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North Fork Lives!

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08 September 2008, 00:45
Charles_Helm
North Fork Lives!
Well I can't argue with that one! Big Grin


-------------------------------

Some Pictures from Namibia

Some Pictures from Zimbabwe

An Elephant Story

08 September 2008, 01:46
MacD37
Way to go Mike! I knew a bullet that well designed wouldn't stay dead for long!

GREAT NEWS!.............. thumb thumb thumb


....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

08 September 2008, 04:08
jetdrvr
quote:
Originally posted by JPK:
I alos received an email for Mike. He mentioned that production would take a while, a couple or three months, and that the new owners were making a significant investment in machinery with Swiss screw machines... Their goal was bullets well in time for next years safari season...

JPK



That's good news. There may be a Dakota 450 on my horizon and I would love to try some North Forks in it. Also would buy some .375's, although I'm stocked well with Woodleighs and A Frames. I'm only gonna shoot two buffalo next year, so it'll be a bitch making the decision...
08 September 2008, 05:46
phurley5
GeorgeS ----- I still shoot Swift A-Frames with some of my rifles. My .338 Lapua shoots the 225 grain Swift and North Forks into one hole groups. I had started with the Swifts on it before I discovered the North Forks and although the North Forks will duplicate the groups I am most certainly not getting rid of the Swifts and will shot them for many years. One of my grandsons killed his first Elk with the Lapua when he was 14 and now thinks there is no other rifles in the world, and he thinks of the Swift A-Frame the same. My .340 Wby pisses and moans whenever I shoot anything but the old 250 grain Barnes X or 240 grain North Forks threw it, and gives me groups to my liking often. I would never disparage the Swift A-Frame bullets and shoot many of them, if the rifle calls for them. By the same token I shoot hundreds of Nosler bullets per year, Mike stopped making anything smaller than .284 Caliber and I shoot many .243 up to .277 caliber bullets. It is just that usually when a rifle shoots a North Fork it is spoiled from then on. I do a lot of hunting for animals larger than Deer and when I go to the field for an animal, I will have the best bullet that rifle can shoot, regardless of brand. Good shooting.


phurley
08 September 2008, 07:19
MHC_TX
Great - the Northfork's are also my favorite bullet.
08 September 2008, 08:50
Michael Robinson
This is really great news. thumb

I certainly hope that Mike made out well for his years of R&D and plain hard work.

Now I can start shooting the many NFs on my shelves without worry that there will be no more of them!


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
08 September 2008, 09:53
fredj338
I'm also glad to hear that the NF is coming back on line. I hope the new guys run the outfit as well as Mike did, he was always responsive to his clients. I probably have enough .423 to last the rest of my hunting lifetime, but still good news. Now, I wonder waht the new NFs will cost? bewildered


LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT!
09 September 2008, 06:17
RIP
A 404 Jeffery and 470 Capstick testimonial to North Fork quality:

Recovered from a one-shot bison bull:
.423/380-grain soft at 2529fps, impact range 80 yards, into chest:









Accuracy of the .423/340-grain soft at 2706 fps MV from the same bison-killing 404 Jeffery rifle:

1 is fouling shot, and then 2-3-4 for group:



Then straight to 300 yards (after the wind was checked with a 300 RUM) for shots 5-6-7 for group:



The .474/500-grain Cup Points were improved in band structure, including making them a full .475", after my rifle found them good enough:





North Fork was the only maker of cup points that I knew of.

Tough choice between the grooved softpoint semispitzer (SS) versus the banded Cup Point Universal (CPU) for buffalo.

There could be no better solid than the banded Flat Point solid (FP) for elephant.
09 September 2008, 10:01
Atkinson
I have used A frames and North Forks on most game...when I tried the North Forks I never used another A Frame..I don't know if thats reason enough, but the are worth a try..at least I would have to find out, otherwise we would all still be using Remington Bronze Points or Lord knows what...If someone can come up with a better bullet than North Fork then I will try it and find out...

I sure hope they make the cup point, my all time favorite big bore bullet, hands down and for anything from Duiker to Buffalo...I have not used one on elephant but I;m betting it would have plenty of penetration..


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
10 September 2008, 01:31
Dago Red
Hey all, that is fantastic news, but not in time for season.

Let me ask a question, since I only have 50 250g 35 cal on the shelf. If I develop a load with another 250g (I can't remember what else I have on the shelf) how many rounds do you think I'd have to experiment with of the Northforks to dial it in?

I'm in that damn condor zone and was planning on hunting with my 375 figuring I had solids for it, not realizing they have lead cores. time to break out the whelen but I need to go to scratch on the load as the one my dad had for it is hotter than I like.

alternatively I was thining about gettting some tsx for my 308 norma and working a load up for it, but now that the northforks are coming back out figure why invest the time and money?? anybody got some 180's they want to offload? Big Grin

Thanks all, and especially for the great news.

Red


My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.
-Winston Churchill
10 September 2008, 07:50
jstevens
I have shot up a lot of game with NF bullets. They are certainly one of my favorites. Hate to say it, but the TSX's are pretty damn good too.


A shot not taken is always a miss
10 September 2008, 09:10
vapodog
It does piss me off that I stocked up on Accubonds so much as I'd far rather have the Northforks.....but when they (Northforks) come available again (depending on price) I'll stock up with them and sell the accubonds.....no special reason....I just like the Northforks...

This time I'm thinking I should have enough on hand to last a while.....prior thinking was to buy them as I needed them.....

I sure hope Northfork makes it a permanent deal this time...


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
10 September 2008, 11:09
Blair338/378
quote:
Originally posted by Macifej:
quote:
Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
quote:
Originally posted by shootaway:
No need to.


Roll Eyes


"I don't like Chocolate Cake!!"

"Have you ever tried chocolate cake..??"

"No...."

hillbilly


Big Grin rotflmo rotflmo


Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

10 September 2008, 16:44
Charles_Helm
quote:
Originally posted by Dago Red:
Hey all, that is fantastic news, but not in time for season.

Let me ask a question, since I only have 50 250g 35 cal on the shelf. If I develop a load with another 250g (I can't remember what else I have on the shelf) how many rounds do you think I'd have to experiment with of the Northforks to dial it in?

I'm in that damn condor zone and was planning on hunting with my 375 figuring I had solids for it, not realizing they have lead cores. time to break out the whelen but I need to go to scratch on the load as the one my dad had for it is hotter than I like.

alternatively I was thining about gettting some tsx for my 308 norma and working a load up for it, but now that the northforks are coming back out figure why invest the time and money?? anybody got some 180's they want to offload? Big Grin

Thanks all, and especially for the great news.

Red


North Fork softs are bonded lead and copper so no go for lead-ban areas. The cup point solids are for very big game like Cape Buffalo. The flat point solids are primarily for elephant. What are you hunting? My uneducated opinion is that you should be using an unleaded expanding bullet unless hippo, Cape Buffalo, rhino, elephant, or maybe giraffe are on the menu.


-------------------------------

Some Pictures from Namibia

Some Pictures from Zimbabwe

An Elephant Story

11 September 2008, 04:36
N E 450 No2
If you are in the Condor Area then as far as I know Barnes X bullets are your only choice.

I am not a Barnes X freek, but my wife and I have killed some game with them, and they have worked perfect.


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
12 September 2008, 08:32
Andy
Gerorge,

I like the Swifts.

I just like the NF more.

A 400 grain and 450 grain .458 Swift have velocity limitations.

the North Fork does not.

It is the difference between a good bullet and a great bullet.

If you shoot alot of powder it does make a difference.

Andy
12 September 2008, 14:10
BigFiveJack
Mike had told me in the past, that the
largest diameter he could do was .483 inch.
Will they now be able to supply the 500 NE
and larger sizes, like Ed Hubel's 12 GFH?
Imagine the elephant that is hit by a .729
diameter NF Flat at 1200 grain weight!!!

What ever, this is good news for me as my
rifle calls for .410 diameter bullets.



Jack

OH GOD! {Seriously, we need the help.}

12 September 2008, 20:26
shootaway
When it comes down to the last week before the hunt,those bullets shooting most accurate and are among the TSX,A-frames,North Fork,TBBC,Woodleigh FMJ,will get the green light.
12 September 2008, 23:21
Atkinson
Damn Shoot away what your indicating is that there are a lot of great bullets out there today...AND YOUR SPOT ON MY MAN!! clap


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
13 September 2008, 08:07
Bwana-be
via email:
"Not quite yet. Our plan is to be back up in November. We'll update the website soon with more detailed information."


Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
14 September 2008, 05:30
RIP
November! Great!
14 September 2008, 08:36
Andy
quote:
When it comes down to the last week before the hunt,those bullets shooting most accurate and are among the TSX,A-frames,North Fork,TBBC,Woodleigh FMJ,will get the green light.


Hopefully, you have already decided what you are taking to Africa and shot a couple hundred rounds through your rifle.

I dont get this line of thought at all.

So what if you are one inch or 1/8 inch at 100 yards.

Can you shoot that well off hand at an elephant or from shooting sticks at a buffalo?

Retained weight and frontal area are what matter.



North Forks are best soft point on the planet.

And accurate too, but thats not as important as retained weight and FA.

Andy
14 September 2008, 20:29
Bwana-be
I guess the previous message was from the new owners.
This came yesterday from Mike:

"Not right now but they will be. It will take some time for the new owners to get going. The larger African calibers are first (due to the season coming up) and yes solids will be high on the priority list. I am not the one that will be deciding the prices so I cannot really say what they will be at this time. There will be some price adjustments, I'm sure.

Mike"


Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
15 September 2008, 01:55
GarBy
I can say from personal experience that nothing can happen until sometime after this next week.....that's because their new production manager....and a great gent I must add.....is hunting buff in Zambia as I type this...well actually he's in bed by now. His name is Andy Evans and he's about as enthusiastic about this venture as Mike is/was.
We crossed paths for one evening in camp as he flew in on the charter I flew out on the next day. He was shooting a 404 Jeff HE BUILT on an Enfield action...did ALL the work himself. If them bullets look anywhere near as good as his rifle.....we're all in for a treat.
Mike....I think your heir apparent is a good one!

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC
15 September 2008, 20:09
Strut10
Great news, indeed!!!

Shop closed up just prior to me getting to try the product. Was wanting some 300 gr. .375's to play with in my Webby as well as some lighter .375's and .338's for the uncle's RUM.


Founder....the OTPG
15 September 2008, 20:36
Atkinson
For what its worth, most everyone has arbitraily accepted the fact that the North Fork Cup Points are only suitable for Buffalo and larger game, which indicates to me they have not used them on plainsgame...

I have shot a lot of plainsgame with the Cup Points in 9.3x62, 375, 416 and 404 and they performed for me just like a soft point, nothing has run over about 75 yards and they leave good blood trails, internal damage was sufficient and exit holes about nickle to quarter in size. Meat damage was a little less than a regular soft point and about what one would expect from one of the tougher soft points like a conventional core and cup 220 gr. 30-06 perhaps, unless you hit a heavy bone, then damage was extensive, at least in one case it was..

I don't know how they would work in lighter calibers but I intend to find out in the near future..I suspect they will work fine in calibers of .308 and above but wouldn't swear to it.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
17 September 2008, 19:01
aktoklat
Great news,NF bullets are out of retirement. Congratulations to Mike! I wished a major ammo company would pick them up and load factory ammo. The folks that do not reload would really have a treat.
18 September 2008, 01:42
jbderunz
quote:
Originally posted by aktoklat:
Great news,NF bullets are out of retirement. Congratulations to Mike! I wished a major ammo company would pick them up and load factory ammo. The folks that do not reload would really have a treat.


Norma should add the North Fork to their PH line of ammunition. thumb


J B de Runz
Be careful when blindly following the masses ... generally the "m" is silent
18 September 2008, 02:00
aktoklat
I have been shooting emails to Mike and everything seems ago!


Focus on the leading edge!
19 September 2008, 08:45
Steve Lefforge
I was just curious, will North Fork Bullets stay here in Wy or will they be built else where...just wondering.

Steve
19 September 2008, 09:59
Andy
RIP,

Can you repost your photos onto my thread for pictures of NF bullets?

Andy
20 September 2008, 01:53
RIP
Sure, bison bullets from North Fork. thumb
20 September 2008, 19:49
Timan
Good,
I too have been hopeing this would happen.
Best of luck to the new owners.
Timan



21 September 2008, 03:32
460wby
Even here in Norway the North Fork is popular. Really good news that they are back in business. Very good accuracy, and deep penetration without blowing up. I really like it!

I'll take a good glas of cognac to celebrate! banana


*Treat problems like a dog; Take a sniff ..... If it can't be killed, eaten, or fucked? Just pie on it, and walk on!:-)

Arild.
21 September 2008, 06:54
SDhunter
quote:
If you are in the Condor Area then as far as I know Barnes X bullets are your only choice.


Wouldn't E-Tips be legal also?
21 September 2008, 08:29
N E 450 No2
Nosler E Tips should be legal as well.


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
21 September 2008, 08:34
N E 450 No2
Also for handgun ammo Cor-Bon with the DPX bullet has been certified lead free.


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
22 September 2008, 00:24
chuck375
Hi Rip, very impressed with the 470 Capstick groups. I plan to seat mine out a bit (I've got a CZ 550), is there any chance North Fork will make a 550g bullet in 470?

Chuck


Regards,

Chuck



"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"

Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness"
22 September 2008, 02:19
RIP
I dunno.
500 grains is perfect in any .475 I know of.
You really need a Rigby-length box (like with a CZ 550 Magnum 470 Capstick) to be able to shoot any and every 500-grainer out there.
Loading longer with the 500-grainers that allow it will give the 470 Capstick even more oomph with tough 500 grainers of any length/ogive/nose/crimping configuration, etc.

Best to use a 1:10" TWIST! thumb
22 September 2008, 08:43
Warrior
quote:
Retained weight and frontal area are what matter.


beer

Warrior