Opinions on ammo performance

[Bald1]

I’ve always used Remington Core Lokt ammo in my hunting rifles. I’ve found them to be MOA or less accurate in all my rifles, which are mostly Browning A Bolt II. I also use a Mauser 660 in 243 and an Encore pistol in 243. I’ve killed several deer with the Encore out to about 150yds. The 100gr Core Lokt passed through every time. My son killed many deer and a 250 lb bear with same bullet from the Mauser with complete pass through. I’ve had same experiences with 7mm mag, 308 and 270. HOWEVER over the past few years we’ve had a 170gr 7mag lodge in hide on off side after passing through ribs. A 308 in 150gr and 270 in 130 gr. did exactly the same. We’re talking 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 yr old NY deer, dressing out at 130-175 lbs. Nice deer but not monsters. The problem is there’s little if any blood trail. Fortunately we haven’t needed to track any. Recovered bullets were always mushroomed perfectly. I guess they are dumping all their energy in the deer and that’s good. But man o man it seems like they should be easily passing through. What say you guys?

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have shot the Remington Core Lokt 150 gr. CXP3 out of my 1903 bolt action
with a crimp at a OAL of 3.19" , 58 grs of 4350 at 2880fps, on deer, for
100 to 300 yard shots.

This load in my rifle will average 3 shots at .99" at 100 yards but widen at longer ranges.

It is a great deer round but I do have to admit that in this old rifle, that
a heavier 180 gr SPBT at 100 yards will average 5 shots at .84".

However I load this 180 gr down to 30/40 Krag speeds to minimize, meat loss, on deer.

Generally a little 150 gr bullet at full speed will mushroom and not exit a deer due to it's mushroom diameter, slowing down it penetrating features.
Think of it as a +P 38 110gr JHP.

A 165 gr on the other hand has a good chance to exit, even if it hits a rib.

A 180 gr with take out the front and rear rib bone and still exit the animal
due to the bullet weight, BC and ft/lbs of energy that it has.

Of course bullet makeup and design has a lot to do, on how a bullet will penetrate. You might take a look at the Speer Mag-Tip the Grand Slam or the Bonded Bear Claw, if you want penetration.

 

[Bald1]

SpadXII, that was kinda my thoughts. This non pass thru seems to be a recent phenomenon. I’ve been using Core Lokts for over 30 yrs. I used them because they they were accurate, reliable and readily available at reasonable prices. In the past I’ve had them smash a shoulder and still pass thru. My son hunts with a 7mm mag ( I know that’s a lot of gun for deer) and he has switched to 150gr Norma ammo. It performs as you’d expect.

 

[uncleted327]

I've never been a fan of Remington ammo personally. I prefer Federal, but I'll also use Barnes, Nosler, Winchester, Sig and some Hornady depending on the gun and game. If you want pass through use a partition, accubond or a mono, something like that. Or a heavier bullet. Pass through isn't a big deal typically unless you make a sub-par shot anyway, IMO.

 

[TXBryan]

Can't help but wonder what the actual velocities are compared to previous year's loadings for virtually all factory ammo. I don't pretend to know the "real" reasons but the "listed on the box" velocity for most factory ammo is incredibly optimistic and exaggerated . Yes, it's measured in "test barrels," usually relatively long barrels with incredibly tight tolerances, and that's part of the issue - no one uses those on their hunting rifles.

I handload for everything in the inventory but friends gift me with factory fodder now and then and I generally use it. Everything goes over the chronograph and discrepancies with the published velocities on the box are common and sometimes quite large.

Bullets in factory loads may, or may not, perform as they once did. I find that quality and/or premium bullets available to handloaders generally do all they say they'll do and frequently more.

If there is a culprit in "under-performing" factory ammo it may well be sufficient velocity is lacking to ensure the projectiles behave as designed. Why a manufacturer of ammunition, that also brands their own bullets, would load ammo of insufficient velocity for their bullets to perform as advertised remains a mystery.

Always lurking in the back of my mind is the ever-cynical "follow the money" phrase. Liability, or rather minimizing liability, is a business plan priority for these, and most, companies. More velocity comes with increased pressure and it only takes one poorly maintained, or antique, firearm malfunction to make the phone ring in the legal department.

 

[Bald1]

I've never been a fan of Remington ammo personally. I prefer Federal, but I'll also use Barnes, Nosler, Winchester, Sig and some Hornady depending on the gun and game. If you want pass through use a partition, accubond or a mono, something like that. Or a heavier bullet. Pass through isn't a big deal typically unless you make a sub-par shot anyway, IMO.

You are not alone on your opinion of Remington. I’ve always used it because it worked. And price if I’m being honest. I have a model 94 30/30 that sprays it everywhere so I don’t use it in that. I know a lot of people feel you get what you pay for. And they are correct. My observation is that it doesn’t seem to perform like it used to. I have a large stockpile of it in several calibers. So I’ll continue to use it. But when I run out I’m thinking I’ll transition to Norma.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Ammo may change over time?

Maybe they are using a little thinner copper jacket to try to save a few bucks
on the newer ammo, of today ?

I do know that different style bullets from the same company, do mushroom and penetrate, differently !!

Sierra 270 130 grain & 30 cal. 150 grain boat tail and flat base bullets can prove this point
if you use them on deer, from 100 to 300 yards.

Expansion and penetration are different in these two designs, with the same fps.

 

[uncleted327]

You are not alone on your opinion of Remington. I’ve always used it because it worked. And price if I’m being honest. I have a model 94 30/30 that sprays it everywhere so I don’t use it in that. I know a lot of people feel you get what you pay for. And they are correct. My observation is that it doesn’t seem to perform like it used to. I have a large stockpile of it in several calibers. So I’ll continue to use it. But when I run out I’m thinking I’ll transition to Norma.

I've never tried Norma but I've heard good things. I'd like to try the Sierra tipped game keepers too. Though I've never used Remington much I might give a box of their new core-lokt tipped a try for the hell of it.

 

[Bald1]

Uncleted, my son swears by Norma in his 7mm mag. He’s killed Colorado black bears, Texas and Oklahoma hogs, and NY deer with it. Not positive what bullet he uses but I know it’s 150gr. I’ve only used Norma’s 9mm defense rounds. They shoot to point of aim and always feed reliably. My biggest concern is accuracy. It doesn’t take much to kill a whitetail. BUT you gotta hit where your aiming. The core Lokts still do that.

 

[Rpg]

I’ve killed deer and elk with 270, 308 and 350 Remington Magnum using hand loaded ammo and various commercial ammo.with success.

I don’t like Barns all copper bullets. They take up too much space in the cartridge and limit the powder charge. The Barns lead core bullets perform wonderfully.

I’ve used Sierra bullets, but found them to be a bit fragile for our mule deer and elk, but just fine for little Texas white tails.

Remington is the only source for commercially produced 350 Remington Magnum ammo. It works well on our elk and deer. Reloading this cartridge with any homogeneous bullets is a big mistake: they occupy so much more space in the cartridge than bullets with lead cores. Nosler partitioned bullets are great in the 350. REMINGTON Magnum.

I shot my first mule deer when I was 14 using a 270 with 130 gr Winchester Silver Tip ammo. It put the deer on the ground immediately, but on gutting it I discovered the bullet was quite fragile and didn’t penetrate side to side in a 180 pound deer. I haven’t used Silver Tip ammo on game since.

I’ve used Remington core lock ammo in all three calibers and it works just fine.

 

[cmj8591]

I've used Remington Core Lokt to take a few deer. I don't have anything to complain about and neither do the deer. The absolute best in my opinion is Nosler Partition. I've used it to take game with 140 grain, 6.5x55, 140 grain, 7mm and 165 grain, 30-06 and have never not had the bullet go through and through, including a couple of front to back shots. I know they're old school these days but they just work. I did have one spectacular failure with a Nosler Ballistic Tip in 30-06. I had a large Maine deer that dressed at 240 pounds step out into a field about 125 yards away. I hit it dead square in the middle of the white patch on its chest. The bullet broke up and did not penetrate the breast bone and blew away a piece of skin the size of my fist. Fortunately, it turned sideways and I was able to put one in it's lungs. It was just after these bullets came on the market, about 1987, so I'm not sure what they are like now but I wouldn't replace my Partitions with one. When the apocalypse hit, I couldn't get the 30 cal., 165 grain Partitions that I normally use. I never kept a big supply of those on hand. So the past few seasons, I used a load with a 150 grain, Hornady Interlock. I've shot two deer with this bullet, both hit from the side in the shoulder. Neither one of those deer took another step and both shots were through and through. I will go back to the Partitions but the Hornady's are a good second.

 

[LVSteve]

Without comparing velocities of the new and old batches of ammo we are waving our arms a bit here. Has a hunting theory recently evolved that through and through shots are unnecessary? I don't hunt, but when I've read accounts in American Rifleman it strikes me that some like through and through and others describe what the OP is seeing as "perfect". Perhaps Remington has changed the bullet construction so that the energy dump is pretty much 100% in the animal with no exit wound to achieve the "perfect" result.

 

[LVSteve]

well take it as you want but bullets do not perform as they should anymore..

and well, im not the happiest with post 2015 remington ammunition.

my rifle is sighted in with mil spec 7.62x51 145-150. remington 150 grain off rest hits about 5 inches LOW. 180 grain is about 7 inches LOW.

That sounds like the difference between Yugo M75 8mm Mauser sniper ammo and PPU "8mm Mauser" SP. They are in the 196-198gr range, but the PPU shoots around 6-7 inches lower. This out of a Yugo M48.

I have since discovered that PPU marked "8mm Mauser" is downloaded to about 2200 fps so that it can be used in the 1888 Commission rifles with the S mark. PPU did sell a full house FMJ round, but it is marked 7.92x57JS, or is found in Mitchell's Mausers boxes. That stuff is supposed to run at about 2550 fps. I notice that it is not in PPU's sales list for 2022.

 

[lihpster]

I have used the Core-Lokt >270 130gr for decades. I have had them penetrate a deer lengthwise, through and through. I have had them perform as the OP has reported, stopping just inside the far hide. I have also had them break up in the animal. The one consistent result was a dead deer. Any shot I made with that ammo that hit a vital area killed the deer. Usually right then and there. Accuracy was acceptable and the price was ok, so that's what I used. Because my intent wasn't to fire a bullet that performed a certain way, it was to cleanly take an animal. All that said, I haven't bought any since probably 2009. I still have several boxes, so I'm probably good for life. JMHO.

 

[Bald1]

I have used the Core-Lokt >270 130gr for decades. I have had them penetrate a deer lengthwise, through and through. I have had them perform as the OP has reported, stopping just inside the far hide. I have also had them break up in the animal. The one consistent result was a dead deer. Any shot I made with that ammo that hit a vital area killed the deer. Usually right then and there. Accuracy was acceptable and the price was ok, so that's what I used. Because my intent wasn't to fire a bullet that performed a certain way, it was to cleanly take an animal. All that said, I haven't bought any since probably 2009. I still have several boxes, so I'm probably good for life. JMHO.

U and I are of the exact same mindset. For yrs everything was a pass through. Lately not so much. I don’t own a chrono so I’ll never know if it’s velocity related. Bullets function perfectly and mushroom nicely. Either way they kill deer cleanly. I just wonder if someday the lack of blood trail might be a problem. It shouldn’t as they usually fall immediately or within 70 yds or so. But in steep mountainous terrain it could be a problem if they go over the hill out of sight. I’m probably worried about nothing but it’s cold and snowing (again) and I have to much time to think about things.

 

[Bald1]

I have used the Core-Lokt >270 130gr for decades. I have had them penetrate a deer lengthwise, through and through. I have had them perform as the OP has reported, stopping just inside the far hide. I have also had them break up in the animal. The one consistent result was a dead deer. Any shot I made with that ammo that hit a vital area killed the deer. Usually right then and there. Accuracy was acceptable and the price was ok, so that's what I used. Because my intent wasn't to fire a bullet that performed a certain way, it was to cleanly take an animal. All that said, I haven't bought any since probably 2009. I still have several boxes, so I'm probably good for life. JMHO.

U and I are of the exact same mindset. For yrs everything was a pass through. Lately not so much. I don’t own a chrono so I’ll never know if it’s velocity related. Bullets function perfectly and mushroom nicely. Either way they kill deer cleanly. I just wonder if someday the lack of blood trail might be a problem. It shouldn’t as they usually fall immediately or within 70 yds or so. But in steep mountainous terrain it could be a problem if they go over the hill out of sight. I’m probably worried about nothing but it’s cold and snowing (again) and I have to much time to think about things.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Out West you can usually see 100 yards, from where a deer is shot,
with only sage brush in the area.

Back East, with all the trees;
I would like to have at least a 170gr bullet in .30 caliber at 2400fps
that might exit and leave me a blood trail, if something went wrong
with my shot placement or the deer turned out to be the "Green Hulk" !!

I have been lucky so far, one Buck went 80 yards with a lung shot
but it was with a 22-250 60gr Nosler Partition bullet.

 

[Bald1]

Maybe I’ll shoot an email off to Remington and ask if something has changed with their standard Core-Lokt loadings. They might tell me to pipe down and be happy I can even buy ammo.

 

[LVSteve]

Maybe I’ll shoot an email off to Remington and ask if something has changed with their standard Core-Lokt loadings. They might tell me to pipe down and be happy I can even buy ammo.

With all the changes at Remington, you will be fortunate to find anybody who would know. I have a grave doubts that there is anyone still there from the period straddling 2015 when changes were observed.

 

[375hh1973]

I like 2 holes

Have pretty much switched over to TTSX in all my rifles

From .257wby to 338win