Swift A Frame Accuracy

[Catahoula]

I worked up some 220 grain A Frame loads for my 8mm Magnum to use on my upcoming plains game trip. I wanted a bullet that would hold together better than the partitions did at high velocity. I had read some mixed reviews about accuracy with these, but must say I was very pleased. Not only did they shoot very close to the same point of impact as the 200 grain partitions that I used last year, 3 shot hundred yard groups using a bipod and field pack for a rear support were about the size of a quarter. I used IMR 4350 and ended up a couple of grains below max. The target below is three rounds with the swifts, followed by three with the left over ammo loaded with the Noslers.

 

[1dirthawker]

nice shooting! not many follow ups in your future!

 

[Mekaniks]

All GOOD!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

That'll work!

 

[Rob404]

The groups I only dream about

 

[billc]

I love me some swift a - frames as well and that is a good group for sure. I think Pieter will be more then happy with a group like that to for your hunt.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Excellent! I see trophies in your future!

 

[enysse]

Swift-A Frames have always given me excellent accuracy.

 

[slam8031]

Great accuracy in 175 grain 7 mm R.E.M. Mag and 300 grain 375 h and h for me also!!

 

[Divernhunter]

I have had excellent accuracy with A-Frames in 257R/25-06/257W/6.5X55/264win mag/7-o8/308win/30-06/300win mag and 338win mag.

I will be taking the 338win mag with 225gr A-Frames again in may to Africa and the 257W with 120gr A-Frames as a 2nd rifle. Both will put 3-5 shots into a cloverleaf hole at 100 yards when I do my part.

Not only great accuracy but great terminal performance. Last time all were one shot kills , no tracking, at ranges from 135 to 480 yards with a 257R and 338win mag.

 

[CAustin]

@Catahoula it looks to me like you are dialed in sir!

 

[Nyati]

I use them in my .338 WM, excellent performance on animals.

 

[SWARA]

I aways use 400 gr swift A frames in my 416 for Cape Buffalo, but switch to solids on rear shots. Never had one fail on me yet.

 

[Catahoula]

Thanks for the replies. I have great confidence in terminal performance with these. Wildebeest beware!

 

[Shootist43]

It looks like you have two good bullets shooting to the same point of aim. I.'d come a click right and a click down. But then we aren't shooting for "Xs". I am curious though, did you loose any animals shot with NPs? They were designed to separate, so the fact they did should not be a cause for concern.

 

[BWH]

Looks like you got it dialed in nicely. What distance were you? Well done.

 

[Catahoula]

It looks like you have two good bullets shooting to the same point of aim. I.'d come a click right and a click down. But then we aren't shooting for "Xs". I am curious though, did you loose any animals shot with NPs? They were designed to separate, so the fact they did should not be a cause for concern.

Yes, a small adjustment is needed. These were the first groups with new loads. I'll move them a little bit right, but am happy with the elevation. An inch high at 100 yards puts me half inch high at 50, 2.5 low at 200 and 6 low at 250. Sighting dead on at 100 yards puts me another couple of inches low at 250, making range estimation more critical.

I didn't lose any animals, but put way more shots into a zebra than I would have liked. The zebra presented a broadside shot at 160 yards or so. The first round was right on target (right on point on the shoulder that is called out on the shot placement charts here) and took the animal off of it's feet. It was up and running quickly. I put another round into it's chest, then two more into it as it went away. I finished it with my .416. The first two rounds completely lacked penetration. All that was recovered was a jacket (no lead left in it) and a piece of the core that weighed 47 grains when I got it home. Partitions may be good bullets, but I have lost confidence. I'll not use them on anything tougher than whitetail again. I want a bullet that stays together and penetrates.

 

[Catahoula]

Looks like you got it dialed in nicely. What distance were you? Well done.

This was at 100 yards. I do most of my shooting in my back yard. That's about as far as I can stretch it out. I use a local range with 300 yard targets occasionally, but generally shoot at home because it's easy!

 

[Shootist43]

There is a new thread on AH titled Bullet Performance Data Base (https://www.africahunting.com/threads/bullet-performance-database.37971/). Please post your experience with NPs on the Zebra and other animals providing you have "data" on them. I think a good number of AH reloaders would be interested in the failure you had.

 

[Mekaniks]

There is a new thread on AH titled Bullet Performance Data Base. Please post your experience with NPs on the Zebra and other animals providing you have "data" on them. I think a good number of AH reloaders would be interested in the failure you had.

What he said^