by jmbod » Sun May 01, 2022 7:01 pm
Reflections on polymer bullets: 250 grain ACME brand. I use as my sight in bullet, 37 g H 110. I use 250 ftx for hunting. POI for the coated bullet is not the same which is expected, 2" away from bullseye. 100 yd groups from a rest resulted in about 1 1/2-2 moa from the lead polymer. I have shied away from using lead bullets due to the leading and cleaning requirement, no problem with the polymer bullets. Barrel is clean. Reloading practice has to include belling the case sufficiently to avoid scratching the coating this is a must or leading would be bad with no lube. In sum, coated bullets are amazing, and adds a new dimension for rifle shooters (already proven for pistols).
FTX bullets in 2022 are around .90, for the really strapped shooter, a polymer offers a cheaper alternative and with rising prices even polymer pills are selling for 20-35 per. I cant comment on deer recovery using polymer I havent shot one yet; however many hunters report unspectacular recovery distances using cast bullets, probably with little expansion, they still put them down. A new project for me is to try some .452 cast bullets with lube etc. but with velocity drops it a pain to change scope settings (will have more drop say 4 inches?) Credit to the casters and their love of using tried and true casts at modest velocities...probably their go to loads.