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Best Big Game Bullets
Barnes X-Bullet
Heavy versions of this solid copper hollowpoint must be seated deep to clear magazine boxes and rifling. But the X drives deep without losing much weight, so you can use a light bullet and get fast flight, a low arc and deep penetration at the same time. X-Bullets don't offer the frontal area of many lead-core bullets after expansion. Reports on accuracy vary. Heed factory tips on seating depth. The XLC Bullet, with a shell of dry lubricant, reduces fouling and adds velocity without boosting pressure.
Barnes Original
Less aerodynamic than the X, this old fashioned-looking bullet has earned loyal followings where the game is big and tough and the brush dense. Its lead core delivers a broad mushroom which is controlled by a very thick jacket. You'll find heavier weights in this line (195-grain 7mms, 250-grain .308s) than in most others.
Federal Hi-Shok
Available as a round-nose, flat-nose or spitzer, Hi-Shok softpoint bullets come standard in Federal's Classic line. It's an unremarkable, traditional, economical softpoint that kills as well as many more costly bullets.
Hornady Interlock
Hornady Spire Points rank among the most accurate softpoints. The Interlock builds on that reputation with an inner belting to hold the core in place during upset for deeper penetration. The trademark cannelure is still there.
Hornady SST
A sharp red polymer nose, long ogive and aggressively tapered heel make this Super Shock Tipped bullet a natural for long shooting. It has the internal jacket belt of the Hornady Interlock bullet and a heavier jacket than the similar Nosler Ballistic Tip.
Nosler Partition
A wall of jacket material between front and rear core sections of this bullet stops expansion, ensuring that the shank will penetrate. Partition jackets were once machined from solid stock; now they're impact-extruded, resulting in closer tolerances and better accuracy. Some loss of nose material is normal. Developed by John Nosler in 1947, the Partition was tested by many of his hunting buddies.
Nosler Ballistic Tip
Color-coded by caliber, the polycarbonate tip of this bullet serves as a wedge to initiate expansion. Ballistic Tip bullets are noted for fine accuracy and flat flight, and as trendsetters. The .338 Ballistic Tip bullets have thicker jackets than .270s, 7mms and .30s, which are not recommended for heavy game.
Remington Core-Lokt
The flagship bullet in Remington ammunition for years, the Core-Lokt has an internal lip to hold the lead in place during upset. It's known for both a broad mushroom and reliable penetration. Round and pointed noses are available.
Remington Bronze Point
A bronze nose peg initiates violent expansion in this bullet, whose sleek form makes it a favorite of hunters shooting thin-skinned game at long range. It is not widely available in Remington factory ammunition, having been supplanted by Nosler Ballistic Tips.
Sierra GameKing
Sierra bullets are quick-openers with a reputation for top-level accuracy. Both the GameKing and hunting-style hollowpoint bullets kill deer-size game like lightning. The 250-grain .338 and 300-grain .375s have heavier jackets for animals like elk and moose.
Speer Hot-Cor
Traditional softnose construction put Hot-Cor bullets in the same class as Federal Hi-Shoks, Hornady Spire Points and Winchester Power Points. They shoot as well and kill as cleanly-and are available in different weights (285-grain .375) and calibers (9.3mm or .366).
Speer Grand Slam
A dual-core bullet, the Grand Slam has a hard lead heel (five percent antimony) held by an internal jacket lip. The nose core is softer, for quick upset. Grand Slam jackets are four percent thicker than those on Speer's Hot-Cor bullets.
Swift A-Frame
A bonded core plus a mid-section wall of jacket material deliver deep penetration and keep the bullet nose from coming apart. The A-Frame mushroom looks like a mushroom, and plows a broad wound channel, often retaining more than 90 percent of its weight.
Swift Scirocco
Combining the sleek form and polymer tip of Nosler's Ballistic Tip bullet with the ductile copper jacket and bonded core of the Swift A-Frame, the Scirocco boasts flat flight with controlled expansion. Expect over 70 percent weight retention, even at strike speeds over 3,000 fps. Sciroccos mushroom at impact velocities as low as 1,440 fps.
Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Designed by Jack Carter, this lead-core bullet features a thick, ductile copper jacket whose heel section extends to near the mid-point of the bullet. During and after upset, the big nose rarely loses more than 10 percent of its weight. Like the Swift A-Frame and Speer Grand Slam, the Bear Claw has a long ogive behind a flat bullet tip.
Winchester Power-Point
This softpoint has no special features except the signature nose notches on its tapered jacket. It's a fast-opening bullet that nonetheless will drive through the vitals of a quartering elk. Stepped-up loads in Winchester Power-Point Plus ammo carry moly-coated bullets.
Winchester Silvertip
The company's heavy-duty game bullet for decades, the Silvertip was given a new nosecap in the 1960s. It now opens more quickly, performing more like the Winchester Power-Point than a controlled-expansion bullet.
Winchester Ballistic Silvertip
This Combined Technology bullet is a cosmetic variant of Nosler's Ballistic Tip. Winchester and Nosler joined forces to produce it (and the Partition Gold). It is an accurate bullet by most accounts, and fast-opening. The black exterior is not molybdenum disulfide.
Winchester Fail Safe
A steel cup keeps the lead heel core from ballooning upon impact behind a hollow nose of copper alloy, notched for four-petal upset. Weight retention often approaches 100 percent. Pass-throughs are the rule, even on elk-size game.
Winchester Partition Gold
The Partition Gold evolved from recent collaboration between Nosler and Winchester. Compared to original Partition bullets, the partition is farther forward, to put more weight in the heel for deeper penetration. There's a steel heel cup and black oxide finish, as on Winchester's Fail Safe bullet.
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