I am looking for a bullet for my 458WM and would like some oppinions on which of these two are prefered.

I used the Swifts on my first trip to Africa and they all performed perfectly. No dangerous game but the recovered bullets on eland, gemsbuk and other tough skinned plains game were perfect mushrooms. I think they are great bullets.

Both are good bullets. The Bear Claw has a solid base (no lead) as opposed to the A-frame. I believe the Bear Claw sits deeper in the case and with its limited capacity, this may be an issue with the 458WM, esp. with 500 grain bullets.

I would like to go with the 500gr bullet and want it to be tough enough for buffalo.

As was said before, either will work, and either one would be a very good choice. Use the one which shoots the best in your rifle.

Geronimo

I don't remember much talk about the performance of the 500gr SPEER TBC on buffalo.Perhaps you can remind me of such an event.

I consider the A-Frame, TBBC, and Northfork to be the same bullet as far as performance is concerned.

All are extremely good bullets.

Many here would add Woodleigh to that list as well.

Is the copper shank on the TBC a PURE copper shank? If not, any disadvantages with whatever it is made out of? Any accuracy reports with these bullets from this caliber?

Have used the Swift A-frame in Africa with the 300 Win Mag, 375 H&H, and 460 Weatherby.

Have used the Trophy Bonded Bearclaw in Africa with the 280 Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum, the 375 H&H, and the 378 Weatherby.

Have used them on wildebeest, kudu, zebra, eland, gemsbok, tsessebe, hartebeest, etc.

Have not used them on buffalo.


Have never recovered a Trophy Bond.

Recovered two Swifts. A 375 300-grain fired from a 375 H&H at 200+ yards at a gemsbok. The other was a 458 500-grain fired from a 460 Wby at 200+ yards at an eland. The 460 bullet recovered from the eland penetrated from a frontal chest shot between the legs all the way to the hip. In both the gemsbok and eland, another Swift penetrated all the way through the animal.

Have not had any bullet failures with either the Swift or the Trophy Bond.

Hammer,in your 375 H&H,which of the two grouped better?

It has been a few years since I did this. Can't recall that one stood out more than the other in accuracy.

My first experience with Swift A-frames (umpteen years ago) was lousy accuracy and ended up using Nosler Partitions on that trip. But by their second year Swift A-frame accuracy was fine.

I have recovered 2 500 gr Swift A Frames from cape buff and one from an eland, all shot out of my 450 No2 Double rifle.

All 3 gave excellent penetration and excellent expansion.

I have recovered 200gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaws from 2 elk and one from a red fox [it went through the fox and was found in deep snow], from a 300 Win Mag.

I have also recovered 165 TB's from African game and wild pigs from a 308.

They two have performed perfectly.

I've used TBBCs in 375 and 30-06 on Buffalo and plainsgame. They worked beautifully and I plan to keep using them. Having said that, if I had to use A-square I'd do so with no qualms. I'd say use the one that groups the best in your rifle.

TerryR

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
I'd say use the one that groups the best in your rifle.

TerryR

+1

IMHO the TBBC is the better bullet. Simple physics - the heavy end is fwd. And they WORK! Currently laying in a stock in 416/400 gr, 375/300 gr, 270/130 gr and 30 cal 165 & 180 gr. I've used em on Buff (Cape & Water), elk, and deer. They really WORK.

Go with the North Fork!!! Work great in my .458WM.

I would venture a guess that a majority of buff taken by Americans are done with the TBCs. Accuracy on any of the bonded bullets are pretty good. THe swifts aren't bad either. Most of the rest love the woodleighs (Australian mfg).

John

Load 450 gr N F solids and softs ahead of AA 2230 and Fed 215 primers and I will bet you will be happy!

I can't get the Northforks.I will be testing the Swift A-Frame and TSX soon and see what I get as far as accuracy and velocity go.If I can get the TSX 500gr to shoot tight and fast at 200yds,I'll stop there.If not I will order some Speer TBBC's and see what they do.

I just ordered some Speer TBBC's.I look forward to seeing how they group.I heard the Woodleighs were too soft.I do not want to shoot the one with a steel jacket because I feel it may damage my bore.