Thinking of playing with some 535 grain Raptors in the .500 Jeffery. Just out of curiosity. PaulT: Is it a good thing, those little petals coming off in a buffalo?
Hey Ben.
I believe that CEB make a 485gn Raptor for the .505 which I would be more inclined to load rather than the heavier bullet.
Keep in mind that these bullets thrive on velocity.
Also, unless your rifle has a "coned" breech entry you may have problems feeding the blunt shaped projies from the magazine.
With regards to the blades, I found that generally they separate from the main shank after four or son inches of penetration. In most cases most of the blades made it past the shoulder blade and in to the chest cavity creating a level of havoc I have not previously witnessed. The blades depart the main shank in a centrifical pattern, cutting and damaging and channeling blood to the main shank. The shank itself will continue to penetrate, usually out the other side.
Entry and exit holes are "punched" clean of skin and debri leaving a clear open wound channel and blood trail, should you need it.
Ben, the CEB's are sold in packs of 18.
You do not have to commit to too many of them.
Let me set you a bit of a challenge.
Load up some 485gn Raptors as fast as your 505 can spit them out and then go out and plant one fair and square on a buff's shoulder from a side on shot, then come back here and tell us all how it performed.
If it fails I will quite happily come back here and acknowledge the failure and take my medicine.