Hawk Bullets

[RootballExpress]

Good afternoon,

Has anyone used Hawk’s soft points on African dangerous game or big game such as brown bear?

Looking for feedback on soft points in 416 caliber and up having been used.

Thanks in advance to everyone who has feedback to share!

 

[Rafiki]

I used them on bison a few years back. That was with a 500gr RNSP out of a 45-90, can't remember velocity. Killed it but it had decored. To be fair Hawk offers various options for jacket thickness and I know I didn't pay enough attention to that when I ordered.

Since that experience I've ordered Hawks for my 375 H&H and 500 Sharps 2 1/2" but just for range work in fact just got some 570gr Spritzers for the 500 to use at the range.

Hawk is a very easy company to work with. My opinion is that they fine for light skinned big game but I personally wouldn't use them for dangerous game especially African DG; there are plenty of bullets out there that would be better for that purpose.

 

[dlmac]

Before you count Hawk bullets out, has anyone used their thicker bullets on anything other than paper? Sounds like the bullets used on the Bison may have been on of their lighter/thinner jacketed bullets. Maybe their manufacturing process of cup and core is nonbonded and they would separate regardless?

 

[Ray B]

For practical purposes the Hawk bullets are virtually the same as the old Barnes .032 & .049 bullets. About 30 years ago I tested every .308 bullet i could get by shooting them into water filled jugs. I contacted Hawk and initially they were going to sell some bullets to me but when he learned that I was testing them with water impacts he became very upset, claiming that his bullets weren't designed to be shot into water- he then refused to provide any bullets at any price. When my article published I noted that in place of results for the Hawk bullets, the editor had added some of Hawk's promo.

 

[Rafiki]

For practical purposes the Hawk bullets are virtually the same as the old Barnes .032 & .049 bullets. About 30 years ago I tested every .308 bullet i could get by shooting them into water filled jugs. I contacted Hawk and initially they were going to sell some bullets to me but when he learned that I was testing them with water impacts he became very upset, claiming that his bullets weren't designed to be shot into water- he then refused to provide any bullets at any price. When my article published I noted that in place of results for the Hawk bullets, the editor had added some of Hawk's promo.

I believe Hawk bullets are swaged; copper tube and lead. Probably low BHN and not bonded. That is not a criticism and may not be a fact but as a long time customer that is what I see in form and function.

They do have a place for several applications. Like I said before they would be good for thin skinned big game. They also have soft jackets so are easy on barrels. With older guns with questionable adherence to caliber they can seal better than other bullets.

They also are a reasonably priced custom made alternative for the range. I've found them accurate and fun to shoot in my big bores. Just understand what you are buying and for what use. For me this is not a DG bullet.

 

[RootballExpress]

Definitely sounding like I’m set sticking with Swift and Barnes for my selection of expanding bullets then.

Very interesting input so far!