Hi all,
Very close to landing myself an Aussie water buffalo hunt next year and my weapon of choice will be my muzzy. Just wondering what people would recommend?
Would my 300gn hornady FPBs with a 150gn charge be enough in terms of penetration and internal damage? Ranges will be 50m or under I'd imagine.

I'm currently having discussions with Australian customs about potentially privately importing some Barnes but at this stage I won't hold my breath.

Cheers

Jack

Jack,

I think a 300gr bullet and 150grs of charge would do the trick ...but the bullet is going to be key. You know my vote would be the Barnes Bullets as a first choice. The only thing that is going to touch the animal is the bullet unless you shoot and don't kill it..he charges..and you try to club him to death with your gun.

The Hornady 300gr FPB is a jacked bullet so I am concerned about penetration, and I personally would not use it on a Water Buffalo that has large bones and heavily muscled. Also the FPB is an easy load bullet and I prefer the Sabots for accuracy and velocity. I'd do whatever I could to get the Barnes Bullets.

Unfortunately my thoughts are along the same lines. I've got topop in to the local police station to chat with them about importing Barnes, any other alternatives?

Jack, If it's legal to do so, you know I'd be happy to buy them here in the US and ship them to you or even the local police station as an intermediate step... you know we are only talking about chunks of cooper and plastic..no powder.
Tony

I have been shooting 45 cal. 400 grain hard-cast flat point LBT's in a sabot in my muzzleloaders. I can get about 1400-1450 fps out of my shorter barrels with 100 gr. Pyrodex "P"; not sure what Triple 7 or Blackhorn would do for performance. The flat point delivers a lot of shock, but the bullet does not deform and will give about 48" of penetration! I shot one cow elk with it in the chest and it broke her hip after traveling full-length. I would not hesitate to shoot any large game with it, and am considering it for an African hunt with muzzleloader.

Blank,
Jack's problem is that he is in Australia and because of the laws there, US companies cannot export shooting supplies to Australia (I actually called Cabela's because I found it hard to believe and they verified they cannot ship to Australia). So unless there is a distributor in Australia with the product Jack wants, he is limited to what is available locally.

Thanks for the help guys, and yes thanks again tony, with any luck I might be able to take you up on tht favour, hopefully this weekend sometime I'll get a chance to visit the cop station. Asa you say though it's just copper and plastic.

But yes blank I am very limited, I'm willing to try to find anything I can though.

I'll keep looking.

back in early 80's was going ta move ta Australia for a few years. ended up in a foundry, married & kids, it played the bills. Some times here we take things for granted, & don't realize how good we really have it. what type weapon's are usually used their on wild game. I still enjoy taken my .45 out hunten, shots are limited, powder is proubly older than u got it back in 80's few years back took a hog with it, 22gr forgot to switch measure. good heart & lung shot. on the muzzy loader hunts keep your head held high & your powder dry wish could afford a hunt with my muzzy their. would check out your Guide Service best wishes

Sorry. Got in a hurry and did not notice your address; thought you were going to Austrailia. Comments still apply tho, see if you can find some hard-cast bullets and you will be surprised at their performance. I am very satisfied with the Barnes copper ones too, on everything I have shot. Good luck in your search.

JPHunting I think you may be in luck about purchasing BARNES BULLETS in Australia - they show to have a distributor there -

http://www.barnesbullets.com/resources/where-to-purchase-barnes/foreign-distributors/

http://www.raytrade.com.au/

I've shot two bull elk with the Barnes XPress 300gr. sabot being pushed by 300grs Pyrodex pellets. The first elk was guesstimated hoof weight at 1200lbs. My first shot went thru but did not exit, it was a quartering away shot at 154 yards penetrated from the left lung to the right shoulder. The bullet did a perfect mushroom and he was down where he stood!

jdickey,

Did you really mean to say " pushed by 300grs Pyrodex pellets" or was that a typo. That's one heck of a charge..6 pellets.

A 405 RN cast over 70-90 grains of powder killed a lot oa American Bison...

I would be using the Power Belt Dangerous Game loads personally.

I probably won't be on here this weekend after today, going to be a sad weekend for Australia with 27 of my countrymen being killed in the plane shot down in Ukraine along with nearly 300 others.

When I get a chance I'll get back to comments and pms. Thanks guys

Jack

Prayers for the families

Woodleigh bullets from Australia make some great DG bullets, now if they just made them for muzzle loaders. Would want more than the 280gr offering for the 444 Marlin cartridge I think.

Thank you colt45 it's a real shame, 6 Australians were between the ages of 8 and 15. I hope justice is served, can't see Putin taking any responsibility for it though. What's a few dead civilians to Russia.

Cheers kmon I'll have a chat to them and see, seeing as muzzleloading is Australia is pretty much a. Non existent sport so I won't hold my breath

Take a look at the new 300 gr.solid copper bullets recently introduced by Nosler and Hornady which look and perform like the Barnes offerings. Knight also has a new "Bloodline" solid brass bullet. Toby Bridges at namlhunt.com jst published an article on the Nosler. Federal has an innovative bullet on the market as well that uses an intergrated collar and no sabot. All the factory websites have a lot of info on their new products. Hopefully one of those companies has a distributor in Australia that you could buy from. Our condolences to you and your country on the loss suffered in the Malaysian crash. Good hunting. I look forward to hearing about your hunt.

Jim,

Jack's issue is that he cannot get any premium ammo. The US companies will not export ANY shooting supplies to Australia. I tried to help Jack and personally called Cabelas, Barnes, etc...same answer...they cannot export. We found a Barnes distributor in Australia..but so far no luck. So Jack's only option is to try and find an outlet in Australia that will import them...and that is proving to be hard.

So let's count our blessings we live in the USA.

Thanks Jim, but tony is on the money, getting stone walled at every turn. I can get Barnes 400gn .45 cal banded solids. Would go alright if I hit em
Properly I reckon and I can get the load right. Still looking at options though.

JP, do you guys have restrictions on casting your own bullets?

That im im not sure of, I spose that's another option.

just figured give a shout see how ya was doing

I was ordering some Hawk bullets and noticed several options that could be used in ML witg sabots like 400gr bullets among others. Then there is a review from Australia and thought about this thread,

http://www.hawkbullets.com/

Might be worth checking into

check out Thor bullets. solid copper and are bore specific. They will send you a set to see which one fits you bore.