The Accurate Reloading Forums
.416 Swift A Frames
06 May 2005, 05:36
richard anderson.416 Swift A Frames
Has anyone used these on Buff? I'm considering this bullet in a .416 Taylor for an upcoming hunt in August. The bullet weight is 400gr.
06 May 2005, 06:43
AnotherAZWriterI have killed two buffalo with this bullet. Both one shot kills. One was a head shot however.
06 May 2005, 08:29
mstarlingOur PH last year in RSA was very experienced with Buff. He kept making sure we'd heard his strong preference for the A-frame on Buff. Every time we'd talk about high quality bullets he'd politely but firmly remind us about the A-frame.
He was a very practical guy, so I take that as a strong endorsement of the A-frame.
Mike
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DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ...
Knifemaker,
http://www.mstarling.com 06 May 2005, 10:31
JBoutfishnI have taken 2 buff with 350 grain Swift A Frames in 416 Rem Mag.(pictured on right)
Without weighing them again, I believe they had 78% weight retention
Jim "Bwana Umfundi"
NRA
06 May 2005, 13:06
D Hunter416, SWIFT A-Frames and buffalo just seem to go together. I know there are other good bullets out there too. My son killed two buffs with the A-Frame in 375. I killed my two with 416 400gr A-Frames in a Rigby. My first one was quartering toward me. I hit it right on the point of the shoulder. It was found on the off hide just under the skin. The PH said this was typical. He said if you hit them right with a 416 and A-Frames they won't go far. These didn't. Good hunting.
Although cartridge selection is important there is nothing that will substitute for proper first shot placement. Good hunting, "D"
06 May 2005, 19:00
richard andersonThank you all for the endorsment on the A Frame. I will begin load development.
I have used .375 300gr Aframes on bison and they worked beautifully. Also used .375 270gr A-frames on plains game in RSA and it performed flawlessly in each case.
I have developed a very accurate .416 400gr load for my 416 Taylor, but haven't used it on anything fleshy yet (hopefully elk and moose this year though). Try RL 15, starting at about 70grains and working up. My best load was 73grs with a magnum primer.
If you want to see more glowing reports of the A-frames on cape buffalo, check out Boddington's new video, "Boddington on Buffalo". Its a great vid.
Cheers,
Canuck
07 May 2005, 05:33
richard andersonThanks for the RL 15 tip Cannuck. I will also be looking at IMR 3031 & 4320. I have used the 3031 with the 300gr Barnes X bullet with good accuracy and velocity.
08 May 2005, 05:17
hacksawtomWhew! That was my choice for a buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe this October. I've use A-Frame, 300 grain in my .375 and love 'em.
Swift, Silent, & Friendly
08 May 2005, 23:04
p dog shooterI find RL15 inferior to IMR4064 in my 416taylor I find I have to use 3 to5 grs more powder with RL15 then with 4064 for the same Vel. Before I brought a bunch of RL15 I would try 4064.
09 May 2005, 09:40
AtkinsonI used them a good deal some years back but as you can see by the photographs posted, they form a smooth round ball and have no tearing petals...I have seen plainsgame make too many tracks with them without a good blood trail and I think that is the reason. it seemed to happen only from time to time.
I have a 375 taken from a buffalo that had been double lung shot at some point in his life and was found under the skin in a ball of grissle, that didn't do much to make me a fan, as that bull was fat and sassy, apparantly he had not forgotten his ordeal..He graces my wall and my web page...
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
I have had great success with Swift A-Frames. I used to use Trophy Bonded but when Jack Carter died I switched to Swift A-Frames. I like them because they mushroom to twice their original size and retain most of their original weight. Even though they don't have cutting petals like TSX they inflict tremendous damage. I have had TSX bullets lose all of their petals so I prefer Swift. I called Swift once with a problem on loading useing their Manual and the owner of the company sent nearly an hour of his time on the phone, "3 phone calls" and he returned my calls, plus gave me his home number in case I couldn't reach him at the office. You don't get that level of service often from anyone. CHEERS