Survey : Your Favorite Factory Loaded Ammunition

Major Khan

Major Khan

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Dear Fellow Forum Members ,

As part of an upcoming article , which I will be writing for African Hunting Forums ( Next week ) ... I shall be needing to conduct a small survey . I am well aware of the fact that the bulk of us hand loaders ( Myself included ) . How ever , I must ask what each of your FAVORITE factory loaded ammunition is . For the purposes of this survey , you must include :
>1 soft point factory loaded cartridge
> 1 solid factory loaded cartridge ( Either solid metal covered , or monolithic ... Depending up on taste )

I shall set an example , by listing out my own personal preferences . Based strictly up on factory loaded ammunition which I have ACTUAL personal experience with , during my 10 year career as a professional shikaree ... My favorites would have to be :
> Soft Point Ammunition : Winchester Super X Silver Tip cartridges in the .270 Winchester ( 150 grain ) , .30-30 Winchester ( 170 grain ) , .30-06 Springfield ( 220 grain ) , .338 Winchester magnum ( 250 grain ) and .375 Holland & Holland magnum ( 300 grain ) .
> Solid Ammunition : Remington Peters “ Metal Case “ steel jacketed round nosed solid metal covered cartridges in .375 Holland & Holland magnum ( 300 grain ) and .458 Winchester magnum ( 500 grain , fresh ammunition only ) .

Not exactly the most modern choices , I am aware . How ever , these were the best makes of soft point and solid factory loaded ammunition ... Which were available during my time . Your input and contribution to my survey ... Would be greatly appreciated .

Yours sincerely ,
Major Poton Khan ( Retired )
 
Sorry Major,
I should have read you post more thoughroly. The only solids I have ANY experience with are Federal Cape-shok sledgehammers in 416 Rigby, but the only targets were paper, (and an old combine) lol, it worked for both.
 
Another interesting question Major Khan!
I'm assuming you are asking about big game ammo, so my answer is Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claw or Swift A-Frame for the soft/partition load and for solids Federal's Sledgehammer.
I tried several different brands in my rifles (M70 WinMag, Chapuis 375H&H double and 416 Rigby Big Game) and all three seem to be more accurate with Federal ammo. I've also used the Federal Nosler Partition in the 300 WinMag and it performed well in Africa, but the TBBC was the best performer. Have not taken the Rigby to Africa yet but will try it on cape buffalo in July 2021 with 400 gr. TBBC from Federal. I have not seen a big difference between the TBBC and Federal's Swift A-Frame. Both are excellent. I don't reload so factory ammo for me. I will add that when you get into 416 caliber the ammo gets expensive.
 
>1 soft point factory loaded cartridge- 375 H&H Swift A-frame 300 grain (fastest factory 300 grain ammo, 2,553 fps)
> 1 solid factory loaded cartridge- 375 H&H Barnes TSX 300 grain monolithic (second fastest factory 300 grain ammo, 2,529 fps)
Speeds were chonographed on a Pact and fired from my MRC.
 
I haven't fired a factory loaded rifle round in several years. I handload all my ammo. I do shoot factory self defense loads in my handguns. Other than self defense loads, I handload my handgun ammo, also.
 
I’ve all but quit shooting soft points.. most of my rifles shoot Barnes Vor-Tx factory ammo very well, and I have had good performance from their mono metal projectiles on all game I have taken with them including hogs, deer, and several different African plains game species...

When I don’t shoot Vor-Tx factory ammo, the most common projectile I use when reloading is the Barnes TTSX in everything from .223 to .416 Taylor
 
Norma Oryx soft points, in everything from .243 to .375. Perfect performance for me every time. I do not have enough experience with solids to have a favourite.
 
I’m in the same boat as @Longwalker, Norma Oryx in any caliber. Great ammunition.
I’ve used it in 22/250, 243, 308 and 7x57. The only reason I haven’t used it in my 375 H&H is that I have so far failed to find any for sale !
 
You do realize that asking such a questions like this is paramount to asking about your favorite Car, Beer, Religion, Politics or Unions.
But "in my experience", I have found regardless of which one you use, if it is placed in the right place, the animals will die shortly.
 
Major Khan said:
Dear Fellow Forum Members ,
I cheat on all calibers under 375 by using Copper Creek. I buy their stage 1 sample packs with five shots each with different loads. I see which one gives me the tightest groups then move to stage 2 packs that have different seating depths. By far this has given me the tightest groups versus me having to reload these. Just wish they also did 375 and 416
As part of an upcoming article , which I will be writing for African Hunting Forums ( Next week ) ... I shall be needing to conduct a small survey . I am well aware of the fact that the bulk of us hand loaders ( Myself included ) . How ever , I must ask what each of your FAVORITE factory loaded ammunition is . For the purposes of this survey , you must include :
>1 soft point factory loaded cartridge
> 1 solid factory loaded cartridge ( Either solid metal covered , or monolithic ... Depending up on taste )

I shall set an example , by listing out my own personal preferences . Based strictly up on factory loaded ammunition which I have ACTUAL personal experience with , during my 10 year career as a professional shikaree ... My favorites would have to be :
> Soft Point Ammunition : Winchester Super X Silver Tip cartridges in the .270 Winchester ( 150 grain ) , .30-30 Winchester ( 170 grain ) , .30-06 Springfield ( 220 grain ) , .338 Winchester magnum ( 250 grain ) and .375 Holland & Holland magnum ( 300 grain ) .
> Solid Ammunition : Remington Peters “ Metal Case “ steel jacketed round nosed solid metal covered cartridges in .375 Holland & Holland magnum ( 300 grain ) and .458 Winchester magnum ( 500 grain , fresh ammunition only ) .

Not exactly the most modern choices , I am aware . How ever , these were the best makes of soft point and solid factory loaded ammunition ... Which were available during my time . Your input and contribution to my survey ... Would be greatly appreciated .

Yours sincerely ,
Major Poton Khan ( Retired )
Click to expand...
 
I normally stick to hand loads using Barnes TTSX or LRX, but I do like Barnes VOR-TX, mainly because my rifles seem to all like Barnes. Federal Premiums shoot well too. Used to by Nosler. They have so many options now it is a headache.
 
Barnes TTSX.... Buffalo Bore, Black Hills, Double Tap & DRT. The latter are more boutique, low volume manufacturers.
 
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