for deer, they must do quite an imressive job on cats!

Yes, personal defense bullets require by FBI standards to penterate 18" the weith of a average human body and dump as much energy as possible within the body. Normally calls for something like 357 Mag w/125 HP bullets or 40 Cal with 135 or 155 Corbon's HP's.

Your question about hunting bullets, I use heavier bullets a favorite of mine are 357 Mag-180 Sierra FPJ and 44 mag-250 Sierra FPJ and in my 454 Cal-300 grain Speer Gold Dot. All pent.great on bear and moose. And are extremely accurate.

HI,


BigBores, I use a 475 grain in my 500 L. I have them going around 1200fps what fps are your 470 going?. Kevb

I'm also in the large bore, hard cast, lead flat points. A .44/.45 cal. hole all the way thru.

I my self will wonder if they will come out with that Golden Saber Ultra in just the Loaded Ammo alone or the bullet's also. They were some pretty impressive results between the Reg-Saber's and the Bonded Golden Saber's. But thats what the FBI wanted 12-18 inches of penetration. I Remember back when the XTP came out for the cop's and FBI-----------Xtreme Terminal Penetration than they changed the Penetration to Performance.

For me, it depends on what I am hunting for and with what. If I dont need extream penetration, I wont use it. There has been a long and hard push on LBTs on game, and rightfully so. On deer/black bear/hogs I will more oftan than not use a soft point, or god for bid a hollow point. This is because on game this size they just work better than LBTs. Two bullets I have grown to like in 44s are the very ordinary rem 240 JHP and Jsp.

bfrshooter
Please site one case where this has happened!! Bet you can't!! I use handloads for everything hunting and CCW. There no difference between my loads then any factory loads-none!! Just as reliable as any factory round!!
In fact mine might be less lethal then factory as they don't blow-up inside the BG's -Like most Defense rounds!!!

As for hunting rounds I like 300gr WFNGC cast or XTP-Mags for my 454 Casull. Either of them will drop anything I want to hunt from yotes to elk!

I read of a case years ago in the Rifleman where lawyers and the court really jumped on a fellow protecting his family with handloads. I too would be in somewhat of a mix as I do not own a single factory load. I don't know what current thought is on this subject. But with the millions of shyster lawyers in this country, it is a worry. Best to tell the police that the ammo was purchased.

As I stated, most handloads are not as destructive as factory loads but I wouldn't want to test it in court.

Actually, regardless of what one does or what type of ammo one uses, the attorney for the perp or perp's estate is going to paint the person who defended himself and or family as a loathesome monster. This person will be portrayed as the most vile and evil of demons all the while making the "victim" out to be a model citizen who was just doing his part to further the economy.

Personally, I have not read any case law regarding the use of handloads versus factory ammo. I believe Sherrif Jim Wilson is combing the countryside looking for information on this very thing. Mas Ayoob would be a good source of inofrmation on this subject.

About the only time I use factory ammo is for my defensive firearms. In this case, the best defense is a good offense and I try to avoid situations where I might have to take a person's life to protect my own or my family's lives.

I think some people here have taken my question slightly differently than it was meant.

I plan on using premium factory ammunition for personal protection (as long as I have an option). Legal issues aside, their failure rate is less than mine. IF there is ever a WTSHTF time, I will fall back to my reloads. I think the .451dia. Rainier 230gr HP will work wonders on the human body. Hopefully, I will never have to find out how they perform.

I will use my handloads when hunting because I can get more accuracy and power from my loads. Now if I can just find a .451dia, 230gr bullet that is meant for hunting, I will be happy.

Legal issues: If you shoot someone expect to be sued (hand loads or not). If the shooting is questionable (AT ALL) expect to be prosecuted. Mas Ayoob, states not to use hand loads. I have never found any legal presidents to support him. If your life was really endangered, deal with the legal issues.


L8r

For hunting I generally use the LBT pattern heavy hardcast bullets in my .43 and .45 caliber pistols. I use a 180 soft when hunting with the .357 magnum. Nothing has walked away yet.

For defense I try to use whatever the local PD, SO, or the federales are using, my simple theory being plaintiff's counsel has to discredit the public safety agency's research in order to make an issue of my ammo selection. I am grateful to say I have not had to test this theory.

I have always had dogs and would never own a mean one. They are lovable and would not hurt a mouse. But they do make noise. When I moved here, the first thing I did was build my range. I shoot all the time and everyone around knows it. I think this keeps perps away because they know about me. I have never had a lick of trouble and never expect any. To instill a fear of messing with me is an important self defense issue that can't be overlooked. I do not own any self defense guns, only target and hunting guns and all are kept in my safe. But anyone wanting to give me trouble has to think twice about it. One good thing about living in the sticks.

bfrshooter
They are not even going to ask what ammo you used! Neither will the lawyers cause all it comes down to in the court is whether you were legally justified in using deadly force! It does mater what type of weapon used could be a bat for all they care!