Suggestions on .300 win mag bullets??

[jrebel]

Barns TTSX or TSX  vs. Berger vld's?  Both these bullets get great reviews so what are everyones experiences / thoughts

I am going to be shooting them out of a .300 win mag 22" barrel with a 1:12 twist.  Primarily hunt bear but may also use for deer and / or elk.  I am leaning toward the 165 / 168 grain bullet, but not ruling out the 180 grain bullet. 

My longest shot ever was 400 yards and that is my max comfort level with my gear and experience level so not interested in which bullet will preform at 1000 yards.  More interested in how each bullet performed on animals (real life experience) and which grain seems to shoot better out of a .300 win mag. 

Thanks

Johnny

[jackelope]

I am shooting 180 grain nosler accubonds. Have killed 2 deer DRT since I started using them in 2010. Why Bergers? I thought they were more a long range type bullet. I used the barnes TSX bullets in my 30-06 with great 1 shot kill results on a dozen or so deer.

[jrebel]

I am shooting 180 grain nosler accubonds. Have killed 2 deer DRT since I started using them in 2010. Why Bergers? I thought they were more a long range type bullet. I used the barnes TSX bullets in my 30-06 with great 1 shot kill results on a dozen or so deer.

Yeah, not sure why the Bergers either....just heard they were great bullets with great accuracy and knock down power.  I imagine if they work at 1000 yards they would work at 100??  Never loaded for my .300 win mag before so just trying to save a little money on the trial and error process.  My 270 loves a simple nosler partition but kinda want to try something new. 

Thanks for the imput on the tsx bullets.  They get great reviews, I am kinda leaning toward them.  Now the TSX or the TTSX and what grain?

[actionshooter]

If your not going to shoot long range don't bother with the bergers. I hear the TSXs work well but I haven't used them. Personally I love the Accubonds and have killed several animals with the 180s.

[Curly]

I agree with actionshooter.  Bergers for long range and Barnes for closer range.  I'd rather shoot an animal at 100 yards with the Barnes.  I don't know if the Berger would necessarily "blow up", but I know the TSX definitely would not blow up even if you hit bone.  TSX are plenty accurate and will definitely hold together..........

[kentrek]

heres some history of bergers

2 spike bulls at 70 yards...one bullet blew up too early after hiting bone, the other perfomed perfect
5 point bull at 275 in the chest,performed perfect
6 point bull at 475 in the lungs,performed perfect
5 point bull at 90 in the lungs,performed perfect

3 point bt at 100 yards,performed perfect
4 point wt at 50,performed perfect
3 point wt in the chest at 90,loads of bloodshot but the deer died
6 point wt at 100 in the lungs,perfection

theres more but you get the idea

i really dont think with modern bullets you can go wrong..esp from the ones your interested in..which ever has the best load is what id go with

hope this helps


i dont think i would play the speed freak game with burgers tho...185s around 2900 seem to be money...i dont think you get much more from the speed with such a fragile bullet

[actionshooter]

heres some history of bergers

2 spike bulls at 70 yards...one bullet blew up too early after hiting bone, the other perfomed perfect
5 point bull at 275 in the chest,performed perfect
6 point bull at 475 in the lungs,performed perfect
5 point bull at 90 in the lungs,performed perfect

3 point bt at 100 yards,performed perfect
4 point wt at 50,performed perfect
3 point wt in the chest at 90,loads of bloodshot but the deer died
6 point wt at 100 in the lungs,perfection

theres more but you get the idea

i really dont think with modern bullets you can go wrong..esp from the ones your interested in..which ever has the best load is what id go with

hope this helps


i dont think i would play the speed freak game with burgers tho...185s around 2900 seem to be money...i dont think you get much more from the speed with such a fragile bullet

Wow, quite the impressive resume..........
 I wouldn't recommend the Bergers b/c the OP said he would be shooting 400 or less, the Bergers while good bullets are expensive.
 If he was asking for a bullet for shooting 750+ I would say "take a look at the Bergers"
  I have heard the guys who have tried to push the velocity with the Bergers have had issues with bone/separation.

[black hog]

dont know about the bergers never used them 165grain tsx out of my 300win 7 bull elk longest shot 618 yards all pass through all dead inside of 30 yards

[jackelope]

Too much risk with a fragile bullet for me, especially when not shooting at long range there's no need to spend the money on them

[jrebel]

Bergers have been eliminated.  Though it sounds like they would work, they are not necessary based on my capabilities.  Thanks Guys

A ton of good stuff about the TSX...any good stuff about the TTSX, or does it really matter at this point??

[Boss .300 winmag]

Tagging

[sirmissalot]

I think Barnes are more expensive than the Bergers.

I have never hunted with Bergers but a friend has and I have been impressed at all. I'm gonna agree with others above in that the Bergers are great for longer range, but I would prefer the Barnes for more realistic shots.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I think Barnes are more expensive than the Bergers.

I have never hunted with Bergers but a friend has and I have been impressed at all. I'm gonna agree with others above in that the Bergers are great for longer range, but I would prefer the Barnes for more realistic shots.

$50.00 for 100 190 VLD's.

[BULLBLASTER]

bergers too expensive? they are cheaper than accubonds or barnes!
nothing at all wrong with a partition or accubond for what you want. heep your eyes on shootersproshop.com for seconds or overruns. i personally dont like the barnes dur to the mess they have made in the barrel of all the guns ive used them in. might look at the e tip also!

[BULLBLASTER]

I think Barnes are more expensive than the Bergers.

I have never hunted with Bergers but a friend has and I have been impressed at all. I'm gonna agree with others above in that the Bergers are great for longer range, but I would prefer the Barnes for more realistic shots.

$50.00 for 100 190 VLD's.

and $39.00 for 50 180 TTSX

[Jerbear]

I have used nothing but Hornady 165 grn for years.  Nothing has ever went more than 10 yards.  Spend the extra money if you want.  I tried Barnes once.  I wouldn't take em if you gave them to me.

[BULLBLASTER]

good point! hornady interlock would be a great choice as well. i shoot the 180s out of my 30-06.

[actionshooter]

I think Barnes are more expensive than the Bergers.

I have never hunted with Bergers but a friend has and I have been impressed at all. I'm gonna agree with others above in that the Bergers are great for longer range, but I would prefer the Barnes for more realistic shots.

$50.00 for 100 190 VLD's.

and $39.00 for 50 180 TTSX

And $35.00 for the accubonds

[actionshooter]

heres some history of bergers

2 spike bulls at 70 yards...one bullet blew up too early after hiting bone, the other perfomed perfect
5 point bull at 275 in the chest,performed perfect
6 point bull at 475 in the lungs,performed perfect
5 point bull at 90 in the lungs,performed perfect

3 point bt at 100 yards,performed perfect
4 point wt at 50,performed perfect
3 point wt in the chest at 90,loads of bloodshot but the deer died
6 point wt at 100 in the lungs,perfection

theres more but you get the idea

i really dont think with modern bullets you can go wrong..esp from the ones your interested in..which ever has the best load is what id go with

hope this helps


i dont think i would play the speed freak game with burgers tho...185s around 2900 seem to be money...i dont think you get much more from the speed with such a fragile bullet

Wow, quite the impressive resume..........
 I wouldn't recommend the Bergers b/c the OP said he would be shooting 400 or less, the Bergers while good bullets are expensive.
 If he was asking for a bullet for shooting 750+ I would say "take a look at the Bergers"
  I have heard the guys who have tried to push the velocity with the Bergers have had issues with bone/separation.

i was just showing that they work at closer ranges too,for what its worth my brother is looking to get away from the bergers..i dont think hes picked one yet but im pretty sure it will be the new accubonds..

I am curious about the new LR accubonds also.  I'm wondering if the high BCs they are posting are accurate?

[kentrek]

heres some history of bergers

2 spike bulls at 70 yards...one bullet blew up too early after hiting bone, the other perfomed perfect
5 point bull at 275 in the chest,performed perfect
6 point bull at 475 in the lungs,performed perfect
5 point bull at 90 in the lungs,performed perfect

3 point bt at 100 yards,performed perfect
4 point wt at 50,performed perfect
3 point wt in the chest at 90,loads of bloodshot but the deer died
6 point wt at 100 in the lungs,perfection

theres more but you get the idea

i really dont think with modern bullets you can go wrong..esp from the ones your interested in..which ever has the best load is what id go with

hope this helps


i dont think i would play the speed freak game with burgers tho...185s around 2900 seem to be money...i dont think you get much more from the speed with such a fragile bullet

Wow, quite the impressive resume..........
 I wouldn't recommend the Bergers b/c the OP said he would be shooting 400 or less, the Bergers while good bullets are expensive.
 If he was asking for a bullet for shooting 750+ I would say "take a look at the Bergers"
  I have heard the guys who have tried to push the velocity with the Bergers have had issues with bone/separation.

i was just showing that they work at closer ranges too,for what its worth my brother is looking to get away from the bergers..i dont think hes picked one yet but im pretty sure it will be the new accubonds..

I am curious about the new LR accubonds also.  I'm wondering if the high BCs they are posting are accurate?

im not smart enough to disprove them even if they are but il post when ev we get some feild time with them if some onne hasnt already

i really hope they are as advertised tho

[jrebel]

bergers too expensive? they are cheaper than accubonds or barnes!
nothing at all wrong with a partition or accubond for what you want. heep your eyes on shootersproshop.com for seconds or overruns. i personally dont like the barnes dur to the mess they have made in the barrel of all the guns ive used them in. might look at the e tip also!

Why would they make any more of a mess than other bullets?  They are all copper jacketed. 

[sirmissalot]

bergers too expensive? they are cheaper than accubonds or barnes!
nothing at all wrong with a partition or accubond for what you want. heep your eyes on shootersproshop.com for seconds or overruns. i personally dont like the barnes dur to the mess they have made in the barrel of all the guns ive used them in. might look at the e tip also!

Why would they make any more of a mess than other bullets?  They are all copper jacketed.

Barnes are 100% solid copper, where a copper jacketed bullet is a harder alloy mostly copper with some zinc added. Solid copper is softer and fowls up a barrel quicker. No problem for me as I clean my barrels thoroughly.

[Greenhorn]

Good thread, I have been shooting Bergers for long range in a couple of 7mm mags and also 6.5x.284.  Was going to start a load for my sons .300 and was planning on using around a 180 gr Berger vld.  Just started reloading this past year.  Killed a nice 3 pt mule deer at long range and then a 5pt bull at about 360yds with my 7mm 180 gr Berger.  I Don't know much about other bullets and like you would like to shorten the learning curve.

[Biggerhammer]

Any quality 165gr bullet on top of 79+ grains of RL-22, I prefer the Accobonds and have no problem jamming a Hornady in their place on accasion. You don't need a stinking Barnes when you shooting a big .30 cal magnum.

[mountainman]

Might look at the Barnes Tipped Triples?? Proven for me on many big critters! You've seen the pics :-)

[elkoholic1]

federal prem. vital shock 225gr.....

[jrebel]

Might look at the Barnes Tipped Triples?? Proven for me on many big critters! You've seen the pics :-)

    We will see how the loads work up, but I think I will like them. 

Thanks

Johnny

[yorketransport]

My general rule is to use either the TTSX or Accubond for a hunting load, and the Bergers for target loads. I've had some amazing groups with both the the Barnes and Nosler bullets though. My 358 Winchester shoots the 200gr TTSX in to .4" groups at 100 yards. I doubt I'd find anything out there that would do better than that!

I'm just not convinced that the Bergers are an ideal hunting bullet. They'll certainly kill stuff. But I wouldn't personally use them on anything much bigger than a deer or small black bear. There are just so many excellent bullets designed for hunting that I don't see a need to use a target bullet to hunt with.

Andrew

[mountainman]

My general rule is to use either the TTSX or Accubond for a hunting load, and the Bergers for target loads. I've had some amazing groups with both the the Barnes and Nosler bullets though. My 358 Winchester shoots the 200gr TTSX in to .4" groups at 100 yards. I doubt I'd find anything out there that would do better than that!

I'm just not convinced that the Bergers are an ideal hunting bullet. They'll certainly kill stuff. But I wouldn't personally use them on anything much bigger than a deer or small black bear. There are just so many excellent bullets designed for hunting that I don't see a need to use a target bullet to hunt with.

Andrew

[Fisherdave10]

Don't overlook Hornady Interbonds.  They're similar to Accubonds but cost significantly less.  In the tests I've seen they hold up a little better than the Accubonds when encountering tough stuff.  For my 30-06, I loaded some 165gr Interbonds for last fall's hunting season, excited to see how they perform on big game.  I still have all 20 of them. 
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/737641/hornady-interbond-bullets-30-caliber-308-diameter-165-grain-bonded-boat-tail-box-of-100

If you do go with Barnes, I recommend getting the tipped TSX (TTSX).  I have read some sad reports of the standard hollow point TSX bullets failing to expand when hitting thin skin then bone.  The TTSX has a slightly better B.C. too, if that matters.  If I had more money, I would like to see how they shoot in my rifle.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/967720/barnes-tipped-triple-shock-x-bullets-30-caliber-308-diameter-168-grain-spitzer-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-50

[jrebel]

Fisherdave

I bought the Barnes TTSX 168 grain and can't wait to load them up and see how they shoot.  I could only find two sample boxes of 12/each for a total of 24.  That should be good enough to work up a load and see how they shoot.  I have searched high and low on the internet and cannot find anymore of the bullets.  If anyone has any for sale I will buy them off you.....?? 

Not sure exactly when I will have the loads worked up, but I will post a follow up with pics of a target (if I remember) when I get to the range. 

Next challenge is deciding on which powder to burn.  Then I am ready.

[Curly]

I like H1000 for my rifles.

[lghtnquik]

180 Barnes TTSX tore threw my elk last year at 428yds. Dropped it where it once stood.