“Match” bullets vs others types - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Coacheddy · 01-13-2021, 10:04 PM

Need some teaching.

I am learning about different bullet types.

I was at Academy today and they had Hornady 270 Match and Hornady 270 SST.

My impression was “match” bullets were more for target shooting.....and the SST seems to be a better hunting round.

The match bullet is a boat tail hollow point with cannelure.

What are the differences? Are the match bullets ok to hunt with?

ctom87 · 01-13-2021, 10:10 PM

That is my understanding. Had a pas through on a 50 lbs boar and did not go through on a buck I shot this year. In for the experts answers.

medicineman · 01-13-2021, 10:20 PM

You are correct. Certain bullets for certain things.
Bullets vary greatly and people and guns and loads etc all have preferences. Stick with a good hunting Bullet in the weight of your choice depending on caliber and game.
It’s a never ending subject, but you need a bullet made to expand for hunting.
Good Hunting

ctom87 · 01-13-2021, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicineman

You are correct. Certain bullets for certain things.
Bullets vary greatly and people and guns and loads etc all have preferences. Stick with a good hunting Bullet in the weight of your choice depending on caliber and game.
It’s a never ending subject, but you need a bullet made to expand for hunting.
Good Hunting

Question for you. Do you know the difference between what he is talking about as far as drop? For instance if I was zeroed at 100 yds on my Hornady Black ELD M and decided to switch to the SST... How far of is my zero? When does it become significant if off slightly at 100? Same manufacturer, same grain...

Capt.Bryan · 01-13-2021, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctom87

Question for you. Do you know the difference between what he is talking about as far as drop? For instance if I was zeroed at 100 yds on my Hornady Black ELD M and decided to switch to the SST... How far of is my zero? When does it become significant if off slightly at 100? Same manufacturer, same grain...

Check zero everytime you change mfg, weight and or bullet style.

M16 · 01-13-2021, 10:41 PM

It depends. Some match bullets are great for hunting and some are horrible. Unfortunately you never know until you actually use them on game. It’s less risky to use bullets made specifically for hunting.

sboudreaux · 01-13-2021, 10:43 PM

For my .260 I originally loaded with eld-m’s and got super good accuracy so I used it on game with no issues. Switched to eld-x and can’t tell much difference on the game but I’m not shooting quite as good groups. The match bullets are designed for target shooting but I believe they are proficient hunting bullets depending on where you shoot the animal. There’s a thread on here speaking to this very point.

Low Fence · 01-13-2021, 10:47 PM

In my Grendel
I can shoot “match” 1.25” or better
Same weight and manufacture in SST is around a 9” group. Awful

Shot a few pigs with “match” and every one fragmented BAD... but we’re at close range (all inside 50)
Shot 1 pig in shoulder... ran off and came right back 20 minutes later (thought I missed). Second dropped it, both shots were less than 3”. Recovered bullets and it was like tin foil inside the body

Another pig hit shoulder and exited same leg above knee

Another small pig hit in guts and had 2 exits

They all killed but I expected/wanted more

The SST is proven... my gun just don’t like them at all for some reason

Low Fence · 01-13-2021, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctom87

Question for you. Do you know the difference between what he is talking about as far as drop? For instance if I was zeroed at 100 yds on my Hornady Black ELD M and decided to switch to the SST... How far of is my zero? When does it become significant if off slightly at 100? Same manufacturer, same grain...

My gun shoots those 2 a world apart... but will shoot BLACK (123gr) and fusion (120) within an inch ( Black actually straight high)

mzurovec · 01-13-2021, 11:00 PM

I'm going to make some broad generalizations here based on my experience. Generally match bullets have a thin copper jacket and are built for aerodynamics. Hunting bullets are designed for expansion/weight retention and penetration, whether through bone or soft tissue, with aerodynamics also being a consideration.

Plenty of people kill a lot of critters with match bullets and I'm not knocking anybody for that (I've killed with them too). In my experience they either poke a pencil hole or nearly disintegrate on impact (bone is a problem). I care the most about penetration/expansion for a good wound channel, and don't like to shoot match bullets at game. That said, I've killed 3 does this year with my 6.5 PRC with the 147gr ELD-M, and while they all were dead within 30 yards the performance was not very impressive. That was conclusive enough for me to shelve them.

If you're looking for a hunting bullet, something bonded or a monolithic option are the best ways to go in my mind. Regardless of where you hit, those are gonna keep going and, assuming you have enough juice, are going to have an exit wound which to me is valuable. Basically the same reason I shoot a 550 gr arrow. Good luck!

rferg84 · 01-13-2021, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctom87

Question for you. Do you know the difference between what he is talking about as far as drop? For instance if I was zeroed at 100 yds on my Hornady Black ELD M and decided to switch to the SST... How far of is my zero? When does it become significant if off slightly at 100? Same manufacturer, same grain...

So my Creedmoor for example...

143gr ELD-X and the 140gr ELD Match have the same zero. I only know that though because I've personally taken to the range and checked. But since I can't find either of them, it's moot.

The SST is a good hunting round. I have a few boxes of it I will reload when I can find powder.

RifleBowPistol · 01-13-2021, 11:46 PM

My one experience with trying match bullets one deer was not great. I had been blowing large craters in deer with my 7mm Rem. Mag. I found some 7mm Match bullets, probably the ones I just sold. I shot a buck, through the heart, at about 100 yards, maybe a little father. Was not a long shot, that I remember. The shot was perfect, the buck ran, more constantly jumping over a bunch of sage brush. He made it about forty yards and then did a nose dive into the mud. Had it not been the situation, that it was. He probably would have been very hard to find.

There was zero to very little blood, very small hole and then then same thing for a exit hole. Since he had a small hole hole through his heart, so he did die quickly. Had he not been hurdling one sage bush after another, and had flat ground, he would have gotten a lot farther, before he went down. Then had he ran off into some thick brush, it would have been a lot harder to find him.

Bottom line, I accomplished what I was trying to do, of reducing the damage my 7mm Mag., was doing to deer. But I reduced the damage a bit more than I wanted to, enough so, I never tried that again.

medicineman · 01-14-2021, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctom87

Question for you. Do you know the difference between what he is talking about as far as drop? For instance if I was zeroed at 100 yds on my Hornady Black ELD M and decided to switch to the SST... How far of is my zero? When does it become significant if off slightly at 100? Same manufacturer, same grain...

I don’t see in his original post where he asked about drop!
But I know!!!!
Thought the question was match Bullet ok for hunting Bullet.

Sorry for confusion, lead us onward.

ctom87 · 01-14-2021, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicineman

I don’t see in his original post where he asked about drop!

But I know!!!!

Thought the question was match Bullet ok for hunting Bullet.

Sorry for confusion, lead us onward.

He didn't, but in hijacking his thread I felt that a subsequent question may come up. I was hoping to gain my own knowledge well still hoping that my question would continue aiding OP in his quest for information in regards to bullets.

Sorry op for hijacking. My intent was that you may find the information dually useful.

Sent from my BLA-L29 using Tapatalk

Coacheddy · 01-14-2021, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctom87

He didn't, but in hijacking his thread I felt that a subsequent question may come up. I was hoping to gain my own knowledge well still hoping that my question would continue aiding OP in his quest for information in regards to bullets.

Sorry op for hijacking. My intent was that you may find the information dually useful.

Sent from my BLA-L29 using Tapatalk

No worries. I did learn something. I had assumed very little difference in drop for same weight bullets,...assuming velocity was similar. Now I know that can be an issue.

BarW · 01-14-2021, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coacheddy

No worries. I did learn something. I had assumed very little difference in drop for same weight bullets,...assuming velocity was similar. Now I know that can be an issue.

Different bullets from the same manufacturer may be same weight but often use different powder which causes a different trajectory.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

TTUgrad08 · 01-14-2021, 12:48 AM

Match=paper targets
Hunting=live targets

If match ammo is literally all you have then soot in the ribs.

lglidewell · 01-14-2021, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M16

It depends. Some match bullets are great for hunting and some are horrible. Unfortunately you never know until you actually use them on game. It’s less risky to use bullets made specifically for hunting.

x2

I shoot Hornady Black 123gr in my 12” SBR 6.5 Grendel. It does a heck of a number on 175 lb whitetail bucks at 210yds. Have shot a load of big pigs with it as well.

trophy8 · 01-14-2021, 06:12 AM

As has been stated, lots of match bullets have thinner jackets and the core isn’t bonded to the jacket.

However, some of them kill like lightning. You have to be able to place them correctly.
ELDM has more weight up front than the ELDX. Outside dimensions are the same between the 143 eldx and the 147 ELDM.

Berger bullets kill deer like God himself put them down. I don’t get many exits at closer ranges. At distance they perform more like an accubond for me. I’m speaking of the VLD hunting Bullet.

I’ve shot animals with all kinds of bullets. I don’t mind target bullets until it comes to big critters. Or things like axis that are notorious for not leaving blood trails. IF I shoot something bigger with a target Bullet I take a quartering away or frontal shot and blow up the vitals. They usually go in and explode. Rarely will you get an exit and no blood if they run much. But they more often than not go down like they got hit by lightning. If you pull the shot then good luck lol.

My biggest deer body wise that I killed this year I decided to test a 108 grain hornady ELDM in a 6 creed. Quartering to me. Put it right on the point of the shoulder facing me. Aiming for an exit behind the offside shoulder. Drill him. It actually exited. But he ran 20-30 yards and fell over. No blood trail.

Shot some others quartering away and it was instant lights out. No exit and bullet grenaded so hard it never hit the rib cage on the offside. Lungs blown to bits.

Target bullets kill great IF you hit them just right.

Hunting bullets and especially something built like an accubond or partition allow you to take hard angle shots and blow through heavy bone.

bearintex · 01-14-2021, 09:07 AM

I shot 2 deer opening weekend with the 147 ELDm out of my 6.5CM. Handloads leaving the barrel at 2650ish. Relatively close shots, both under 100 yards. Almost identical shots, both perfectly broadside, facing left. Straight up the front leg, 40% up the body. First one did an about face, ran into the brush and crashed 40 yards later. I could see the blood pouring out the exit when he turned. The second one mule kicked, and ran straight ahead 35-40 yards and crashed. Both left blood trails Ray Charles could have followed at a dead run. Chunks of lung along the way. I did not open the chest cavity when I cleaned them. Best part was there wasn't one ounce of lost meat in the front shoulders.

bowhuntz · 01-14-2021, 09:14 AM

I shot an axis and a whitetail buck with my 6.5 PRC using the ELDM. (mainly because that was all I could find to buy)

Axis went 10 yards, buck fell within 20 yards.

Jason Fry · 01-14-2021, 10:27 AM

We've killed a pig or two and a couple of deer with the Hornady/Frontier 75 gr match HP 5.56 out of my AR. No complaints.

sierracharlie338 · 01-14-2021, 10:42 AM

I load my rifles for accuracy if that means a target bullet is what I go with, then so be it. I have killed more critters, from varmints to deer, with match bullets than I have "hunting" bullets if I had to guess or at least 50/50.

That being said, there are certain occasions where I will find a second load with a heavier constructed bullet, such as an accubond. A trophy elk hunt, moose, caribou, etc. would be some of those instances.

01-13-2021, 10:04 PM	#1
Coacheddy Ten Point Join Date: May 2014 Location: Conroe Hunt In: East Texas & 1 outside TX	“Match” bullets vs others types Need some teaching. I am learning about different bullet types. I was at Academy today and they had Hornady 270 Match and Hornady 270 SST. My impression was “match” bullets were more for target shooting.....and the SST seems to be a better hunting round. The match bullet is a boat tail hollow point with cannelure. What are the differences? Are the match bullets ok to hunt with?

01-13-2021, 11:00 PM	#10
mzurovec Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Liberty Hill Hunt In: Burnet	I'm going to make some broad generalizations here based on my experience. Generally match bullets have a thin copper jacket and are built for aerodynamics. Hunting bullets are designed for expansion/weight retention and penetration, whether through bone or soft tissue, with aerodynamics also being a consideration. Plenty of people kill a lot of critters with match bullets and I'm not knocking anybody for that (I've killed with them too). In my experience they either poke a pencil hole or nearly disintegrate on impact (bone is a problem). I care the most about penetration/expansion for a good wound channel, and don't like to shoot match bullets at game. That said, I've killed 3 does this year with my 6.5 PRC with the 147gr ELD-M, and while they all were dead within 30 yards the performance was not very impressive. That was conclusive enough for me to shelve them. If you're looking for a hunting bullet, something bonded or a monolithic option are the best ways to go in my mind. Regardless of where you hit, those are gonna keep going and, assuming you have enough juice, are going to have an exit wound which to me is valuable. Basically the same reason I shoot a 550 gr arrow. Good luck! Last edited by mzurovec; 01-13-2021 at 11:09 PM.

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01-13-2021, 10:10 PM	#2
ctom87 Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Fort Worth Hunt In: Searching.	That is my understanding. Had a pas through on a 50 lbs boar and did not go through on a buck I shot this year. In for the experts answers.

01-13-2021, 10:20 PM	#3
medicineman Four Point Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Flora, Ms	You are correct. Certain bullets for certain things. Bullets vary greatly and people and guns and loads etc all have preferences. Stick with a good hunting Bullet in the weight of your choice depending on caliber and game. It’s a never ending subject, but you need a bullet made to expand for hunting. Good Hunting

01-13-2021, 10:41 PM	#6
M16 Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2009 Hunt In: Colorado, LaSalle, ,Menard Counties	It depends. Some match bullets are great for hunting and some are horrible. Unfortunately you never know until you actually use them on game. It’s less risky to use bullets made specifically for hunting.

01-13-2021, 10:43 PM	#7
sboudreaux Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Helotes Hunt In: Kimble County	For my .260 I originally loaded with eld-m’s and got super good accuracy so I used it on game with no issues. Switched to eld-x and can’t tell much difference on the game but I’m not shooting quite as good groups. The match bullets are designed for target shooting but I believe they are proficient hunting bullets depending on where you shoot the animal. There’s a thread on here speaking to this very point.

01-13-2021, 10:47 PM	#8
Low Fence Pope & Young Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Quitman, Tx.	In my Grendel I can shoot “match” 1.25” or better Same weight and manufacture in SST is around a 9” group. Awful Shot a few pigs with “match” and every one fragmented BAD... but we’re at close range (all inside 50) Shot 1 pig in shoulder... ran off and came right back 20 minutes later (thought I missed). Second dropped it, both shots were less than 3”. Recovered bullets and it was like tin foil inside the body Another pig hit shoulder and exited same leg above knee Another small pig hit in guts and had 2 exits They all killed but I expected/wanted more The SST is proven... my gun just don’t like them at all for some reason

01-13-2021, 11:46 PM	#12
RifleBowPistol Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2017	My one experience with trying match bullets one deer was not great. I had been blowing large craters in deer with my 7mm Rem. Mag. I found some 7mm Match bullets, probably the ones I just sold. I shot a buck, through the heart, at about 100 yards, maybe a little father. Was not a long shot, that I remember. The shot was perfect, the buck ran, more constantly jumping over a bunch of sage brush. He made it about forty yards and then did a nose dive into the mud. Had it not been the situation, that it was. He probably would have been very hard to find. There was zero to very little blood, very small hole and then then same thing for a exit hole. Since he had a small hole hole through his heart, so he did die quickly. Had he not been hurdling one sage bush after another, and had flat ground, he would have gotten a lot farther, before he went down. Then had he ran off into some thick brush, it would have been a lot harder to find him. Bottom line, I accomplished what I was trying to do, of reducing the damage my 7mm Mag., was doing to deer. But I reduced the damage a bit more than I wanted to, enough so, I never tried that again.

01-14-2021, 12:48 AM	#17
TTUgrad08 Four Point Join Date: Jun 2015	Match=paper targets Hunting=live targets If match ammo is literally all you have then soot in the ribs.

01-14-2021, 06:12 AM	#19
trophy8 Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Georgetown Texas	As has been stated, lots of match bullets have thinner jackets and the core isn’t bonded to the jacket. However, some of them kill like lightning. You have to be able to place them correctly. ELDM has more weight up front than the ELDX. Outside dimensions are the same between the 143 eldx and the 147 ELDM. Berger bullets kill deer like God himself put them down. I don’t get many exits at closer ranges. At distance they perform more like an accubond for me. I’m speaking of the VLD hunting Bullet. I’ve shot animals with all kinds of bullets. I don’t mind target bullets until it comes to big critters. Or things like axis that are notorious for not leaving blood trails. IF I shoot something bigger with a target Bullet I take a quartering away or frontal shot and blow up the vitals. They usually go in and explode. Rarely will you get an exit and no blood if they run much. But they more often than not go down like they got hit by lightning. If you pull the shot then good luck lol. My biggest deer body wise that I killed this year I decided to test a 108 grain hornady ELDM in a 6 creed. Quartering to me. Put it right on the point of the shoulder facing me. Aiming for an exit behind the offside shoulder. Drill him. It actually exited. But he ran 20-30 yards and fell over. No blood trail. Shot some others quartering away and it was instant lights out. No exit and bullet grenaded so hard it never hit the rib cage on the offside. Lungs blown to bits. Target bullets kill great IF you hit them just right. Hunting bullets and especially something built like an accubond or partition allow you to take hard angle shots and blow through heavy bone.

01-14-2021, 09:07 AM	#20
bearintex Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Angleton Hunt In: 20 minutes from the house!	I shot 2 deer opening weekend with the 147 ELDm out of my 6.5CM. Handloads leaving the barrel at 2650ish. Relatively close shots, both under 100 yards. Almost identical shots, both perfectly broadside, facing left. Straight up the front leg, 40% up the body. First one did an about face, ran into the brush and crashed 40 yards later. I could see the blood pouring out the exit when he turned. The second one mule kicked, and ran straight ahead 35-40 yards and crashed. Both left blood trails Ray Charles could have followed at a dead run. Chunks of lung along the way. I did not open the chest cavity when I cleaned them. Best part was there wasn't one ounce of lost meat in the front shoulders.

01-14-2021, 09:14 AM	#21
bowhuntz Six Point Join Date: Aug 2015	I shot an axis and a whitetail buck with my 6.5 PRC using the ELDM. (mainly because that was all I could find to buy) Axis went 10 yards, buck fell within 20 yards.

01-14-2021, 10:27 AM	#22
Jason Fry Ten Point Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wolfforth, TX Hunt In: a tall tree	We've killed a pig or two and a couple of deer with the Hornady/Frontier 75 gr match HP 5.56 out of my AR. No complaints.

01-14-2021, 10:42 AM	#23
sierracharlie338 Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: The Republic of Texas (Houston) Hunt In: Anywhere I can.... seems to be pretty limited these days	I load my rifles for accuracy if that means a target bullet is what I go with, then so be it. I have killed more critters, from varmints to deer, with match bullets than I have "hunting" bullets if I had to guess or at least 50/50. That being said, there are certain occasions where I will find a second load with a heavier constructed bullet, such as an accubond. A trophy elk hunt, moose, caribou, etc. would be some of those instances.