6mm 105 Hornady BTHP--low impact bullet test

[T-Stick]

Rifle: 243 Savage Edge (accurized)
Barrel: 22" with 1/9.25 twist
Bullet: 105 Hornady BTHP
Range of test: 10 yards
Powder: Blue Dot reduced loads to simulate long range impacts
Media: one gallon water jug--5/8" OSB--2) one gallons water jugs--5/8" OSB stopped all recovered bullets

Hello everyone. Been an occasional lurker here till the "6mm hunting success" thread sucked me in to join . I recently tested this rifle and bullet at 2850 fps at 620 yards to confirm BC and true scope data. I have shot one deer with this bullet at around 60 yards and was impressed with the terminal results. I noted a few positive posts for this bullet on the 6mm hunting success" thread but the ranges were all under 300 yards. Then I decided to test and see what this bullet was doing from 1700 fps to 2030 fps. It looks to me like this bullet may tumble quickly and sheer off the front nose. If it does this reliably it could be a reliable long range killer without needing to fragment or open. Pics attached showing results and tumbling evidence going through the 5/8" OSB board.

 

[T-Stick]

I'm not seeing where I can edit my post. I meant to add/ask if anyone here hunts with match bullets depending on them to tumble instead of expanding and what their experiences are ...

 

[Mrwoodard]

My first "long range" deer back in 2014 was with a 243 shooting 105 bthps at 3050. 525 yards, impact velocity would have been around 2100 fps. It was a double lung shot and she ran about 60 yards. I don't remember what the lungs looked like, but I killed a bunch of deer with that combo.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I like those bullets. Cheap and accurate. There are far better ones out there, if you are dropping down to those velocities.

anyone here hunts with match bullets

Yes

depending on them to tumble instead of expanding and what their experiences are ...

Yea, no

 

[T-Stick]

The 105 Hornady is about the highest BC bullet that I can accurately shoot in my 1/9.25 twist. If I had a 1/8 twist I would use the 108 ELDM and look no further. The Sierra 95 Tipped Matchking and the 103 ELDX are erratic at 300 yds. The 90 ELDX and and 95 Berger Hybrid Hunter shoot well but with much less BC. Most of my longer distance deer were taken with a 7mm-08 so I am still experimenting with the 243.

 

[T-Stick]

My first "long range" deer back in 2014 was with a 243 shooting 105 bthps at 3050. 525 yards, impact velocity would have been around 2100 fps. It was a double lung shot and she ran about 60 yards. I don't remember what the lungs looked like, but I killed a bunch of deer with that combo.
View attachment 994898

Even though many people think the Berger and ELDM are much better I still read of some less than optimum results with them. I have not read any negative terminal results of the 105 Hornady BTHP on game. Were you able to tell if the bullet was expanding or tumbling at further ranges?

 

[Mrwoodard]

Even though many people think the Berger and ELDM are much better I still read of some less than optimum results with them. I have not read any negative terminal results of the 105 Hornady BTHP on game. Were you able to tell if the bullet was expanding or tumbling at further ranges?

I really couldn't tell you because back then I didn't pay attention or know what to look for. The majority of my shots were less than 300 yards and it killed everything that I pointed it at with no issues. Back then they had a pretty good size hollow point, but I haven't seen any recent production bullets.

 

[ddowning]

I have shot several does between 600 and 670 yards with them in a 243 AI. Also several in the 300s and 400s. The place I hunt doesn't tend to have shot opportunities in the 500s due to terrain. I don't remember a deer that didn't drop at the shot past 300 yards. Inside 300 I tend to have them run, bit they are down within 50-100 yards. It is the normal mpbr reaction. I aim center lungs and don't try to break them down.

I cannot explain why they have dropped at the longer shots other than the bullet performance at those particular velocities. I see the same thing with 140 bthp in 6.5 creed.

 

[BLJ]

The Sierra 95 Tipped Matchking and the 103 ELDX are erratic at 300 yds.

What issues did you notice? Specifically with the 95 TMK.

 

[Steve300xcw]

What issues did you notice? Specifically with the 95 TMK.

Probly didnt tumble enough...

 

[T-Stick]

What issues did you notice? Specifically with the 95 TA

What issues did you notice? Specifically with the 95 TMK.

I was getting .5MOA or better at 100 yards and larger than MOA groups at 300 yards with occasional fliers that might go out 4 or 5".

 

[T-Stick]

I have shot several does between 600 and 670 yards with them in a 243 AI. Also several in the 300s and 400s. The place I hunt doesn't tend to have shot opportunities in the 500s due to terrain. I don't remember a deer that didn't drop at the shot past 300 yards. Inside 300 I tend to have them run, bit they are down within 50-100 yards. It is the normal mpbr reaction. I aim center lungs and don't try to break them down.

I cannot explain why they have dropped at the longer shots other than the bullet performance at those particular velocities. I see the same thing with 140 bthp in 6.5 creed.

I slightly enlarge the HP with an .040" drill bit so it's definitely more open than a Berger HP.

 

[T-Stick]

I have shot several does between 600 and 670 yards with them in a 243 AI. Also several in the 300s and 400s. The place I hunt doesn't tend to have shot opportunities in the 500s due to terrain. I don't remember a deer that didn't drop at the shot past 300 yards. Inside 300 I tend to have them run, bit they are down within 50-100 yards. It is the normal mpbr reaction. I aim center lungs and don't try to break them down.

I cannot explain why they have dropped at the longer shots other than the bullet performance at those particular velocities. I see the same thing with 140 bthp in 6.5 creed.

Thanks. That is good terminal data. I'm considering 6-700 yards my max on a calm day.

 

[T-Stick]

I have taken around 150 various big game species with the 25-06, 270, 7mm-08, and the 300 win mag. I never considered the 243 large enough for longer ranges on big game till more recently after reading reports of success. I do have long range experience shooting woodchucks with the 243.

To date I have killed some deer with the 243 with the 100 grain Speer BT, Berger 95 grain hybrid classic hunter, the 90 grain ELDX, and the 105 grain BTHP. All deer taken with the 243 were under 100 yards. I started there because I don't hunt with long range loads without first knowing what will happen on shots under 100 yards. I would say the Berger classic hunter was the least impressive under 100 yards but I realize that impression can change with longer ranges. I also determined that all these bullets work well on woodchucks, except for the 105 BTHP which is too hard.

However the 105 BTHP carries the best payload beyond 500 yards which is what led me to test them for expansion and request long range reports on this bullet.

 

[kkp005]

I don’t have any long range reports on the 105bthp…. But I’ll also confirm that it’s a deadly bullet in my 6Creeds .. have shot deer up to 242lbs and got exits on everything other than very large hogs

 

[Bater]

The 105 Hornady is about the highest BC bullet that I can accurately shoot in my 1/9.25 twist. If I had a 1/8 twist I would use the 108 ELDM and look no further. The Sierra 95 Tipped Matchking and the 103 ELDX are erratic at 300 yds. The 90 ELDX and and 95 Berger Hybrid Hunter shoot well but with much less BC. Most of my longer distance deer were taken with a 7mm-08 so I am still experimenting with the 243.

These 105’s BC ran right with 108’s out of my 7.5t 6GT out past 1200. Only took a few 10ths more to get there

 

[T-Stick]

These 105’s BC ran right with 108’s out of my 7.5t 6GT out past 1200. Only took a few 10ths more to get there

They have a good BC and were holding true on clicks to 600 yds for me. The 100+ ELDS are longer bullets and they just won't group in my rifle. The 90 ELDX is very accurate in my rifle.

 

[FredH]

My experience with Hornady 105 gr. BTHP has shown it to be very accurate but an erratic performer on game. Worked perfectly on a few, tumbled as in the pictures on a few and worst of all to me veered off line of flight inside of the animal. In my opinion a bullet that tumbles and does not break up is not a very reliable killer. My lot of bullets Could have been pretty old and I was using them at a starting velocity of 2600 fps from a 6 Grendel. I switched to the 87 gr. BTHP from Hornady and all is well. That is a pretty good deer and coyote bullet.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

Problem with a lot of BTHP (match bullets) is the meplat is closed off more than it should be for performance on game. SMK CN, Lapua Scenar, are prime examples. I bet money if you "drilled out" the meplat a little bit, they would work very well in that velocity range. Thank you for the post.

 

[T-Stick]

I opened the hollow point with a drill bit on the 105 BTHP thinking the same thing. I do the same for the 87 grain Hornady also and get more explosive expansion.

However I'm not seeing any opening up in the reduced velocity testing with water. This gives me pause.

I'm thinking to try a larger drill bit and re-stest.