Guest gt2003 Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 Since the shockwaves have the polymer tip, do they expand well? I'm sticking with the precision rifle bullets but was wondering if the same principles apply since the shockwave/powerbelts etc. have the polymer tips. What kind of expansion do you get with a jacketed, polymer tipped bullet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Daddy Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves I have some experience with the Hornady SST 250 gr bullet. It is very similar to the Shockwave. I shot a doe a couple of weeks ago and recovered the bullet after it passed through all but the skin on the far shoulder. The bullet expanded to an oval shape 0.715" x 0.980" and retained 173.6 gr weight. I thought that was excellent performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves I thought I read somewhere that the poly tips cause "hydro-expansion". I think it was on the Precission Rifle web site as a matter of fact... Not exactly sure what that means or how it could be "hydro" but I have seen pics of expanded bullets and they look mean... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves Polymer tipped bullets have their place. The poly tip makes the bullet more aerodynamic so it will retain more velocity downrange, thus it will shoot flatter, and hit with more energy. The poly tip also enhances expansion. The poly tip gets shoved back into a hollow cavity inside the bullet when the bullet makes initial contact with the game. As it drives inside the bullet, the bullet blossoms into a flower of damage and death. The faster the bullet is going the more violent the expansion is. The stronger the bullet is less violent the expansion is. The Precision Rifle QT 40 bullets are soft lead with a poly tip. They open easily and don't always pass through. I have shot a lot of deer with them and I usually got pass throughs. The Precision Rifle Dead Center is designed to pass through giving a set of bloodtrails. They are both soft lead bullets with poly tips, but the hollow cavity is not as deep in the Dead Center. The Hornady SST and T/C Shockwave are jacketed bullets. They will not expand as violently as the non-jacketed bullets do, when pushed at mornal muzzleloader speeds. They will expand rather violently when pushed to some high velocity though. I have shot 2 deer with the 250 gr SST and expansion was superb on both deer. I got pass throughs on both occasions. I am shooting them just over 2400 fps and its like pulling the rug out from beneath the deer. Both dropped on the shot. One had shoulder shot and the other had spine shot (of course it was going down). But the damage that occurred was tremendous. This level of damage will not happen from a standard 100 gr charge of powder. Seeing how they hold up at 2400 fps, I don't think I would use the SST in a standard ML. I like and prefer the poly tipped bullets. I have ben shooting them exclusively for the past 4 years and they work great. In a standard ML rifle shooting up to the normal 100 gr loads, I would shoot the Precision Rifle QT 40 bullets. Going up to the faster 150 gr magnum ML load between 2000 - 2200 fps, I would use the Precision Rifle Dead Center. Over 2200 fps I would use the SST or Shockwave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves [ QUOTE ] As it drives inside the bullet, the bullet blossoms into a flower of damage and death. [/ QUOTE ] A FLOWER Your getting soft AJ LOL.!!! too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves Oh sure, I try to show a little creativity and expand my posting vocabulary and you guys rag on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ronin Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves Great explanation and additional info! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Re: Exapansion of TC shockwaves I found the bullet on my big buck. It was just under the hide egven though there was an exit hole. It must have blown meat'n chunks out the opposite side. I will post a pic of the bullet this evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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