454
AH member
When I decided to take a cape buffalo with my revolver there was only two types of dangerous game bullets available; monolithic solid copper or hard cast wide flat nose (WFN). The problem with the monolithic solid is the density of copper is about 15% less than lead and copper has greater barrel friction than lead. This results in a lighter projectile and/or lower velocity than lead bullets, meaning less momentum and less penetration. Unfortunately, hard cast lead bullets can deform or break when hitting heavy bone and interrupt their straight line penetration. In the 1930's Winchester solved this problem with their “metal piercing” pistol rounds; a lead bullet with a metal jacket only on the nose. My homemade version of this 90 year old design consists of a hard cast Keith wad-cutter bullet with a WFN 0.050” thick brass cup pressed on the nose. The bullet has a 0.425” (94%) meplat. Out of my 7 1/2” FA83 454 Casull the 347gr bullet obtains 1570fps and 1900 ft-lbs.
Dinkwe Safaris put me on this buffalo cow that I took with one shot at 86 yards.
The bullet was traveling about 1305 fps with 1312 ft-lbs of energy when it hit. The projectile traveled straight through a good portion of the brisket, went through the bottom of the heart and was lost somewhere in the body cavity.
The lung were perforated by secondary projectiles (brisket bone fragments). The cow traveled 30 yards, collapsed and commenced her death bellow. The recovered bullet was from the insurance shot on the deceased animal which penetrated the spine, went through the stomach and was found against the underside skin.
The bullet lost 16 grains of weight (gas check, lube and surface lead).
I used the same round on a large male ostrich challenging me from 50 yards (as I had interrupted him and his lady friend). The large flat nose bullet grazed the heart, destroyed the lungs and opened up the gizzard before exiting. The ostrich stumbled and fell after less than 100 feet.
Both the nyala's shoulders were broken and the heart grazed at 25 yards putting the rutting bull down on the spot. A second finishing shot at 50 feet hit high in the lungs striking both shoulders again. At the shot, the nyala jumped to his feet and charged. Luckily his shoulders gave out from under him and I finished the old boy at 25 feet with a third shot.
It is a bit of work making these bullets from scratch but I couldn't be happier with the results. From the trajectory they seem to have a 0.19-0.20 BC and shoot more accurately than the plain lead bullets. There are not many of us taking dangerous game with the revolver and I hope this forgotten bullet design may serve others as well!
Dinkwe Safaris put me on this buffalo cow that I took with one shot at 86 yards.
The bullet was traveling about 1305 fps with 1312 ft-lbs of energy when it hit. The projectile traveled straight through a good portion of the brisket, went through the bottom of the heart and was lost somewhere in the body cavity.
The lung were perforated by secondary projectiles (brisket bone fragments). The cow traveled 30 yards, collapsed and commenced her death bellow. The recovered bullet was from the insurance shot on the deceased animal which penetrated the spine, went through the stomach and was found against the underside skin.
The bullet lost 16 grains of weight (gas check, lube and surface lead).
I used the same round on a large male ostrich challenging me from 50 yards (as I had interrupted him and his lady friend). The large flat nose bullet grazed the heart, destroyed the lungs and opened up the gizzard before exiting. The ostrich stumbled and fell after less than 100 feet.
Both the nyala's shoulders were broken and the heart grazed at 25 yards putting the rutting bull down on the spot. A second finishing shot at 50 feet hit high in the lungs striking both shoulders again. At the shot, the nyala jumped to his feet and charged. Luckily his shoulders gave out from under him and I finished the old boy at 25 feet with a third shot.
It is a bit of work making these bullets from scratch but I couldn't be happier with the results. From the trajectory they seem to have a 0.19-0.20 BC and shoot more accurately than the plain lead bullets. There are not many of us taking dangerous game with the revolver and I hope this forgotten bullet design may serve others as well!
