A Frame failure

[Graham Hunter]

Let me make sure I understand this sir. The failed bullet was a Swift A Frame. It wasn’t a mixup on your part.....you know you put a Hornady round in the rifle. I can’t get imagine an A Frame failing......no way.
Just kidding you about your bullet selection.
By the way you got an amazing buff bull sir.

How do you know how big his buff was

 

[CAustin]

How do you know how big his buff was

Saw it on Facebook!

 

[Rick Cox]

Let me make sure I understand this sir. The failed bullet was a Swift A Frame. It wasn’t a mixup on your part.....you know you put a Hornady round in the rifle. I can’t get imagine an A Frame failing......no way.
Just kidding you about your bullet selection.
By the way you got an amazing buff bull sir.

Hi Charles. Yeah it was definately an A Frame. Pieter couldn't believe it either. I took some Woodleighs but a)they are accounted for and b) they are a different construction. The A Frame has a 'hole' at the base of the bullet through which the lead is visible. The Woodleighs don't. The lead was extruding through this hole in the bullet.

 

[Rick Cox]

How do you know how big his buff was

Found it the next day and finished it. Go to Pawprint Safaris web site to see photos of the buff and the gash left by the bullet that failed.

 

[Rick Cox]

I was planning on loading up some .416 Rigby with 400gr bullets A frames will be interesting to see how this plays out.

When we found the buff the next day and finished him, I used the A Frame and it went through his near should, both lungs and the top of his heart stopping after penetrating the ribs. Found under the hide.

 

[Rick Cox]

I'm having trouble with my email right now so I will not be able to hear from Swift till I return next week. I will keep you posted and plan on posting a detailed account of the trip.

Interesting and I look forward to your full report especially the reply from Swift.[/QUOT

 

[Rick Cox]

I'm headed for Namibia in a few days. My .338 RUM will be loaded with A Frames. I've never had an issue with AF's in anything. Hopefully PG won't be an issue. Also taking a .30/06 with Barnes TSX. Never an issue with this either. Will report results.
I think any bullet design can have an occasional failure. Just try to find the ones that have the lowest chance of failure.

I'm pretty sure you will be fine. The rest of the AF I used performed as advertised. Shot a nice bull giraffe in the neck at 70 m and recovered the bullet but the spinal column was pulverized.

 

[Rick Cox]

I have used AFrames in Africa during six safaris, and they have always performed flawlessly, but never hit a hard bone surface with them. I don´t think they are designed for it.

This bullet only hit skin...

 

[Rick Cox]

Yes it can happen even with the best bullets and for some reason that hit in the face/head is one that really tests a bullet. I've seen same thing happen on a wildebeest with another bonded bullet where the teeth are hit completely fragmenting the bullet and deflecting the pieces. Teeth are hard material and obviously the angles involved can significantly deflect even the larger bullets. I doubt there is an issue with the A Frame - it's just the nature of bullets hitting hard material at odd angles. After all it is still a soft point- not a solid and the teeth are not exactly the best bullet placement. That's why it's always good to plan for the worst scenario when choosing hunting bullets, not the best or ideal scenario.

Like I have related elsewhere, this bullet only hit skin before disintegrating.

 

[GuttormG]

If you produce 100.000 bullets (or pistons or scopes or umbrellas) some of the will fail.

Good you found the buff an looking forward to reading the full story.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Excellent follow up, recovery! Looking forward to your report!
Congratulations on the fine trophies so far and best of luck on the next!

 

[Graham Hunter]

Found it the next day and finished it. Go to Pawprint Safaris web site to see photos of the buff and the gash left by the bullet that failed.

Can't find it on Pawprint website. Might not be up there yet.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Can't find it on Pawprint website. Might not be up there yet.

It’s actually PawPrint’s Facebook pages.
I hate Facebook probably because I haven’t learned how to use it. Too much stuff comes up.

 

[Travis2282]

Just seen the pic, beautiful buffalo! Congrats!

 

[Catahoula]

I'm pretty sure you will be fine. The rest of the AF I used performed as advertised. Shot a nice bull giraffe in the neck at 70 m and recovered the bullet but the spinal column was pulverized.

I agree. I used A frames on my last safari and have them loaded for the upcoming trip in September. I had a similar failure with Nosler Partitions on my first trip to Africa. The bullet came completely apart on the shoulder. We recovered the jacket and a small fragment just under the skin. Occasional failures happen with the best bullets.

 

[cbvanb]

This is the mystery of terminal ballistics, and I doubt Swift will have any light they could shed on the issue. I was attacked by a cow elephant in Zimbabwe last September and as a desperation move I laid the muzzle of my .375 on her forehead and sent a 300 gr. A Frame softpoint into her brain. I shared the story with the owner of Swift at the DSC convention last January and he wasn't surprised. He has heard stories of success, and I suspect a few failures, since he got into the business. Things usually work the way their supposed to but sometimes they don't, and we have to deal with it. Good work on following up the buff and getting it into the salt.