05-14-2020, 04:00 PM
For target shooting, I've found the 107 SMK actually to be my favorite bullet, and just got through pounding a 1000 yard Gong with those things yesterday, shot after shot. It has a very sleek profile, so a good BC. Though from what I read, it's game performance isn't really so good - as such wasn't its design. Anyway, I could never get heavier bullets to shoot as well - just me I guess. Others have their favorites, but for me, I use 107 SMK's as my benchmark Grendel bullet now.
For game - I haven't taken any yet, but based on DNS's video's, the 90 TNT is tough to beat on hogs. And I suppose the 123 SST is probably the best baseline general purpose for deer or such, based on the marketing - but no first-hand experience.
I have some 129 SSTs I got for cheap. Some people really like 129's, and I even have some of the endorsed Nosler 129's, designed to expand at low velocity. But still, with 129's, I've found the velocity never really gets up there, especially in a shorter BBL, and so I worry about it having a more excessive arc of fire (i.e. easier to miss if not exactly the distance you zero'd). I worry about as effective of expansion, since the bullet requires velocity upon impact, to perform, and it's not so easy getting heavies like 129's up to faster speed; at least just based on the calculators. When it comes to expansion, there's the bullet expansion itself (important), and there's also the hydraulic expansion of just the energy dump, which is also important, and that takes FPS to do well.
Here's a graphic showing the expansion of a different caliber, but indicitave, as a function of velocity:
![[Image: a-frame-heavy-rifle-terminal-performance...9129843189]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1518/5178/t/1/assets/a-frame-heavy-rifle-terminal-performance.png?8659776699129843189)
Sure, the 1650 fps end one passed the threshold of "expanding", but.. yea.
For game - I haven't taken any yet, but based on DNS's video's, the 90 TNT is tough to beat on hogs. And I suppose the 123 SST is probably the best baseline general purpose for deer or such, based on the marketing - but no first-hand experience.
I have some 129 SSTs I got for cheap. Some people really like 129's, and I even have some of the endorsed Nosler 129's, designed to expand at low velocity. But still, with 129's, I've found the velocity never really gets up there, especially in a shorter BBL, and so I worry about it having a more excessive arc of fire (i.e. easier to miss if not exactly the distance you zero'd). I worry about as effective of expansion, since the bullet requires velocity upon impact, to perform, and it's not so easy getting heavies like 129's up to faster speed; at least just based on the calculators. When it comes to expansion, there's the bullet expansion itself (important), and there's also the hydraulic expansion of just the energy dump, which is also important, and that takes FPS to do well.
Here's a graphic showing the expansion of a different caliber, but indicitave, as a function of velocity:
Sure, the 1650 fps end one passed the threshold of "expanding", but.. yea.