The bullet failure thread

[NorthIdahoDude]

180 grain Sierra Pro Hunters out of my 303 British. 4x4 mule deer at around 30-40 yards. 4 through the chest (last 4 rounds I had on me that day, long story). Might as well have stuck him through 4 times with an ice pick. He laid down close enough I could watch him, and eventually bled out internally and died (took about 10 or 15 minutes). Cutting him open, there was no expansion at all. Lungs are not even deflated. Shot placement could be argued (heart or spine would have ended it much faster), but I hit both lungs all 4 times, which I generally think should be good enough.

I found out later that specific bullet is very hard and even Sierra recommends you send it through a shoulder bone if you want it to expand.

Haven't hunted with a Sierra since, but I am "this close" to giving SGKs a try since I can't get anything else to shoot good in my 30-06.

 

[7RemMag]

When I was poor in college and didn’t know anything about ballistics, I shot 180gr core-lokts from a 300WM. They crushed deer and elk. Never had an issue out to 300 yards, which was kind of my max range with a simple 3-9 duplex VX2 Leupy.

And I don’t doubt that. It’s not impossible that 2 people can have totally different experiences. I don’t like them. I’m sure that my old man had a valid reason to believe that the bullets “failed”, though I can’t specifically remember what it was. Inconsistent expansion rings a bell.

Oddly enough, my best friend growing up and still to this day grew up hunting on the other side of town in the exact same applications and his family swore by them for years. He’s regularly showing me projectiles that were recovered from deer and a few bears that look to have expanded just fine….

Like I said….Strictly anecdotal evidence. Lots of people use them even now with success. I’m not, and likely never will be one of them.

 

[River Reaper]

And I don’t doubt that. It’s not impossible that 2 people can have totally different experiences. I don’t like them. I’m sure that my old man had a valid reason to believe that the bullets “failed”, though I can’t specifically remember what it was. Inconsistent expansion rings a bell.

Oddly enough, my best friend growing up and still to this day grew up hunting on the other side of town in the exact same applications and his family swore by them for years. He’s regularly showing me projectiles that were recovered from deer and a few bears that look to have expanded just fine….

Like I said….Strictly anecdotal evidence. Lots of people use them even now with success. I’m not, and likely never will be one of them.

Wasn’t personal, just adding to the anecdotes

 

[Texas270]

And I don’t doubt that. It’s not impossible that 2 people can have totally different experiences. I don’t like them. I’m sure that my old man had a valid reason to believe that the bullets “failed”, though I can’t specifically remember what it was. Inconsistent expansion rings a bell.

Oddly enough, my best friend growing up and still to this day grew up hunting on the other side of town in the exact same applications and his family swore by them for years. He’s regularly showing me projectiles that were recovered from deer and a few bears that look to have expanded just fine….

Like I said….Strictly anecdotal evidence. Lots of people use them even now with success. I’m not, and likely never will be one of them.

So you don’t like CoreLokts because your dad said so?

 

[7RemMag]

Wasn’t personal, just adding to the anecdotes

No worries. I apologize my tone made my response seem cross. I wasn't. We all have different experiences and preferences. I can't deny that they must work. I've heard far too many people who use them and were satisfied. For that matter, when "Remington" opened production back up a few years back, The Core-Lokt was one of the first products they started making again. That isn't just by chance.

So you don’t like CoreLokts because your dad said so?

As a matter of fact, yes. I know that his dislike of them must be founded on truth (at least in his experiences) and you're talking about a guy that lived and breathed the outdoors and shooting/ballistics for most of his life. Right, wrong, or indifferent, I certainly take a little bit of stock in what he says on the matter. As stated above, I can't deny that they must work-quite well in fact. For that matter, My Dad also does not dispute that they must work sufficiently for some. I just don't feel compelled to use them based on the results he had years ago. There are a lot of other great projectiles out there that have suited he and I very well over the years. I'm sure they'll continue to do so.

I sense a touch of sarcasm and/or condescension in your question. I was pretty clear that my opinion was strictly anecdotal (as are plenty that are shared on this forum), and that I have never personally shot a critter with a Core-Lokt bullet. I also somewhat boldly asserted that was not likely to ever change. We're influenced by the things we hear both good and bad. It's human nature. I've heard enough bad about them that it's sufficient for me to shy away. By all means, continue to use them if you like. I'm sure they'll work well for you. Interestingly enough, I generally don't use cup and core style projectiles on big game regardless of brand or specific design. They're just not what I like.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

No worries. I apologize my tone made my response seem cross. I wasn't. We all have different experiences and preferences. I can't deny that they must work. I've heard far too many people who use them and were satisfied. For that matter, when "Remington" opened production back up a few years back, The Core-Lokt was one of the first products they started making again. That isn't just by chance.

As a matter of fact, yes. I know that his dislike of them must be founded on truth (at least in his experiences) and you're talking about a guy that lived and breathed the outdoors and shooting/ballistics for most of his life. Right, wrong, or indifferent, I certainly take a little bit of stock in what he says on the matter. As stated above, I can't deny that they must work-quite well in fact. For that matter, My Dad also does not dispute that they must work sufficiently for some. I just don't feel compelled to use them based on the results he had years ago. There are a lot of other great projectiles out there that have suited he and I very well over the years. I'm sure they'll continue to do so.

I sense a touch of sarcasm and/or condescension in your question. I was pretty clear that my opinion was strictly anecdotal (as are plenty that are shared on this forum), and that I have never personally shot a critter with a Core-Lokt bullet. I also somewhat boldly asserted that was not likely to ever change. We're influenced by the things we hear both good and bad. It's human nature. I've heard enough bad about them that it's sufficient for me to shy away. By all means, continue to use them if you like. I'm sure they'll work well for you. Interestingly enough, I generally don't use cup and core style projectiles on big game regardless of brand or specific design. They're just not what I like.

Just wanted to say I appreciate the well thought out and worded post.

 

[Tom-D]

Say what you wish, but you don’t often hear about Core Lokts failing. Or round nosed bullets for that matter.

I did watch a mate of mine shoot a large boar pig at around 70 meters with a 270 shooting remington corelokts heard the impact and seen the dust fly off its shoulder in the spotlight and it ran off the crop paddock at-least 500m never to be seen again unfortunately. Iv seen a fair few run off from that to be honest but that was a rate scenario i could confirm it was a good shot in the front half

 

[schmidty3]

Standard broadside through the rib cage shot. Sure, a bit further back than ideal but this bullet didn’t expand at all. Literal pencil hole & a relatively close shot.

I’ve experienced other deer shot in the same location and bullets disrupt and kill quicker. We recovered this deer but I’m still considering it a failure, looked like it was shot with a fmj.

As a 6.8 120 sst user....

Yeah, that doesnt sound right. Usually it makes a nice soupy mess. Liver shots with nasty bullets should do the trick quickly. Thats why we use said bullets.

The 120s were way better then the 90 gr gold dots.

I never had a "failure". But the largest bodied whitetail ive ever killed took a 90 gr to the top of the lungs (i aimed high ~200 yard shot/user error). When i got to him about 5 minutes later he took off and I zipped him up with 5 more in about 1.5 seconds. He had that pink foam out of his nose. Id expect the 120 sst's to do better. They were always KO's for me and baby bro.

When I was a teen I splashed the 3 100 gr hornady soft point on a does ass at 5 yards with a 243 wssm. Happened fast and that scope/gun wasnt the right tool for that job! She made it about 50 yards and laid down.

My dad shot a bull elk with a 7mm mag at ~100 yards with ABLRs. I told him not to get those but he did (long range for my family is like 200+ yards ). He put two in the shoulder. Bull died, but im not sure how. I do not recall any internal damage, but to be fair i was busy carrying meat. Lots of frag in the shoulder. Was spitting out chunks everytime I had elk burger. Dead bull, but most of that bullet was definitely in the shoulder.