Question on bullets

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woodsman87

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Sorry for ignorance, and I might know some about but not enough about bullets.
Could some of yall explain the advantages/disadvantages of some of these different bullets?
Like Remington Core-lokts and winchester ballistic tips. I give these two examples because that is about all I have ever used because it seems like that is all wal-mart ever has. I have had sucess with both of them, and can never remember an instance where I ever blamed lost deer on bullet. I always blame it on myself for no patience, to thick, or scope off.

And does brand names matter to yall? Would you shoot the federal ballistics over the winchesters??

Just some questions I have, mainly have been brought up by people say they loose deer because it was a bad bullet.
 
Personally, unless I'm shooting at a coyote I won't use ballistic tips. They are designed for rapid expansion and rarely exit the animal (in my experience). For whitetail I prefer a bonded bullet that will have controlled expansion and offer good penetration. There have been a ton of deer killed with Remington Core-Lokts over the years. However, of all the guns I've shot them through they never grouped as well as other brands.

Most Wal-Marts carry the Winchester Power Max Bonded in most popular calibers. So if you're only shopping at Wal-Mart that would be the round I would recommend. If you're more open to shopping elsewhere I'll recommend Federal Fusions, Hornady Interbond and Interlock, or any round loaded with Nosler Partitions or Nosler Accubonds (if it has Nosler in the name it's gonna be pricey).

In general, you want a bullet that will expand quickly AND penetrate deeply.
 
Bullets are of sundry designs.

For deer, the core-lokt is hard to beat. The Federal power-shoks and Winchester power-points are also good deer bullets. They are simple soft points that are economical and get the job done. No need for fancy premium bullets on deer.
 
and what about the weight, grain of the bullet? Does it make much difference? I usually buy the 180 grains (I have a 30-06) but right now I am using 150s and that is by mistake. I needed some shells while my dad was at the store and I told him to bring some back. He brought back the 150s. I wouldn't think it would make much difference but still wondering. These are core-lokts im talking about.
 
Weight isn't really a big deal with the distances were shooting at (especially with a 30-06). Some guns will group better with a heavier bullet and others like the lighter ones. It will change your point of impact going from one weight to another though.
 
Any of the bullets that you mentioned will and do work fine for deer-it is just a matter of hitting them where you are supposed to hit them. A premium bonded or upper end bullet is not needed for deer but they will certainly kill them. I generally used 150s when I used an 06 though 180s will work too. I have had good luck with Ballistic Tips on deer and have plenty of pass throughs which I like. There is a btip hunting and a btip varminting with different upset characteristics-use the appropriate one. Reloading your own ammo gives you a near limitless combination loads depending on your wants and needs.
 
Like has been said already, the Rem Core-Lokt bullets are cost effective and do a great job on deer. I use them in 150gr in my -06 and they group great. I am however considering expanding my horizons a little and trying some of the ones mentioned, b/c if they group any better than the core-lokt's, that would be pretty awesome to me.
 
It's funny to me to spend $500+ on a gun not including scope. Money for gas and stands to go but cheap out $10 on bullets. Corelokts are ok bullets but there are much better options for not much more.

Get the best you can afford, if the once and a lifetime animal come outs don't you want to know the bullet will not be the issue.
 
It is hard to beat the cost/results of a Rem. Core-loct bullet, I hunted twenty yrs with them in every gun I owned until I started reloading my own ammo. IMO, it is one of the top factory ammo on the market in its class.

In an .30-06, I would seriously consider staying in the 165-180gr range with bullet weight, better performance from them with that caliber.

Once again, this is just my opinion, everyone has there own.

FDXX75
 
REN said:
It's funny to me to spend $500+ on a gun not including scope. Money for gas and stands to go but cheap out $10 on bullets. Corelokts are ok bullets but there are much better options for not much more.

Get the best you can afford, if the once and a lifetime animal come outs don't you want to know the bullet will not be the issue.
Click to expand...

Corlokts are fine for that once in a lifetime deer. To get any better as far as killing wise you have to reload
 
Rockhound said:
REN said:
It's funny to me to spend $500+ on a gun not including scope. Money for gas and stands to go but cheap out $10 on bullets. Corelokts are ok bullets but there are much better options for not much more.

Get the best you can afford, if the once and a lifetime animal come outs don't you want to know the bullet will not be the issue.
Click to expand...

Corlokts are fine for that once in a lifetime deer. To get any better as far as killing wise you have to reload
Click to expand...


Killed with a Core loct, dang.............if I had know there could have been an issue, I would have used a better bullet.

11ptingarage.jpg


FDXX75
 
Nothing wrong with the good ole classic bullets like the Core Lokt. In my experience, the factory loaded Remington bullets have been very inconsistant. I would much rather shoot the factory Hornady Interlocks. Very consistant and accurate.
 
My last two deer was taken with core lokt. One was out of a 30-06 the other a 260. If I didn't belive in em I would not use em.
 
Hahah y'all can post all the "big" deer you want I got some of those pics as well. I neve said core loks were junk and I have killed more then a few with them. However if you think there are not better options for just a bit more money then that's a whole different conversation.

In no way am I saying don't use them or they are crap bullets, my point is you spend A LOT of money on guns and scopes why buy the budget ammo. In the grand scheme of this it doesn't make sense TO ME.

It's like buying a $1000 rifle and putting a tasco on it, it will work sure but there are better options. I shot core lokts for many years so its nothing against the shell in general but they are at that price for a reason.
 
REN slow down, It is all in our on mind of what to use. I have used other typs of bullets and had good luck with most a few bad luck. The thing is I had just as soon use core loks.
 
"I buy my bullets at walmart." from Stretch at the bow opener.
It was a classic, kinda like "they were mature hogs"... you had to be there.

That is all, drive through.
 
REN said:
It's funny to me to spend $500+ on a gun not including scope. Money for gas and stands to go but cheap out $10 on bullets. Corelokts are ok bullets but there are much better options for not much more.

Get the best you can afford, if the once and a lifetime animal come outs don't you want to know the bullet will not be the issue.
Click to expand...

30+ years shooting corelokts without a failure in numerous calibers. why spend more when you don't need to? there may be more expensive options but that don't always mean better.
 
I used Coreloks and Winchester Power Points exclusively for quite a while before discovering other brands. A lot of people still swear by them and for the money they are a good round. But, with that being said, in 2007 I watched a man take 5 shots with Core Loks (150 gr. 30-06) and 5 shots with Hornady Customs (150 gr. 30-06 Interlocks). After seeing how the Remington's velocity variation was 3x what the Hornady's were I knew I'd spend a few dollars extra from then on.

So maybe it's not the Core Loks terminal performance that I stray away from but more of the loading tolerences that Remington (in their entry level ammo) has compared with some of the Premium ammo manufacturers.
 
I cant think of a better option than a 150 gr. Rd nose for deer. Whether it comes from Remington, Winchester, or hornady. If they are accurate the terminal performance is what matters. $40 shells kill no better than $20 shells. Buti bought all my crap to handload, so it doesn't matter. Ill be pushing 150 gr round nose corelokts out of my handloads also. They just perform to well.
 
again, smoke if you got them......Nikon Prostaff scopes work just fine for whatever you need them for but there is no question a Zeiss Conquest is a better scope. Both will do the job just one is built a bit better.

you get what you pay for in most things in life. As ive said before Corelokts are fine bullets with a lot of people shooting them.....
 
I like to go light in my 30.06 for deer, the 150 corelokts just didn't group as well, around 2 to 3 in at 100 out of a rem 700. As soon as i switched to hornady brown box, the absolute cheapest hornady offers, only about 9 bucks more than the rems, my groups shrank an easy inch. Not sure if it was just the weight, or rems quality control, or whatever but my gun loves the brown box. its not worth bickering about what bullet does what better in a 30.06 at whitetail deer... after you find something that your gun likes, your confidence in yourself and your firearm won't let you look back. Lots of folks love the loks and i bet they shoot great out of their rifles while some may not, no big deal, just give a few brands a shot and you may find yourself in something else or back in the coreloks camp like a lot of folks.
 

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