Woodleigh Bullets & Hydrostatic

[tarbe]

Got me some Hydros, too.

Load development time. Got a date in the BVC to get ready for!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Have had hunters use them on Cape Buffalo. Broke the near shoulder, and stopped under the skin on the opposite side. Can't ask for more than that.
I use them in my 500NE.

 

[BenKK]

Young bull for meat, 150 grain Hydros, Winchester .30-30 used as a two-shooter for safety. Velocity about 2000fps from memory.

 

[BenKK]

Two proper old bulls with the same combo. Definitely no exits with these Hydros!

 

[BenKK]

BTW these were extremely quick kills.

 

[BenKK]

Mere steps, heart-shot.

 

[tarbe]

Mere steps, heart-shot.

Thanks for the details - I was going to ask!

 

[Nhoro]

Mate, I’ve got hundreds of tonnes of experience with Hydros and conventional Woodleigh softs and solids, plus approximately ten tonnes of experience with CEB Safari Raptors and maybe thirty tonnes worth with Barnes TSX. There is NOTHING wrong with conventional Woodleighs. All the projectiles mentioned above work fine and I’ve experienced great / quick results with them all. There are certain shot angles / cover or multi-animal situations where one projectile may be better than another. Value for money with big animals falling-over promptly, it’s hard to go past Woodleigh conventionals - and I don’t say that lightly because I also think TSX, Hydro and CEB Safari Raptor are impressive.

BenKK did you find that flat nose solids( hydro etc) penetrate the reported double to 3x the penetration of conventional woodleigh fmj ?

 

[BenKK]

BenKK did you find that flat nose solids( hydro etc) penetrate the reported double to 3x the penetration of conventional woodleigh fmj ?

Not yet. I’m not really a bullet tester in that way, as I usually don’t have time to do that much digging on the relatively few I’ve shot perfectly front-on. Side-on shots are no help as they both usually exit. I think we measured 3m on a giraffe bull with a 300 grain Hydro; and I know there was at least 2m of penetration on a buffalo bull with a 570 grain Hydro.

 

[RayAtkinson]

Those that condem the Woodleigh bullet are just blowing smoke up the reader kazoo! Woodleighs have killed more African game than all the rest combined. of that I am sure.
Even today with all the new magic claimed bullets out there, my favorite buffalo bullet is the 350 gr. PP in the 375, and the 450 gr. PP in the 416 Rem and 404 Jefferys..based on results, and whats wrong with the old Kynoch design, they sure do regulated in a double, better that other designs..Todays naysayers can hide behind their lack of expertise on the internet, try that over a campfire!!

 

[bruce moulds]

ray,
I would question some of your statements.
firstly, if you are talking softs, probably kynoch has killed more game than Woodleigh.
I would question the need for a 350 gn bullet in 375 and a 450 in40 cal when a 300 gn swift or barnes will do as well or better, plus shoot flatter.
these cartridges made their name with 300 and 400 gn bullets made by kynoch.
Woodleigh bullets will not perform in say 7mm from a 7x57 up to a 7mm stw as will swift and barnes.
they will not work on small game like a swift, which will still work on bigger game equally as well.
plus my own experience with Woodleigh has shown patchy accuracy.
while some lots shoot quite accurately, some will not.
bruce.

 

[Dr Ray]

I’ve only used hydros sparingly on a big scrub bull. Effective but exited which surprised me quite frankly.

 

[tarbe]

ray,
I would question some of your statements.
firstly, if you are talking softs, probably kynoch has killed more game than Woodleigh.
I would question the need for a 350 gn bullet in 375 and a 450 in40 cal when a 300 gn swift or barnes will do as well or better, plus shoot flatter.
these cartridges made their name with 300 and 400 gn bullets made by kynoch.
Woodleigh bullets will not perform in say 7mm from a 7x57 up to a 7mm stw as will swift and barnes.
they will not work on small game like a swift, which will still work on bigger game equally as well.
plus my own experience with Woodleigh has shown patchy accuracy.
while some lots shoot quite accurately, some will not.
bruce.

My only Woodleigh experience. Anecdotal, for sure. But very surprisingly poor. Cape Buffalo shoulder shot that ended up in the lungs! 550gr with an impact velocity of about 2,050 fps? YMMV

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ok, so im hearing that some people are not fans on Woodleigh projectiles. Some noted points ive noted

• Dont drive them to fast
• they are soft
• they are an old Kynoch design, (Old technology) newer might be better
• There are better

Being an Aussie i like the idea of supporting an Aussie company and maybe one day hunting DG with Aussie bullets overseas.

i also read a bit about them previously and it seems they have done plenty of field testing.

i bought some Hydro statically stabilized after research.

people here keep referring to north Fork and CEB? Cutting Edge Bullets. i did not make the connection until i asked. They are a monometal too. i had heard of meplat services but did not connect with CEB

so Barnes, CEB and Woodleigh Hydros are all monometal.

Has anyone given Woodleigh Hydros a fair go?

As a PH explained to me if it comes to stopping a buff then the PH is taking a shot from a less than desirable angle so they want all the advantage they can get.

but is a CEB to soft for hitting shoulder bone etc. Do Woodleigh Hydro compare against CEB, Northfork, Barnes??

Ive read why CEB say they are the latest leading edge technology but how far are they in front of other monolithic type bullets?

Another thing i read is that you dont want a bullet to pass through a Buff into another as your hunt may take a turn you did not see coming. And then there is the cost,

@CBH Australia
Chris Woodleigh has a lot of designs from Kynoc. He got the design specs of all the old Kynoc bullets and started making them for the old doubles because they are regulated using this design. He also makes bullets from .264 up to .700.
I haven't had a problem pushing them hard, yes they do have velocity parameters but unless you shoot game that is sitting on the muzzle they work well.
The hydros are supposed to be the ultimate in straight line penetration since button up boots and sliced bread but I haven't used them I don't need that much penetration.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

225 grain woodleigh PPSP
Retrieved from a big Burchells zebra shattered at around 120yards.
Velocity was still around 2,700fps after starting out at 2,950 fps (250 fps faster than recommend) hit at woodleigh maximum impact velocity. Smashed both shoulders and destroyed the chest cavity. Bullet found under the offside skin.
Not a pretty picture book mushroom but what do you expect after smashing bone at max recommend velocity.
I'm more than happy
Bob

 

[Rule 303]

Bruce M my experience with Woody's is almost opposite to yours. Never had them not shoot straight in , 30, 303, 358 416 calibres in RN, PP and Hydro. All go to same point of impact in my rifles. Might be Kynoch design but there are bonded and I have had the 358's SP and PP hitting Sambar at 200fps over max recommended impact and still retain over 80% of weight. All hit leg bones.

The Cape Buff I shot was with a 416 Hydro- from a CZ 416 Rigby- at 50mts. Hit the front of chest took top of heart and ended up 2" shy of the rump skin after going through pelvis. He did manage to run about 50 mts but his adrenaline was already up.

They'll do me.

 

[bruce moulds]

rule 303,
I know nothing of solids, hydros or conventional, as I have never used them.
my comments are protected points.
I will not keep buying bullets in the hope of getting accurate ones, as it is just cheaper to get accurate ones in the first place.
and head to head against swifts on lighter game there was no competition, while the swifts are good on bigger game as well.
from what I have read of hydros, they are probably too much bullet for buffalo, cattle, and down.
the reports of animals running the distances reported might suggest someone could get killed one day.
a good swift or barnes might well be a faster killer, and/or allow a little more latitude in bullet placement.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

rule 303,
I know nothing of solids, hydros or conventional, as I have never used them.
my comments are protected points.
I will not keep buying bullets in the hope of getting accurate ones, as it is just cheaper to get accurate ones in the first place.
and head to head against swifts on lighter game there was no competition, while the swifts are good on bigger game as well.
from what I have read of hydros, they are probably too much bullet for buffalo, cattle, and down.
the reports of animals running the distances reported might suggest someone could get killed one day.
a good swift or barnes might well be a faster killer, and/or allow a little more latitude in bullet placement.
bruce.

@bruce moulds
Mate the 225 grain Woodleigh PPSP cut nice little clover leads in my 35.
Bob

 

[mneilh]

I have used Woodleigh's in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa on a wide variety of game, in .30/06, .375H&H and .458Win. Super accurate and they always did a great job. I reckon they are the best hunting bullet you can load with. Loaded to sensible velocities and placed in the right spot they will deliver the goods.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

rule 303,
I know nothing of solids, hydros or conventional, as I have never used them.
my comments are protected points.
I will not keep buying bullets in the hope of getting accurate ones, as it is just cheaper to get accurate ones in the first place.
and head to head against swifts on lighter game there was no competition, while the swifts are good on bigger game as well.
from what I have read of hydros, they are probably too much bullet for buffalo, cattle, and down.
the reports of animals running the distances reported might suggest someone could get killed one day.
a good swift or barnes might well be a faster killer, and/or allow a little more latitude in bullet placement.
bruce.

@bruce moulds
Mate the 225 grain Woodleigh PPSP cut nice little clover leads in my 35.
Bob