winchester xp3 bullets..

[MountainWalk]

because they dont make the fail safe anymore.

[tlbradford]

I know it isn't really popular, but I like ballistic tips.  I am not interested in a pretty bullet that I can recover, just one that enters the body cavity and blows up.  Animals die fast, and that is the result I am looking for.  I also do not want full penetration.  If I was to hunt dangerous game I would completely reverse my thinking in what I want in bullet performance.  I would want something that would penetrate anything it came across and also hold its mass while creating the biggest wound channel possible.

[bobcat]

I prefer to have an exit hole, makes for a better blood trail. I understand the other way works too, and often a blood trail isn't needed, as the animal doesn't go anywhere. But I just prefer two holes.

[MountainWalk]

i like two  holes. air in, blood out

[Intruder]

i like two  holes. air in, blood out

me too
Also, I wanna know that if I gotta whack a big ol' bull in the shoulder that my bullet is gonna survive the trip through it into the heart/lungs. 

[tlbradford]

Not disagreeing with anybody, just a personal preference.  I do not want to blood trail anything, I just want it to fall over and die.  From what I have witnessed so far, that happens with a bullet that causes major trauma inside the body cavity, rather than a thru and thru.  I never try a shot through the shoulder, and to this point, have never put one into the shoulder.  Maybe when I do, I'll change my tune.  I will concede a couple of points to you guys...also an opinion, not stating any studies...I would bet that the percentage of recovered animals is higher with a tougher bullet that retains its mass and punches through bone if needed, even if you have to track it farther.  I will also concede that I have less room for error when shooting, and that means I need to be more selective with my shots.

[MountainWalk]

there is no denying that the winchester fail-safe was arguably the toughest non solid hunting bullet out there. i think its way too much overkill for deer and sheep. too bad its gone. im going to start giving a frames a try. btw, i found the magazine aticle i was talking about. its pretty convincing. but i dont wanna type it verbatem or run into copyright issues. guess i could quote?

[Intruder]

Tbrad....
I would say your take on it is pretty accurate.  Also, for deer size game and smaller it's not as much an issue.  Comparitavily speaking whitetails/anetelope and even most mule deer are gonna crumple when hit w/ a light jacketed bullet.

MW33....
I think you'll like the A-Frame.  It's a darn good bullet.  I'm quessing the article you mentioned is in print form and not available to view via Inet?

[MountainWalk]

yes, im thinking.

ive read lots of good things about it and have had a few clients use them with good things happening after the shot. i cringe when i see guys with ballistic tips for elk show up at camp. i really hate it.
for deer and even black bear, i like plain old win super x power points or sumthin or ruther.

[MountainWalk]

any you guys looked at north fork bullets by chance?

[Intruder]

I've looked into them.  I like the design.  I heard a rumor that they are actually out of business.

[Bigshooter]

Not disagreeing with anybody, just a personal preference.  I do not want to blood trail anything, I just want it to fall over and die.  From what I have witnessed so far, that happens with a bullet that causes major trauma inside the body cavity, rather than a thru and thru.  I never try a shot through the shoulder, and to this point, have never put one into the shoulder.  Maybe when I do, I'll change my tune.  I will concede a couple of points to you guys...also an opinion, not stating any studies...I would bet that the percentage of recovered animals is higher with a tougher bullet that retains its mass and punches through bone if needed, even if you have to track it farther.  I will also concede that I have less room for error when shooting, and that means I need to be more selective with my shots.

I saw saw a site on the internet once, and I will try and find it again that showed a bunch of different bullets getting shot into some kind of gel.  All of the bullets that they shot into the gel would lose all or most of there energy in the first 12 to 14 inches the heavier or more well constructed  bullets all exited.  When you looked at the difference between a soft bullet that didn't exit and a bullet that did exit there was hardly any difference other that one exited.

[FOsteology]

any you guys looked at north fork bullets by chance?

As of January 1 2008 Mike Brady made the decision to get out of the bullet making business and pursue other opportunities. 
I've been hoping that some other established company (Federal, Hornady, etc.) would step-up and acquire North Fork, because the bullets were some of the most accurate and best-performing true premium big game bullets that has ever been produced.

[jdb]

how about woodliegh also Ive seen good things with trophy bonded bear claw and of course when in doubt nosler partition

[steeleywhopper]

 I too would be interested with some input on the XP3 performance. I will be hunting moose this september in BC. I'm thinking of trying a different bullet. Currently I shoot Fedral 180gr Nosler partitions from a 300win mag.