North Fork bullets expansion on higher velocities

[SStomcat]

While talking to my Ph he mentioned a client using hand loads with NF SS bullets not expanding as expected on DG.
The person retrieved the bullets and reported it to NF and was advised it was due to higher than expected velocities

Anyone share this experience?

 

[PARA45]

Do you happen to know what caliber this issue happened with?

 

[Puddle]

I'm running the 300's at 2,450+ fps and the 350's at 2,315+ fps all out of a .375 H&H. No issues, so far.

Do you know the particulars about the PH's comments?

 

[SStomcat]

Do you happen to know what caliber this issue happened with?

Let me ask and revert.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

While talking to my Ph he mentioned a client using hand loads with NF SS bullets not expanding as expected on DG.
The person retrieved the bullets and reported it to NF and was advised it was due to higher than expected velocities

Anyone share this experience?

No I've not shared this experience. It makes no sense to me. Poor expansion due to slow velocity I could see. It is a tough bullet. But everyone I've recovered, and it's a bunch, were very well mushroomed. Most of the loads used were at the typical max velocities for the caliber and bullet weight. A couple of exceptions would be a .308 Win and 7x57 where the velocities were in the lower end of the range, but still performed great.

 

[PARA45]

I would say since they were reloads they probably velocities were below standard. Probably the same issue with Barnes not expanding due to low velocities.

 

[Puddle]

The OP related that NF blamed it on higher than expected velocities, not lower than expected.

Weird.

 

[SStomcat]

The OP related that NF blamed it on higher than expected velocities, not lower than expected.

Weird.

Yes that is what my Ph said, whether it’s accurate or there is some other underlying reason I don’t know or will never know. Hence want to know from knowledgeable folks if similar incidents happened

 

[1dirthawker]

@SStomcat,

much like a barnes bullet, you just cannot wreck a north fork bullet at high velocity. they open well at low velocities as well. i have yet to recover one that did not look like the website ads. as i have said before i think they are the best soft made to date (although there is a south african soft that it built similarly that seems to be as good)

i would like to hear more details though. the fact that NF bullets have a solid shank would make it about indestructible at even very high velocities.

 

[Letzhunt]

I'm very interested to hear from others with knowledge on this. I load the 450 SS in my 458 WM + at 2410 fps. All for better stopping but I would back down a bit if it's out of that bullets velocity range. Hard to believe that would be the case.

 

[JD Noblin]

I have shot plains game using a 338 Norma and 250gr NF softs at over 3000FPS and had 100% perfect expansion on all game....same for 180gr NF softs at max velocity out of a 300 Weatherby. Have also used 500gr NF softs on buffalo out of a 458 Lott and 460 Weatherby, again with 100% perfect expansion at max velocities for both cartridges. In my judgment, there is not enough data in the OP from which to draw a reasonable conclusion. I wonder if something was "lost in translation"....

 

[1dirthawker]

I load the 450 SS in my 458 WM + at 2410 fps. All for better stopping but I would back down a bit if it's out of that bullets velocity range. Hard to believe that would be the case.

nope, its not

 

[wildcatter82]

As several have pointed out (and thanks to you all!), the premise outlined in the OP does not make sense at all. Nothing in our SS line has a "top end" velocity. By its design the performance only increases with increased velocity. The low end velocity performance is impressive as well, especially when compared to other bullets in class.

We were quite shocked to see this posted today, and I can ensure everyone that no one here at North Fork at the present would have communicate such feedback. ~Jay NF

 

[Letzhunt]

Thanks for the clarification Jay. I for one will continue to use them and hope to plow a good buff in 2026 with one.

 

[hwr239]

As several have pointed out (and thanks to you all!), the premise outlined in the OP does not make sense at all. Nothing in our SS line has a "top end" velocity. By its design the performance only increases with increased velocity. The low end velocity performance is impressive as well, especially when compared to other bullets in class.

We were quite shocked to see this posted today, and I can ensure everyone that no one here at North Fork at the present would have communicate such feedback. ~Jay NF

We should not take something as gospel just because "my PH said"... Many are true professionals with great advice, some not so much. I've heard some say things I know are incorrect.

 

[Luvthunt]

In some cases it is not powder and copper/lead info it is alcohol and the night fire.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I have seen Hornady bullets badly distort during the 1970s & 1980s when fired from the .378 Weatherby Magnum and the .460 Weatherby Magnum. They simply could not withstand the high velocities of Weatherby calibers at close range.

However, I have never seen (or even heard) of this phenomenon occurring with Northfork bullets. A failure to expand might be possible with overtly low velocities. But with high velocities ? Very very unusual indeed.