Not so long-range monolithic bullets

NK Hunter

FNG
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May 23, 2023
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Thanks, I'll take a look at the CEs. Mostly choosing a bullet that holds together better out of personal preference.
The CE's are designed to break apart - at least some are. Making sure you knew that. I don't mind the de-petaling by design myself, though the CE's seem less reliable in their terminal performance than some in the same class.
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2023
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McGuire Balistics out of California is producing some really cool monolithic stuff to address the problem you are mentioning. I suggest you check out their stuff.
 

SDHNTR

WKR
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Aug 30, 2012
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7,097
Overthinking. You’re shooting one of the fastest cartridges around. Plenty of speedto keep you at 1800-2000 + way beyond the yardages you’re mentioning.
 

Deano0686

Lil-Rokslider
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Jul 21, 2019
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Indiana
If you had to pick one factory loaded bullet for the 28 nosler, which one has the best results on deer elk less than 600 yards? I’ve tried the eldx And the federal terminal ascent and not been super happy with the results
 

MattB

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Sep 29, 2012
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Like others have posted, I am not sure about the rationale for Hammers requiring high twist rates as being a real concern for you. Monos like speed and your 1:9 twist is fine up to 150 grs., so your rifle should stabilize the bullet weights you should realistically be considering.
 

wapitibob

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Feb 24, 2012
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Bend Oregon
If you're set on factory ammo, your choices will be limited. If you can roll your own, or find a company to do it for you, that will give you some more options.

I played around with some 143 Hammers last year in my 28, I'm thinking I'll stick with them for the foreseeable future. Lower BC, but starting them at 3500+ helps mitigate that some. Killed 3 Bulls with that rifle last year, from 100 yards out to 540, bullets performed very well on all.
^^ this
I shot the 143 Hammers out of a 7stw which is essentially a 28. 3470 fps and always worked fine. They didn’t group as well as the Berger 195s I shoot now but good enough.
 

rootacres

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Jan 5, 2018
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Might be a good time to get into reloading. Sounds like you're into it, and would probably enjoy testing some things out. Maybe it would help your accurate rifle become even more accurate.

I don't have a 28, but I know they're fast. I have a 7 SAUM, I shot the 143 Hammers at ~3030fps. Very accurate bullet for me. Shot a coues at 425yds, shot twice just because the deer was still standing. Both bullets landed right behind the crosshairs. Damage was what you would expect, neither bullet was recovered as they are probably buried in the mountain side.

I would use this bullet on elk sized game but have always chosen to shoot 168 VLDs when I've had those tags in my pocket.
 

NK Hunter

FNG
Joined
May 23, 2023
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My results in a 7 Allen Mag (26")

147 gr Apex .284
103.0 gr Retumbo
Fed-215
3.690" OAL
3730 fps

160 gr McGuire .284
100.0 gr Retumbo
Fed-215
3.750” OAL
3470 fps

Both very accurate. The Apex G7 seems to true to .310. It has a slight mag advantage so going to be running that one for terminal testing this fall. Very happy so far. Great bullet.
 
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As many mentioned the Hammers or the Barnes will work well, I am shooting both from a few different rifles and have whacked a lot of critters out to 450+ yds with them. Have also shot a lot of deer with the Nosler E-Tip but that has always seemed to be a finicky bullet. With a 1/9 Twist keep the bullets on the lighter side and you will be fine, 139LRX or 140TTSX should be good to go out to your stated 500yds with no problem.
 

SDHNTR

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I like Hammers, terminally and accuracy wise, but their published BC’s are way way off in my experience.
 

NK Hunter

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Joined
May 23, 2023
Messages
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I like Hammers, terminally and accuracy wise, but their published BC’s are way way off in my experience.
I like them for 500 yd and in. They are designed with terminal performance as a priority, not BC. I use other options for longer range, as per my former post.
 

z987k

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Sep 9, 2020
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AK
I've been using factory ammunition out of my 28 Nosler (Nosler Mountain Carbon 1:9 twist) with good success for four years now. I have found both the Nosler ABLR and Federal Terminal Ascent shoot very well from it. Unfortunately, Federal will no longer produce a full factory cartridge for the 28 Nosler and only sell the .284 bullets. So I'm moving forward at present with the ABLR. I've shot that round to 600 and taken an animal to 460 with it.
I've wanted to go nonlead as I like a tougher bullet and not leaving lead behind. I tried Barnes in a company loaded round but the rifle didn't fully like them and from testing I've seen online I get some trepidation at ranges beyond 300-350 yards.
What I am really hoping to have is a nonlead bullet that can fully expand to 400-500 yards out of my rifle. My experience with nonlead is at 400 yards they are at more limited expansion.
Lately, I've been intrigued by both Badlands and Makers bullets. As I am not a trauma specialist, I am not sure why one would prefer a fragmenting bullet of Badlands over a larger wound channel bullet of Makers.
I also wondered about any personal experiences or testing anyone has done or seen to 400 yards or lower velocities with such bullets.
Maybe I am asking too much out of these monolithics, but while minimum expansion is typically listed at around 2000 fps I'd prefer more maximal and usable expansion out to the above distances.
Thanks for any info.
Cheers.
The 140gr Badlands, the only one that'll stabilize in your 1-9 twist barrel, has a BC of .560. The only other thing even close to that BC in a 140gr is the copper rose at .6 At 500yards, both of those bullets are still going about 2600fps from a 28N. Not too far from what a 7-08 would be at the muzzle.
I have no idea how you think that's not long range capable. Both of those bullets don't hit their min velocity until 900y or so.
 
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