Big Bullets???

[whitworth]

You can never count on the perfect shot, so you load for the worst case scenario -- that has been my credo for a long time. What will it hurt to carry a cylinder full of 320 grainers instead of 240s? Sorry, maybe it's just the boy scout (Marine -- same thing ;D) in me that would rather always be "loaded for bear" - for lack of a better expression.

Markbo -- I wasn't comparing expanding bullets to harcast, but rather using that anecdote as an example of an experience that was a tipping point for me with regards to using heavy hardcast bullets.

[Len]

Nov 6, 2009 7:09:10 GMT -5 whitworth said:

You can never count on the perfect shot, so you load for the worst case scenario -- that has been my credo for a long time. What will it hurt to carry a cylinder full of 320 grainers instead of 240s? Sorry, maybe it's just the boy scout (Marine -- same thing ;D) in me that wuld rather always be "loaded for bear" - for lack of a better expression.

WHY NOT! " ALWAYS BE PREPARED"

[the priest]

you ARE prepared. you just don't know it. when you guys go for a walk in the woods do you take a flamethrower to start fires, take snow shoes in case an inch falls on you, take a canoe to ford a brook, or maybe a chainsaw to lop off those few offending 1/4" branches when you're in your blind? the point has been made. everyone can obviously use what they want but the point has been made. and for the LAST TIME this thread was never to have been about penetration!!! that has been done to death!

[Len]

Oct 28, 2009 10:43:51 GMT -5 the priest said:

Here's one that should to elicit a stoning,... ;D

For those of you who shoot the really heavy heavies (bullets) in your handguns,.....regardless of caliber,....why?

What was the heaviest Keith ever used in his handguns?

What advantages are there to compensate for the extra recoil and use of extra lead in that one shot? (semi-rhetorical)

Who here is going to shoot something that actually NEEDS the extra weight that a standard, hard cast bullet would be a disadvantage?

Has this become the newest part of the newest fad? HUGE handguns that shoot HUGE bullets?? It seems to me the bullets just keep getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger,........and,.....

Not about penetration? in your 1st post you asked why? Penetration is one of the why's.

[henrybowman]

Oct 28, 2009 11:59:52 GMT -5 TEXASFIVEGUN said:

This is for me your millage may vary.

Heavy for caliber bullets

1 - Shoot better in my guns especially at long range.

2 - Are easier to make shoot well and need less load development
than light bullets most of the time.

3 - Penetrate better so I can take a reverse brain shot if I need to.

4 - They kick slower and with less of a sharp jab than a light bullet at the same
power level.

5 - Cast bullets are at there best around 1,200 FPS and my guns easily reach
that with heavy for caliber bullets.

6 - I can get more power with less leading from heavy bullets because of
lower velocity.

7 - You get allot louder "CLANG" from a steel gong with them especially at
long range.

8 - I believe they will be less affected by small brush, twigs, and grass than a
light bullet.

9 - I know a hog hiding behind a small tree is still in danger of my heavy bullets.

10 - I can shoot subsonic to save my ears when hunting and still have more than
enough power for the job.

Good list there 5 Gunner. Couldnt have said it better myself

[the priest]

I give up.

[bigmuddy]

Oh don't give up just when its gettin' good!

I guess the point is, sometimes we use more bullet than we need, but then isn't that better than not using enough? (And again, I am sure you right when you said we ARE using enough and don't know it sometimes)

BTW, I like the flame thrower idea. I could have used one a couple weeks ago with the soaking wet wood I had for a cook fire. ;D

[the priest]

nope. i'm done. i've been beaten into submission. you guys win. i feel like i'm talking to a wall. etc. uncle.

[gjn]

"Here's one that should to elicit a stoning,... "

Well you seem to have an inkling as to what you were starting so merely being beaten into submission isn't as bad as it could have been. I expect to see you post a receipt for a 44 cal. LBT mold casting a 525 grain WFN-GC's for your 44 special or I am going to post how well my 41 cal 425 WFN penetrates.

[the priest]

Truth be told I'm tired of having it go back to the same redundant tunnel vision theme everytime someone brings up cast bullets, hard cast bullets, or heavy bullets. I started saying better penetration was a given back on page two I think. Maybe it was page one. Either way some people couldn't digest it and having an uncommon discussion about a common subject became impossible. There are a few more things to talk about here but things keep getting derailed. So,......I give. I'm done trying.

[Markbo]

Nov 6, 2009 20:42:17 GMT -5 the priest said:

....Either way some people couldn't digest it and having an uncommon discussion about a common subject became impossible. There are a few more things to talk about here but things keep getting derailed. So,......I give. I'm done trying.

And here I thought it was just me!

[mtnbkr]

I've been watching this thread and can't figure out the issue or what else there is to discuss that isn't being discussed. It seems a pretty simple subject. In the end, the decision is based on personal preference and nothing else.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems some people like heavy bullets even though "normal" bullets in big bore handguns generally deliver all the penetration necessary. Heavy bullets at moderate velocities result in less, or at least less painful, recoil than lighter bullets at high velocity. Heavy bullet, moderate velocity loads generally use less powder than normal bullets at high velocity. Sometimes heavy bullets are more accurate than lighter ones. Sometimes they aren't.

I'm still trying to figure out why it matters.

Chris

[joeb4065]

I agree.....I went through the exercise when I got my Accusport Bisley 45. Wanted to make that beast roar, and did so, kicked like a mule, and I couldn't hit much. Played with that for a while, and came to the conclusion that hitting something with a less powerful load is better than missing with a blaster.

so, now I shoot a 270 Keith over a moderate load of HS6, and can almost one hole em. Is much more fun. Have decided to leave the rifles in the safe, and am only taking the 45 to the stand, will get a deer eventually. I have no doubt that if I can hit em behind the shoulder, they will go down.

Joe