Has anyone used these bullets before? I was wondering if they might be something to try for those of us using our bigbores on smallish game here in Oz.
And does anyone know what the quality is that causes them to actually break up? Thin hard/brittle jacket?


Karl.

I have some but never used them beyond testing loads in my A-Square rifle.

According to A-Square they have a thin jacket that is deliberately brittle. The lead is alloyed brittle also. The effect is the same as placing a shotgun against the side of the animal. At least that is what the book said. They are not supposed to penetrate very far.

These are probably not hunting loads so much as they are self defense loads. I would think that they are for close range and do a lot of meat damage.

Karl,
I've used Lion Loads in a couple of calibers including 505, 416, and .375. In my experience they are just as advertized, very fragile. I've been rather careful about shot placement, avoiding large bones. On deer/impala they will exit with a softball-sized exit wound on a broadside behind the shoulder shot. I've shot Cape buffalo using the Lion Load in 505 and 416. The rounds penetrated behind the shoulder and exploded in the thoracic cavity. Heart and lungs were jellied and the animals instantly incapacited. Only small shards of lead were found and the off side ribs were not touched. I use them in situations where I want Ballistic Tip like performance in a large caliber rifle.

You can achieve the same thing with a thin jacket bullet from www.hawkbullets.com. Maybe the Taipans there in Oz are similar in performance.

I used them once in my .416 Taylor on a moose. It was the last round in the magazine (had it there incase a close shot on a bear was needed) anyhow I hit the moose in the hump to knock it over all that happened was a spectacular display of hair and gristle flying all over the dang place. the moose (est live wt 1500#) finally expired to the 2 rounds of Dead Tough through his lungs. Sometimes it takes a while before a moose knows it dead, he was heading for the water (which he made it to). I've got 10 or so left and will probably use for target practice.

John

500, would try taipans but they only go to 375 (or maybe 458...)
The whole fragmenting pitch of the lion load is what caught my eye, as opposed to woodleighs etc that tend to flatten out.

Thanks for the replies so far.

Karl.

Marrakai
I remember seeing a thread on the taipans. The users were saying that they didn't expand enough. I can't remember which site it was on though (to many gun sites). I loaded some up for a mate of mine in his 45-70 however he sold the rifle before he used them. When I finally get my .416 finished I'll use Tiapans in it for pigs and donkeys, but woodleigh's for buff and scrub bulls. I have some 6.5 tiapans to try out next dry on pigs. That should be interesting.

Karl
Taipan make a 458 bullet for the 45/70. I think they make one for the winmag as well. I have their web site at home I'll post it when I knock off. From threads on other sites the Tiapans arn't as soft as people think.

JohnB

Why would you shoot a Moose in the hump? There is nothing there but muscle and grissle.

As far as Lion loads, a Tanz. PH named Curt Sellers shot a charging Lion square in the mouth at 10 feet with them from a .577 3". The bullet exploded on the gums and knocked out both incissors. No other damage. Fortunately the LIon turned and went back into the bush. Curt was on his hands and knees at the time and crawled back out and retrieved his 450 Lott and went back to finish the job. A bit too fragile I think.

Bakes:
I regard the Taipans as a very soft bullet, not to be confused with 'frangible' as the Lion Load appears to be. Taipans in 400gr/.416 or 350gr/.458, driven at 2000 to 2400 fps, are absolute bombs on pig-sized game. They expand enormously, being basically pure lead bullets in a 'cigarette-paper' jacket, but they don't break up in my experience. I would regard them as too soft for buffalo though.

I would never use the Lion Load on dangerous game, thats fool hardy IMO....

I would use the dead tough on just about any game, its a great bullet but too costly compared to Nosler, Swift, BarnesX, GS Customs, Woodleighs and Northforks, which are just as good and a lot less cash out of my pocket, also IMO..

Karl
Here's the link to Tiapans site Tiapan bullets

How would a 900 grain lion load bullet work in a .600 OK at 2400-2500 FPS?