quote:

Originally posted by fgulla:
I gotta love this, someone actually complaining about the properties of a great bullet(barnes) whats next? complaining about bang/flops? or a good blood trail?

Somebody obviously has an axe to grind, ahem , must be a ballistic tip user

Your certianly opinionated. Arguing bullets is like arguing pick up trucks, in the end the fact is that they are all subject to breaking down.

I have a question for you, why were "expanding" bullets designed in the first place? Why not just go with a FMJ for all your hunting needs?

AD, Brad, Jorge, etc: buy your "premium" bullets - I don't care - it's your money, not mine. But, there's no need for a good shot to do so, because the traditional bullet designs work just fine, cost less, and shoot (on average) more accurately. You know what they say, a fool and his money are soon parted.

AIU: As I've stated AD NAUSEAM, I generally use non-premium bullets for most deer and other game here in the states, the Hornady Interlock being my standard, BUT when I'm on a hunt that's costing me money plus a fat trophy fee and the game is larger than deer, I just think it prudent to use a Premium, and in the case of Cape Buffalo, going after one of those with a cheap bullet is downright stupid. Finally, as to your assertion that non premiums shoot more accurately the target below put pay to yet another one of your absurdities. IT was made with a375 H&H and 300gr Swift A Frames. Can you top that? jorge

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
AD, Brad, Jorge, etc: buy your "premium" bullets - I don't care - it's your money, not mine. But, there's no need for a good shot to do so, because the traditional bullet designs work just fine, cost less, and shoot (on average) more accurately. You know what they say, a fool and his money are soon parted.

Why use an Ackley Improved cartridge? There's no need for a good shot to do so, the standard cartridge will work just as well and cost less.

But, you know what they say, "A fool and his money are soon parted"

quote:

Why use an Ackley Improved cartridge? There's no need for a good shot to do so, the standard cartridge will work just as well and cost less.

But, you know what they say, "A fool and his money are soon parted"

The day the extra cost of premium bullets for big game crimps my budget is the day I move into a cardboard box and start hunting cans on the highway.

Jeff

I have to agree with Jorge. A premium bullet makes sense on large game or when your on a guided hunt etc... that you've paid a lot of money for. A $.50 bullet is a small price to pay for the extra insurance. For my own hunting I use premiums on game larger than deer, that I will shoot at high velocity.

I have found that standard bullets work fine for most of my deer hunting using standard calibers. If I step up to a magnum rifle for elk hunting I shoot a tougher bullet. Everyone has their own personal preference. A lot of people probably think I'm stupid for not shooting Barnes bullets at bunny rabbits the other half think I'm wasting my money buying expensive bullets that are unnecessary.

I'm not quite sure how this thread turned into a premium vs standard bullet debate. It really originated with someone asking for information about actual results with the interbond.

CRIMINY.....ANOTHER ONE.....

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
CRIMINY.....ANOTHER ONE.....

Good one Vapodog-I appreciate alittle humor now and then and especially about bullets and what works.I just got through splitting and stacking a couple cords of Red Fir for the winter and your post made me laugh..It sure isn't as fun as it used to be!!Bullet talk gets old sometimes unless someone wants to learn..I come from the old school where if it ain't broke don't fix it and the Nosler has served me well for over 40 years..

So pardon me if I just get on my new "Prototype" Cow-A-Socki ATV and just ride off into the sunset or as someone else said,An Old Hunter Never dies-He just Faids Away!!!.


Jayco

Brad,
I think that I have responded on this or another forum about my limited experience with IB's, but I'll repeat it here and keep it brief. I shot one bull elk last year at between 275-300 yards with the 165-gr. IB bullet out of a .30-06. It was a one-shot pass-through, entering behind the shoulder and exiting through the far shoulder muscle, making an exit wound a bit larger than the usual Partition would. Heart-lung damage was extensive but the bullet was not explosive enough to cause any significant meat damage to the far shoulder. The bull trotted off for about 20 yards and collapsed. I was pleased with the overall results and will continue to use the IB 165-gr. bullet

John G, thanks. That was the point of this thread... to gather a bit of info for all of us to make a decision about the IB. I think I'll go pick up a box of 180's to try in my 30-06. The AB's are VERY accurate at 300 yards in mine but I doubt their price tag is of 1/3 more than the IB is warranted.

I've been watching this one from the side lines and from what I can tell it appears John that you've much more experience with this bullet than about 99% of the responders so thanks for the input.

MD

on a side note I've always preferred Annie Green Spring.......

Brad, I have posted my results on my Buck last year and was all but called a liar but here it is. I shot a 160 class 8pt whiteatail at 25 to 30 yds quartering toward me. The bullet struck the point of the shoulder on the near side and destroyed it. I found pieces of bone and from the way he was running he was on three legs.The deer was found to months later 150 to 200 yds away where it had bed down and died. The 139 gr IB had not gone past the shoulder.

Rob, I wanted to hear the good, bad and ugly. You've always been an honest and accurate observer and I don't doubt your experience one bit. There's enough stories floating around like yours that it does make one wonder about the bonded bullets that don't have a way to stop over-expansion (Scirroco, AB, IB).

Thanks.

Rob,

I shot have shot two deer with the interbond. Both were less than 100 yards. I hit both in the ribs and had good but not spectacular results. Both deer ran 30-50 yards. I didn't think the 165 grain .308" bullet expanded enough. I got a good exit hole, but the near side lung had a lot less damage than the far side. I shot a few with the SST and they had a dramatic effect and did their job quicker than the IB. I have not shot an IB into the shoulder on any animal yet, so I can't comment on how they work when you do hit the shoulder. I was thinking of going to the 150 grain bullet for deer. After reading your post, maybe I should stick with the 165.

I do believe that the IB is a good compropmise between the Barnes or Swift A frame and a standard bullet. They expand more than the Barnes and retain weight better than the standard bullets. They are not a miracle bullet by any means and are reasonably priced. Everything is a compromise.

It seems to me that the cost of premiums is WAY more than $.50 per bullet. Taxidermy costs just make the numbers skyrocket.

Gabe

The one thing I can't get over, is the fact that it is still a bonded bullet, with nothing to prevent the bullet from pancaking at extreme velocities. I love the idea of a High BC bullet that will withstand high velocity impacts, but with the horror stories I've heard from actual users of bonded, polymer tipped bullets, and my own experiences, the performance of them in ultra velocity guns is just too sporadic. Looks like my only option for the 99% is the Barnes TSX. High BC, stout construction, decent wound channel, and high penetration. I won't hesitate to use the bonded polymer tipped bullets in anything that has a muzzle velocity of less than 3000fps, but in my 300 RUM, it looks like Barnes is the only way to go. Brad, I predict you will find that the interbonds will perform exactly like the sciroccos and accubonds on game in the same shot placements. At moderate velocities, and boiler room shots, you'll have plenty of penetration and/or exit...but if you try to sneak one through the flank and up into the boiler room and offside shoulder, the animal could very well walk away with a very nicely expanded bullet in its paunch. I won't even venture a guess as to what it will do up against heavy bone, since the performance has been so erratic on other bonded bullets. But bottom line, with the experience I've had with bonded polymer tipped bullets, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Brad,
I don't have experience with the 30 cal 180gr IB but I have shot some deer with 270 cal 130 IB's.

They did the job, but I personally felt that they were too much bullet for deer. So, I am back to plain old Hornady SP's again for deer.

Premium bullets fill a need for extra premium penetration or to use a lighter bullet for caliber to increase speed and flatten trajectory.

For example in 30 caliber for elk you can use a standard 180 or 200gr bullet for elk and they will work just fine, but you can also use a premium bullet in 165gr and they will work also.
It all just depends on on what you are personally comfortable with. Or you can use a 180-200gr premium bullet and have that extra penetration if it is needed.

The elk I have shot have all been with premium bullets in 270 & 338 caliber. I have never recovered a single bullet. Did they do the job? Absolutely!! Would've a standard bullet done the job in my personal situations? Yes!!

I am not worried about some guy that thinks I spent too much money on bullets. I know that I have had dead elk killed cleanly. I would much rather use too much bullet than not enough. Especially on Elk and bigger critters.

I am also certainly not going to talk negative about someone who chooses to use standard bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob1SG:
Brad, I have posted my results on my Buck last year and was all but called a liar but here it is. I shot a 160 class 8pt whiteatail at 25 to 30 yds quartering toward me. The bullet struck the point of the shoulder on the near side and destroyed it. I found pieces of bone and from the way he was running he was on three legs.The deer was found to months later 150 to 200 yds away where it had bed down and died. The 139 gr IB had not gone past the shoulder.

Rob,

You and I have had the same experience with IBs. The only difference was mine involved multiple failures of the 180 gr IB (on top of a 300 WSM). A deer I shot on the last day of CWD eradication season here in March was a similar quartering shot to yours noted above with comparable bullet performance. My distance was further and I managed to chase it down and finish it - that's the minor difference.

Both you and I have taken heat here for sharing our experiences. What irritates me is that the naysayers say "it isn't so" but they were not around to watch the bullets come apart.

I have said it before and I'll say it again: I have no ax to grind with Hornady. I shoot their A-max and BTHP bullets for highpower but I will not use the IB for hunting big game in any caliber and I could not recommend them to others in good conscience.

Doug