Anny Bullet reports?

[Terry Blauwkamp]

I'm always intersted in getting "Bullet Reports" from returning hunters.

Please tell me your details.

[bullet77]

Hi Terry, this is in no way a criticism of an excellent bullet, but I thought it might be instructive to the members.

I have been using Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullets since they came out. I often had conversations with Jack Carter about loads and his performance criteria. as you may know, the bullets are made by Federal. they are sold through Speer now, as Jack died about two years ago.

also two years ago, I ran across a very big waterbuck and decided to take him as he was bigger than one I had. the shot was an easy one at 225 meters(rangefinder measurement). I put the 175 grain from the 7 Rem Mag dead on the shoulder. he barely flinched. in a few seconds, he was off. we spent two hours chasing him all over the countryside. I had to put three more into him. the second shot was in the heart spot from the opposite side at 200 meters. the third was an attempted Texas heart shot at approx 15 meters, and finally, I spined him at about 25 meters. none of the bullets penetrated more than 2 inches. the killing shot was embedded in the backbone.

we recovered all of the bullets and all had the front section "smeared" away. only the rear part remained. I sent the remaining ammo and bullets back to Federal for testing. they fired them in water and all were picture perfect mushrooms. this is usually what I get when we dig them out of an animal. what went wrong ? nobody knows, or so they said. if it was a bad lot, they didn't admit it.

waterbuck are tough animals, but not bullet proof. the first one I got was with this very bullet about 11-12 years ago. bullet77

[Terry Blauwkamp]

Thanks for the great report.

If anyone is interested in a report on Barnes new TSX, please write me directly at tblauwkamp@superior-sales.com

[Steve Franks]

I just returned from South Africa. I use a .375 H & H with 2 different bullets. The powder of choice was Winchester 760. I shot a wildebeest in the right rear hip (only shot available) and it angled into the spine. The bullet was a Nosler 260. He dropped like a rock and required a finishing shot. The bullet failed to exit and when recovered lost the front half of the bullet. Based on this I switched to Swift A Frame 300 grain. It went through everything I shot and no bullets were recovered.

I can't and won't knock the Nosler, it did everything I could have expected given the bad shot I was present. If I had used a 300 grain Nosler, then I may have gotten my thru and thru, I prefer.

[safari007]

2003-went to Limpopo Valley NW South Africa. Used 375 h&h LH Winchester Model 70 with 300 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw ammo. Took steenbok, duiker, impala, 2 warthog, burchell zebra, blue wildebeest, gemsbok, kudu, and eland. All the animals fell to the shot except the zebra, it ran 75 yds.

2004- went to Free State near Bloomfontein, SA. Used a Browning A-Bolt LH in 270 winchester. Used 140 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. Took common blesbok, white blesbok, common, white and black springbok, red hartebeest, black wildebeest, and common reedbuck. The red hartebeest required a follow-up shot. The others fell on the spot. Drove over to Olifontshoek on the edge of the Kalari Desert for a giraffe cull hunt. Used the 375 H&H with 300 grain TBBC. It took two rounds.

2005-went to Namibia near Warmbaths. Used a Browning A-bolt LH in 338 win mag with 210 grain Nosler partition to take a Kalarhi Gemsbok (dropped in his tracks) and a Hartemann's Mountain Zebra, he ran 25 yds. Used the 270 with 140 grain TBBC to take 2 Kalarhi springboks (dropped in their tracks).

[bosveldjag]

Terry,

Visit this web site to see real PREMIUM
bullets.

Has any of HuntChat's members used some of these?

Let's hear your comments.

[Terry Blauwkamp]

Originally posted by bosveldjag
Terry,

Visit this web site to see real [URL=http://www.gscustom.co.za]Let's hear your comments.

Hi:

I can only say, that I have herd of GS bullets but know nothing more about them.

By the looks of them, I am not sure who copied who, in that they look a lot like the new Barnes TSX, which by the way, I love.

[bosveldjag]

I don't think you need to wonder much longer about who copied who, because GS Custom started manufacturing their bullets in 1993 already when most other manufacturers, including Barnes, were still on 'core bonded' stuff!

Barnes TSX came up very recently with their design, clearly an effort to try to achieve what GS Custom has reached, but far off from what it should be when compared to GS Custom's superior design in all the different aspects required of a high velocity bullet.

[Rbeasley]

I used the swift aframe last year in .416 on a buffalo and was very impressed. I also use this bullet in .375 and have always had excellent perfromance. I did not like the performance of the trophy bonded bear claw in .300 wm. I think, though not sure, that the bullet was breaking up on me.

[bosveldjag]

Click here for a report on GS Custom HV bullets used during our recent hunt in South Africa.

These bullets' performances are absolutely marvellous.

[BradC]

I Used Hornady Custom Interlock in my 7mm last year(162gr). Took impala, blesbok, springbok, warthog, steenbok, and kudu. With exception of the pig all dropped where they stood and he only ran about 25 yds. Great bullets for the plains game, in my opinion.

[Terry Blauwkamp]

Thanks Brad, and welcome to Hunt Chat.

My wife has used the 162 Hornady for years, and it really works great.

[vh2q]

See my articles in the next African Hunter regarding the use of this bullet on plains game from a 375JDJ rifle.