New build-should I shoot the 200-225 grain bullets

[giannid]

I sold my tromix upper build to a friend of mine and put together a new upper for my AR with a Satern 18 inch barrel with a 1 in 20 twist. When load developing with my Tromix upper, I used lil gun and a 250 grain ftx bullet because it seemed to be the most popular. It was a shooter with thee bullets usually touching with 39 grains of lil gun at 2.26. Also took a nice buck last season at 75 yards that traveled two steps and piled up. I'm starting over with a new upper so that means load development again. Seems like the lighter bullets have really gained popularity around here and am wondering if that's where I should be. I like to have the capability to harvest whitetail at 250 yards and I think the extra velocity and flatter trajectory could be a good thing with the lighter bullets. Wondering if lil gun is the best powder for these lighter bullets also. Thoughts?

[Bmt85]

Bad thing about most of your lighter weight bullets, is even worse b.c. than the heavier bullets. So they are going to lose even more velocity the further out they go. At 250yds, it’s going to be hard finding a light weight bullet to perform. You might have a couple of choices, maybe. Good thing is, even if the bullets don’t expand, you’re still sending .45” projectiles through the animal.

My opinion, if you plan on taking game that far, go with the 275 TSX, and practice shooting that far a lot!

[giannid]

A 250 yard shot would be rare. Think before I move up to a 275, I'd stay with th 250.

[Jim in Houston]

I would stay inside 200 yds for heavier game. Even at that range, the bullet has lost a lot of energy, and beyond 200 yds the bullet drops like a rock. You can probably make a 300 yd shot with a lot of holdover, but I wouldn't consider it an ethical shot with the 450 BM at my level of experience.

[giannid]

So is it the 250 grain bullets better at 200 yards and over for white tailed? Maybe I should stick with them.

[Bmt85]

The 250 FTX should be a better choice at longer distances. It has a better b.c. and a low expansion threshold. Can't remember exactly what it is, but it's pretty low. IIRC, a couple member's still got expansion around 200yds.

I still say the 275 TSX is a better choice over all for distance.