Based on my other thread regarding bullet choice for our safari next year to Namibia, these seemed to be the dominant suggestions. I would really appreciate it if you would select the one that you think would perform the best on everything from Duiker, Steenbok, and Klipspringer to Mtn. Zebra, Kudu, and Gemsbok with the possibilty of Eland and Leopard. This is for my .300 WSM.180 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claws180 gr. Nosler Partition180 gr. Barnes TSX180 gr. FailSafes

Really, I think any of them would work. Which one shoots in your rifle? I've taken game with all four and based on my use would rate them.
1 Barnes
2 TBBC
3 Nosler
4 Failsafe

None of the above. I would use North Fork softs.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
None of the above. I would use North Fork softs.

+1

Just curious, I fooled around with all four, before I went and found the Noslers grouped best, but was surprised that the failsafes really shot poorly in the three rifles that I tried them in. Is that why I don't see a lot of positive comments on them on this site, or is it performance?

Eland Slayer,

I am the third vote for North Fork.



The new Trophy Bonded by Speer use a gilding metal jacket rather than pure copper alloy used in original and excellent Trophy bonded.



It may sound esoteric but makes a huge difference. Pictured above, 400 and 450 grain NF taken from cape buffalo at near point blank range 2750 and 2550 fps.

Crappy new TB by speer 500 grain 458 at 2400 fps into water. See how front end was so brittle it could not maintain frontal area.

If you dont like frontal area the TSX is for you. Here are 400, 450 and 500 grain Barnes.



The NF is actually an improvement on the original TB as the grooves cause less fouling and the bullet expands into a larger FA rather than a propellor.

Try the NF first.

Andy

I'd take the top 2 vote getters and work up some loads with both bullets. See which what bullet your rifle likes.

My choice would be Barnes TSX.

I'm goin gnect year and I intend to hunt with a 300 win mag, my sonwill be using a 3006 and we will both be shooting 168 gr TSX's.

ANOTHER WRITE IN FOR NORTH FORKS...THE 200 GR 30 CAL IS ALL I'LL USE IN MY 30-06

I SAY START OVER WITH N.F. IN THE VOTE

Rhino solid shanks from South Africa

There's plenty of good bullets out there and all the ones mentioned fit into that description. You might also consider the GS Custom bullets. I'd advise trying as many types as you can and then seeing which one will group best in your rifle with your preferred load.

Personally, I have a soft spot for the failsafe and the Win Silvertip - but that may be just that they perform especially well in my rifle with my preferred load.

I keep hearing about how good the Northfork is, but for some reason, I've never had a client use them and so have no personal experience of that particular bullet...... but I've always heard good things about it here and elsewhere.

The good news is that you have plenty of time to experiment and make your decision........

Karl,

The Rhino (which is what I use exclusively) is basically a copy of the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. Excellent design, both makes are strong as a Mack truck, and very accurate in my rifles (220 Swift, 308, 375H&H)

Another vote for North Fork bullets. I'm actually going to pick up some in .30/200grains and .375/300grains later today.

Rikkie,
Yes i know the Rhino is a "copy" of the TBBC, but with quality issues being raised by some members here on the TBBC, I would prefer the Rhino's. I have always been of the opinion that the best "softnose" bullets are TBBC (and the clones, like Rhino, North Fork) and Swift A-Frame, but after some serious trouble with Swift, I am not too sure about Swift anymore....

I'll play by your rules. All are great bullets. Pick the one your rifle shoots best. jorge

i've always used a 375 on eland, but have used both nosler part. and barnes on them and ended up with dead eland in all cases. By son shot one once with a 215 grain barnes in a 375 that really knocked it off its feet. Failsafes sometimes don't mushroom out to well, but they'll kill the antelope providing you shoot em in the right spot

I used a 300WSM and Nosler Partitions on my last safari and took: Springbok, Gemsbuck, Kudu, Zebra, Blue Wild., Impala, and Eland. I had originally planned on not taking the eland after reading that the 375 was really the reasonable minimum for eland. When I got there, I asked my guide about this. He said the 300 would be fine if I just placed the shot. He said "Better a small hole in the right place than a big hole in the wrong place" I shot the eland at 80 yards just above the shoulder. I fired a follow up shot at him running through the brush and missed, but he only ran about 50 yards and went down. Ironically, the Eland seemed to go a lot more easily than the Wildbeest and Zebra. I really think all of these bullets would be fine, as long as you know where it will go when you pull the trigger.