Leverevolution Bullet performance

[alan]

Don't know where to post this; I like accuracy & longer range performance of Leverevolution ammo but would like to hear how the bullet performs on big game. Penetration, expansion, weight retention, etc. I've read that some plastic tipped ammo fragments upon impact especially if it hits bone & skeletal tissue.

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve no experiance with the Leverevolution ammo, although I should try some in my 32spcl one day. I have however taken deer with at least 1/2 dozen different style Hornady bullets in 5 different calibers and can`t find fault with any of them. IMO you won`t go wrong on deer sized game with a Hornady bullet designed for them.
The tipped bullets from everyone have been tweaked more then once and perform very dependably on game today. I would not hesitate to use a Ballistic Tip, SST, or one of the other "tipped" bullets, especially the "bonded" ones. Even on Elk or Caribou.

[Altjaeger]

My limited experience wiith Hornady made me a believer in their product. I have to use the 170 grain stuff I have on hand first and see no need for it under my conditions. It may well be best for people who expect a 150-200 yard shot or wish to be prepared. I presume Hornady cost more than core-lokts loaded.

I may consider 150 grain next time...if there is a next time.

[Altjaeger]

I've read that some plastic tipped ammo fragments upon impact especially if it hits bone & skeletal tissue.

I would not worry anymore about that than the copper and lead fragments left by most conventional ammo, and I am sure this ammo as well. That is about as much as I worry about the prices of Rolls Royce autos or cotton balls.

[alan]

The basis of my concern comes from field reports of Hornady shotgun sabot/slugs having plastic tips and poor performance on deer from Cheaper than dirt customers.

[Hi Ball]

Gentlemen...I purchased several boxes of the Hornady Leverevolution ammo for the modle 1895 444-Marlin and 45/70 but have not gotten a chance to really shoot any deer or hogs with it as of yet. I kinda been penned in lately just a tad. I do hope to be able to run some conclusive tests on this ammo. Now According to Hornady on paper, it sure makes my 444 Marlin a solid 200 yard gun for whitetail. The box of 20 cost me $34dollars plus 8% tax!

Muzzle Velocity is 2335fps using a 265 grain bullet.

3-inches high at 100 yds puts the bullet, a minus -1.4 inches at 200 yds, it will be a minus -18 inches at 300 yds.

[blackhawk]

Personally,I've never used the leverevolution ammo,but I witnessed a 250lb boar that was shot twice at 30yards broadside. with a 30-30 Marlin ,neither bullet passed through the hog,and 10 minutes after the shots we located the hog,(still alive)It died just before the hunter was about to shoot it the third time. I'm by no means badmouthing the Hornady LE ammo,I was just surprised ,that the hog took such a long time to expire,with two shots to the lungs. Now I"m not bragging,but less than a hour after witnessing the hog kill,I was fortunate enough to kill another 250lb hog with my 308winny, one shot through the lungs,and the boar only traveled around 10 yards after being shot.

[Bill Gunn]

The one thing you should be sure of is that you have a newer Marlin with Ballard Rifling, not the microgroove barrels made before 1998.
Also, if you buy the "LE" bullets themselves for reloading a .444 (and maybe other calibers, I don't know), you can't load them in standard cases without trimming about 10/1000 off the regular cases so the LE's will work through the action (Their longer)



http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/367595960.jpg

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/367595958.jpg

[blackhawk]

BG
this was an older Marlin,with Micro-grove rifling.

[GMWW]

I've been wanting to get the .38/.357 bullets to reload. They don't have them available for reloading yet. I want to shoot them in my Marlin .38/357 lever action.

[Hi Ball]

Those HOGS can be mighty tuff on bullets, especially if you shoot them where that grissle plate is on the sides of their shoulder area. I saw a man on TV once, shoot a 250 lb hog with his 30-06 and 180 grain bullet. The hog was knocked down but after about 10 seconds, jumped back up :eek: and ran off, never to be found again. :rolleyes: :(