Premium bullets - Are they needed?

My first reply to that question is, "yes, sometimes, maybe." It all depends on the situation. But let me define what a premium bullet is - I'm talking about the projectile, not the cartridge.)

Most bullets available are "cup and core" bullets. These are made of a copper jacket with molten lead poured into the jacket, then squeezed into final shape. There is very little in the construction of these bullets that holds the core and the jacket together. When these bullets strike a target, the bullets almost always come apart into several pieces. When this happens, penetration into the target is limited. This is usually okay on deer size animals assuming the bullet was placed in the vital heart/lung area.

A premium bullet is one constructed in such a way to prevent the core and jacket from separating on impact and thus provide deeper penetration into the animal. So when and why is a premium bullet needed? There are at least three reasons.

One is when hunting animals bigger that the "average deer", where much more penetration is needed to reach the vital organs, such as with elk and certainly moose.

Another reason is if one is hunting "trophy animals" (the largest of any species, even white tail or mule deer) when perfect shot placement is not available and extra penetration is needed to make the shot successful. I do not recommend these shots but if I see the largest mule deer I have ever seen and all I have is a quartering away shot, I want a bullet that will allow me to take that shot.

A third and the most common one is for game animals that could be possibly dangerous as with grizzly bears in Canada and Alaska. Here, one needs a bullet that not only will penetrate deeply but one that will do so even after crashing into large bones.

Another situation where I would use a premium bullet is on an expensive or once-in-a-lifetime hunt for mountain goat or mountain sheep. Permits for these animals are so rare or the hunt is so expensive, that when the opportunity is present, I want a bullet that will do the job when circumstances aren't perfect.

Now, for the best news on this subject. It is not difficult to find a cup and core bullet that shoots the same as a premium bullet, especially if one hand loads their own ammo. This allows me to practice with the cheaper ammo and save the more expensive premium bullets for hunting only. This is truly the best of both worlds.

One factor to be wary of. Some premium bullets are "too tough." They are so tough they do not expand fast enough on the smaller animals like deer, sheep, goats and black bears to kill quickly. Also, some I have found to not be very accurate. Only trying different brands in individual rifles will determine which ones will be accurate in your rifle. Since the next hunting season is at least eight months away, you have plenty of time to learn which ones will work best for you.

Philip is a retired Air Force officer where he was an intelligence analyst. He is also a retired law enforcement officer. He has an undergrad degree in criminal justice as well as a master's that is heavily weighted in criminal justice. He has had, in his words, "a love affair" with firearms all his adult life. He also teaches concealed carry classes.