cup point solids on game

Green Chile

Green Chile

Gold supporter
AH legend
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
3,395
Reaction score
12,272
Location
DFW
Website
www.mattanjahuntingsafaris.com
Media
119
Hunting reports
Africa
5
USA/Canada
5
Member of
DSC, NRA, GSCO
Hunted
Saskatchewan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, 30 US states and counting
Who has some experience shooting the cup point solids on game? I've been hearing reports of them creating wound channels of 2x bullet diameter, almost like an expanding solid. I'm curious in particular with Northfork's version of this but interested in anyone's experience with this style of solid bullet. I heard Kevin Robertson say that if limited to one bullet in Africa, this would be his choice.

CPS.jpg
 
I’ve heard the same thing. Hopefully someone with direct experience will chime in.
 
I have experience with them out out 416 Rem Mag. on buffalo, eland and several smaller plains game. Agree with Kevin Robertson on how they perform. Very accurate. Easy to work up loads with them. They penetrate in straight line. Penetration depth is less depth than comparable FP monolithic. Quite a bit more depth than tough soft points like TSXs, TBBCs and A-Frames. Nothing unexpected or unpredictable in how they act. All around excellent bullet. Only recovered them out of eland and buffalo. Always complete pass through on PG smaller than eland. My experience is limited to .416 CPS at about 2300 fps.
 
Dr. Kevin Robertson highly recommends them in his books and interviews.

There is a YouTube series that you could find on-line called: "Africa Hunting (Bullets) 101 With Kevin Robertson". The word in the brackets changes depending on the main subject.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire interview (highly recommend) skip forward to around minute 40. Enjoy.

 
These bullets "Rivet" rather than expand fully (unlike conventional soft points). They are ideal for backing shots at departing Cape buffalo or eland (or the like). Also excellent for stopping Cape buffalo charges.

Not suitable for hunting lion or leopard (or light framed plains game). Northfork's Percussion Point bullet is far better suited to these applications because it has an expansion initiating ring milled into the ogive with results in full expansion within 2" of penetration.
 
Green Chile said:
Who has some experience shooting the cup point solids on game? I've been hearing reports of them creating wound channels of 2x bullet diameter, almost like an expanding solid. I'm curious in particular with Northfork's version of this but interested in anyone's experience with this style of solid bullet. I heard Kevin Robertson say that if limited to one bullet in Africa, this would be his choice.

View attachment 552169
Click to expand...
@Green Chile
The Woodleigh hydrostatic stabilised projectile is reputed to be excellent for penetration and wound channels as well.
I have not used them but a mate that used them on water buffalo with a 300 Weatherby said the ream a buffalo out from stem to stern.
He said it kicked up dust a couple of hundred yards behind the buff and he thought he had missed. The buff took a few wobbly steps and fell over.
Bob
Screenshot_20230819-211627_Google.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies. Any photos of a recovered cup point? I like the comment about them riveting. That’s more accurate than to say expanding solid. There also seems to be some kind of air bubble effect that has hydraulic cavitation results that create larger than caliber wound channels. That’s the logical explanation for disruption beyond the touch of the bullet. The riveting is fairly minor in comparison to the petals of an expanding soft point.
 
Last edited:
Green Chile said:
Thanks for the replies. Any photos of a recovered cup point? I like the comment about them riveting. That’s more accurate than to say expanding solid. There also seems to be some kind of air bubble effect that has hydraulic cavitation results that create larger than caliber wound channels. That’s the logical explanation for disruption beyond the touch of the bullet. The riveting is fairly minor in comparison to the petals of an expanding soft point.
Click to expand...
400Gr .416 caliber Northfork Cup Point Solid recovered from Cape buffalo (right side).

Note how bullet riveted, as opposed to expansion in the true sense ( as seen on the recovered 400Gr .416 caliber Northfork Semi Spitzer on the left side).
FB_IMG_1692453192427.jpg
FB_IMG_1692453195187.jpg
FB_IMG_1692453200847.jpg
 
Perfect and that's exactly the application I'm thinking of...416 Rigby on buff. Do you mind sharing load data? Did you approach it like loading for a Barnes X? I asked NF for load data and got just a little bit of info and no starting loads...only max loads.
 
Perfect. Thanks.
 
Could you put a link here to your report?
 
Bullet Performance Database
Type of bullet: North Fork cup point solid
Bullet speed: MV 2100 FPS
Distance of shot: 80M
Original weight: 400 gr.
Recovered weight: 400 gr.
Calibre: 450-400 3"
Species: Cape buffalo
Shot placement: this was a follow up shot from rear, buffalo was already mortally wounded and had spun away and starting to run. Bullet hit inside surface of right "ham", penetrated hindquarter ( missing the femur), through guts, rumen, and part of the right lung, lodged in ribcage on right side, after at least a meter and a half of penetration. There was a very noticeable "whomp' when the bullet hit, and visible reaction to the shot. buffalo ran only about five more steps. I was very impressed. Of course they quit making them!


r.tapatalk.com

Bullet Performance Database

There was a noticeable difference between the NF and the other two, on impact performance and penetration Sadly NF is folding. They have an excellent design, expensive, but “you get what you pay for!”
r.tapatalk.com r.tapatalk.com
 
Longwalker said:
Bullet Performance Database
Type of bullet: North Fork cup point solid
Bullet speed: MV 2100 FPS
Distance of shot: 80M
Original weight: 400 gr.
Recovered weight: 400 gr.
Calibre: 450-400 3"
Species: Cape buffalo
Shot placement: this was a follow up shot from rear, buffalo was already mortally wounded and had spun away and starting to run. Bullet hit inside surface of right "ham", penetrated hindquarter ( missing the femur), through guts, rumen, and part of the right lung, lodged in ribcage on right side, after at least a meter and a half of penetration. There was a very noticeable "whomp' when the bullet hit, and visible reaction to the shot. buffalo ran only about five more steps. I was very impressed.


r.tapatalk.com

Bullet Performance Database

There was a noticeable difference between the NF and the other two, on impact performance and penetration Sadly NF is folding. They have an excellent design, expensive, but “you get what you pay for!”
r.tapatalk.com r.tapatalk.com
Click to expand...
 
See below
 
Longwalker said:
Bullet Performance Database
Type of bullet: North Fork cup point solid
Bullet speed: MV 2100 FPS
Distance of shot: 80M
Original weight: 400 gr.
Recovered weight: 400 gr.
Calibre: 450-400 3"
Species: Cape buffalo
Shot placement: this was a follow up shot from rear, buffalo was already mortally wounded and had spun away and starting to run. Bullet hit inside surface of right "ham", penetrated hindquarter ( missing the femur), through guts, rumen, and part of the right lung, lodged in ribcage on right side, after at least a meter and a half of penetration. There was a very noticeable "whomp' when the bullet hit, and visible reaction to the shot. buffalo ran only about five more steps. I was very impressed. Of course they quit making them!


r.tapatalk.com

Bullet Performance Database

There was a noticeable difference between the NF and the other two, on impact performance and penetration Sadly NF is folding. They have an excellent design, expensive, but “you get what you pay for!”
r.tapatalk.com r.tapatalk.com
Click to expand...
Thanks. Here's your bullet from that post showing the riveting effect.
IMG_0784.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1059 more.
Total: 73,769 (members: 1,109, guests: 72,660)

Forum statistics

Threads
58,762
Messages
1,269,563
Members
105,837
Latest member
ThanhStead
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
gemsbok!


•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
updated available dates for 2025 season,

14-19 March
1-4 April
22-28 April
9-30 June
25-31 July
September and October is wide open

Thank you for the bookings Gents headed to USA soon get your dates booked they are going quick!
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
we have a few more cull hunts available

•••
EC HUNTING SAFARIS
EC HUNTING SAFARIS
*** SPECIAL OFFER ***
5400bdb0-f0a7-407a-a64b-61d4966d1a96.JPG

EC Hunting Safaris is offering an "Early Season" Special.
Confirm your hunt by End Feb 2025, and receive 5% DISCOUNT on your Safari package, or tailor-made package, AS WELL AS, FREE RIFLE HIRE & AMMO.
Send us a message and secure your Special Offer
•••

Share this page

 
Top