Hydros In Smaller Caliber Rifles

[TOBY458]

A little bit off topic as I have not used the smaller caliber hydro's. But what I do know is that if you push the big Woodleigh Hydro's hard they can travel a long way through an animal.
Below is a young Buff I shot for meat with a 400gr Hydo bullet from a .416 Weatherby mag at 2730fps.
This was the second shot as the bull turned to run after my first soft point bullet hit him on the opposite shoulder. I had some Hydo's in the magazine ready for the second and third shot if needed.
He dropped on the spot as the second shot, a 400gr Hydro raced through his body.
It completely penetrated the entire length of the buff's body, exited through his neck and then ironically went through his ear and kept going off into the scrub.
I would not have believed it if I had not seen it for myself. This is the only one I ever shot from the south end of a north bound buffalo with a Hydro. I never recoverd any other Hydro's as they all passed through on side on and angling shots as well.

View attachment 377498

View attachment 377499

View attachment 377500

Incredible! Thanks for the pictures!

 

[WAB]

There is a firm that makes limited runs of small caliber solids. I contacted them a couple of years ago looking for some 175 gr solids for my 7x57. They can do it but their min batch was 500. If there is any interest I could refresh the conversation and see about having a batch made up for us.

 

[Professor Mawla]

The East Bengal Ordinance Factories used to load 215 grain Woodleigh Hydrostatic monolithic solid brass flat nosed bullets , for the .303 British ammunition which used to be issued to the Maulvi Bazaar Forest Guards ( for their department issued Lee Enfield rifles ) . These were meant for use against rogue Asiatic jungle elephants . Their penetration was immense . Capable of reaching the brain of a large Asiatic jungle elephant bull from any angle .

Unfortunately , Woodleigh no longer manufactures these excellent homogeneous bullets in .303 calibre . We still have roughly 2000 rounds of .303 British ( which are loaded with these Woodleigh Hydrostatic Solids ) in stock . However , the Ordinance Factories has now resumed loading their .303 British ammunition with locally manufactured bullets ( 215 grain flat nosed nickel coated steel jacketed solids ) , for contending with rogue elephants .

 

[sambarhunter]

I remember when a mate pre hunt said "if you see anything shoot it I need the meat" "i`m gonna go for anything myself"
He actually disturbed a mature sambar hind and she ran from him crossed a creek turned hard left and presented her arse to me going away. The only shot offered. Using my 308 Norma Mag with a 180 Hydro that was actually hand loaded for me by one of the Hydro co-inventors I lined her up for a freckle shot and the hydro entered one inch to the left of her arse hole and came out through her chest. Full length penetration of a mature hind show cases the projectile from a .30 cal mag.

The bullet kept on to god knows where,probably into the hill face ahead.

She collapsed like a rabbit shot up the arse with a .22WRFM and if you have done that you will know the scenario,

 

[Shootist43]

Toby458, I've never used a Woodleigh Hydro but from the way its' users describe their results, we might do well to have a few of them with us when going afield with smaller caliber rifles where larger game might just show up. Much like what 264 said he does.

 

[shootist~]

Do the Hydros excessively foul the bore if mixed with conventional jacketed bullets?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

120gr. Hydros in a Savage .250-3000 for hunting everything?

@CoElkHunter
I wonder how a 35 cal 225 grain hydrostatic @2,950 fps out of the Whelen would go
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The East Bengal Ordinance Factories used to load 215 grain Woodleigh Hydrostatic monolithic solid brass flat nosed bullets , for the .303 British ammunition which used to be issued to the Maulvi Bazaar Forest Guards ( for their department issued Lee Enfield rifles ) . These were meant for use against rogue Asiatic jungle elephants . Their penetration was immense . Capable of reaching the brain of a large Asiatic jungle elephant bull from any angle .

Unfortunately , Woodleigh no longer manufactures these excellent homogeneous bullets in .303 calibre . We still have roughly 2000 rounds of .303 British ( which are loaded with these Woodleigh Hydrostatic Solids ) in stock . However , the Ordinance Factories has now resumed loading their .303 British ammunition with locally manufactured bullets ( 215 grain flat nosed nickel coated steel jacketed solids ) , for contending with rogue elephants .

@Professor Mawla
Woodleigh still lists the 303 cal hydrostatic as a projectile for reloading. I'm sure if you contact Geoff MacDonald thru his web site he would be able to help you with them
Bob

 

[Shootist43]

Bob, does Woodleigh make a "hydro" for the Whelen? I couldn't find it on Midway's site or Woodleigh's catalog.

 

[sambarhunter]

I wonder how a 35 cal 225 grain hydrostatic @2,950 fps out of the Whelen would go
Bob

I personally have taken big sambar deer with my .358 Norma mag and also using my old .308 Norma mag using the 225 Hydro`s with not one complaint at all. They work extremely well,far better than they offer in the looks dept and there hasn't been a need for a second shot.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, does Woodleigh make a "hydro" for the Whelen? I couldn't find it on Midway's site or Woodleigh's catalog.

@Shootist43
Yes Art they make a 225 grain for the Whelen. Check out their website. They also do some great bullets in 6.5 as well
Bob

 

[sambarhunter]

They make for any .35 calibre you mean BN.
I imagine an STA would punch them through a couple of buffalo.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

They make for any .35 calibre you mean BN.
I imagine an STA would punch them through a couple of buffalo.

@sambarhunter
Yes they do, I get a bit carried away with the Whelen.
In the STA it would be awesome and the damage and penetration would be fantastic.
I have heard of people using a 30/30 with hydros on buff effectively.
Bob

 

[sambarhunter]

The 358 NM drives them through anything in its way.
I remember shooting a fully mature sambar hind up the freckle as the mate had commanded earlier when we set off to hunt "shoot anything,i am desperate for meat"
She obligingly was close to a track and as she went away she got a .308 NM hydro that entered one inch to the left of her date and came out her chest and killed 14 Eucy trees down range lol.
She collapsed like a rabbit shot up the freckle with a .22 magnum....whoooooop!

 

[Shootist43]

Bob, thanks for hanging in there with me. I finally did find the .358 Hydro in 225 Gr. in their catalog. Now I'm going to have to find out if and where they are available in the States. Sounds like a hell of a bullet to use on larger sized game if and when the opportunity presents itself.

 

[Shootist43]

Finding the 225 Gr .358 Hydro. wasn't as hard as I thought. I was able to get them from Midwayusa.com, however they are backordered and not expected till late June. Do you already have a load developed for them? If so please share it in a PM. Are you using CFE 223?

 

[sambarhunter]

I sent a pack to a fella in the US 10 odd years ago. (gratis) They were .375 calibre for his H+H.
The bloke never had the decency to report back about them.
They will drive into a buff shoulder and out the other side!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, thanks for hanging in there with me. I finally did find the .358 Hydro in 225 Gr. in their catalog. Now I'm going to have to find out if and where they are available in the States. Sounds like a hell of a bullet to use on larger sized game if and when the opportunity presents itself.

@Shootist43
Mate If'n you can't find them in the USA Geoff will probably organise to send them to you. They aren't cheap about 70 dollars OZ for 20.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Finding the 225 Gr .358 Hydro. wasn't as hard as I thought. I was able to get them from Midwayusa.com, however they are backordered and not expected till late June. Do you already have a load developed for them? If so please share it in a PM. Are you using CFE 223?

@Shootist43
Art according tho their web site you can use the same load for the hydros and the 225 grain PPSP. If you look at old pMs you should find my load if not I will send it to you.
Bob

 

[264]

I run them in my 358 win and they work well on buff. the magnums and the whelan are just more of a good thing.