Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[svk]

Reminds me time to pull out the new 30-378 Weatherby and hit the range also . Last Moose Season it replaced my venerable Remington 700 . A little heavier to carry , but when loading 240 gr. partition silver tips its a one shot round .

I’d love a 30-378 but nothing around here suitable to hunt. Even a long shot on deer would be 200 yards.

I have my dad’s 7mm WM in Mark V. Such a smooth action. Wouldn’t mind finding another.

 

[svk]

I've done a lot of ballistic testing (on both wet newspaper and wet phone books) and other media and have concluded that bullet construction is far more important than bullet weight.

Because the Barns copper bullets open up with 4 pedals (instead of a full mushroom) they penetrate about 50% deeper than anything else. The spinning of the bullet makes the pedals cut veins and arteries like an arrowhead.

I know the BarnesX bullets have a great reputation but I read about a lot of early copper bullets failing so I’m still kind of gun shy. Obviously those kinks were worked out years ago. I did have a very vintage box of 30 caliber X bullets in my original reloading bin which I haven’t found yet.

As I mentioned before I’ve had terrible luck with Nosler ballistic tip and wonderful luck with Nosler partition so I will stick with the partitions.

 

[MustangMike]

I liked and took lots of deer with the old Nosler Solid Base bullets. When they went to BT, the bullets were much more fragile, and I did not like them as much.

Partitions are very reliable, but do not give you great expansion.

I have not experienced any problems with the Barnes Copper bullets in either test media or game, and I like that they are lead free as I eat what I shoot.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I know the BarnesX bullets have a great reputation but I read about a lot of early copper bullets failing so I’m still kind of gun shy. Obviously those kinks were worked out years ago. I did have a very vintage box of 30 caliber X bullets in my original reloading bin which I haven’t found yet.

As I mentioned before I’ve had terrible luck with Nosler ballistic tip and wonderful luck with Nosler partition so I will stick with the partitions.

Nosler Partitions (NP's) are the finest all-around big game hunting bullet available today!

They will give some expansion at low velocities and VERY good expansion at med/hi velocities, and when the nose expands off, the base 2/3's drives in DEEP even after hitting heavy bone, even at higher velocities. I have shot truckloads of big game with NP's...

In another lifetime, I designed/swaged and sold bullets, (and mfg'd ammo) mostly copper/bonded core bullets. At one time myself and Bill Steiger were the only two bonded bullet mfg'ers (Bill was first) and to this day, I'm still using NP's.

NO other bullet works better at both, low and hi velocities all in one bullet!

SR

 

[WoodAbuser]

Good afternoon guys and gals. Happy hunting, for the best bullet in the best caliber for the game u hunt.

 

[svk]

I honestly wish there were more hunting opportunities up here.

One deer per year for us and getting a bear permit maybe happens once every 3 years.

Unfortunately our deer hunting is too poor to offer a "trade a hunt" with someone in a different state.

 

[rarefish383]

Anyone using jotel non catalytic wood stoves? I am currently contemplatingthis stove for the N-S loading View attachment 1012077

I have a big Jotul insert. I'm sure it will last the rest of my life, BUT. My old insert was a Russo that had about 12" of firebox in the fireplace and 12" on the hearth. That was a lot of steel on the hearth, in the room. I could stack it tight N-S with 24" wood and get a 12 hour burn out of it. The new Jotul is flush with the face of the fireplace, and is only about 13" deep and 25" wide. I have to stack E-W so I get 3 pieces on the bottom, 2 in the middle and one on top. 5 hour burn time at best. When I explained my old stove to the Jotul dealer he said I wasn't going to get the burn times or heat off the Jotul as I did the old Russo. They were comparing apples to oranges. Your free standing Jotul should be a great stove. My wife wanted a Pretty stove. The Jotul is a pretty insert. She got what she wanted.

 

[sundance]

I liked and took lots of deer with the old Nosler Solid Base bullets. When they went to BT, the bullets were much more fragile, and I did not like them as much.

Partitions are very reliable, but do not give you great expansion.

I have not experienced any problems with the Barnes Copper bullets in either test media or game, and I like that they are lead free as I eat what I shoot.

I really liked the old Nosler Solid Base as well. Great bullets. I'm sure I still have some in .25, one of these days I'll have to dig. Haven't loaded for the .257 Roberts in years.

 

[North by Northwest]

I've done a lot of ballistic testing (on both wet newspaper and wet phone books) and other media and have concluded that bullet construction is far more important than bullet weight.

Because the Barns copper bullets open up with 4 pedals (instead of a full mushroom) they penetrate about 50% deeper than anything else. The spinning of the bullet makes the pedals cut veins and arteries like an arrowhead.

I don't put phone books in the reefer brother . Bullet construction & design effect accuracy & penetration . Weight & density determines downrange shocking power . Shocking power ultimately determines how far large game travels . I have hunted Moose , Elk , Caribou & Bear all over North America . Have handloaded every long rifle cartridge from .222 , .308 , 30-06 , 300 Win-Mag .416 Rigby & 300 Rum to my current Weatherby 30-.378 & buddies . 338-.378 ! P.S. When your loading Belted Magnums , bullet design & weight combination is imperative ! I prefer 240 gr. Woodleigh or 200 gr. Weatherby Silver tips .

 

[North by Northwest]

I’d love a 30-378 but nothing around here suitable to hunt. Even a long shot on deer would be 200 yards.

I have my dad’s 7mm WM in Mark V. Such a smooth action. Wouldn’t mind finding another.

I have shot a few Short Mag . rifles in 7mm excellent cartridge & ballistics . For deer in open country I would take it over the venerable .308 . P.S. I picked up the V-Backcountry as a quick solution for Moose here in Northern Ontario & Elk in Montana & strong enough for Dull Ram out West brother . Loaded with 120 gr of powder & a belted 180 gr bullet it will reach out with lethal results quite well .

 

[North by Northwest]

I really liked the old Nosler Solid Base as well. Great bullets. I'm sure I still have some in .25, one of these days I'll have to dig. Haven't loaded for the .257 Roberts in years.

I had loaded Remington Nozler partitions for yrs for my Remigton 30-06 BDL. Excellent all around bullet design with very impressive ballistics ! Actually still have some that I hand load for my Marlin 450 Big bore for swamp bucks in Northern Michigan .

 

[MustangMike]

For those of us that don't shoot a big game animal every week, ballistic testing will give you a lot of valuable information that you may never realize from hunting when bullets are often not recovered.

How long it takes for the bullet to open, how deeply it penetrates, diameter of expansion and retained bullet weight are all important factors. I also prefer to see a uniform mushroom as it will reduce planning after impact.

 

[North by Northwest]

For those of us that don't shoot a big game animal every week, ballistic testing will give you a lot of valuable information that you may never realize from hunting when bullets are often not recovered.

How long it takes for the bullet to open, how deeply it penetrates, diameter of expansion and retained bullet weight are all important factors. I also prefer to see a uniform mushroom as it will reduce planning after impact.

Then fully bonded bullets are your ultimate choice in a Magnum cartridge where weight retention is paramount brother ! P.S. I have loaded & shot both Barnes & Hornaday both excellent bullets , locally Hornaday is a larger seller today not sure why perhaps economics , been a while since I have purchased any , they were my go to for .222 , .223 & 22 Hornet for varmint shooting back in the day lol.

 

[Logger nate]

Boss brought his 880 up to flush cut the stumps on the camp ground sale. Kinda surprised it didn’t really seem any faster than the 500i .

Not the greatest comparison. Maybe it will help Kodiak Kid get a idea what the 500i is like.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

For those of us that don't shoot a big game animal every week, ballistic testing will give you a lot of valuable information that you may never realize from hunting when bullets are often not recovered.

How long it takes for the bullet to open, how deeply it penetrates, diameter of expansion and retained bullet weight are all important factors. I also prefer to see a uniform mushroom as it will reduce planning after impact.

Over the years I've found that I get the fastest kills when the bullet expands FAST, then penetrates deeply, going on through leaving an exit hole. Most lung shot animals run "at least" a little ways...

That's what makes the NP's shine, no pedals to slow the bullet down, retarding deep penetration. The full diameter shank really goes deep, almost always exiting and that's what I want.

As a bullet mfg'er, I have tested thousands of bullets, my own and many other brands, many in live animals under hunting conditions, and that's been my findings. Water jugs, 55gallon bbls, phone books ect., isn't the same as live animals, at least that also has been my findings.

I'm not into any of that "stuff" anymore and I'm glad to be away from it and put it behind me, even though I still have most of my swage press' ect...

SR

 

[JimR]

I had 15 harvested off my land, so I can grow beans again & there are another five moving in to replace them.

My farmer friend has deer issues too.

 

[MustangMike]

It is not just my personal testing ... Field and Stream recently tested 5 high performance bullets and at 150 yds the Barnes copper bullet had the greatest expanded diameter and the deepest penetration.

I presume they used ballistic gelatin.

It did not do well at 800 yds, but I don't hunt that distance.

 

[North by Northwest]

It is not just my personal testing ... Field and Stream recently tested 5 high performance bullets and at 150 yds the Barnes copper bullet had the greatest expanded diameter and the deepest penetration.

I presume they used ballistic gelatin.

It did not do well at 800 yds, but I don't hunt that distance.

500 yds is the longest kill I have had to date on a Mule Deer Stag with a tripod .

 

[North by Northwest]

Over the years I've found that I get the fastest kills when the bullet expands FAST, then penetrates deeply, going on through leaving an exit hole. Most lung shot animals run "at least" a little ways...

That's what makes the NP's shine, no pedals to slow the bullet down, retarding deep penetration. The full diameter shank really goes deep, almost always exiting and that's what I want.

As a bullet mfg'er, I have tested thousands of bullets, my own and many other brands, many in live animals under hunting conditions, and that's been my findings. Water jugs, 55gallon bbls, phone books ect., isn't the same as live animals, at least that also has been my findings.

I'm not into any of that "stuff" anymore and I'm glad to be away from it and put it behind me, even though I still have most of my swage press' ect...

SR

Yeah , pedals would disintegrate under the extreme pressure of the .378 lol.

 

[MustangMike]

You should try them sometime and see, you may be surprised. They are pretty rugged.

My 300 Win Mag sends the 168 grain bullets about the same velocity you would send a 200 grain bullet, so I don't see why they would not work for you.