Best all around bullet weight for Alberta big game?

[Redneck 7]

There’s always discussion on best all around caliber, but with bullet engineering and design. What one bullet weight would you guys reload or buy for best all around hunting Alberta. You can mention velocity too but im just curious what you experienced hunters/ reloaders would use.

I’d probably use 165 grain bullets.

[HoytCRX32]

I hunt where there is equal chance to see deer or elk and stick with 180 gr.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

There’s always discussion on best all around caliber, but with bullet engineering and design. What one bullet weight would you guys reload or buy for best all around hunting Alberta. You can mention velocity too but im just curious what you experienced hunters/ reloaders would use.

I’d probably use 165 grain bullets.

That's a tough question, but I don't think you could go wrong with a heavy for caliber Nosler Partition and keep the range under 300 yds.

[silver]

I think that all depends on the cartridge. If you are talking about a 300 mag then I would go for a 200 grain probably partition. If you say 308 then I would go for a 165.

But I will agree with the comment about going with heavy for caliber.

[elkhunter11]

That depends totally on the cartridge, and the bullet design. Since no cartridge or even caliber was mentioned, there is no correct answer. For the 6.5s, I like 130-140 gr bullets, for the 7mms , I like 140-150gr bullets, for al the .308" cartridges, I like 165 to 180 gr. If using a monumental bullet, I go on the lighter side.

[Redneck 7]

I’m jusst curious because a lot of the cartridges gr weights over lap bigger and smaller cailbres. Some shoot same weight bullets at similar velocities but they’re different caliber. So would you just stick with a mid size bullet weight for all game or just worry about the big game and then destroy smaller big game with a heavy grain bullet?

[Salavee]

As I see it, the key is to keep the range well within the shooters and his cartridge's delivery capabilities.

A .308 Win is very capable of delivering a 200 gr Partition out to 300 yds and leaves nothing on the table...Terminal V 2030fps,TE 1850, SD .301. There's not much that will soak that up and run.

If you need. or want more, you need a bigger cartridge.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

I’m jusst curious because a lot of the cartridges gr weights over lap bigger and smaller cailbres. Some shoot same weight bullets at similar velocities but they’re different caliber. So would you just stick with a mid size bullet weight for all game or just worry about the big game and then destroy smaller big game with a heavy grain bullet?

I think you will find the heavy bullets at moderate velocities are more "meat friendly" than lighter,faster bullets of similar construction.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

I’m jusst curious because a lot of the cartridges gr weights over lap bigger and smaller cailbres. Some shoot same weight bullets at similar velocities but they’re different caliber. So would you just stick with a mid size bullet weight for all game or just worry about the big game and then destroy smaller big game with a heavy grain bullet?

In faster cartridges the heavier bullets are better for smaller game because of bullet construction. There is no best weight across the board.you need to match weight with a specific cartidge. For most calibers 130-200gr will do the job. But a 130 in a 270 is not the same as a 130 in a 300ultra mag

[Redneck 7]

That’s an interesting way to look to look at it. I’ve tried looking more of this info up online and haven’t found anything directly to what I’m searching for that’s why I started this thread.

[Dubious]

100 gr out of 25-06 clobbers anything including elk. With my 300 I really like the 180 gr it also clobbers everything including elk, kinda a tuff question really depends on the cartridge.

[mediumrare]

A 30 calibre 150 grain gmx bullet around 3000 fps seems to do the trick!

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

That’s an interesting way to look to look at it. I’ve tried looking more of this info up online and haven’t found anything directly to what I’m searching for that’s why I started this thread.

What exactly are you trying to figure out? What caliber is best based on bullet weight? You have to look at it caliber by caliber and cartridge by cartridge. For instance take a 6mm. A 100 gr bullet is a great deer bullet even suitable for Elk/ moose w/o thing appropriate ranges. But in 7.62 mm( 308) 100 gr would be a terrible choice if you can even find one. Then you need to look at cartridge/ cartridge to figure out even more. A 30 cal is best run with bullet weights from 150-220 but a 30-30 is best with a 150-170 and a 300 ultra mag would be best with 180-220.each caliber has it's " best" weight as does each velocity within that caliber

[colroggal]

Originally Posted by Dubious

100 gr out of 25-06 clobbers anything including elk. With my 300 I really like the 180 gr it also clobbers everything including elk, kinda a tuff question really depends on the cartridge.

www.ballisticstudies.com

Make popcorn, you'll be a while.

Myself, under 100 a 170g soft point from a 30-30 or a 450g hardcast from a 45-70. Out to 300 I like a .308 with a 165 soft point - I prefer game kings and cor-lokt pills.

Colin

[cowmanbob]

Not sure about being the best, but the 130 grain in a 270 win is completely adequate.

[JBE]

Originally Posted by cowmanbob

Not sure about being the best, but the 130 grain in a 270 win is completely adequate.

yep

[urcayuse]

I like to shoot as heavy a bullet as I can, as fast as the cartridge will allow and still be able to use the bullets full potential. For example I shoot a 180 in a 280 improved. Would love to use the 195’s but the velocity potential just isn’t there.
I use 140’s in the 6.5 variety and push them around 2700-2800 fps. There is a huge spread in Bullet weights that are all very effective. I think you’ll have to commit to a caliber you like and pick the cartridge you think will push it as fast as you want it to go.

[Desert Eagle]

It it's all caliber dependant. For me I try to stick to mid to heavy for caliber.

6mm/243 90 to 100 grain
25 100 to 120 grain my go to is 115.
270 130 to 150
30 165 to 200 depending on cartridge
8mm 200 to 220 grain
338 210 to 225. I have a 338-06. If I had a larger case it would be 250-300 grain, but I try to get max velocity with a decent performing bullet in a reasonable weight.

These are based on lead type bullets. I haven't jumped on the copper wagon yet, but hope to test some out. For the Barnes I would drop a size or two and push them as fast as I possibly could. They need lots of speed to get the shock factor that I like to see.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

What exactly are you trying to figure out? What caliber is best based on bullet weight? You have to look at it caliber by caliber and cartridge by cartridge. For instance take a 6mm. A 100 gr bullet is a great deer bullet even suitable for Elk/ moose w/o thing appropriate ranges. But in 7.62 mm( 308) 100 gr would be a terrible choice if you can even find one. Then you need to look at cartridge/ cartridge to figure out even more. A 30 cal is best run with bullet weights from 150-220 but a 30-30 is best with a 150-170 and a 300 ultra mag would be best with 180-220.each caliber has it's " best" weight as does each velocity within that caliber

Nothing really, just have a discussion on this topic. Haven’t found this topic online anywhere else. Always caliber talk but never bullet weight talk on its own. Always refers back to caliber, which I get but just curious what everybody likes to shoot for grain weights vs calibers.

[shooter12]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

Nothing really, just have a discussion on this topic. Haven’t found this topic online anywhere else. Always caliber talk but never bullet weight talk on its own. Always refers back to caliber, which I get but just curious what everybody likes to shoot for grain weights vs calibers.

If I had to hunt Alberta only with one rifle until the end of my days for all game species we have in here I would shoose 200 gr bullet out of 300 whatever mag at 2800-3000f.s .

Drops them dead and does not destroy too much meat.

S12

[260 Rem]

My conundrum is deciding on whether to use a bullet that comes apart in the boiler room, or holds together with limited expansion and maybe passes through. This season I am just looking for deer antlers with a pretty light cartridge (6 Dasher) so the bullet really matters. Pretty sure I will go with a 95 gr Berger Classic Hunter that leaves the muzzle at 3030 FPS. Past experience with Berger’s is that they turn the chest cavity to mush resulting in quick kills.

[270person]

My opinion only but out to 250 the heavier bullet by calibers usually outperform and have better bc's.

143 in 6.5 CM. 150 in 270. Exception for me in the 7mm is I like 160's over 175. Gun just shoots them better.

All round it's pretty tough to beat 180's in the 30 cals.

Biggest misconception might be big cals cause bigger damage. False for the most part. Friend shoots .375 H&H for everything and sees no more damage than anything I shoot with faster bullets.

[Ariu]

Depending on caliber, the lightest bullet possible.
Light bullet equals less recoil which equals a more pleasurable shooting with no flinching and more accuracy.
The introduction of better and higher BC bullets with some pretty amazing terminal ballistics allows the smaller calibers and lighter bullets to see use on elk and moose - unthinkable a couple of years ago.
No need to carry a ~15lb rifle elk hunting loaded with 200gn bullets when you get by with less.
I was using 165gn Sierra MK and Partition before. Last year switched to 150gn SST with no problems on deer. I plan to use it on Elk this year.
Put the bullet where it belongs and the rest is easy.

[DiabeticKripple]

i plan on using 120gr in my 7mm rem mag, and 130gr in my 308 for all big game.

[Slash8]

It's all caliber dependant based on a personal choice through field experience IMO.

For my .257 Weatherby I like 120 gr Sierra Game Kings. Why? Because they worked on a bull elk at 120ish meters and my hand loads put them at about 1.25" MOA at 100 meters. 100 gr work good but I like 120gr cause they're easier to hold when loading compared to 100 gr.
My .270 I like 130 gr sierra game kings, why? Because for me they work like a hot damn on deer out to 200 meters. Maybe farther but I've never shot one further than 150 meters with a .270 win and my hand loads puts them about 1.5 MOA at 100 meters. I've only shot deer with it and 150's don't shoot well out of my rifle.
For my 7mm I like 150 gr noslers. Why? Because I've killed a nice black bear at 300 meters with that bullet and a quite a few deer between 30 and 150 meters. It shoots about 1.5 MOA on paper. I got the best groups with 150's.
My 45-70 I like 425 gr rnfp's and I recently drilled a bull moose at about 100 meters right through the heart. It shoots about 2" MOA at 100 meters. I like 425's at black powder velocities because its easier on the shoulder and I tend not to flinch as bad.
There's lots of other bullet choices out there but I like these ones because they are accurate in my rifles and none of the animals I shot have ran further than about 15 or 20 meters if they ran at all and they all died quickly. So based on that, that's why I use what I do.

[rembo]

Some very serious nit picking going on here

If one is shooting a .264" bore you have to be very selective on bullet weight.

127's for deer, 129's for bigger deer and step up to the big 130's for even bigger deer as well as moose and elk.

[dogslayer403]

Originally Posted by rembo

Some very serious nit picking going on here

If one is shooting a .264" bore you have to be very selective on bullet weight.

127's for deer, 129's for bigger deer and step up to the big 130's for even bigger deer as well as moose and elk.

Hahahaa love this post

[Nyksta]

For elk and moose, dont skimp on penetrating mass of the bullet. You need to be able to deal with the bigger bones and deeper vitals. Use quality bullets that will hold together on impact.

277 cal 140gr
284 cal 150gr
308 cal 165gr

Only shoot at distances where the shot can deliver 1500ft pounds energy minimum. Get closer and deliver more if possible.

[Nova316]

Originally Posted by rembo

Some very serious nit picking going on here

If one is shooting a .264" bore you have to be very selective on bullet weight.

127's for deer, 129's for bigger deer and step up to the big 130's for even bigger deer as well as moose and elk.

This is what I do, make sure you shave some of the lead off the tip to make the 127gr weight, old pencil sharpener works well.

Although I love the 7mm currently so the 168gr would be my choice

[DeadEyeGardner]

178 grain Hornady ELD-X loaded well under max velocity and used under 300m