Opinions on best medium game bullet to load for hunting

[smokinjoe]

Currently I load a .264 Hornady ELD-x 143gr for hog, deer etc. just wondering what others prefer for a medium size game hunting projectile.

[stomp442]

If those 143s are shooting well that's just about the best you can get, especially if you are poking out there aways. I have been using the Bergers eve since they have come out and have had nothing but outstanding results with them. Before that, I was a Sierra Game King guy and truth be told for anything under 500 yards thats probably one of the best hunting bullets made.

[smokinjoe]

I can get sub moa with the ELD-X at 200yds 3shot group little 20" barrel heats up quick in this weather I just haven't tried any other brand than Hornady.

[SageRat Shooter]

I'm a firm believer in the Barnes TTSX bullet. although my experience with them is in .30 cal. Shot a 5 pt. Bull 2 years ago from about 150 yards out. Hit him a little low, but broke thru ribs, went thru the heart, and lodged under the skin at the far shoulder. Bullet expanded exactly as they do in the picture they have on the side of the box. Didn't lose hardly any weight (168 gr.)... One shot, one kill... It didn't give me the DRT (bang flop) but he didn't run too far before he piled up on an old dead log. Shooting it out of a 30-06 (22 inch barrel @ 2800 fps)... I won't use any other bullet for Elk. Period!

LOL!! sorry, I forgot you said "Medium Game" but it will work on them too... I think the Barnes has a 120 gr. TTSX and a 127 LRX (same bullet pretty much) in the 6.5 size.

[smokinjoe]

I'm a firm believer in the Barnes TTSX bullet. although my experience with them is in .30 cal. Shot a 5 pt. Bull 2 years ago from about 150 yards out. Hit him a little low, but broke thru ribs, went thru the heart, and lodged under the skin at the far shoulder. Bullet expanded exactly as they do in the picture they have on the side of the box. Didn't lose hardly any weight (168 gr.)... One shot, one kill... It didn't give me the DRT (bang flop) but he didn't run too far before he piled up on an old dead log. Shooting it out of a 30-06 (22 inch barrel @ 2800 fps)... I won't use any other bullet for Elk. Period!

LOL!! sorry, I forgot you said "Medium Game" but it will work on them too... I think the Barnes has a 120 gr. TTSX and a 127 LRX (same bullet pretty much) in the 6.5 size.

I've always used Barnes all copper in my 50 cal. muzzle loader with awesome results might have to give those a try too.

[Haiku_Rodney]

I like 140 gr Sierras for my 7mm-08. Don't know how much reach it has, but, I have taken Axis deer out to about 250 yds. For my 30-06 I currently use 150 gr Speers. I am in the process of switching to 165 gr Sierras. The Speers work but do not leave a good blood trail and the deer run up to 50 yds before dropping. In the terrain that I hunt, makes finding them a bit difficult.

I tried a 200 gr Accubond in my 30-06 for feral cattle. Dropped the animals in their tracks. I may try that on the deer to see what happens.

[bigedp51]

In the early 1970s I fired and dug up Hornady, Sierra and Speer bullets out of the dirt bank behind the targets. The Hornady interlock bullets held together better than the other bullets tested. And I used the Hornady interlocks for all my deer hunting in central Pa. The average deer in Pennsyltucky is shot at 40 yards in the woods and you need a bullet that holds together.

[Robinhood]

SGK guy here too.

[Zero333]

I like SGK's as well.

I've only shot them in a 308win (165 & 180gr) and 243win (100gr). I'm sure the 6.5mm SGK's are not different.

I've found deer not very tough to kill and most bullets do good. If you're shooting out to 600 yards from a good solid position, I recommend the Berger VLD Hunting.
Within 300-400 yards most bullets work good.

If going with a TSX/TTSX type bullets, I recommend going light for caliber bullet. I use a 130 TTSX in a 300winmag for deer and it's a laser, 3,550 fps out the muzzle and withing 250 yards deer collapse in their hooves or withing several yards.

[big honkin jeep]

I'm not shooting a 6.5 but my go to hunting bullet has become the Nosler Accubond. Man they perform well in every caliber I've shot them in. That little 110gr pill in .257 is astounding.

[scooterf79]

I've had good luck with the Sierra GK in my 280AI, and 30-06. Im always eager to try new bullets. I used the 162gr sst in my 7mag last year. It shot great and performance on game was good. This is a good thread. I'm curious to see more input.
Scooter

[earl39]

I am using a 6.5 grendel and have had good success with the 123 sst. Hog and deer both say it is plenty of bullet.

[65Whelen]

For the 65 Creed I have high hopes for the 130 Nosler AB. Just bought a bunch of them and my first batch of reloads look promising. 5 5-shot groups averaged just under an inch.

[darkker]

This is a bit of a Chevy/Ford question, really just preference.

In all of my hunting, Barnes original X's were rather un-predictable. Didn't like opening, and loved to deviate when hitting heavy bone.
I personally won't do business with Hornady anymore, after all their BS, but their standard interlock hunting bullets perform very nicely.
Nosler wants WAY to much for most of their bullets, but the Partition while not the most accurate thing, performs very nicely.
Speer Hot-Cor bullets have never failed or deviated on me once. Time was you could go downtown in Lewiston and buy them by the pound, so I started using them. Those days are long past.

Speer was one of, if not the first to have a bonded bullet. They have Crap marketing, and were owned by a crap defense contractor, but are as reliable as the sun.

[jarhead1077]

Out of twenty guys membership at my lease, Nosler Accubond from .243 to 7mm to .308. is shot by approximately 13 out of 20. Nosler Partition by two .308. Club President loads for over half the guys in the Accubond. He loads at 90% for their caliber and the deer don't usually go more than 30 yards if they don't drop. That has been my seven year experience.

[smokinjoe]

3539This is some great info and I'd love to try some other brands besides Hornady but I took my last 3 hand loads and seated them to the factory Precision Hunter specs 143gr and the reults blew me away at 100yds 3 shot group was one ragged hole, I just haven't used them hunting yet.