I spoke with Ty about two weeks ago...really nice guy and very helpful. I was inquiring about Solids and was informed that Barnes has been testing new designs that include both a flat nose and triple shock type grooves.

I am heading to Africa next week so I asked Ty if some of the new design Solids would be available for me to try. He did his best to locate some but they were not available. It seems Barnes is in the process of finalizing the design, etc. Ty did tell me the new Solid design should be available in the next few months.

Northfork is allready in production of a flat nose solid and better yet a cup point flat nose solid...

I tested these bullets in Tanzania this year on a lot of buffalo and the cup point flat nose solid is revolutionary IMO...it does it all in spades...

I recovered 7 of them from lengthwise shots on buffalo and they expand just a little and penitrate like a solid..the kill very quickly..From all broadside shots they pass through and even in one instance after breaking "both" shoulders. Blood outletting on both sides is dramatic to say the least.

I have pictures of the 7 recovered bullets but do not have the ability to post them here..I can send them to an individual however and would be glad to do so on request...

GS customs makes a flat nose solid also...and I understand that Bridger bullets is going to start back up with their flat nose solid...I have also tested these bullets on Buffalo and they work fine..

The advantage of a Flat nose monolithic solid over a Speer Tungston core bullet is they are considerably cheaper to buy and they have a cutting shoulder, which the speer does not, and I am convienced, contrary to some reports, the cutting shoulder has an effect on the animal when hit in that it cuts a cleaner intrance wound, and shaves the hair around the intrance hole, which could keep the blood flowing in some cases I suspect. The cutting shoulder also cuts vital vessels and arterys where a more rounded bullet like the speeur allows them to slide past without damage...I do know that Buffalo bleed more profusely when shot with a simi wadcutter designed solid like the Northfork, Bridger or GS Custom, why not? it has been working in pistols for years, why not in rifles..

But with the availability of the Northforks flat nose cup point all other buffalo bullets are history IMO...

Ray:

You got me all excited. I immediately called Northfork to order some of those bullets. Advised they will be available after Jan 1...Well I will wait till then to try them.

Fellow I talked with was very helpful!

I think if you wait a few months, you will see such a bullet coming from the Barnes factory. Word is they might even be trying the groove deal with the solids as well.

Russ:

Myself and others on AR have contacted Barnes regarding the possibility of a flat nose monolithic solid . Ty at Barnes said they are considering a design change of the solids to include a flat meplat and with grooves similar to their successful Triple Shock line. It sounds like they are seriously listening to input from shooters.

No date for production was mentioned. Feel free to contact them with your suggestions.

RCG