Swift A-Frame or Barns - will they expand

[mcheney]

Hello,

Swift A-Frame 325gr .452
Barns tsx 275gr .451

Question is, do you gents think either of these bullets will expand at 450BM velocities from a 16" Ruger bolt rifle?
Especially at ranges from 100-200 yrds.

The SD is better than the Hornady FTX 250gr, and they are certainly tougher and should penetrate better, but for MI White Tail would these be a better or worse choice than the Hornady FTX?

What got me questioning was I shot a good sized doe in early anterless with the FTX through both lungs at 20 yrds. Believe it or not she ran 80 yrds then dropped. Total penetration and quarter size exit wound but I have to say I was surprised how far she ran. I am wondering about the construction of the Hornady FTX if I target the shoulders. Where I hunt 80 yrds in the wrong direction could possibly mean an unrecoverable deer. (neighbors!) My Excalibur xBow slams through both shoulders and drops them quick. So this got me thinking about penetration vs expansion as well as shot placement based upon if I am trying to drop it quick or save as much meat as possible. I dislike neck shots for several reasons.

In summery I what am looking for is a bullet that expands on a double lung but penetrates on a double shoulder from 20 to 200 yrds and not sure if the FTX is the best choice.

Thanks guys!

[Thom28]

Don't know about the Swift A frame but I can say that the both Barnes 200gr and 275gr XPB expand to a perfect mushroom, at least in a water test. I shot a buck last year with the 200gr through both lungs. Did not recover the bullet but exit wound was the size of a silver dollar. Went 40 yards and dropped dead.
Barnes sent me the following information on FPS needed for bullet expansion.

XPB 200gr catalog# 30554 – 1700 fps
XPB 275gr catalog# 30548 – 1400 fps
TSX 275gr catalog# 30628 – 1200 fps
I am running the 200gr at 2350 muzzle velocity and the 275gr at 2275 muzzle. Both these loads are still traveling about the criteria that Barnes recommended for full expansion.

[Bmt85]

I’ve used the 200 xpb and 275 TSX on game. Very good results! The 275 xpb is very similar to the TSX, so that should work just as well. As Thom28 posted, the 200 xpb has a minimum velocity of 1700fps, coupled with the fact it has a low ballistic coefficient, you have to watch how far you’re trying to push it. 100yds is about max on regular loads/speeds. Might be able to take it out to 150yds if you really lean on it.

I haven’t seen anyone test the Swift bullets, but looking at their chart showing the expansion at different velocities, they should be a good option. Expansion diameter isn’t the greatest, but when it expands, it looks like it has a very flat nose. That has been shown to do a good deal of damage. On top of that, they seem to hold there weight very well and have a low expansion threshold.

[Al in Mi]

Not in the 450, but have had a couple buds shoot their bears with 300gr swifts when I had a 460 S&W Encore. Load was book off Hogdons site, very accurate, and they worked perfectly.

Hard to beat the Barnes too.

[CJP1]

mcheney,
I load both Barnes XPB bullets for my 23-1/4" CVA Scout. My 275gr rounds avg 2385 FPS and my 200gr rounds avg 2583 FPS. Both rounds have a side crimp in the driving bands. 200gr in band closest to tip and 275gr in center band. I also taper crimp the rounds. I haven't used either with a body shot on deer. A head shot with my Ruger American Ranch and the 200gr round was very destructive at 40yds.
CJP1