Assume the quarry is larger plains game (zebra, wildebeest, kudu, eland) and that the choice of bullets is either North Fork or Nosler partition.

Also assume the bullets will be 300 grain .375's fired at 2500 fps.

Would the North Forks have any real advantage over the Noslers?

I would expect the NorthForks to disrupt more tissue along a long wound cavity, by virtue of the mushroom and solid shank.

George

Depends on what your after....

For tissue distruction and a bullet that expends all its energy inside the carcass and stops on the offhand side against the skin, then the NorthFork is the best of the lot.....

If on the other hand, you want two holes (penitration) and only decent tissue destruction then Noslers are the better of the two.....

Ray, from what you posted I conclude that you have observed deeper penetration with the nosler .375's than with the North Fork .375's. Did I get that right?

Thanks.

Ray,

What is your opinion on the 370 grain Northfork at 2,525 fps and the 400 grain Nosler Partition at 2,425 fps out of a 416 Rigby. The main purpose will be for cape buffalo in the North Chewore area of Zim. However, I expect to have a few targets of opportunity on plainsgame while hunting buffalo. These could range from Eland, Grysbuk, Kudu, Zebra, Impala, Warthog, etc.

I will be backing up the softs with the old style Hornady solids. If I go with the Northforks, I will push the solids to 2,525 fps to get the same POI. If I go with the Noslers, I will push the solids to 2,425 fps to get the same POI. I have already chronographed and tested these loads and the above velocities are correct in order to acheive the same POI with each soft.

Thanks.

Tim

I haven't killed a buffalo with the Northforks but I have killed 10 head of plains game with a 9.3X62, including Zebra, red Harte beest, Kudu, gemsbuck, blue wildebeest, water buck, and some smaller stuff and I only recovered one bullet, a followup raking shot on the wildebeest. The rest shot right through. I don't think penetration on plains game with a 375/North forks will be any problem. I use a lot of partitions in the 30 cals and lower and like them for deer and elk. From what you described I'd use the North Forks.

Either one will work well. The North Forks on the whole will normally have better accuracy, and open up well on smaller game. I used them on plains game, recovered three due to raking shots with the .375, penetration was about 4 ft or better and the 270 grain bullets weighed 263-264 grains after breaking the front shoulder joints as well.

By the way, the North Forks will zip right through any of the game you're talking about, mine through up dust on the other side of a zebra, after breaking the off side shoulder.

If I were hunting bachlor bulls in TAnzania for instance I would choose the 400 gr. Nosler at about 2400 FPS, and I get this massive waist level blood trail in the high grass where the sometimes run, thus I can track and pay attention to the grass in front of me if it starts moving.....

If I were hunting in the thick Jesse of zimbabwe for instance then I will always pick the 370 gr. 416 Northfork as it will stop on the offside skin every time and not go through and hit another bull or cow...

I would always back up either with a flat nose solid if they feed in the gun....they do in all of mine....and probably I would just use a solid anyway and be carefull...Every time I have a soft up front its the wrong choice and the Buff is looking over his shoulder at me! with a solid I can take the shot thats presented....

But the new Nosler 400gr. 416 bullet is one tough cookie, the toughest soft I have seen. I love that bullet..I have photographs of them but I don't have a clue how to post them on this web..I can send them to you directly if you will request it...

HI,

MR. Atkinson how about E-mailing T. Carr the pics of the 400 grain NP. He then could put them on for you as he did this for me also. I would be very interested in seeing them as when I live in AK the 400 NP may be the bullet for big bears also. Kev