I keep hearing the phrase "Superior Bullet". Just what makes one bullet superior to the next? That phrase is meaningless to me until what the bullet is expected to do on what type of target, from what caliber is defined. Some bullets may indeed be worthless if they are not accurate enough to hit the target at 100 yards. Other types of bullets may be suitable for varmint sized animals but not larger ones. Some may not have enough penetration to reach the vitals of medium or large sized game animals. Others may not destroy enough tissue to insure a quick and humane kill. No one bullet can do it all.

The important point is to chose the right bullet for the intended game you are hunting by knowing what you can expect from that bullet at the ranges you are most likely to see them and make sure you understand whether you are using the proper bullet caliber, weight and velocity for your hunting scenario.

As I said before, my preferred all around bullet for North American hunting has been and still is the Nosler Partition from the calibers that I use. Why? Because in over 50 years of big game hunting it has always worked the way I expected it to. Will other brands work as well? Some possibly but not many that I have used.

My definition of a superior bullet is one that I can count on to kill any North American animal that I hunt in a very clean, efficient and humane manner. If it does that you don't need anything better, there isn't anything better!

465H&H

Very strange? About two weeks ago I shot a Lope at about 200 yards that was standing broadside. I hit him in the base of the neck. either the bullet or a petal traveled up the entire length of his neck and busted his jaw then exited!!! No exit hole through the neck? No bullet recovery.120 barns TTSX 264 win mag.

I have shot several different animals with the TSX with no problems so far. I have a friend that had the same thing happen to him on a Elk the TSX bullet did not expand. We shot several bears this spring with the CEB non con brass HP bullets and they were fantastic. The only problem is that they are about 2 bucks each. Expensive but well worth the money. Ross

I doubt this could simply be blamed on the bullet. The velocity would be down quite a bit at that range which doesnt help expansion.

I think the main reason for the bull not being dead in short order is shot placement. It would be best to know the bullet path before trying to blame the bullet for the elk not dying from one shot.

Even with an unopened bullet I would expect a dead elk if it was a double lung shot or if it hit the heart.

I expect the bullet just clipped the lungs. I have never seen even a fmj fail to kill if it goes in the boiler room where its supposed to.

I have a friend here who has shot many elk here in MT who uses a 300 win mag and 180 partitions he prefers to shoot them through the shoulder or in the neck. He says they can go just too far sometimes if shot broadside through the chest. His shots are close and quick. Makes sense to me although I couldn't help but rib him a little and mention he should try a .338 .

Additional thoughts...

This example is part of why Barnes came up with the TTSX.

Some bull elk are just that tough. I am sure we have all heard of elk that can take lead as if they were an Alaska Brown bear.