Swift A Frame Results

[TOBY458]

Well.....it looks like I may be trying out some more of these A Frame bullets in 2019. Thinking really hard on a Lioness/PG hunt in August. Always wanted to hunt lion, and never having seen one in the wild, I think it should be a thrill! Plan to take Eland, Water buck, wart hog, Impala and Oryx as well.

 

[matt85]

Well.....it looks like I may be trying out some more of these A Frame bullets in 2019. Thinking really hard on a Lioness/PG hunt in August. Always wanted to hunt lion, and never having seen one in the wild, I think it should be a thrill! Plan to take Eland, Water buck, wart hog, Impala and Oryx as well.

just keep in mind that A-frames are very tough bullets so going light for caliber on a lion would be a very good idea. I would use the lightest available a-frame for your selected cartridge. either a 375 with the 250gr a-frame or a 416 with a 350gr a-frame would be good choices. either load will nearly pass completely threw a lion length wise and higher velocities are well known to be more effective on big cats.

-matt

 

[TOBY458]

Yes that's probably a great idea. Was even thinking about 235gr TSX. In all honesty, with lioness and PG, my 30/06 would probably be the best choice, but that just doesn't seem as fun! And may not be legal on lion, but haven't looked into it. I also might have someone twisting my arm into a buffalo!

 

[Ryan]

@matt85 would you think the 375 cal 250 gr A-Frame would be better than the 300 for plains game?

 

[Shootist43]

Toby458, I think the minimum for lion is a 375, at least in most countries. Who are you thinking of booking with?

 

[TOBY458]

Toby458, I think the minimum for lion is a 375, at least in most countries. Who are you thinking of booking with?

Pieter. I'm thinking about doing a hunt with Ridgewalker. He's already booked it, and I may tag along.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think the 250gr version would serve you well.

 

[WAB]

I think the 250gr version would serve you well.

I’ve got some 230’s that I bought years ago in AK. Always thought they would be an interesting bullet.

 

[Ryan]

I think the 250gr version would serve you well.

The question I have is would it serve you better for lion and PG.

Recently there was a post concerning Ron Spomer talking down on the 375 H&H. Long story short is the heavier bullets like the 300 grain ones tend to pass through lighter game before optimal expansion and energy loss. So would the 250 grain A-Frame expand faster? This could be an advantage on lighter dangerous game like lion and plains game overall. Curious on others opinion here.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The question I have is would it serve you better for lion and PG.

Recently there was a post concerning Ron Spomer talking down on the 375 H&H. Long story short is the heavier bullets like the 300 grain ones tend to pass through lighter game before optimal expansion and energy loss. So would the 250 grain A-Frame expand faster? This could be an advantage on lighter dangerous game like lion and plains game overall. Curious on others opinion here.

Faster expansion is what I would expect with the higher velocity. I get 2800fps plus out of NorthFork 250's, I'd expect similar with the A-Frame.

 

[Ridgewalker]

On my last Africa adventure, I used 250 gr Barnes TTSX and they worked perfect on croc, sable, black wildebeest, eland, warthog and caracal. All in the right place with one shot. I did do two additional shots as I was told by the PH on the croc, but after it was all done, he said the one in the “smile” was all that was needed. Only the eland bullet was recovered.
That said, I believe a 250 A-frame would have done just as well if it was accurate in the rifle and put in the right spot.
I have QR scope mounts, so depending on what weight bullet I use, I trade between a 1-6x and a 2-12x.
I will be using a 1-6x scope and Barnes 235 gr TSX bullets at over 3,000 FPS for my lion. I’ll let you know in August how/if it works!

 

[Dr Ray]

Congratulations and I must say that your trophies are excellent.
Again, congratulations.

 

[MikeNC]

Congratulations on your trophies! I used A-Frames on my safari in July and was very impressed with them!

 

[matt85]

@matt85 would you think the 375 cal 250 gr A-Frame would be better than the 300 for plains game?

the 300gr A-frame wont expand on soft animals. this can be both good and bad depending on what your hunting. for example if your hunt was going to be a cape buffalo and then some of the members of the tiny ten then the 300gr A-frame is an excellent choice because it will expand on the buffalo but not on something like a blue duiker (you don't want expansion on the tiny 10). however if your hunt is going to be for lion and medium/large planes game then the 250gr A-frame will be a superior choice. if your doing buffalo and medium planes game then i would use the 270gr A-frame.

with that said, im a very big fan of light for caliber TSX bullets! i have made extensive use of the 300gr TSX in my 416 RM which pushes that light bullet at 2700fps. with this load i have killed a handful of animals in South Africa and the United States. the 235gr TSX would be an absolute hammer from a 375 H&H which i would happily hunt anything up to and including cape buffalo with.

235gr TSX or 250gr A-frame... aim true and your prey will fall quickly. pick which ever bullet shoots the best in your rifle.

-matt

 

[Ryan]

@matt85 that is good info I am after.
While I am a fan of Barnes, mixing them and non-Barnes seems to be a bad idea on rifle bores. Different metal alloys don't always play well together. With a tentative plan to hunt buff in a few years my probable PH prefers A-Frames for the buff. My mind adds some plains game with the same rifle with a few extra days, so I've been trying to figure out best bullets for both. My 375 Ruger with 300's for the buff and 250 for the PG plus my bow for PG works, I think.

 

[matt85]

@matt85 that is good info I am after.
While I am a fan of Barnes, mixing them and non-Barnes seems to be a bad idea on rifle bores. Different metal alloys don't always play well together. With a tentative plan to hunt buff in a few years my probable PH prefers A-Frames for the buff. My mind adds some plains game with the same rifle with a few extra days, so I've been trying to figure out best bullets for both. My 375 Ruger with 300's for the buff and 250 for the PG plus my bow for PG works, I think.

i wouldn't bring both 250gr and 300gr a-frames for the same gun, they wont have the same POI. the African bush is no place to be readjusting your rifle to another load. i would recommend either 235gr TSX or 270gr A-frames for your hunt as both will work fine on buffalo and PG. the 235gr TSX may seem light for a buffalo but i assure you it will do the job in a surprisingly effective manner (assuming you do your part and put it where it needs to go).

-matt

 

[Ryan]

If I go this direction I'll have shot both and know the difference in POI.

 

[Dr Ray]

i wouldn't bring both 250gr and 300gr a-frames for the same gun, they wont have the same POI. the African bush is no place to be readjusting your rifle to another load. i would recommend either 235gr TSX or 270gr A-frames for your hunt as both will work fine on buffalo and PG. the 235gr TSX may seem light for a buffalo but i assure you it will do the job in a surprisingly effective manner (assuming you do your part and put it where it needs to go).

-matt

Good point. However, in my 300 Winchester magnum the 180 grain Bullets print one inch higher than the 150 grain Bullets. That is a complete fluke and I doubt whether I could ever get a similar story with any of my other calibers.
Suggest you see where EXCACTLY the different bullet weights print.

 

[BeeMaa]

the 300gr A-frame wont expand on soft animals. this can be both good and bad depending on what your hunting. for example if your hunt was going to be a cape buffalo and then some of the members of the tiny ten then the 300gr A-frame is an excellent choice because it will expand on the buffalo but not on something like a blue duiker (you don't want expansion on the tiny 10). however if your hunt is going to be for lion and medium/large planes game then the 250gr A-frame will be a superior choice. if your doing buffalo and medium planes game then i would use the 270gr A-frame.

with that said, im a very big fan of light for caliber TSX bullets! i have made extensive use of the 300gr TSX in my 416 RM which pushes that light bullet at 2700fps. with this load i have killed a handful of animals in South Africa and the United States. the 235gr TSX would be an absolute hammer from a 375 H&H which i would happily hunt anything up to and including cape buffalo with.

235gr TSX or 250gr A-frame... aim true and your prey will fall quickly. pick which ever bullet shoots the best in your rifle.

-matt

TOBY458 - Apologies for the hijack, it shouldn't take long but it is related to the A-Frame.

matt85 - I'm doing my first PG hunt this year and I do not reload.
My caliber is 375H&H and the Swift brand ammo in 300gr A-Frame shoots the best out of my rifle.
I've tried ammo from Norma (300gr Oryx), Barnes (300gr TSX FB) and Nosler (300gr Partition) with varying results.
On my list are mostly large antelope like eland, nayala and red hartebeest.
I've been told by my PH that most will be within 100 yards in thick brush, but 200 yard shots are not out of the question.
The only other ammo I have considered is Federal Hydoro (300gr Woodleigh / currently unavailable) and Norma PH (350gr WC).
In your opinion (I welcome all AH members for theirs as well) should I be looking for a lighter faster bullet or stick with what I have.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

@BeeMaa a good alternative for folks like you and me that don't reload (yet) is Hendershots. You can get 250, 270 and 300 gr Swift A-Frames and Hendershots can even give you loads with same POI. Swift currently only offers the 300 gr SAF in their ammo.

Hendershots: https://hendershots.net/product/375-hh-magnum-extreme-custom-ammo/