What Buffalo Bullet?
 

What Buffalo Conical do you think would be better: The 435gr Round Nose Hollow Base, or the 460gr Round Nose Flat base? Cheaper Than Dirt has the 435gr for around 8 dollars and some odd cents. The do not have the 460gr and more so if you know of any cheap places with the 460gr let me know. I have a 1-48" twist Renegade. This conical would be used for elk. I know the 435gr would do the trick but the 460gr might give me some more penetration and momentum. I know both of these conicals will do really good on elk. I might just go with the 435gr since it is cheap and should do good. What do you all think? I would like to try the 460gr if I could find it for around 10 dollars.

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

I think the only difference is the weight and base, the weight which is missing in the 435 being in the hollow base. For 50 cal. the Buffaloes seem smaller diameter than the GP's. Similarly, the difference between the 410 flat base and the 385 hollow base, is only the base. Which is better is a tough call though like you I thought the 410's would help alot over a lighter (385 grain) bullet.

Right now, I find myself suspecting the flat-based 410 won't work out for accuracy, because I suspect the GP's will "out-shoot" the Buffaloes(in my rifle) between 50 and 100 yards. Only testing at the range will tell me and I have more to do. I will be purchasing some more bullets from cheaperthandirt.com myself very soon.

I like the buffaloes for loading in my Sidekick.Very nice starting and easy loading. I would go ahead and get the hollowbased one's and try them whileI waslooking for the 460's. If you don't find the 460's, you are already "red eye" for hunting season if the 435s print well. And I think the 435's will putyour elk right down.:D

Happy Hunting, Phil

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

http://www.mountainmolds.com/

Goto: Mountain man molds and play with a .550 bullet with a .540 base, change the weight and nose style......and you will see how weight and shape change the twist needed..............it is shown at the bottom.

Looks like a 400 grainer is about best in a 1-48 twist...........if you are going to shoot slugs, get a different barrel. 1in36 or faster, or be prepared to use a lot of powder and wading to get those big slugs to spin. And did I mention the kick.............[:'(]

Good Luck,
Bruce

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

The 435 would probably do better than the 460 with the 1:48 twist barrel. I think the hollow base would help also in getting a faster, better grip of the rifling. As to whether the twist is fast enough, it could be, depending on what Sharpshooter is trying to achieve. I have 1:48 Hawken and shot 370 maxiballs and 385 GP's into 3.5" patterns at 75 yards with it using 80 grains 3F BP. The optimum twist for 1:48 in a 50 cal. is around 300 grains. So the projectiles I was using, were even heavier than 435 in relation to the optimum weight for his .54. Now at120 yards, I bet I would havebeen all over the place with those slugs. But since all my hunting shots were under80 yards, really under 65 yards, I did very well with it, and it wouldn't have made sense to replace the barrel for the hunting I was doing and the shots I was taking.

Happy Hunting, Phil

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

Phil, I think those hollow bases do more harm than good with high powered hunting loads.

That is why the sub-bases work so well with the 50 cal hololow base bullets, it protects the base from blowing out.

.....

Hollow point bullets and Big game don't go together, use a solid nose bullet. You need penetration, not expansion on elk sized critters.

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

You are probably correct in your assessment abouthigh powered hunting loads and the hollow-base.

On hollowpoints, I don't think its cut and dry. There has to be some context. Alot of folks are complaining about powerbelts coming apart. But as one gets asking questions and hearing reports, one finds that with the same charge, the bullet blows up at 30 yards and miraculously passes through at 120 yards.So how does ahollowpoint bullet with less oomph pass through when the faster hollowpoint blows up? I don't know. But they do just that. Report after report from those in the field who use them verify this.

Alot of folks are trying to hunt to 160 yards. I am just hunting with their last 90.Some may say it is not a hunting load. But I assureall that it is, being as good at ninety as any other at 160. I don't fear a hollowpoint on elk when they are placed double lung and they are not moving too fast (exceeding 1300 fps on impact).

That said, if I were taking 150 yard shot, I would throw the hollowpoint away and go solid. If I were taking shoulder shots or quarter towards me shots, I would go solid. I have the discipline to only take the shots I have confidence in so I don't see any problem with my using either the BB 410 HP or the GP 385 HP for elk. I also don't see any problem using a GP 410 solid point, and I might actually use it instead of either of the hollowpoints. Havn't decided yet.

Happy Hunting, Phil

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_99_311_313&products_ id=2493

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

My Motto has always been:

Get Close and Wackem Hard

I am a big fan of close range shots, 40 to 80 yards.......and one of the big problems with soft lead at high speeds is expansion, and the hollow point is not needed. Soft lead will expand just fine without the help of a HP. In a 50 cal you want over 400 grains, in a 54, 450.......and bigger is better.

Hollow points will work, solids will work better.[imo]

My elk gun at present, shoots a 560 grain round ball........sighted in for 75 yds......................175FF launches the ball just under 1400fps.

My slug shooter is a 54 with a 1-36 twist that shoots BB 460s.......90FF is the most accurate load...........one of the secrets to shooting BB is, the barrel maker sent me the extra lenght of barrel to make a swedger with. With a couple of wraps with a mallet, I can have a BB bore size. You just have it spin them on the bore till the groves align, then down they go.

One saftey tip about shooting Buffalo Bullets in hot weather, the lube will stick to your jag, and they may get 'sucked' back off the powder.....this has happened to me .....twice![:'(][:'(][:'(]

Get close and wackem hard
Bruce

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

A light dab of Ballistol at the flat-end of the jag will help the stickiness. Sometimes the real fault is the soft lead... not the sticky lube. I have resorted to using a ramrod thread adapter as a bullet-seating jag a few times because of the way my normal jags would 'bite" the bullet head area.

This happens to me occasionally using copper HP sabot/bullets too. I keep several jag shapes in my ML accessories box at the range. Because those sabot/bullets are generally lighter (180-240 gr). my heavy brass ramrod may unseat the bullet from the plastic sabot without even feeling it.

Always better to doube-check your "just loaded bullet" sometimes - should you suspect stickiness.

RE: What Buffalo Bullet?
 

Thanks for the help. I think I will just go with the 435gr. Most elk should be under 100yds. The farthest shot will be 100yds but should be around 80tds. You do not need to push these things really hard to make them work. 100 grains of Goex FFG will do more than get it done. Even 70gr would get it done. My 425gr Hornady's like 100grns so the Buffalo Bullets might to.