25 caliber 110 grain bullet comparisons

[20 TAC]

I've never recovered a Ballistic Tip.

As far as the Berger VLD is concerned, I've only recovered the jacket. Usually under the offside hide.
They perform as they are advertised. Go in 1-3" and rapidly expand. Turns lungs and heart in goo.
I've only lost about a quarter sized piece of meat on both sides of the rib cage.

Here's a thought.

If the animal is dead, what difference does the recovered bullet weight matter?

I knew this question would surface at some point, and a fair question. However, the only 25 caliber bullet I've used to date to harvest deer has been the 110 Accubond, and my experiences of quick one-shot kills have not mirrored the experiences of those either using the Accubond or the 25-06 cartridge. I'm just trying to apply due diligence in bullet selection to ensure a quick, humane kill without need of tracking the animal the distances I've had to in the past. If there's a better bullet, I want to try it. And I respect the opinions and experiences of folks on this forum. But your question is fair...

 

[Gary in MD]

I knew this question would surface at some point, and a fair question. However, the only 25 caliber bullet I've used to date to harvest deer has been the 110 Accubond, and my experiences of quick one-shot kills have not mirrored the experiences of those either using the Accubond or the 25-06 cartridge. I'm just trying to apply due diligence in bullet selection to ensure a quick, humane kill without need of tracking the animal the distances I've had to in the past. If there's a better bullet, I want to try it. And I respect the opinions and experiences of folks on this forum. But your question is fair...

Ahaaaa
Now we’re getting more to the point as opposed to what I got from your OP.
Quick one shot kills & with not much tracking.
Without discussing shots to the CNS, then I’d lean on the 100 or 115 ballistic tips or the 115 Berger.

 

[DonW]

I've never recovered a Ballistic Tip.

As far as the Berger VLD is concerned, I've only recovered the jacket. Usually under the offside hide.
They perform as they are advertised. Go in 1-3" and rapidly expand. Turns lungs and heart in goo.
I've only lost about a quarter sized piece of meat on both sides of the rib cage.

Here's a thought.

If the animal is dead, what difference does the recovered bullet weight matter?

I would much rather have this scenario that an exit hole knowing a large portion of the bullet made it to the exit. There is a lot more terminal damage and shock to the tissues when it explodes inside.

 

[choprzrul]

25 prc be intriguing too

Looks like 70+ grains of H4350 in a 257 Wby will get to 3900.

I can't emphasize enough how impressed I am with those little Hammers for terminal performance on deer. My tracking skills are drastically diminishing due to lack of use....

 

[Orr89rocz]

Looks like 70+ grains of H4350 in a 257 Wby will get to 3900.

I can't emphasize enough how impressed I am with those little Hammers for terminal performance on deer. My tracking skills are drastically diminishing due to lack of use....

I may try them. Right now i am looking to try a 80 gr ttsx in my 257 bob at 3530. I have a 95 ttsx in my 6.8 western goin 3650. I want to see how they do. The whole speed kills thing… i know 400 gr soft points at 2100 lays them down in my 458 lol

 

[std7mag]

I would much rather have this scenario that an exit hole knowing a large portion of the bullet made it to the exit. There is a lot more terminal damage and shock to the tissues when it explodes inside.

Your reply kinda confused me.

So you would rather have a bullet that holds together and creates an exit wound?
That being the case, the Ballistic Tip is what you are looking for.
I've never recovered one from any cartridge from 243 Win through 30-06.
So that covers 6mm, 25 cal, 270, 7mm, 30 cal.
And with a well placed shot to the vitals, I have yet to see a deer go further than 20-30 yards.

You can add the 117gr Hornady SST (25 cal)to that. For some unknown reason they hold together better than any of the other SSTs that I've shot.

Really do not over look the Berger VLD, in any caliber.

413 yards (ranged) with the 140gr VLD out of my 7mm-08AI doe only went 20 yards.
Only had an entrance hole.
Blood freak'n everywhere!!
Jacket under off side hide.
Both lungs destroyed. Heart, what was left, didn't resemble muscle anymore.
Only lost about the size of quarter on both sides of the ribcage of meat.

Daughter's first buck was with my Ruger 77 MKII in 257 Roberts. Using the 115gr Berger VLD.
Distance about 60-70 yards.
"He flinched, kinda puffed up and went straight legged then fell over."
Again, both lungs and heart destroyed. Jacket under off side hide.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I have not used this bullet, but the 117 Sierra Gameking is supposed to be very accurate and a good bullet for hunting. not too far above 110.

 

[20 TAC]

Here is the 110 Accubond from the last deer I chose to shoot with this bullet. 25-06, 70 yards broadside. 73 grains retained weight, maximum expansion of .440”. Is this what others experience?
Yes, it was indeed recovered from a dead animal, but given the distance I had to trail the animal it gives me pause to continue wanting to use if there are better options through today’s bullet offerings. I’m not hung up on using a bullet that creates a massive exit wound, but would prefer something that would expand larger than this especially if it’s going to stay inside the deer.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

I've all but switched all my hunting loads to Barnes. I've had a much better bang/flop rate at all distances than that of when I used accubonds, Ballistic tips, gamekings or partitions. I've also found more success with the lighter Barnes option for caliber. Example the 100gr worked better then the 115 in the and caliber for kills. The 150s beat the 168 or heavier.... etc.

 

[MooseHunter]

That Accubond looks like text book expansion. I have shot the 120 Speer Boat Tail (1410)
in two 25 06 since the 80s One custom with Shilen barrel. The other box stock Remington 700.
Most deer fall over where they stand out to 300 yds. An antelope at 450 to about three leaps and collapsed. The Speer had the highest BC I could find back then. Now " the times they are a changin". I too am looking at Mono or Copper bullets and higher BCs. The Bergers are the highest I see. I have some experience with ELDX limited to 150 yd shots on PA whitetail which are not known to be gigantic creatures. Accuracy was excellent. One shot kills DRT as they say. The problem if it is one is the exit wound was the size of a silver dollar or much larger than what I have seen with the Speers or the Partition's.
So I have had built a 25 06 with 7 twist barrel. The idea was to shoot high BC bullets. At the same time I am hearing good things about the Copper bullets. Getting away from lead in meat that I intend to eat appeals to me also. What is interesting to see is the folks using copper are shooting on the lighter for caliber bullets. So I am experimenting with Hammers in this 25 06 and 338 06. Not to distract from the theory of this thread but to point out a common theme with folks recommending their favorite bullet in various caliber. I have heard this mentioned of Barnes bullets as well. At this point I am experimenting with loads and have not shot anything but paper. That will change a deer season approaches So far the paper has shown outstanding accuracy

 

[MooseHunter]

P.S I forgot to mention shooting Swift 100gr Scirocco in the 10 twist guns. Accuracy was excellent. A few crop damage deer in the 250 to 300 yd range. Dropped where they stood. Exit holes looked like what I have seen with Speers. This is more in line with options to 110 Accubonds which I have not tried

 

[long40shot]

I run the 110eld-x out of a 257bob ai. Very accurate and I have had excellent results on kansas whitetails.

 

[Adam in WI]

I was hesitant to try Bergers given their reputation for disintegration. Many of my shots can be 30 yards or 300. I shot 3 last year with the 6.5 135 Classic Hunters at 3100 fps. I've never had deer drop that fast. Lights out, rug pull, or whatever figure of speech you care to use. The Bergers did it.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I was hesitant to try Bergers given their reputation for disintegration. Many of my shots can be 30 yards or 300. I shot 3 last year with the 6.5 135 Classic Hunters at 3100 fps. I've never had deer drop that fast. Lights out, rug pull, or whatever figure of speech you care to use. The Bergers did it.

Where did you hit them? I am nervous about small caliber small bullet bergers but the 30 cal and heavier 7mm have been good for me

 

[Adam in WI]

Where did you hit them? I am nervous about small caliber small bullet bergers but the 30 cal and heavier 7mm have been good for me

Heart/lung hits. And I agree about being nervous about where they're directed. I'd pick a tougher bullet if there was a big trophy in the area and I wanted any angle opportunities; but for culling hay field does I don't see how it could be any better.