I am using the word "effective" ,eaming what .30 cal projectile expands best at lower and higher velocities. Meaning the window of expansion is broadest.
as well what touted bullet expands at a limited threashhold and before explodes or after doesnt expand.
lets say 165-180 grain.
is there a less expensive best and a too expensive worst?
I have always heard cor-loc bullets were very good for the money.
i'd like to see the arguments for or against not include personal accuracy claims.

IMHO the vast majority of the 30 cal. 180grain cup and core bullets do just fine.
As a younger hunter, 50s and 60s, I fell in love with the Barnes' Original bullet construction and pushed them beyond the capability of other conventional bullets of that era. They just worked.

The least effective bullet was the 105grain ,6mm Speer, Semi pointed of that period. At 3100 fps. it was a varmint bullet at bestroger

, Rem coreloct has a good reputation for what it is, as does 180np, however with the current options of today, I like 30-06 25+" polygonal barrel pushing 160hv monometal at like 3100mv. Does anything 300win/180np has done over the years and allows me to do it more pleasurably&accurately due to well noted less recoil in a same or less weighted rifle.
For what versatility,performance,end result such Hv bullets offer, I find them very good value. Petals sheer about 2550fps acting as secondary projectiles turning a deers chest to jelly and they also properly expand well below 2000fps for your 400yd shot on deer,, and when you go to drill a moose or meet any serious resistance in a beast, theres no .30cal cupcore that will outpenetrate 160hv.
and to tell the truth, most of what I need doing can be confidently done with a 24"308win&150 monometal smoking well above 2900mv.

Your question cant be answered with any definitive answers, there are way too many variables. What size game at what distance? a frangible bullet at 30yds will do much better at 300yds. A tough bullet will withstand close shots at very high velocity but may not open up as well at 300yds, see what im talkin about????

Want a good all around deer bullet that not too expensive? Look at a Hornady inter-loc spire point, thats about the only thing i can think of.

neat article. shows the rem CL expanding reliably from 3100 to 1500.
June 1998 issue of Handloader magazine (Gary Sciuchetti, "The Best Hunting Bullet", No. 193, pp. 40 - 44)
this is a good read...
Wounding Theories

I am a great fan of the 180 gr. bullet in the 308, 30-06 and like the 200 gr. Noslers in my 300 H&H and have been leaning towards those 200 gr. Noslers in my 30- 06 lately as I have had such great success with that bullet in my 06...

In my experience in Alaska I have found the Sierra to be the most accurate and least dependable on game. I have found the Barnes TSX to be almost as accurate and perfect on game. These results have been accumulated in a variety of cartridges including a 300 weatherby and a 30-06.

Best performing in my .30 caliber rifles to date has been the 180gr. Barnes TSX in my new .300. Great accuracy. 200gr A-Frame is doing quite nicely as well. Unfortunately it will have to wait until near the end of the year to be blooded.

With my old '06, Hornady 165gr bullets did just fine. Accuracy was there (it was the heaviest bullet the gun could shoot well) and I never recovered a bullet from any of my deer - they passed through and expanded well. Normal ranges for this gun was between 100 and 200 yards, and performance was outstanding.

My dad's '06 shoots everything well, 180gr Partitions at 2750fps have taken 4 large moose, 150gr ballistic tips have taken a few deer, and 165gr. SST's have taken a few more. I'd go with the 165's for being most accurate and exiting most frequently.

quote:

What Would Miyamoto Musashi Do?)

He would write a book......

I don't know which is truly the broadest...but the Nosler Partition has always had a pretty wide window of expansion, while sticking together.....

The 1998 Handloader article is amazing and shows comparison photos of all bullets fired at low to high velocities so it is basically a direct one to one comparison. It is also amazing how many people ignore it and go on spending $$ for trick bullets that do not perform as well as old standards.