Choosing a bullet that will reliably expand and exit elk.

[he_lives]

Thanks to all the knowledge shared on this forum, I’ve learned a ton about the benefits of softer match style lead bullets that fragment and do a great job killing. The multiple threads sharing success have convinced me to stop using more traditional bullets and I now have multiple rifles setup to shoot Eld-m, Eld-x, TMK and Berger bullets.

Over the years I’ve honed in on what works best for me for my elk hunting rifle. While that’s always changing, right now I’ve settled on assembling a 25” barrel 280ai that should be in the 9.25 to 9.5-pound range when done. Im not a huge fan of the recoil associated with magnum rifles and prefer to stay with a 280ai, vs something light a 7prc. This will be a “mid-weight” option for me and used to complement the light, short barrel tikkas I have.

I plan to develop a load using 175-Eldx for this rifle. While there’s no doubt the match style bullets kill well, they do so without exiting. There are occasions where I’d prefer a tougher bullet that offers some expansion, but also exit and leave a blood trail.

In researching bullets, I’ve struggled to find a clear winner.

For cost and availability, I’m interested in the Hornady CX bullets (139gr and 160gr), but cannot find much testing that gives a definitive minimum expansion velocity.

The Barnes bullets are another option, but again, I’m uncertain on a proven velocity where they expand with certainty.

Finally, I’m considering the 160 accubonds because I have 150 I’ve already bought. I’ve shot quite a few accubonds over the years and noticed they have a tendency to mushroom and lodge under the opposite side hide without exiting.

This is all a long way to ask for advice on bullet selection and minimum velocity, based on your actual experience.

If I choose a CX and keep impacts above 2,250-fps, should I expect some sort of expansion and pass through?

How about the accubonds, what velocity have you seen they need to exit?

 

[Caseknife]

In my experience, every shot into an animal can result in different outcomes. Many people say that they have never recovered a Barnes, I have recovered many Barnes just under the offside hide, well mushroomed and obviously dead animal. I have also had pass throughs. The majority of my shots have been under 150 yards. Would think that Hammers with petals that shed would be more apt to exit with the shank continuing through the animal, though not a big hole to let blood out if that is what you are desiring. The two animals that I have killed with the 308 Win and 137 Hammers, mountain goat at 50 yards, did recover one shank in the opposite shoulder under the hide, mule deer buck at 275 yds, was a complete pass through. Different things factor into how the bullet reacts once it hits the target animal, angle of animal, distance, impact velocity, impact location and the list goes on. That said, bullets that retain more mass have a higher likelihood of complete pass through.

 

[he_lives]

In my experience, every shot into an animal can result in different outcomes. Many people say that they have never recovered a Barnes, I have recovered many Barnes just under the offside hide, well mushroomed and obviously dead animal. I have also had pass throughs. The majority of my shots have been under 150 yards. Would think that Hammers with petals that shed would be more apt to exit with the shank continuing through the animal, though not a big hole to let blood out if that is what you are desiring. The two animals that I have killed with the 308 Win and 137 Hammers, mountain goat at 50 yards, did recover one shank in the opposite shoulder under the hide, mule deer buck at 275 yds, was a complete pass through. Different things factor into how the bullet reacts once it hits the target animal, angle of animal, distance, impact velocity, impact location and the list goes on. That said, bullets that retain more mass have a higher likelihood of complete pass through.

I agree, no two shots are the same, and even when they are, the bullet performance may be different.

It sounds like your experience with Barnes is similar to mine with Accubonds - some pass through, some stuck under the hide.

Yes, im hoping to find a bullet that produces blood trails. I have a specific spot that has a very narrow window of visibility. Recoveries are typically in the dark and typically in rain, making a good blood trail helpful.

 

[Caseknife]

Low chest, just behind the heart so it still pumps, you will have blood spraying everywhere!

 

[he_lives]

Low chest, just behind the heart so it still pumps, you will have blood spraying everywhere!

Wish I was a good enough shot to guarentee that placement!

Hoping to find a bullet that buys me some insurance for misreading wind at 4 to 500 yards.

 

[JGRaider]

Wish I was a good enough shot to guarentee that placement!

Hoping to find a bullet that buys me some insurance for misreading wind at 4 to 500 yards.

Good bullets don't make up for poor shot placement regardless of who's fault it is. The accubond is one of the best hunting bullets on the planet, so stick with it.

 

[SDHNTR]

No bullet produces consistently reliable blood trails. If you get one and really need it, something went wrong. If you get one but didn’t really need it, you got lucky.

 

[he_lives]

Good bullets don't make up for poor shot placement regardless of who's fault it is. The accubond is one of the best hunting bullets on the planet, so stick with it.

Agree with you on shot placement and agree with you on the Accubond being a good hunting bullet. The question was regarding bullets that expand and exit reliably-which the Accubond hasn’t done in my experience.

 

[SDHNTR]

The only bullet that is gonna exit more reliably than an Accubond is gonna be a mono, and only then maybe.

Hammers will have the shank exit most of the time, but you aren’t gonna get much blood on the ground.

 

[he_lives]

The only bullet that is gonna exit more reliably than an Accubond is gonna be a mono, and only then maybe.

Hammers will have the shank exit most of the time, but you aren’t gonna get much blood on the ground.

Thanks for the insight. That’s a good point about small exit wound not producing much blood to track anyway.

 

[43.6N]

Back when I shot 300wsm, fusions were the answer.
Softer than accubond, so better expansion.
Bonded, retained weight, and exited more often.

The newer tipped fusion have a significant BC bump.

For 280ai, factory choices seem limited.
You can get non AI 280 fusions.

The terminal ascent line is available in 280ai. The front half of that bullet is basically a tipped fusion, with a longer copper shank. I would trust that bullet to reliably expand over a Barnes of any flavor.

 

[bigunit]

Sounds like you're after a nosler partition if you want expansion and an exit.

 

[he_lives]

Back when I shot 300wsm, fusions were the answer.
Softer than accubond, so better expansion.
Bonded, retained weight, and exited more often.

The newer tipped fusion have a significant BC bump.

For 280ai, factory choices seem limited.
You can get non AI 280 fusions.

The terminal ascent line is available in 280ai. The front half of that bullet is basically a tipped fusion, with a longer copper shank. I would trust that bullet to reliably expand over a Barnes of any flavor.

I reload, so not limited to factory ammo. I have never loaded the federal offerings, I’ll have to check them out, thanks!

 

[rookieforever33]

try a partition. The tip is a soft point that expands fast, and it has an encased lead shank that keeps pushing.

 

[43.6N]

I reload, so not limited to factory ammo. I have never loaded the federal offerings, I’ll have to check them out, thanks!

I just did a quick search for reloading components, for the 284 cal bullets the fusion 140’s are the only ones in stock.
The 155 terminal ascents and 175 fusions look out of stock for the moment. But that was also me just doing a cursory look.

And I would feel fine shooting fusions down to 2k impact velocities.
Good luck

 

[North of 60]

Maker and Cavity Back both claim to have lower expansion velocities than Barnes, and also larger diameter expanded bullets as other possible mono options to consider,

 

[doverpack12]

Hammer 145 HHT.