Woods carry Ammo choice

mt10mm · September 13 2015 08:25:05 AM MDT

I really liked UW 200 TMJ for a carry load but its no longer loaded. I was carring a hard cast load but I am curious to what everyone else is carring. What about the all copper loads? I woods carry for all but Griz.

The_Shadow · September 13 2015 08:55:41 AM MDT

If it were me, I'd opt for the Hornady 200XTP if you can find them loaded to 1200 -1240 fps.
Not all cast bullets are the same, some can pose feeding issues, Mr. Bear's attitude may take advantage of a misfeed jam. ${$default_roll_eyes_smiley}$

One of the reasons I got into handloading is to be able to load/test/carry what I like, to include casting my own stuff.

Rojo27 · September 13 2015 10:48:31 AM MDT

No Griz present in my neck of the woods.

I like Shadows 200 XTP recommendation. I'm also likely to carry 155gr TAC-XP by Buf Bore, 180gr Federal Bear Claw JSP, 200gr cast Bear Tooth by Dble Tap.....

Broke down and picked up some 10mm Lehigh 140gr xtreme penetrators to test out but far from ready to rely on them just yet.

sgtbones · September 13 2015 12:03:51 PM MDT

How about Hornady factory load 180 gr XTP it penetrates 17 1/8 inches. It out penetrates 200 gr XTP and 180 gr JSP.

mt10mm · September 13 2015 12:45:14 PM MDT

I just need to get into reloading, it make things easier.

4949shooter · September 13 2015 02:49:20 PM MDT

Quote from: Rojo27 on September 13 2015 10:48:31 AM MDT
No Griz present in my neck of the woods.

I like Shadows 200 XTP recommendation. I'm also likely to carry 155gr TAC-XP by Buf Bore, 180gr Federal Bear Claw JSP, 200gr cast Bear Tooth by Dble Tap.....

Broke down and picked up some 10mm Lehigh 140gr xtreme penetrators to test out but far from ready to rely on them just yet.

I fired the Underwood Xtreme Penetrator version today. They were stout and a little "jumpier," compared to the Doubletap 230 grain hardcast I also fired. The 230 grain load from DT recoiled back in my hand more, while the UW 140 grain load jumped more at the muzzle.

One thing I didn't like about the Underwood load was the muzzle flash. The DT load didn't have any noticeable flash. Something important to shooters or hunters who carry at night, most especially as a backup gun in the woods where there is no unnatural light.

mt10mm · September 13 2015 06:48:56 PM MDT

How would the UW 180gr TMJ hold up?

The_Shadow · September 13 2015 07:08:51 PM MDT

They would probably hold together and slide through the tissues without deforming, thus stretching the tissues open then they tissue would close back behind the bullet. Cast bullets can deform if they encounter bones or smash through, but they to can slide through the tissues.

Now a SWC design will cut a cleaner hole through the tissue it encounters, can deform on bones.

The Hornady XTP is a fairly tough bullet and will expand as it cuts through the tissues.

mt10mm · September 13 2015 07:21:43 PM MDT

Quote from: The_Shadow on September 13 2015 07:08:51 PM MDT
They would probably hold together and slide through the tissues without deforming, thus stretching the tissues open then they tissue would close back behind the bullet. Cast bullets can deform if they encounter bones or smash through, but they to can slide through the tissues.

Now a SWC design will cut a cleaner hole through the tissue it encounters, can deform on bones.

The Hornady XTP is a fairly tough bullet and will expand as it cuts through the tissues.

Good to know.. I will keep the TMJ for practice.

Wolfie · September 13 2015 07:25:03 PM MDT

Hornady needs to make that round.

njguyinfla · September 15 2015 05:32:40 PM MDT

I have been shooting HPR 200 grain Hornady XTP bullet loaded to 1150 fps if you wanted a 200 grain bullet loaded a lil hotter DT loads them 1250 fps

Pumpkinheaver · September 15 2015 07:38:57 PM MDT

I keep my G 20 loaded with with my home cast and powdercoated 180 TC bullets.

mt10mm · September 26 2015 07:36:36 AM MDT

Whats would be the minimum velocity for a 200 gr bear-tooth or similar bullet to be effective? I have read in few places that the sweet spot starts at 1000 fps

Johnny Gunz · September 27 2015 08:10:44 AM MDT

The old standard for black bear and hog class animals has been .40 caliber, 200 grains, and 1000 FPS. That's been repeated by many of the old school gun rag authors whom I respect a lot. It also seems reasonable to me. That said, with ammo technology, I don't think the 200 grain minimum applies anymore. Bullets perform so much better than they did even 10 years ago and retain almost all their weight. That said, weight (momentum) is what gets that bullet where it needs to go.

I'm a new 10mm shooter and after much thought, went with the UW 180 TMJ. It's easy to shoot fast and accurately from my G29, which IMHO are two of the most important characteristics of a defense load of any kind. Even though it's FMJ, it's totally encapsulated and looks like it will hold together very well. It also has a nice flat meplat for tissue damage, unlike almost all FMJ's with their round noses. It may not be the best load for the woods, but I can't imagine it being a poor choice. If you've already got some, then I'd say carry it with confidence. I read on an Alaska forum that more than a few residents there carry that load. Those guys can get mauled taking out the garbage ${$default_laugh_smiley}$ .

DM1906 · September 27 2015 09:43:37 AM MDT

The TMJ is very different than a genuine FMJ. It's a soft-lead, swaged, plated bullet. They don't experience jacket separation the same as jacketed bullets do, but they do deform like a swaged lead bullet (not unlike Hornady lead bullets). This makes the nose shape and meplat less of a performance factor, compared to hard-cast flat-nose bullets. Add to that, the plating thickness and hardness can vary a lot from manufacturer to manufacturer, and some of them lot to lot. They aren't designed nor intended to be used as a hunting or defense bullet, but that doesn't mean they won't be effective in those situations, at least sometimes.