WOW. Looked on their website because I havent seen a bullet from this Co. Neat bullet as well as the design. for a box of .308 150 grainSS the price was 40 bucks. Thats a $1.25 per bullet. My question is are they really worth the money. All I hunt right now is deer. Maybe for big game there worth it, I dont know. Lets hear from all the veteren users...how bout' accuracy, terminal performance, fouling, etc. Thanks.

-John

I plan on trying some in the future. I usually shoot the Nosler Part. Keep in mind the bullet is the cheapest part of the hunt. A box of 50 would probably last you through load development & a couple years of hunting. Yuo can always practice w/ cheaper bullets.

Devide 40 by 50 instead of 50 by 40, is a easy way to save .45 per bullet! For hunting only .80 is cheap for one good bullet! Good hunting, Ed

John17 --- First of all, for Deer sized game the North Fork is not necessary, unless you want to shoot the best performing bullet on the market. They are the most accurate tough premium bullet out there. My experience with them is limited to .284, .308, .338, .358, and .416. ------- I have taken two Bull Elk with them, and loaded them for friends who have taken Elk out to 418 yards with them, with excellent results and no complaints. They are tougher than everything except the Barnes X, and usually considerably more accurate in my rifles. They seat nicely, and do not foul barrels as much as other premiums, despite the solid rear shank. The grooves take care of that. I have gone to the North Fork with all my rifles, yep they are not cheap, but for me, when I go through all the necessary costs relating to the hunt, the bullet costs are chicken feed. I use them for practice also because at the end of the day, my confidence is on top because of their good groups. Good shooting.

I have just taken 10 different plains game in August with the 250gr North Fork in .366 (9.3x62). This bullet works extremely well and is very accurate. Out of the ten animals shot I recovered one bullet (a raking shot at a blue wildebeest). I am also a fan of the X bullets but for plains game and elk sized game I like the North forks a little better because they always work (expand) properly.

john17: I'd agree with the comment about not needing them for deer sized animals but having said that, my initial impressions of them are that they are very good. I've decided to go to them for my .338 Mag for use on moose & elk partly because I want to try something else besides a Nosler Partition. Everything I've heard about them is good - haven't seen a negative comment anywhere. Their instructions for load development should be followed. My accurate load was with Rldr 22 and a Horn. 225 gr. bullet giving me 2800 fps with 75.5 grs. of powder. Using the Northfork 225 gr. bullet, I acheived the same velocity with 70.5 grs. of powder. Accuracy is a consistant 1 inch. As mentined above, the bullet is the cheapest part of a hunt, even at $0.86 a pop. I'm hoping to try them on elk on Afognak Island in a couple of weeks. Good luck. Bear in Fairbanks

Only you and your firearm will know...but you won't know until you try them...until then, you just have to keep guessing.

[ 09-26-2003, 23:45: Message edited by: ricciardelli ]

No, they are not worth it for killing deer sized game! If you want braggin' rights to using a high dollar bullet and that sort of shit is important to you, they are indeed worth every penny.
However, a good bullet, no matter how good, will not make up for a bad shot.
That said, IMHO, I would buy a big sack of Horns or Core lokts for the same money and practice, practice, practice. If you stick a Horn or Corelokt or Nosler(if you want to get pricey) into the proper spot -including a raking shot if you're into shooting animals in the ass- on a deer sized animal, he is going to tip over right handily.
Now then, having said that, if you are shooting a loudenboomenscreamer with a light for calibre bullet at warp speed, then forget the standard bullets. They're not up to the task. You do need to go with the high dollar bullets.

It's true, they are not necesssary for deer size game. It would be cheeper if I used what was necessary but I don't. I do this for fun and like seeing what different bullets do. You can be cheep and there is nothing wrong with that, I'm very cheep with some things in my life but I tend to spend money on shooting, cranking out an extra dime per bullet is no big deal if you are having fun.

It's still cheaper to buy a box of premium bullets that it is to take my wife out to dinner and a movie.

I was in a gun store right after Speer came out with their Tungston Grand Slam Bullets. Several fellows were discussing the outrageous price of $5.00 a bullet and were of the opinion that anyone was nuts to shoot those. I then asked them if they had just spent $2,000 on airfare and $21,000 on minimum 21 day hunt fees and was looking at an irritated 12,000 pound Bull elephant or 2,000 pound cape buffalo at 25 feet would the $5.00 for the "best bullet I could get" seem exorbitant. They all agreed that it did change their perspective. One asked if anybody made a $20.00 bullet. It all depends on your perspective.

[ 09-27-2003, 03:07: Message edited by: Old & Slow ]

John 17, I've used one hell of alot of different bullet in the .308 caliber. And for deer there are alot I haven't tried that will probably do the job. Deer just aren't that hard to put down. And as far as "dropping them in their tracks", well, I've shot'em with a .375 H&H at 55 yards and hit him right in the boiler room. The deer still ran 30 yards before dropping. But let's address the long range part of the equation. 150 grain bullets will drift much, much more in high wind conditions at long range. They are shorter and thus are not as stable as a longer 165 grain bullet. Some of my former competors in the High Power Rifle Shoots would use 180 grain bullets on even relatively calm days at the 600 yard targets just for the stability factor/not having to correct for as much windage. The difference in drop between the 150 grain and 165 grain is basically negligent and the 165 has better stopping power after the 200 to 400 yard distance. After that...well I don't normally try shots that far. Some claim to take the longer shots but that's not what hunting is about anyway. Brand names such as the Nosler Ballistic Tip are very good and my all time favorite is the Sierra Game King. They are extremely accurate and modestly priced. If you want a little higher priced bullet and fine performer, the Fail Safe won't let you down. Just remember, when reloading the Fail Safe that it is fatter on out toward the end of the bullet and your seating die will have to be adjusted accordingly. As far as spending the extra money on the High Priced Bullets spend it on gas to go hunting. Good shooting, Mike

HI,

PHURLEY,with the 416,Rigby. Northfork's 370 grain bullet, what is the B.C and what is the best speed you have got from it. I am just wondering how is the trajectory compared to other bullets of simular weights. Kev

uuuhhhhh, Old and Slow, we're talking about deer (and deer sized) animals here. Not elephants nor Cape buffalos. Even if you have 42 gazillion dollars tied up in a hunt, a Northfork bullet IS NOT NEEDED to kill deer sized game. As I said, if the "braggin' rights, ego thing" is important to you, the most expensive bullet made is worth every cent. Why do you think so many of these dorks drive Hummers?

Kev --- My speeds with the Rigby are in the 2530 fps range. I don't know the BC of the 370 grain North Fork, you might find it at ----- www.northforkbullets.com. ----- Once again, on Deer sized game, any bullet will do. However when I go after Elk I have the North Fork in my rifle, Mule Deer get the same bullet, just for consistency. I don't want to be changing loads in the field. ----- I hunt Elk on my own, with a group of friends, son and grandson. Not a high cost hunt, but I still will use North Forks, simply because they will do the job, without fail. Those that I instruct on shooting will also be using them, but only if they shoot best in their rifles, and they usually do. ----- I dream of Africa someday, and guess what bullet I will use. That shot of a lifetime deserves the best, when it comes. Good shooting.

One word "YES" If you want the most accurate premium bullet there is!

HI,

PHURLEY, thanks for the information, I was just wondering how far could you use the 370 in the 416 Rigby,within reason.Have you used this bullet out to 300 yards and how does it work at that range. Kev

Kev ---- I just started on the .416 Rigby. That 370 North Fork would be a real thumper out to 300 yards, which is my limit. I have had no experience with it in the field at this point. It is a real shooter from the bench so far. If I get that dream trip to Africa, either it or the .416
Rem will be my DGR, with a .358 STA for plains game if I don't use the .416 for everything. I hope I have to make that choice soon. Good shooting.

I have used the NorthForks on a lot of Cape Buffalo, some Eland and all sorts of plainsgame in 338, 300 H&H, 375 and mostly in the 416 Rem.

It is the most accruate bullet I have used in all my guns that I have tried them in!!! and you can make book on a picture perfect expanded bullet on EVERY bullet you recover from game, just like in the North Fork brochure...

I have about 8 or 10 of them including one each from a Cape Buffalo spine and an Eland spine and if that won't tear one up then nothing will and they both look just like the others, perfect mushrooms...

I don't see how you could find a better performing bullet if you like big expanded mushrooms and a world of destroyed tissue...

I got my only instant kill on a Buffalo with a heart shot Cape buffalo with a 370gr. Northfork out of my Searcy 416 Rem. Mauser.....On Buff you will invaribly be able to cut your bullet out on the off skin where the lump was formed by the bullet....