I have been shooting Hornady GMX bullets exclusively for about five years now and I love them, little to no meat loss and very accurate in every single rifle I own from 243 to 375 H&H .
The one problem I do have with Them is unless it is a neck shot the game will run 10 to 50 yards
and that's not a big deal, How ever I will be using
a 270 wsm on a new lease I'm on and this place is thick thick ! Sendero type shooting lanes 0 to 500 yards . If the deer make it back to the thicket
what a mess that will be.
I want a accurate bullet that will hold together
at high velocities yet transfer energy at close or long range.
the rifle is a
Winchester model 70 270 wsm
24"barrel 1 in 10 twist
expected vel 3190fps

I was leaning towards Berger 130 gn classic hunting
Btw the largest exit wound I have had with the GMX is 1 1/4 " and that was a one shot two kill Hog Hunt shot through the shoulder then passed through the neck of the other the first ran 30 yards and the one shot in neck ran about 8 yards ,shot with a 300 Rum 180gn Gmx at 3300
fps
Thanks for your opinions in advance Len

If you like the bullet and it is accurate I wouldn't switch.

Instead maybe try to pick shoulder shots or upper shoulder shots if you want to transfer a bit more energy from your copper
bullet.

As far as Berger.......I would suggest Sierra HPBT over those

I will say this..... I love Accubonds and have used them exclusively since 2008

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
If you like the bullet and it is accurate I wouldn't switch.

Instead maybe try to pick shoulder shots or upper shoulder shots if you want to transfer a bit more energy from your copper
bullet.

As far as Berger.......I would suggest Sierra HPBT over those

I will say this..... I love Accubonds and have used them exclusively since 2008

I'm with Ted on the Accubonds. 140's in my 7 Rem Mag. Very flat shooting and puts them on the ground right now! DRT isn't always necessary but when it is, I think, with good placement of course, the 140 Accubond will do exactly what you are asking.

Cheers

I have been using the Hornady 130 Interlock bullet in my 270 for over 20 years. Never had a failure and the animal is usually "dead right there." My loads run in the range of 3150fps+ over the chrono.

This is likely as much a placement issue as anything. I think I'd stick to shoulder or other immobilizing shots that also take out the vitals. These usually (but not always)drop animals faster in my experience than soft tissue heart/lung shots involving no bones.You can turn a deers vitals to soup and he will still make some tracks.

I am not much for the theory of soft bullets electrocuting deer with soft tissue hits as I have seen too many of them run off with shots through ribs and lungs. Besides its' very much velocity dependent and bullets don't behave the same at 400 yards as they do at 75.

Put the shots on bone,angled through vitals and don't expect 100% DRT with anything. That's not real life.

There are lots of good 270 bullets that will work well. Good luck!

quote:

The one problem I do have with Them is unless it is a neck shot the game will run 10 to 50 yards

Having shot many hundreds of deer this is fairly typical of non spine head shots.

100 yards is that not far fetched even with the heart and lungs turned to mush.

A good blood tracking dog makes finding them easy.

How about Remington Core Lokts?

Oh, I forgot, if you respect the animal you must use an expensive bullet.

Len, I hunt in SE Georgia and share your problem, in many areas if you get off a trail or road you can't see 10 feet. I use 140 Gr Accubonds in my 270. Most drop on the spot and if the do move it's only a few yards with a good blood trail. I have found it is hugely important to get a pass through for a good blood trail, the Accubonds do this with certainty.
Best.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
How about Remington Core Lokts?

Oh, I forgot, if you respect the animal you must use an expensive bullet.

I have used 150gr core locks in my 270 for 50 yrs. they work.

I second the comment about using a dog. I use a german shorthair, but most any hunting breed can be successfully taught to track blood. Check your state's laws beforehand.

High shoulder shot: DRT

Shoot for high on the shoulder to break the spine. No tracking required. Your current GMXs will do just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader len:
I have been shooting Hornady GMX bullets exclusively for about five years now and I love them, little to no meat loss and very accurate in every single rifle I own from 243 to 375 H&H .
The one problem I do have with Them is unless it is a neck shot the game will run 10 to 50 yards
and that's not a big deal, How ever I will be using
a 270 wsm on a new lease I'm on and this place is thick thick ! Sendero type shooting lanes 0 to 500 yards . If the deer make it back to the thicket
what a mess that will be.
I want a accurate bullet that will hold together
at high velocities yet transfer energy at close or long range.
the rifle is a
Winchester model 70 270 wsm
24"barrel 1 in 10 twist
expected vel 3190fps

I was leaning towards Berger 130 gn classic hunting
Btw the largest exit wound I have had with the GMX is 1 1/4 " and that was a one shot two kill Hog Hunt shot through the shoulder then passed through the neck of the other the first ran 30 yards and the one shot in neck ran about 8 yards ,shot with a 300 Rum 180gn Gmx at 3300
fps
Thanks for your opinions in advance Len

Have you tried the Barnes mono bullets yet like the TTSX or LRX bullets yet? Barnes is pure copper as I believe the GMX bullet has a percentage of tin mixed with copper. GMX bullet my be stiffer bullet.

Berger VLD 130 grain.

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:
Shoot for high on the shoulder to break the spine. No tracking required. Your current GMXs will do just fine.

Wise words, I must agree. Nothing wrong with your bullet, change your aiming point.

I've been shooting 150 Partitions in my 270 at 3000 fps for a long long time. I've had nothing go further than 20 yards, and that was a doe I shot up close and hit perfectly, still don't understand it. Elk never went more than a few feet, black bears the same. On deer and elk I favor the behind shoulder a little high up (lungs and top of the heart shot). It's never failed me.

Partitions, core-lockt & Sierra Game Kings have all given me high percentages of DRT kills from my 270

You dont need to change bullets, the difference between running and dropping on the spot is shot placement, you need to shoot them in a different place.
Americans all seem to shoot animals in the rear lungs for some reason, like bowhunters. That is why they always run. Or heart shots, which will mean a run also.

If you want him to drop and not get into thick bush then neck shoot him, head shoot him, or shoot him through the shoulder.

My .270 WSM's all like the 130 and 140 grain Partitions, do not like the 150 grainers, and absolutely love the 160 grain bullets. The barrel will tell you what it likes if you shoot it enough. The accuracy of the 160 grain Partitions is exceptional as is the performance in the animals, particularly Elk. Good shooting.

Try some7828 in your WSM and 3400 Fps may be in reach. I get it out of mine.

For bullets there are many good choices, but the 130 And 140 ballistic tips and Accu-bonds are as good as anything. Plain old boring as hell Interlocks and sierras work too. It's not too hard to flatten deer with a partially fragmenting bullet and a shoulder hit. Nothing is 100 percent but it is pretty routine. Copper bullets are a good if you like following them around for awhile.

700xcr, the GMX is made of 'gilding metal ' ,95% Cu, 5%Zn.An old idea to reduce copper build up in the bore .It will be a little harder than pure copper.

I get 3450 fps with 130 grain Northforks, all other bullets being 50 to 100 fps slower. I use 67.5 grains of Magpro and have shot that load extensively. Good shooting.

I have used different powders with the 140gr BTSP Hornady .
there dead on the spot out to 200yrds. velocity is around 2850f/s. I have not been able to recover a bullet Minimal meat damage. I will try a different bullet ever now and then but keep going back to the 140's.
With all that my buddie uses Remington core lock 130gr. They do great.

quote:

Originally posted by Eastcoaster:
This is likely as much a placement issue as anything. I think I'd stick to shoulder or other immobilizing shots that also take out the vitals. These usually (but not always)drop animals faster in my experience than soft tissue heart/lung shots involving no bones.You can turn a deers vitals to soup and he will still make some tracks.

I am not much for the theory of soft bullets electrocuting deer with soft tissue hits as I have seen too many of them run off with shots through ribs and lungs. Besides its' very much velocity dependent and bullets don't behave the same at 400 yards as they do at 75.

Put the shots on bone,angled through vitals and don't expect 100% DRT with anything. That's not real life.

There are lots of good 270 bullets that will work well. Good luck!

This guy has shot some meat. Guys who say a given bullet puts down animals DRT every time are usually full of prunes. In most cases, deer run when shot until their blood pressure falls out, unless well spine or shoulder hit.

On deer you will get a little quicker kills with a cup and core bullet such as the Rem corklokt, Hornady or even a sierra..Also more meat damage...I see no reason to use a premium bullet on deer and antelope, but I have had excellent results with the 130 gr. Nosler partitions and accubonds in 130 and 150 gr. I use them on a combo type hunt where deer and larger game such as bear and elk might be on the agenda just to be safe, but have never had trouble killing elk with 130 gr. bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
On deer you will get a little quicker kills with a cup and core bullet such as the Rem corklokt, Hornady or even a sierra..Also more meat damage...I see no reason to use a premium bullet on deer and antelope, but I have had excellent results with the 130 gr. Nosler partitions and accubonds in 130 and 150 gr. I use them on a combo type hunt where deer and larger game such as bear and elk might be on the agenda just to be safe, but have never had trouble killing elk with 130 gr. bullets.

Agreed.

Ray, I've used 150g partitions in my 270 for four decades for two reasons.

1. They work as well on deer as they do on elk and bear.

2. I'm lazy and only had to develop and sight in for one big game load

For plinking and varmints I've always loaded Sierra 90g HPBTs in our 270s to about 3400 fps Used to be hell on prairie dogs and crows when you could shoot them all day legally.

By the way I looked up my 150g Partition load on the Hodgon interactive reloading site. Seems like they have gotten a whole lot more conservative than my old 1960s vintage manual. Always been able to load the 150g partitions to 3000 fps in my BDL with 22" barrel with no signs of pressure. More than a couple of grains above the new website's max.

Chuck,
Your spot on IMO..I can load the 150 gr. to 3000 FPS..mostly I do that to piss Jeffe off, he is the reloading cop you know!

All kidding aside, I have shot deer and elk with the 150 and 160 gr. Noslers and they kill well and if you get a run and you will with any bullet from time to time, you get a good blood trail with that exit hole the 150s give you..

I don't put much importance on deer bullets, never had any trouble killing them with anything as long as I adjust my hunting to my ability to hit the target, and the use of a proper bullet..Its a problem solver thread to a non existing problem IMO..A 22 hornet with a 50 gr. Sierra is as deadly at 50 yards as a 25-06 at 400 or 500 yards and less likely to wound.

quote:

Originally posted by Sagebrush Burns:
I have been using the Hornady 130 Interlock bullet in my 270 for over 20 years. Never had a failure and the animal is usually "dead right there." My loads run in the range of 3150fps+ over the chrono.

Funny how the "Premium" advocates appear to be the ones with the most experience on deer running after being shot. You can lead a horse to water, but he might just insist on cognac..

Back to the original post:
if wanting to try something beyond a GMX I would suggest the new Barnes LRX 129 grain .277". It gives you BC for 400-500 yard shots and will still fully penetrate up close. See which shoots best in your rifle, Hornady GMX or Barnes LRX and go with it.

Because I'm "old fashioned" I'd go with an Accubond LR take your pick 130g or 150g. I think the monometal bullets are great when they're moving fast, maybe just prejudice on my part, but I don't trust them to expand at lower velocities.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Because I'm "old fashioned" I'd go with an Accubond LR take your pick 130g or 150g. I think the monometal bullets are great when they're moving fast, maybe just prejudice on my part, but I don't trust them to expand at lower velocities.

There you have it, the classic conundrum, though you are already on one side with the GMX.

If there was ever a problem of 'non-expansion', that has been fixed in various mono-metals down to 1600-1800fps. However, over expansion of lead cores and lack of penetration is a more serious problem, especially if a high speed long-range load is used up close (75-100 yards). Watch the more recent high speed photography of bullets opening up at 'low' velocities in ballistic gel.

A more realistic 'problem' is that the petals of a mono-metal will "blow" at high velocity, do massive internal damage, and the core will fully penetrate and leave a smallish exit wound. The animal may be DRT, but more than one rumor has been started because of mysterious 'small exit wounds' despite massive internal damage. I've seen it myself, and with a DRT.

I haven't had any problem with the 570g TSX opening up on hogs or elk from my 500 Jeffery, but then again the hollow point is kind of big in a .510 caliber bullet. So I'm asking, not trying to make a point have the occasional issues in the following 2007 thread been addressed?

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=195102676#195102676

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:

quote:

Originally posted by Sagebrush Burns:
I have been using the Hornady 130 Interlock bullet in my 270 for over 20 years. Never had a failure and the animal is usually "dead right there." My loads run in the range of 3150fps+ over the chrono.

Funny how the "Premium" advocates appear to be the ones with the most experience on deer running after being shot. You can lead a horse to water, but he might just insist on cognac..

I have no idea what you're talking about.....



I use "premiums" on deer all the time and don't have the slightest problem with bucks going anywhere.

Is there a problem?


I really think it's one of the most over blown issues in shooting and hunting.

I have the same issue in hunting in dense thickets for mature bucks in south central North Carolina. I like the high and slightly forward shoulder shot if possible to break the intersection of the spine and rib cage. They don't go anywhere. The bullets I have used for penetration for a blood trail are Hornady Interlocks, Sierra Pro Hunters and Cutting Edge Raptors.

quote:

Originally posted by Eastcoaster:

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:

quote:

Originally posted by Sagebrush Burns:
I have been using the Hornady 130 Interlock bullet in my 270 for over 20 years. Never had a failure and the animal is usually "dead right there." My loads run in the range of 3150fps+ over the chrono.

Funny how the "Premium" advocates appear to be the ones with the most experience on deer running after being shot. You can lead a horse to water, but he might just insist on cognac..

I have no idea what you're talking about.....



I use "premiums" on deer all the time and don't have the slightest problem with bucks going anywhere.

Is there a problem?


I really think it's one of the most over blown issues in shooting and hunting.

You may have a point. I was just making an observation after glancing through the whole thread. I really cant offer much input on deer running off after being shot, havent had that much experience with it.

Chuck375,

Thanks for the reminder of the old 2007 thread.

Yes, I think that the issues have been cleared up, even if that example of the recovered bullets from the dead bear have not specifically been clarified.

Lot's of little anecdotes to add. E.g., I had a .270 130grain NP "fail" once. Front end was gone and shaped funny and the core of the rear end was oozing out like a little kid playing with toothpaste. Animal was a Uganda cob. On inspection the "3/4-angling shot" entry wound was also keyholed and the shooting had been in a heavy growth forest area. (Obviously, a deflection "tumble", not a real failure, though as mentioned, any bullet can fail.) I think the blue-tip TTSX solves most of the doubt on the TSX, but I've only used old 'X's in small caliber (great success and unexpected DRT's), only used TSX in large caliber (like 416 in avatar). Gerard's advice, testing, experience, and explanations all ring true. I just ordered two boxes, today, of GSC HV 69 grain .243 for a deer hunt. And they come without any tip.

PS: my main concern with the monolithic designs has been petal-stripping. I've recovered .416's from buffalo with missing petals. But they seem to kill well, even when petals fly. And I've got one bullet that lost its petals and then formed a secondary mushroom! Now that is a bullet design that is truly magnificent. See pic:

The weight of the bullet (258 grains, 74%) shows that the mushroom is a secondary, post-petal mushroom.

On the other hand, I've also recovered .416 bullets that have blown their petals and smashed themselves down a little. See pic

This was from a face shot on a buffalo. I'm very happy with its result, even though I don't know why the second bullet 'scrunched' secondarily and the first bullet above 'mushroomed' secondarily.
FTR, I load our 416 Rigbys to a "mild" 350 grains at 2800-2850fps for 6000-6300 foot-pounds. "Mild" means that cases slip out, primers look great and there is no casehead growth or ejector flow. It is way over SAAMI (though just under its sister capacity, the 416Weatherby), in fact it is about the level of factory 505Gibbs and close to the level of factory 500Jeffrey for muzzle energy. In any case, these monolithic .416 bullets proved themselves by providing guaranteed penetration, which is the second most significant characteristic for evaluating a bullet. First priority, of course, is getting to the target.