Bullet Performance Database

Ridgewalker · Jul 2, 2019

Goose Cracker said:
Finally found those two Factory Federal 35 Whelen 225g TBBC that were recovered from my eland. Very high weight retention as expected. I'd definitely use these again on anything. Thinking I may check out the 200 grainers for my 300WM.
View attachment 291678 View attachment 291679

TBBCs are well designed. I would expect this excellent performance from them.

Michael Dean · Jul 2, 2019

Any time you've got 90% or better weight retention as you have with your two bullets, you've got to categorize it as exemplary performance. You can't expect better performance, outstanding. I hope to see this type of result with my Hammer bullets I'll be using on Eland this October. I never would have thought that the factory Federal would result in this type of performance, this is the type of result you'd expect with a custom bullet such as Hammer or Swift.

The mushrooming and weight retention are just outstanding; what kind of penetration did you get?

meigsbucks · Jul 2, 2019

Goose Cracker said:
Finally found those two Factory Federal 35 Whelen 225g TBBC that were recovered from my eland. Very high weight retention as expected. I'd definitely use these again on anything. Thinking I may check out the 200 grainers for my 300WM.
View attachment 291682 View attachment 291683

My brother used a .30/06 with the Federal TBBC 180gr to take his cow eland. 150 yds, entered just behind the right shoulder and ended up under the hide just forward of the left shoulder. It went about 25 yds and dropped. Expanded bullet was exactly 160gr. Perfect performance.

Goose Cracker · Jul 2, 2019

Michael Dean said:
The mushrooming and weight retention are just outstanding; what kind of penetration did you get?

Can't say with certainty because I didn't specifically ask - complete brain fart. The 202g bullet I believe is the one that shattered the bull's spine and put him down. The other was a "behind the shoulder" shot. Two shots were not recovered - one was a complete pass-thru and the other was the poor first shot - the bull was quartering away and looking back at me but moved just before I pulled the trigger.

Shootist43 · Jul 2, 2019

Michael Dean said:
I never would have thought that the factory Federal would result in this type of performance, this is the type of result you'd expect with a custom bullet such as Hammer or Swift.

Federal loaded their premium Ammo using projectiles from a number of different bullet manufacturers. The TBBC bullets were made by Speer. However I think I read somewhere that Federal bought out Speer. I also read that Federal has plans to offer the TBBC as a reloading component.

Ridgewalker · Jul 2, 2019

Shootist43 said:
However I think I read somewhere that Federal bought out Speer. I also read that Federal has plans to offer the TBBC as a reloading component.

+1
They are listed, but not yet available on Midway USA site.

bruce moulds · Jul 3, 2019

they don't come better than the bearclaws, same as northfork.
up there with swift.
all three better than Woodleigh.
bruce.

Mr. Zorg · Jul 4, 2019

Federal & Speer are both owned by Vista Outdoors. The TBBC was developed by a Texan named Jack Carter (now retired) in 1988 before Federal was involved. Jack Carter sold bullets with pure copper jackets as components only, never loaded ammo. Federal has made a few changes to his design such as using gliding metal for jackets. Component bulkets for reloading were then offered under the Speer label when Jack retired. They haven't been available as a component bullet for reloaders for years. This thread prompted me to look, Federal is / will be offering them as component bullets again but only in four calibers. "Back in the day" TBBC component bullets were offered in many more calibers.

https://www.federalpremium.com/products/reloading/bullets/trophy-bonded-bear-claw-component-bullets

Federal developed the Trophy Bonded Tip in 2008, using some elements of the TBBC but geared for less tough game than the TBBC was developed for.

Mr. Zorg · Jul 4, 2019

Hoss Delgado said:
Thanks man. But Dad wants the round nose ones

The only round nose .308 FMJ component bullets even that I see available these days are 110 grain ones for .30 carbine ammo.

Best of luck finding heavier ones. Might keep an eye out at Rocky Mountain Reloading for pulled bullets. You can use Reed's Ammunition and Research as a custom reloader to manufacture ammo for you if you can at least find the component bullets.

https://shop.reedsammo.com/Rifle-Ammunition_c3.htm

Hawk Bullets will manufacture custom bullets for example.

http://hawkbullets.com/bullet-selection.html

Peregrine bullets look more like flat point style than round nose to me in their non-spitzer style bullets.

https://www.peregrinemonolithics.com/rifle-reloading-bullets/

BenKK · Jul 4, 2019

Probably showing my ignorance here, but would the magnificent 220 grain round-nose FMJ from Woodleigh work? I love using it in my .300H&H.

Shootist43 · Jul 4, 2019

No ignorance on your part BenKK. That Woodleigh bullet is exactly what the OP asked for. I'll have to look into it for my 308 Norma Mag. Although for the price difference I don't see why their 220 Gr. Weldcore wouldn't work just as well. What kind of velocity are you running your loads at?

Mr. Zorg · Jul 4, 2019

Good call BenKK, evidently no US retailer selling Woodleigh .308 component bullets has a partnership to be listed in the Ammoseek database. It is my ignorance showing on Woodleigh bullets!

Hogpatrol · Jul 4, 2019

Magtech makes 150 and 180 .308 ball ammo. Pat's Reloading has their 147s in stock. Plenty of ball ammo in 7.62 made by various companies.

https://magtechammunition.com/products/?caliber[]=308-win&bullet_style[]=fmj

Mr. Zorg · Jul 4, 2019

Hogpatrol said:
Magtech makes 150 and 180 .308 ball ammo. Pat's Reloading has their 147s in stock. Plenty of ball ammo in 7.62 made by various companies.

https://magtechammunition.com/products/?caliber[]=308-win&bullet_style[]=fmj

But not FMJ RN which is what Hoss Delgado posted he was seeking for his dad.

I found the 220 grain FMJ RN component bullets are available from Midway here in the USA. Midway has no relationship with Ammoseek to be listed in the Ammoseek database.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/7...iameter-220-grain-full-metal-jacket-box-of-50

Pricey, at $1.82 / bullet, but it fits the request from Hoss Delgado for his dad and is heavy for caliber as well for icing on the cake. Midway shows only 1 box in stock.

Also found them at Huntington Die Specialties for a slightly lower price, but Midway has a coupon code for free shipping on orders $49+ currently.

https://www.huntingtons.com/store/product.php?productid=19945&cat=408&page=1

Mr. Zorg · Jul 4, 2019

I also found this UK firm offering Woodleigh bullets, @Hoss Delgado. I didn't realize you were in the UK until I saw your post in another thread about ordering from kynamco.

https://www.reloadingsolutions.com/products/bullets/woodleigh/

Hoss Delgado · Jul 5, 2019

Mr. Zorg said:
I also found this UK firm offering Woodleigh bullets, @Hoss Delgado. I didn't realize you were in the UK until I saw your post in another thread about ordering from kynamco.

https://www.reloadingsolutions.com/products/bullets/woodleigh/

Thank you so much. I am back in Texas at the moment , but my close friend lives in the UK . He has a rifle certificate ( which is necessary in the UK if you want to buy loaded factory Ammunition ) and gets me whatever l like on his trips to the US. It was from him that l learnt that the Brits have a funny law about needing a rifle certificate for buying loaded Ammo , but not needing a rifle certificate for buying loading components

Alchemist · Jul 17, 2019

Warthog Boar
30-06 180gr Nosler AB @ 2695 f/s at 132 meters. Quatering ever so slighly towards me. Double lung shot.
Ran about 60 m before it expired.

Shootist43 · Jul 17, 2019

Alchemist, have you had a chance to weigh the bullet? Just wondering how the NAB held up.

meigsbucks · Jul 17, 2019

Nice pig!

VAHunter · Jul 17, 2019

I've been doing a lot of load testing in preparation for my first trip to RSA in 2020 with Limcroma Safaris. I decided to do a side-by-side penetration test on four separate 30-06 loads. I shot into water jugs at 50 yards so I could capture the expanded slugs. All of these were captured in the sixth jug except the TTXS which ended up lodged in between the sixth and seventh jugs. This is definitely not the same as the performance you would see on game, but the relative performance of the four in common media is interesting.

Left to right:
168 TTSX - MV 2940FPS - IV 2830 FPS - Recovered wt 167G (99%)
220 Rem CoreLokt - MV 2400 FPS - IV 2250 FPS - Recovered wt 185.6G (84%)
165 Nos AB - MV 2850 FPS - IV 2700 FPS - Recovered wt 113.9G (69%)
180 Norma Oryx - MV 2860 FPS - IV 2700 FPS - Recovered wt 148.5G (82%)

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