Cast vs Jacketed bullets on Whitetails?

[canoe on the yukon]

canoe- we rarely disagree, but do here. If you read Brian Pearces articles, and I'm pretty sure you do, then you must have just read the one in which he put what you said about the sharp shoulder not cutting to the test. He was able to show that they do indeed make contact with the target, and I'm not talking paper. I am a Ross Seyfreid fan and reader, and in fact have some pesonal correspondences with him here with me. He is a big pusher for the LBT designs, which, while great bullets, and I use them myself, don't cut as clean a hole as the Keith designs.

Pearce's test were pretty well done, and show that the stories going around about the Keith bullet's shoulder not cutting are false. It is in a recent issue of Handloader.

GUN 4 FUN,

I don't mind when someone disagrees with me.There is not a single soul that I agree with on everything.I am responding only to let you know I'm not ignoring you.You have been very respectful and courteous to me and I appreciate it.

My response will be brief as I don't want it to turn into a debate.I have been wrong about a great many things in my life and this could be one of them.I question nearly everything.I've observed that certain gun rag gurus have had a tremendous effect on shooters.Many of them are quoted as if their words came from the burning bush.There are no pied pipers that I will follow.....Once upon a time,anyone with even an ounce of sense knew that the world was flat.

I'm suspicious of any and all anecdotal observations because they are too often tainted by prejudice.The shock waves observed in flight as well as when entering various substances are quite revealing from my perspective.There may very well be some contact but I doubt that it's as profound as many think.

The general truism that's been floating around in handgun circles for years is that blunt bullets "hit harder" than those not so blunt.I personally find that to be absurd.

We can agree to disagree and no harm is done either way.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

canoe-

I don't agree with everyone either, and sometimes not even with myself

I have no problem with how you feel, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. We all have different life experiences, and I try to learn from everyone, even if I sometimes don't agree about something. You're good with me, and I as I said before, I enjoy your posts, and appreciate your experiences and insight that you post here. If we all agreed on everything, life really would be boring.

It's all good. Keep on posting your thoughts, and what you have learned and we will all benefit from it.

 

[lafayne]

I have no experience or knowledge about the diameter or type of hole that gets punched in game with a jacketed or cast bullet. I do believe I know skill and successful results when I see it. Sixshot has demonstrated both and I will shoot cast bullets in my hunting handguns. I expect to be successful hunting here in Arkansas or in Texas or Colorado.

I have always found it interesting that hunters of the most dangerous game on earth use solids yet they are considered less than desirable on whitetails. I know that one shot from my 38-55 with a cast bullet will down a whitetail - just takes a bit longer to hit the ground. I doubt that the linotype bullet expands.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

A big whitetail is about 10"-12" across the shoulders. A cape buffalo is about three feet. They are made of heavily muscled/skeletal structure, and require a solid for reliable penetration from bad angles. Whitetails require no such extreme penetration. Even a big one.

There is an article in the last issue of Rifle that is very interesting, by a professional hunter in Africa named Ganyana. He says that anyone who still believes that you need a solid for buffalo and similar sized game, is living in the distant past, since there are now so many great expanding bullets available that will relably penetrate, yet cause much more massive damage. It's a good read.

Trying to compare what high powered rifles can do, to what a handgun can do it futile at best. They just aren't the same thing. In a handgun, like I posted before, I prefer a jacketed expanding bullet for deer in my area, due to property boundry issues. Otherwise, give me a good hardcast bullet. Especially where maximum penetration from bad angles is required, or on heavily built game like boar and bear.