I know this has been discussed a million times but..

Opinions on the Hornady 400gr solids? Hunting elephant this fall and can't get my preferred Barnes Banded solid bullets to load.. Looking at the Nosler solid as well..

Thoughts?

Bear Claw Trophy Solids.

Went thru this a couple years ago, getting ready for Caprivi elephant trip. Wanted the Federal Premium 416 Rigby, with the Barnes solids, the flat nosed ones, as I had used those the previous year with good results, the rifle was already regulated with them, and the TSX also shoot to the same spot.

But.... that boolet is not available from Federal anymore, now its the Trophy solids. And can't buy the bullets from Barnes, because of that AP thing. Didn't have time to work up new loads anyway.

Ended up buying the Barnes Vortex, it has the right bullet, loaded to same velocity, and shoots in the right place. It also shoots perfectly in line with the TSX, problem solved.

As far as performance on game, shot two elephants that trip, results were great with the solids. Shot a few things with the TSX, as far as I can tell, the Vortex is the equal of the old Cape Shok Federal offering, and costs less as well. This was with the 416 and the 375, which I basically went thru the same thing with. Just didn't shoot any elephants with the 375. Did shoot a ton of plains stuff, and one very big, very close buff, one shot was enough, with the 375 TSX.

Hope this helps.

Cutting Edge Bullets. Their solids are second to none!

I shot Hornady DGS and DGX's in Zim a few years ago. Soft went through a buff broadside and lodged under the skin on the far side, nicely mushroomed, and did a lot of damage. Put a solid through broadside for insurance after the bull was down, and it whistled all the way through with no problems.

Also killed two hogs with soft points and got full penetration on them, one was end for end, so about 4 feet of hog.... Turns out 416 Rigby is plenty of gun for wild hogs!

So I guess not a ton of experience with them, but no complaints and I like that the softs and solids shoot to the exact same point of impact (with the same load of course), and they both group nicely out of my rifle.

What do you mean you can't get the Barnes to load? They are deadly accurate in my RSM and have killed two bulls without any incident.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
What do you mean you can't get the Barnes to load? They are deadly accurate in my RSM and have killed two bulls without any incident.

Sorry - meant I cannot buy the bullets to load myself... That stupid ATF ruling crap...

I thought the .416 caliber was NOT on the list. That said, I don't see them available on the Barnes website.

In any event, I've switched to the CEB bullets as they are everything the Barnes Banded was but even better.

Try calling Barnes.

I was able to buy them. The .375 and smaller were the ones that were banned. If you want the flat point, you need to get them direct from the factory.

As to other options, Northforks work well. For me they were more accurate than the banded solids, but I couldn't get them to impact with the softs.

The Nosler solids remind me of the old barnes X- there is a lot of surface that the rifling is engraving. I was not real impressed.

Swift just came out with a new solid- you could try them.

The aforementioned CEB bullets are an option.

Then there are the old style solids- Woodleigh and the Hornady DGS. Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solids are probably only available as factory ammo. They are a old style bullet also.

Fucking BATFE
Thats why people are so tired of governments
Do these people ever get it?

They won't until we band together and call their hand on this nonsense. If we could get together as a group, it's too large for them to deal with, and we could start turning this mess around.

Are you telling me those asshats are banning big bore solids? YGTBSM!

Normal solids - that are jacketed bullets with lead - have worked for many years.

Some would tumble and bend, and not penetrate as much as if they had stayed straight.

The same thing happens to solids made of either brass or copper too.

I would prefer to use a solid of either copper or brass, and avoid anything that has lead in it.

Speaking of Barnes Solids availability, check Graf & Sons, I bought some off of their website very recently and they showed to be in stock last night.

Karl

Speer African Grand Slams....

I'm writing this looking at the tusks from my last and final Elephant. It was shot with a 416Rigby using Woodleigh solids. He really didn't complain which bullet I used he just died. The previous Elephant I shot did the same thing though it was shot with a 470NE with Woodleigh solid. I DID recover that bullet and it was VERY slightly mishaped but on first glance it looks like it could be reused.

I would suggest CEB. Used them on an elephant in Namibia. Wound up unknowingly close to the
Botswana border when elephant was shot. Bullet
definitely landed in Botswana on a side brain. Good bullet and good company. They are very helpful if you have questions.

According to barnes you can still get them in .416

Please note the Banded Solids components and VOR-TX Safari ammunition products loaded with Banded Solids not included in the aforementioned calibers (e.g. 416, 470 and 500) and TSX bullets are not subject to the current armor piercing classification and continue to be available for purchase.

I used North Fork flat nose solids on elephant in Botswana and rhino at Mkuze and really liked the penetration I got on both animals. This was with a .416 Rigby. MMP

quote:

416 Rigby is plenty of gun for wild hogs!

I found out that my 416 worked well on hogs too and one coyote

Try these guys http://www.reloadinginternatio...llets&sort=1a&page=5

I found them very helpful and I imported CEB solids & HP bullets into NZ! So your state side deal should be easy.

Very helpful people & very easy to deal with.

One more vote for cutting edge bullets.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
This is what you need!

Yes.

Or any mono metal solid.

Talk to Michael458. I think the 400 gr CEB can get a bit long - the fact that it is brass AND that it has the driving bands with bore riding shank will make it longer. You may have to compress the loads or drop powder charge & velocity. Their 350 gr solid may be a better choice.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
Speaking of Barnes Solids availability, check Graf & Sons, I bought some off of their website very recently and they showed to be in stock last night.

Karl

Graf & Sons does have the 350gr Barnes banded solids!! They would match my 350gr Barnes TSX which group great out of my 416 Ruger. 350 gr should be fine for Tuskless I would think...

Opinions?

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Powell:

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
Speaking of Barnes Solids availability, check Graf & Sons, I bought some off of their website very recently and they showed to be in stock last night.

Karl

Graf & Sons does have the 350gr Barnes banded solids!! They would match my 350gr Barnes TSX which group great out of my 416 Ruger. 350 gr should be fine for Tuskless I would think...

Opinions?

I took a very large bodied bull in 2012 with 350 gr CEBs in my 416 B&M. had complete side to side penetration so I feel the 350 gr is enough. I would recommend trying the CEB for point of impact also. Esp if the barnes is the round nose design.

Looks good

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
This is what you need!

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Powell:

Opinions on the Hornady 400gr solids?

Used a Hornady DGS (in a .500 NE) on an elephant bull about a week ago. Worked perfectly and I would have no reservations about using again.

Small sample size. Two buffalo and and one tuskless with Hornady 400 grain solids in my .416 Rem. One shot was all that was needed although I put a couple of extras in to be sure. I recovered one follow up bullet shot length-wise in a buffalo and it was capable of being reloaded and shot again. I ran into Steve Hornady at the Harare airport on the way out and told him it was in good enough shape to reload and and he said, "Oh please don't we need the business..." You can spend a lot more but i can't see the point when you get results like I did.

Have used 3 Hornady DGS solids in 416 Rem Mag on 2 buffalo and an Eland. All did a perfect job.

Accurate, dependable, available
Mike