Monolithics vs Lead core (non bonded)

[Alberta Bigbore]

Really starting to think ill start retracting my statments as to not liking monolithics.
Ive used ttsx and Cx, all good results, no, didnt tip over anything off its feet, but they didnt go far, generally dropped a few under 30 yards or less away. I honestly think the CX mushrooms with more pedals and flatter surface.

Maybe some of us expect too much when shooting an animal thats 100 to 1200 pounds, with a tiny little light peice of copper. Ill throw myself under that bus

After shooting the other day on private land into a sandy back stop, i actually recovered some bullets. And made me wonder if i really want a bullet known to blow up to fly through the air at an animal of a lifetime

My 300wby is absolutley in love with Barnes 180gr TTSX. Like ridiculous. Had some fun , popped a few rounds just to say I did
While breaking in the barrel on the Mark V 7 mag, i recovered some bullets in the sand as well from both Norma Whitetail 150gr and Hornady ELD-X 162gr. I know its sand and not flesh, but wow did the TTSX hold up, imagine hitting every bone in a mooses body, youd have zero worry.

100yds, 180gr ttsx, 300wby wet sand








100yds, 162 gr ELD-X, 7mmrememag wet sand


free upload pic




100yds, 150gr Norma Whitetail, 7mmremmag wet sand







My most violent DRT moose kill was with an ELD-X 180gr out if a .300wm. Over 500 yards. But what if i hit heavy bone on entry, would i have been so lucky? I think ill give monolithics a good go. They are rarely recovered. And two holes is better than one, right?

These are the only two monolithics ive ever recovered

TTSX









Cx
















If you had to use the same bullet for the rest of your life, even if they all cost the same. What would it be? 😁


To be fair, ive used a few bonded bullets as well, and Partitions. And id use a Nosler Partition if any of my rifles liked factory offerings. But ill cross that bridge when i come to it and finish my reloading room and finish setting up. Ive got about 200pc count each in 30cal, .284/7mm, and .277 of Nosler Partitions, dying to get loaded.






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[kingrat]

Mine would be the barnes lrx. It's the ttsx but opens easier. Everything from deer to moose in all our families guns and calibers.

[Twisted Canuck]

I've had good luck with Partitions and TTSX over the years. The 200 gr Trophy Bonded Tip I'm using in my .338 Federal is like a cross between those. I recovered one from my elk last year after a quartering shot, in front of shoulder, through chest cavity, broke last rib on off side and stopped on hide. Retained 190 grains, 95%, and expanded perfectly to .652"

That works for me, and I get very good accuracy with them. Glad I bought 12 boxes of same lot#. Set for life for hunting.

[sns2]

Boy, that’s a hard choice. I have had stellar success with Partitions, Barnes TTSX, Accubonds, and recently Trophy Bonded Tips. As a rule of thumb, no matter the bullet, including cup and core, if they end up in the right spot, the animal falls over in short order. If they end up in the wrong spot, generally things don’t end quite as well. Can never go wrong with a stout bullet. Sometimes the only shot is one that necessitates getting through some carcass and breaking bone. Cheap insurance I say.

[Dick284]

You gotta know the limitations of the bullets you are using, the 2700 fps impact velocity metric for cup/core bullets is darn hard to refute…..

I’m getting more and more sold on the Barnes LRX offerings as I dabble more and more with them, but when you’ve stocked up hard with bullets like Partition’s, Interlock’s and Ballistic Tips(yes I said it) it’s hard to justify messing with proven loads.

[J.B.]

Originally Posted by J.B.

https://youtu.be/gopZ5gS1NdY?si=9VbX56e6hbFT4Lzw

https://youtu.be/bZoBhm81fx0?si=f06HLtQoMYEMAlIV

https://youtu.be/ShJed8XNjr8?si=hLmsm-6kVDsr9mRr

For the podcast guys, this series on cartridge/bullet selection was an intriguing listen to me. Can be found on any platform, i just copied youtube links.

Info from a guy who has literally been on thousands of kills, if you are weighing the merits of copper vs lead, cup and core performance on bone ect. give it a listen. Tons of good info, I’ve listened to all 3 episodes twice already…

[brewster29]

If you had to use the same bullet for the rest of your life, even if they all cost the same. What would it be? 😁

I quit using conventional bullets around 1989. For many years I was a fan of partitions and Accubonds. Last eight years I have used some TTSX and more LRX. The four LRX I have recovered (all from 6 point bull elk) all look exactly like the advertisement. Ranges are from 30 to 400 yards.

[brewster29]

[QUOTE=brewster29;4758997]If you had to use the same bullet for the rest of your life, even if they all cost the same. What would it be? 😁

I quit using conventional bullets around 1989. For many years I was a fan of partitions and Accubonds. Last eight years I have used some TTSX and more LRX. The four LRX I have recovered (all from 6 point bull elk) all look exactly like the advertisement. Ranges are from 30 to 400 yards. I can’t see any reason not to use them forever. /QUOTE]

[Smokinyotes]

That’s a tough question but I can tell you what it wouldn’t be is a ELDX.

[Pathfinder76]

Shot a coyote face on this morning with a monolithic bullet. I cannot begin to understand why people think they don’t expand or cause damage.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Shot a coyote face on this morning with a monolithic bullet. I cannot begin to understand why people think they don’t expand or cause damage.

The problem is hunters think they need 180 grain 30 cals in their 30-06 to kill anything, then run those 180’s at a dismal 2600 fps, and expect carnage like a cup and core bullet would give on a 250 or 300 yard shot. TSX/TTSX need ~2000 fps for good expansion.

Nobody gets that a cup and core bullet even a Partition is designed to give 65% weight retention so in effect a 180 may only result in a bullet weighing somewhere around 120 grains when all is said and done. While a Monolithics will come in closer to 100% weight retention.

The reality being you can shed 20-25% of bullet weight in a monolithic bullet and expect similar on game performance to a cup/core bullet. So if you like 180’s in your 30/06, try some 150’s in a monolithic……Barnes talked to this in their earlier reloading manuals, but we all know nobody reads the front chapters in a reloading manual.

So much maligning of Ballistic Tips and Gamekings on the interweb for on game performance, yet the Berger and ELD fanboys champion rapid expansion and “energy dump” it follows zero logic frankly….

[JD848]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Shot a coyote face on this morning with a monolithic bullet. I cannot begin to understand why people think they don’t expand or cause damage.

What in hell is this, what does one person on this planet benefit from a splat road kill scent . Nothing.

You can shot a yote in the face with the worst bullet out there in 7mm RM and make this mess, is this one of your favorite yearly pics .

Plenty of nice pics in the hunting section, but you never comment on there great hunt or there skill or wish them the best in there hunt , none that I have seen yet you post this crap that you think is bullet power . I wouldn't photo that if you paid me let alone post it .

Most guys who take bullets seriously do know they work ,but some others don't feel the need to over qualify there choice specially with BS pics of a bloody mess of whatever . very weird ,you posted it god only knows why. Maybe take out your favorite knife and put it besides these enema you created .