Looking forward to when my 8x68S is completed, though I anticipate the 200 grain nosler or the like as my primary projectile I am looking for a lighter pill for long range deer slaying.

Which of the under 180 grain pills will hold together and not be too explosive. I hate wasted meat. It seems most decent bullets start at 180 grains. But I'm looking for somethig a bit lighter. I've been invited to a hunt where the average shot, so I'm told is 300+ yds. My friend shoots a 300 Ultra. I'm looking for something roughly as flat shooting out of my 8x68.

The Sierra 175gr pro hunter should not be too explosive at 300 yards plus. roger

The 185 TSX is great im my 325 WSM, or try the 195 gr Horandy Spire Point.

by my experience, the 150gr Speer Hot Core Spitzer is not too explosive.

it will not be explosive at all on long 250 plus shots. not a TSX, though.

I have found the 175gr much softer, therefore much more explosive than the 150gr Speer.

in 180gr you have RWS DK, which has a partition dividing front and rear cores...

my 2 cts.

montero

I like the 185 gr rem in my 8X57

Sounds like it might be a job for the 160 gr GS Custom HV bullet. I have not personally shot them but I have not heard a negative report, either.

http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Kupferjagdgeschosse.htm

you might want to take a look at these. most of the contentas are in German, which is a bit of a shame for mesince the page appears to be extremely informative.

montero

Montero,

Thanks. But this is exactly what I am trying to avoid. I'm not sure which bullet they used. I'll try the Speer and some others. Normally I'm not much on shooting past about 200 yds so drop isn't usually that important to me and I favor heavier bullets.


PDS,

I use the Rem 185 in my 8x57's too. It seems to be more than accurate. But I'm looking for something a bit lighter.

Tiggertate,

I think the 160 sounds good, where does one find them?,

Thanks all.

why do you want to go lighter? The 8x68 does its best work with a 220gr bullet IMO. I have taken wounded (and unwounded) game at over 300m with mine, loaded with 220gr Swift A-Frames, and it is deadly. 220gr bullest waste much less meat, and outpenetrate the lighter ones. It shoots nearly as flat as my .243 Win with 105gr A-Max bullets, so where's the problem?
Have a look at this article I wrote:
http://www.huntingsafaris.net/pdf/germanysgreateight.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by montero:
http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Kupferjagdgeschosse.htm

you might want to take a look at these. most of the contentas are in German, which is a bit of a shame for mesince the page appears to be extremely informative.montero

IMHO The groove band feature on bullets is a great design. It combines high velocity with modest pressures and ultimate range with high but reasoable pressures. The technology my be greater than we need but great it is. roger

The bullet that will provide the best combination of flat trajectory and high velocity retention, two of the characteristics needed in long range shooting, is likley the 180 Nosler Ballistic Tip.

I had an acquaintance who used an 8mm Rem Magnum with 150 Sierra Spitzers for his long range deer hunting and claimed excellent results.

Trauma is what kills animals, and what destroys meat. There is no such thing as a "good" hunting bullet that doesn't create significant trauma. If you don't want significant meat damage, then don't shoot them in the meaty parts.

Have you really looked into tabels and checked out just how much more flatshooting a 180 grs pill are compared to a 200 grainer???? at 300 yards it is under one inch, with the 180 grainer about 6,7" low when dead on at 200. An .300 Ultra with a 165 grs is 4,7 low. Difference 2 inches. Is it worth it? What about wind at those ranges? I would want a bullet with good BC, and would never go below 180 grs - the 200 grainer would be my choise.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
The bullet that will provide the best combination of flat trajectory and high velocity retention, two of the characteristics needed in long range shooting, is likley the 180 Nosler Ballistic Tip.

I had an acquaintance who used an 8mm Rem Magnum with 150 Sierra Spitzers for his long range deer hunting and claimed excellent results.

Trauma is what kills animals, and what destroys meat. There is no such thing as a "good" hunting bullet that doesn't create significant trauma. If you don't want significant meat damage, then don't shoot them in the meaty parts.

There is trauma and there is explosive. You can impart trauma without explosivity. Deer are pretty easy to kill and bullets that tear up a lot of meat aren't needed.

I may have been a bit premature in posting without fully researching the ballistics tables. But the research I did last night shows maybe 2" difference between some of the lighter pills and the 200's. Ultimately I'll let the performance at the range dictate the bullet choice.

Thanks for the input.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

Tiggertate,

I think the 160 sounds good, where does one find them?,

Thanks all.

Try here: GS Custom.

Gerard posts on AR all the time. The HV bullet is the 160.

Many Thanks. They look interesting and worth a try. Could be just the ticket for long range whitetails.

The 200's do seem to best the 180's and below for the most part but seem overkill. These HV's sem aerodynamic enough (maybe) to overcome that advantage.

I am not sure that BC of a 160 overcomes SD in a 200 in this case. Maybe a 180. The 200s will always retain more energy at the really extended ranges. Give some load parameters and I'll plot some numbers in Quickload for you.

I've been shooting 200 gr. Accubonds and 200 gr. Partitions out of my 8mm/378 Wby. Both of them have been extremely accurate. I trust the Accubonds to hold together better at high speed, but they'll both get the job done.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

"200 yds so drop isn't usually that important to me and I favor heavier bullets."

"I use the Rem 185 in my 8x57's too. It seems to be more than accurate. But I'm looking for something a bit lighter."

So which is it? Do you favor heavier bullets, or something lighter?

For your criteria I would reccomend the 196 gn Hornady. Or on the lighter side you could go with a monolithic.

Just keep in mind that if you go with a lead core bullet that typically the lighter it is the more explosive they become with the extra velocity. A slower/heavier one will have less meat damage. The Hornady also has a fluted tip which doesnt expand quite as large.

From an 8X57 the 180 gn BT is awsome for deer, I wouldnt use it in your rig though. They make HUGE mushrooms, and so do accubonds. At 8X68 velocities youll definatley get a splatter effect on deer.

z1r
I recently had a bad experience using 200 grs. Partitions in my 8x68S ,the first shot at a red stag deer at 340meters(laser distance not "hunter distance" )struck 25 cm too far back , which inmobilized him, but with no signs of been hit. I fired 5 more shots ,thinking that my new rifle was hitting elsewhere, then suddenly the stag collapsed for good. The six shots had founded its mark, but no one expanded . A week later I was invited to participate on a culling operation of red stags. The situation repeated on a 300meters shot, the stag was hitted in the heart and it jumped and run in a big circle of more than 200meters. Then I switched for 180 grs. Nos. ballistic tips and the effects were devastating , one shot ,one kill ones. Now the partitions are being reserved for Afrika.
This is my third 8x68S rifle I own ,and wish to compare experiences in reloading for it.
Pulki.