Looks like the perfect .395-caliber/330-grain FN brass solid By Bear Head.

AWESOME!

that is .302 S.D. y'all

Very Nice Bullet!!!!! Do they make them in different weighs like 400 & 500 grs.

No room for metal displaced by engraving = no good for DR's.

JPK

/

looking suhweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Congrats to all involved for bringing this baby to term so quickly.

Now, to get some in 550 caliber.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

JPK, why no room. Are you saying the grooves are not wide enough? Brass is pretty soft isn't it?
peter.

For a DR you want driving bands like this:



In other words, very thin driving bands with enough space in between to accept the material displaced by rifling.

The bullet RIP posted is actually a grooved bullet, not a driving band bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
I'm confused ( as usual )

Why would this be "perfect" and Barnes's solid be no good as per the AR kangaroo court

A) Barnes doesn't make a .395" anything.
B) Barnes doesn't make a bullet with this profile.
c) The customer who requested this design doesn't want a Barnes product.
D) Barnes didn't go from request to product delivery in one week.
E) The customer doesn't plan to use them in a DR.
F) Did anyone complain about Barnes? I designed and produced these bullets and I still use Barnes bullets all the time.

seems this is a mission specific bullet...nothing wrong with that.

Can I be the first to say I want one...just one I can handle it...I can quit at any time...

I am sure the next batch will be good for dr's and making esspresso.

If he added one or two more "bands" that would reduce the width of the bands...would that be enough for dr's? Give it a 50/50 bearing surface.

500 Grains Double rifle is probably a vintage one - that being the case it would make sense that he would want to use a driving band design in softer material. Given that most of use are using modern bolt guns with high pressure loads - the tougher grooved design is better suited to what we're doing.

BoomStick - RIP owns them all so you'll have to trade him some trinkets for that ONE bullet! You could get your .395 going and join him and the Prof in 395 land eh??

Those beauties should probably go to better use like sighting in and klling stuff but I would like one for my collection...

Dreaming is free

I am just so proud of those involved and the comming together here at AR to make stuff happen and not wait for the manufacturers to do anything.

Congrats all.

Speaking of mission specific...

Would these not be for defensive last shots and elephant brain shots?

the jacketed and cast would see the most action wont they?

I've got to get a check to RIP.
"Alms for the Poor."
The softpoints seem to be well on their way. I have to send some to RIP (been very busy) tomorrow.

RIP/Bear Head, great looking bullet.

One week turn around, with wildfires in the area of the shop.

Keith

Macifej: You have a PM

does this mean that you have a source of bullets?

This bullet is bound to be accurate, a good penetrator, a reliable feeder in boltactions, and not for antique double rifles.
Loads need to be developed and penetration in the Iron Buffalo compared to the yardstick of GSC FN and North Fork FP.

A million thanks to Macifej who made this happen, despite his busy schedule. I must reciprocate with a good wringing out of performance over the chronograph, on targets of paper near and far, bullet trap, and large bovids from southside to northside, for starters.

My work schedule has taken a busy turn too, but I'll get back with y'all.

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:
500 Grains Double rifle is probably a vintage one - that being the case it would make sense that he would want to use a driving band design in softer material. Given that most of use are using modern bolt guns with high pressure loads - the tougher grooved design is better suited to what we're doing.

BoomStick - RIP owns them all so you'll have to trade him some trinkets for that ONE bullet! You could get your .395 going and join him and the Prof in 395 land eh??

No, 500 Grains has shot the greater majority of his elephants with a Searcy 500. As for me, I ahve shot all with a Marcel Thys in 458wm. Niether is vintage. This bullet is simply unsuitable in a double rifle.

JPK

This bullet was not designed for double rifles.
When Bear Head Bullets gets around to double rifle bullets, it will have to be in the traditional calibers, with tiny little bands about .0005" greater than groove diameter and the inter-band shank being right at bore diameter.

All you owners of doubles: Slug your barrels and determine the land and groove diameters and order some Bear Heads.

It takes Macifej about 5 minutes to whip up a design for your approval.

Or get existing ones from GSC and North Fork.
Gerard Schultz can do custom land and groove specs. Mike Brady has done ".474 and .475+" for 470 NE.

Macifej can get it done in a week, and it will be a unique design of his own that will work. No patent infringements there.

There may have been some old doubles in .395: 400 Nitro For Blackpowder 3-Inch. But if I ever find one of those, it will be a wallhanger until proper bullets are made, or cast lead will be used like in the originals.

I look forward to the results of the test firing!

I believe the Iron Buffalo will have some brass in his plywood ass!!

400 of these beauties arrived in Kentucky today.
Totally amazing service by the Dynamic Duo at "Bear Head Bullets": Macifej and Machinist, Jay and Mark. Only 9 days from concept to UPS delivery, weekend included!



I promise to post accuracy and penetration results as soon as I can, but I cannot promise what day and minute it will be done.

Schmidt&Bender on 16X.

quote:

I promise to post accuracy and penetration results as soon as I can, but I cannot promise what day and minute it will be done.

Since reloading and shooting is far less technical than designing and manufacturing bullets, we at least expect you to gratify our vicarious needs for results FASTER than it took Macifej to get you the bullets.

The clock is ticking!

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:

quote:

I promise to post accuracy and penetration results as soon as I can, but I cannot promise what day and minute it will be done.

Since reloading and shooting is far less technical than designing and manufacturing bullets, we at least expect you to gratify our vicarious needs for results FASTER than it took Macifej to get you the bullets.

The clock is ticking!

Cheers,
Canuck

Canuck,
Bite me! I am in Minnesota right this moment.

Searched the internet to find a website? I am guessing there isn't one.

Will there ever be ?

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:

quote:

I promise to post accuracy and penetration results as soon as I can, but I cannot promise what day and minute it will be done.

Since reloading and shooting is far less technical than designing and manufacturing bullets, we at least expect you to gratify our vicarious needs for results FASTER than it took Macifej to get you the bullets.

The clock is ticking!

Cheers,
Canuck

Canuck,
Bite me! I am in Minnesota right this moment.

You don't take your Lee "hand" loading tools on the road with you?

Bite me? Sheesh!

I think "giga-byte me" is more appropo for internet smack talk.

Cheers, traveling care-giver,
Canuck

Canuck,
Fair enough. Giga-byte me then, and notice that the Moonie is smiling:

Buglemintoday,
If Macifej gets something going, it will probably be linked to: www.2-bore.com
"Bear Head Bullets" is just a play, by me, on his handle here at ar.com. "Macifej" is Hungarian for "bear head," terms of endearment from his wife, IIRC.

He has a "day job" and I have a "day job" and all this "gun stuff" gets stuffed in where it can. The bullets are a special deal to put me out of my misery over lack of GSC bullets so far. I will be eternally grateful for these .395 bullets to keep the .395 ball rolling, slow as it is, though the entire concept only started about 11 months ago.

My apologies for no targets nor brass in the ass of the "Iron Buffalo" one day after the bullets arrived in Kentucky, but I have just arrived in MN, near the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It is a creek coming out of Itasca Lake, I hear.

My apologies also to Macifej, for not being able to shoot his bullets this weekend.

quote:

but I have just arrived in MN, near the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It is a creek coming out of Itasca Lake, I hear.

You need to update your "location".

The fishin's pretty good around there I hear.

Cheers,
Canuck

Done.

quote:

Schmidt&Bender

Rip has nice taste...in scopes

macifej "mac" might have a more lively part time gig afer the testing I predict

next step...powdered tungsten cores.

No apologies necessary. I'm surprised they have electricity in that part of the world. Take your time RIP and post what you can when you can. We always enjoy your loaded cartridge comparison photos too. Quality over velocity I say.

I have plenty to keep me busy, like getting the 505 and 550 Bullets finished and into production. At some point I might get back into the 2-Bore game as well.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

Schmidt&Bender

Rip has nice taste...in scopes

macifej "mac" might have a more lively part time gig afer the testing I predict

next step...powdered tungsten cores.

You're on the right track Boomer but I have something more tricky than that up my sleeve.

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

Schmidt&Bender

Rip has nice taste...in scopes

macifej "mac" might have a more lively part time gig afer the testing I predict

next step...powdered tungsten cores.

You're on the right track Boomer but I have something more tricky than that up my sleeve.

lead filled? solid tungsten? brass tubes over tungsten solids?

What no classic 577 solids?

If several people got together and ordered at the same time it would make your life easier...

Thanks for being the "bulletmaker to the stars"

p.s. since north fork does not make solids over .458" you have a nice niche market.

a solid in 470 would be popular here especialy a dual duty one suitable for DR's and turn bolt trash like myself...

I will be in the 470 club soon

Hope you are having fun

Nope! no, no, and no on #4! Maybe on the 470's.

If these ever go into production on a large level I would be interested in getting some! Very handsome looking projectile