Cup and Core or Terminal Ascent?

[Paul Shirek]

I was all set for Elk with my 3006 and Terminal Ascent this year. Sadly I never got a shot at an Elk. Back home in WI i did get a shot at a nice non typical Whitetail buck at 60 yds. I used the Terminal ascent just because I was all set up for it. The deer died in about 30 yds. However, I was surprised by the lack of damage and really small exit hole. I have gotten much more impressive wounds with Super X cup and core. Is this normal? I like the specialty bullets but not so impressed with the wound results. That said, the deer didn't go far and I was thankful. Just wondering what your experience has been like?

 

[rookieforever33]

The TA bullet is designed for 90 percent weight retention. More likely to have pass throughs and break bones than the super x. The trade off is smaller wound channels. Its all in which style bullet you prefer. Both styles kill animals.

 

[The Guide]

The TA bullet is a bonded type designed as a longer distance pass through bullet. The high weight retention design is meant to open more than a copper projectile but have a higher weight retention like copper. These bullet are best used to shoot through bone/shoulders at longer distances. At short range (sub 200 yards) a basic cup and core like the Super X, CoreLokt, Interlock, and others will perform as well or even better than any premium bullet will in my opinion. If I knew I would never shoot past 200 yards I'd shoot whatever cheap bullet my rifle grouped the best with. I have a few rifles that eat a diet of Remington CoreLokt and Hornady Whitetail cartridges and just kill game. No need for premium bullet price if you aren't gaining anything. No need for a $55 box of ammo when the $30 box will kill just fine.

Jay

 

[ColPenguin]

I think TA is really fancy package, and successful marketing. I'm sure it does great for longer distances as The Guide mentions.

Have shot deer with Core Lokt SP, Norma SP, PowerShok/NonTypical SP, Trophy Copper, Hornady Whitetail SP and SST.

Agree with the notion of using the cheapest Soft Point that groups.

 

[nc35hunter]

Hornady 150 interlock in the 30-06 is admittedly a bit overkill for our NC whitetails but it has performed the best of all bullets I ever tried by far, have taken roughly 50 whitetails with the '06 over the years with various bullets and weights, highly recommend a 150 cup-and-core.

 

[WCB]

? My guess is the front of that bullet came apart really well inside the animal and you got the shank coming out the far side similar to a partition. The TA is an 80% retention bullet meaning you more than likely did lose the 20% off the front end.

I've killed numerous deer (20+) with the Trophy Bonded Tip (7rem, 7mm-08, .308) which is a 90% retention and built almost the same as the TA. No issues at close range at all. Everything dies within 30-40yds max if not right there. I've killed trucks full of deer with cup and core (interlock, Fed Blue box, core lokt, Gamekings, Matchkings, etc) Def had more damage on "entries", exit holes were mostly non existent. Many if not most deer still went 30yds or so.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

We shot a couple AK moose with the Terminal Ascent out of my 280AI and my buddy’s 7mm this year. Performance was awesome.

 

[omicron1792]

TA shot really well for me. However I had the same issue with deer. Just pencils through. Too tough of a bullet for deer imo.

I’ve read it’s a 90% plus weight retention. I don’t think it sheds a gram on medium animals like deer.

 

[plebe]

 

[Paul Shirek]

Thanks for the good responses. I will likely not use it on deer anymore. I did because my hunts were back to back and I heard it was a great bullet for everything at all ranges. To be fair, my deer died fast and only went 30 yds. Just small holes and little blood. Last year I took a very large deer with WInchester power point 180 gr. and the hole in the side of the deer was big enough to fit my hand.

 

[The Guide]

Thanks for the good responses. I will likely not use it on deer anymore. I did because my hunts were back to back and I heard it was a great bullet for everything at all ranges. To be fair, my deer died fast and only went 30 yds. Just small holes and little blood. Last year I took a very large deer with WInchester power point 180 gr. and the hole in the side of the deer was big enough to fit my hand.

The TA is a great all around bullet but it won't give you a large hole like a cup and core bullet will. Good luck and happy hunting.

Jay