Buffalo Bore 147gr JHP bullet type

M

Mycin

New member
I bought several boxes of 9mm 147gr Buffalo Bore JHP (std pressure) ammo, for the bargain price of about $11/box plus shipping. (http://www.manventureoutpost.com/pr...d-Hollow-Point-Subsonic-20-240-24I{47}20.html)

They just arrived, and I'm a little disappointed ("not terribly, but still"). Everything I've read says BB uses Gold Dot bullets for this ammo. But these bullets aren't GDHP. They look like Hornady XTP's, actually.

Does anyone know if BB used to load XTPs in their 147gr 9mm? If not XTPs, then something else? Maybe these are older stock (which would explain the bargain).

I'm not averse to the XTP bullets, but I'd like a positive ID to know what sort of terminal performance I can expect.

Mycin
 
Yeah, I submitted the question via their web site's "Contact Us" page, but it was after hours and I don't expect I'll hear anything until tomorrow. I'll update the thread once I hear back from them.

I did just find this thread on AR15.com where someone was ranting about this issue last August:

http://3gn.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=5&f=20&t=152431

The listing on the ManVentureOutpost.com web site doesn't specify the bullet used. However, the listing on Buffalo Bore's site DOES explicitly say they're Gold Dots. Maybe they reserve their GDHPs for orders placed through their own site, and use other "premium bullets" for product sold through other channels.

Personally, I'll not be upset if these are XTPs. I've been wanting to try them out anyway, and the price was right. But it does make things confusing.
 
I believe they stopped using the Gold Dot bullets exclusively a couple years ago. They may still use them, but you may also get another brand of bullet. I think Water-Man is correct that they do use Montana Gold bullets (or they did).
 
I don't think Montana Gold has a 147gr JHP bullet. At least, I don't see one on their web site.

Anyway, these are copper-jacketed bullets, not brass.
 
Last I heard they were Montana Gold. The switch happened some time ago and ticked a lot of people off. If you want Gold Dot's bullets moving at ungodly speeds for a reasonable price, check out underwood ammo.
 
I bought these thinking I was getting Gold Dots moving at normal speed at a very good price. And, most importantly, that were actually available to buy (or so I thought). I'd actually rather have Federal HST 147gr (std pressure) but they're slightly less common than hens' teeth. Gold Dots & the mythical Ranger T are my next two choices.

I'm familiar with Underwood, but they only have +P and +P+ loads in 9mm. I have plans to buy a .45 Colt Blackhawk later this year, and thought I'd play with some of Underwood's hot .45 loads when I do.
 
FYI, the response from Buffalo Bore:

That ammo you have was loaded over a year ago and if you need me to identify the bullet, I'd actually need a picture if you can. A year ago, we were in the midst of a component shortage and we used several different brands of bullets depending on what we could get and what passed my testing.
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Also, it appears Buffalo Bore is doing a recall on some 147gr. 9mm. If anyone has recently bought any BB 9mm that has Starline brass, you might want to contact them:

We have a recall on some of our 9MM 147gr. loads. We inadvertently got some soft brass that was mixed in with the good brass. You may have some of the effected ammo. What head stamp is on your case heads. If it is the double shooting star (Starline) we may pay you to send that ammo back to us. Please let me know. Thanks.
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Mycin
 
I would never buy any Buffalo Bore hollow point bullets. They used the Gold Dots several years ago, but you never know what you are getting. I do have some BB hard cast rounds, and you can't beat that ammo of theirs when you need maximum penetration.
 
Just out of curiosity, why were you disappointed?
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Because I thought I was getting Gold Dot bullets and got XTPs instead. I know the XTP is a good bullet, but the Gold Dot is higher on my list of preferred defensive bullets.
 
I've never had issue with the XTP's, i can't say the same about the GoldDots. My experience has been that sometimes the Gold Dots will fail to expand at all, acting like a FMJ.
 
If HP expands Its good to go. I think all this that brand or this brand a waste of time. I won't shoot those blow up on the skin 6 for 30 bucks junk
If expands goes over 10" Were good to go.
 
My experience has been that sometimes the Gold Dots will fail to expand at all, acting like a FMJ.
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Interesting.

I've been doing a good deal of research over the last few months into the current state of HP bullets (haven't really paid attention for quite awhile) and my impression is that the top 3 by general reputation seem to be Federal HSTs, Winchester Ranger Ts, and Gold Dots (or at least, those are the 3 that I keep seeing praised far and wide). XTP, Critical Defense, Critical Duty, PDX1, etc., get good reviews, but those first three get a LOT of praise.

If you don't mind, I'd love more info: In what scenarios have you seen the GDHPs fail? What weight bullets, barrel length, etc.?

Thanks.
 
Dots

My personal experience was with the 147's out of a 3.5in bbl Astra. I got inconsistency in the medium i used. Not that it is as closely relative but i also got inconsistency regarding proper expansion using their 50gr. GD HP 22 magnum round, which has been discontinued for several years now. This round gave inconsistent expansion when used on WV turkeys.

That was my experience...others have had similar results. Here is a few...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9UxDu4smlI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCmxakFAFRo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeVtwmHeRZQ

I like all the other rounds you mentioned. My favorite being the Federal HST 147 Standard Pressure HP....if you can find them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3VfWkWMzOI
 
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