North Fork Bullets

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Brilliant was think of trying some for buff only. But will see what the extra cost is.

@Sideshow
Don't be a Scrooge mate. The projectile is the cheap part of the trip. If you load up 20 and only use two shots you still have enough ammo for nine more hunts.
Use them, save money, logical.
Bob

 

[CZDiesel]

@PHOENIX PHIL
If'n a 300gn out of a 375 at 2,500fps is fine for buff at 50-100 yards, How would a 310gn Woodleigh RNSP or FN solid at 2,455fps out of a 35 Whelen perform on them. They have the same SD as a 350gn 375.
Just asking for a friend
Bob

Good grief Bob lol Merry Christmas brother!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@PHOENIX PHIL
If'n a 300gn out of a 375 at 2,500fps is fine for buff at 50-100 yards, How would a 310gn Woodleigh RNSP or FN solid at 2,455fps out of a 35 Whelen perform on them. They have the same SD as a 350gn 375.
Just asking for a friend
Bob

I suspect it would kill a buffalo dead. But what's the point of the discussion since in most places in Africa the .35 Whelen isn't legal to hunt buffalo with?

 

[Puddle]

@Puddle
Sounds more like a muddle puddle than conflicted.
Why not use North Forks in both.
Saves confusion
Bob

I prefer heavy-for-caliber bullets on buff and Swift offers the 300 grain A-Frame in 9.3mm.
I've put in a request to North Fork to do the same, but until then ...

Oh, and if you want a real muddle, how about Hornady offering a 300 grain DGS, but no equivalent DGX in 9.3mm ???

 

[shootist~]

Go for it @Bob Nelson 35Whelen . Just make sure your PH approves and it's legal (and most likely on private property) in that province.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Good grief Bob lol Merry Christmas brother!

@CZDiesel
Merry Christmas to you as well
I just couldn't resist it.
Bob

 

[Manwe]

My old man smoked a brown bear with my 338WM and a 225gr TBBC as loaded by Federal. Worked pretty well and I still have a recovered one at my parents house. I like the NFs and have some 350's for the 45-70 but I don't think I could honestly say one is better than the other unless I put a bunch of them into some really heavy game to evaluate them really fairly. There is room for all good bullets, just couldn't afford to shoot NFs as much as I can PTs.

 

[Jon R15]

I used the 225gr SS at 2555fps in my 358 Winchester last year in Limpopo. I had one shot kills on all five animals and the bullet exited four (blesbuck,white blesbuck, sable, & klipspringer) of the five. My hartebeest was quartered towards me and the bullet was lost in the guts. I wish I was able to recover it but time didn't allow. All shots were between 100 & 200 yards. I have noticed less fouling and higher velocities using the same load with NFs compared to similar bullets of the same weight. I also loaded some 225gr Cup Point Solids to the same POI but haven't got to try them on game yet. Both loads shoot sub 1" with a combined group averaging around 1.75 at 100 yards.

 

[Sideshow]

Back with 375h&h 350gr on buff would you use the ss first then next shot the cps? Or just cps, or just ss?
I know it’s been asked before. But I’m bored

 

[neckdeep]

Back with 375h&h 350gr on buff would you use the ss first then next shot the cps? Or just cps, or just ss?
I know it’s been asked before. But I’m bored

Small sampling of Buffalo, (1st Buffalo) soft through the lungs then 2 CPS through the boiler room in raking shots from the left = dead buffalo. (2nd Buffalo) Northfork FPS, for a poorly placed first shot just above the spine in lowest area of neck, not much blood and 5-6 hours later plus at least 15 plus shots later by 4 different guns in 3 encounters = goat rope rodeo but still dead Buffalo !!

I would go with the SS and CPS, or just the SS unless the PH insists solid's for follow up shots. I will personally never shoot another buffalo with a solid for the first shot, no way, no how, never, I am paying the trophy fee and pulling the trigger, it with be a Northfork soft, every time.

 

[Puddle]

Call me old (actually, really old) but I still carry 2 solids (hydros) on my belt when hunting buff. However, I've yet to need them. NFs & AFs softs are just too good at their job.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I used the 225gr SS at 2555fps in my 358 Winchester last year in Limpopo. I had one shot kills on all five animals and the bullet exited four (blesbuck,white blesbuck, sable, & klipspringer) of the five. My hartebeest was quartered towards me and the bullet was lost in the guts. I wish I was able to recover it but time didn't allow. All shots were between 100 & 200 yards. I have noticed less fouling and higher velocities using the same load with NFs compared to similar bullets of the same weight. I also loaded some 225gr Cup Point Solids to the same POI but haven't got to try them on game yet. Both loads shoot sub 1" with a combined group averaging around 1.75 at 100 yards.

@Jon R15
Those cup point solids or the Woodleigh hydro's would have some serious penetration at 2,900 fps out of the Whelen.
A mate used a Woodleigh hydro in his 300 Weatherby for buff. Didn't like them. He shot a big cow buff front on. The hydro went the full length of the buff and kicked up dust on the clay pan about 200 yards away. The old cow just stood there wobbling . Ted was about to shoot it again when it just fell over, very dead. He said the internals were a mess. Far to much penetration for his likes. Said the would be fine for a Brontosaurus it may stay inside.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Good grief Bob lol Merry Christmas brother!

@CZDiesel
Me thinks the result would be one very dead buffalo. After seeing the performance of the Whelen in Namibia my PH said he would gladly take me out after buff with the Whelen with appropriate projectiles ( read 310gn Woodleighs, 275 gn Woodleigh or 280gn A frames.). He said it was every bit the equal or better than the 9.3x62 and he has seen a lot of buff killed with that.
Maybe one day I might take him up on his offer.
Bob

 

[mauser98]

For those loading them. Do they like to be seated deeper and have a jump or do they shoot better closer to the lands?

Been having a hard time to get them to shoot well in a couple rifles.

 

[SkullKeeper]

For those loading them. Do they like to be seated deeper and have a jump or do they shoot better closer to the lands?

Been having a hard time to get them to shoot well in a couple rifles.

I usually have about 60 thou JTL when I load these. I’m curious- what are the particulars of the loads you are having difficulty with?

 

[mauser98]

I'm loading 180gr SS 8x57. Tired H4895 and Imr 4895. 50gr's. Velocity is 2680 fps out of a 22 inch. I'm seating the bullets right up to the last groove up top. COAL 3.2"

Same powder charge shoot 180gr Lapua Natruralis, 180gr TSX, 185gr rem corelokt, 180gr ballistic tips around 1". I'm seeing 1.7-2.5" groups with NF.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm loading 180gr SS 8x57. Tired H4895 and Imr 4895. 50gr's. Velocity is 2680 fps out of a 22 inch. I'm seating the bullets right up to the last groove up top. COAL 3.2"

Same powder charge shoot 180gr Lapua Natruralis, 180gr TSX, 185gr rem corelokt, 180gr ballistic tips around 1". I'm seeing 1.7-2.5" groups with NF.

View attachment 765200

I don't have an answer for you. I normally find a powder that works with less expensive bullets and try that in the NF SS bullets, and it usually works out. I seat them normally at COAL for the caliber or just short of that to ensure the bullets aren't up against the lans.

But I do have a question for you. In the pic, it looks like those bullets have are one of their newer hollow point mono-metal bullets and not the SS. The SS normally have a bit of exposed lead at the tips. At least all of mine do. Are you sure those are the SS variety?

 

[mauser98]

I bought several boxes of 180gr and 200gr marked SS in 8mm of which both have Hollow points. No lead exposed. I thought that to be odd as the marketing pictures do indeed show exposed lead. I recovered one in the berm and it did look like it was the proper bullet and not the copper version.

 

[SkullKeeper]

How much longer are the NFs compared to the other bullets you listed that shoot well?

 

[mauser98]

They are definitely longer. The shape and length of these specific one's are that of the original 8mm S.s. german 198gr loading FMJ's from WWII. Very sleek considering they're called semi spitzer.
The 180 gr NF is as long as 200gr from speer and nosler. The 200's NF about that of the 220gr Sierra GK.