When it comes to choosing bullets for big game, I’m generally a “if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it” type of hunter. For deer-sized game, I choose a soft-point lead bullet such as the Federal Power-Shok, Remington Core-Lokt or Winchester Deer Season XP. For larger game, where deeper penetration and more bullet weight retention is desired, I prefer bonded bullets such as the Federal Swift Scirocco II tested here. And when hunting areas where lead bullets are prohibited, I choose an all-copper option such as the Barnes TTSX (Tipped Triple-Shock X) tested here.
In the 10-minute YouTube video below from Vortex Nation, the hosts use a high-speed camera (80,000 frames per second!) to examine super-slow motion footage of the three most common big-game bullet types — cup-and-core, bonded and monolithic. The .308 Win. bullets are shot into ballistic gel from a bolt-action rifle.
This comparison reveals expansion, penetration and terminal performance to help hunters understand which of the three primary big-game bullet designs is best for their needs. That said, one topic that isn’t discussed in the video but I think is worth mentioning is cost.
For example, a box of Winchester Deer Season XP (20 rounds of .308 Win.; soft-point lead) costs approximately $40; a box of Federal Swift Scirocco II (bonded) is about $60; and a box of Barnes TTSX (monolithic/all copper) is about $65.
Of course, the most important consideration when choosing ammunition is accuracy. Fact: Your rifle doesn’t care what your ammo costs. In other words, don’t be surprised if your rifle shoots the least-expensive bullets the most accurately. Time at the bench is critical to determine how well your rifle shoots various options within each of these three bullet categories.
