This is meant to be a thread that will discuss the plus/minuses of the existing expanding bullets for dangerous game.

Question:
Which is the best expanding dangerous game bullet for dangerous game?

Choices:
Swift A-Frame
North Fork Bonded Soft Point
Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Nosler Partition
Barnes TSX

 

You cannot really survey DG expanding bullets without including the Woodleigh RN and PP bullets that are loaded in Norma, RWS and Kynoch factory ammo plus readily available for handloaders.

What about the CEB non-con Raptor? Michael & sam's tests are legendary now!

I agree that the Woodleighs should be there as well.

Others might chime in about other mono metal bullets like GS custom etc.

GS Custom is also not on the list.

Yes, the list is not comprehensive enough, and no matter how long it becomes there will be some bullet left out.

Why not just ask people to list their preferred or three preferred bullets, and count the various entries?

Even then, many excellent bullets will not get votes just because few people have had the opportunity to test them.

I, for one, am quite sure that North Fork and GS Customs are first class bullets, but I've never had the chance to try one or see one in use, so i can only talk about those that I've used or seen used in the field.

Again, whatever the most popular bullet will be, that won't mean anything about its real qualities compared to others, only that it's the most widely used.

Quite meaningless, I'm afraid.

without Barnes TTSX (available now for 375 and 416), Barnes TSX, GSC HV, and CEB raptor and MTH, I will not vote.

Everything is a trade-off, of course.

reliable penetration
reliable penetration at higher velocites
expansion
wound channel
flight stability, resisteance to tumbling
accuracy
Ballistic Coefficient
fouling
pressure characteristics in loading/
ability to be loaded to higher velocities


the above are all considerations

For high velocity cartridges with bores below .400, I would choose the TSX and for slow velocity above .400 I would choose the A-frame or a heavy for caliber Woodleigh RN.Factors to consider are penetration,expansion,feeding and flight stability.

I shot the majority of my buffalos with my 460WM rifle and the classic old 500gr SP bullet from Hornady . Very good expanding bullet !

The few that i shot with bullets like A-frame from Swift or TSX from Barnes , i shot trough , never find the bullet ! I cannot answer the question .

I also did not vote with the selections available. I have used the CEB on my last 2 DG hunts and have been impressed with the devastating results of the CEB noncons in both the .416 Rem and the .458 Lott.

Ok, I will redo the survey. Sorry take 2.