Buffalo bore ammo

Buffalo Bore does have some competition besides Garrett. There's Grizzly Ammo (hardcast only) and Doubletap. In my view neither are quite as good but they're not at all bad.

I blew up a bowling ball with a Doubletap-loaded Gold Dot 125gr high speed variant slug in 357Magnum. Split it in half, turned out to be about 1" thick plastic surrounding concrete, or what looked a lot like it. Sent fist-size pieces of the core back past my feet and I was a good 20 paces out.

The guy who owned the ex-ball said he'd never seen that sort of action out of a handgun on one of those things.

Doubletap is cheaper but some of their advertised speeds HAVE come up short in tests. Not as often, but they don't have the same rep Tim at Buffbore does (or Garrett, the only other small ammo house I know of that exceeds BuffBore in some loads - they have a much narrower product line though).
 
I believe Buffalo Bore to be good ammo, but I can't justify the cost.
I wonder, do they make their own powder or what?? OR, is the powder they use available to reloaders?

Since I like many here reload, I think we could pretty much put together our own ammo that would closely match BB....unless, again, they are using unobtanium components which I doubt.

Here is some interesting data on velocity and pressures for some different powders:

http://www.freedomarms.com/loading.html

Notice what VV N110 does for pressure and velocity as compared to most of the others.

I use VV N110 in .357 Magnum a lot and really like it...it has given excellent results.
Many people state that it is expensive compared to other powders and that's true, but many pay premium prices for ammo like BB without much trouble.

I use 6 cents worth of VV N110/ loaded .357 Magnum round , about 18 cents for every Gold Dot , 21 cents for each piece of Starline brass and 3 cents for each primer for a total of 48 cents a round.
I do admit that you can save 3 cents a round using cheaper "comparable" powders in .357 Magnum...so, that would be 45 cents a round using cheaper powders.

BB gets about $1.40/ round.
Do my loads in .357 Magnum equal theirs??
I bet they do or come pretty darn close....I'll have to chrono some and find out for sure.
Go ahead and spring for that expensive powder if you want to match this expensive premium ammo.
 
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I read the ad that stated BB loaded a .380 ACP round, 100 gr. @ 1200 fps, so I stopped by Cabela's (sp?) and picked up a box of 20 for $21.60 inc tax. Testing was on windshield washer fluid jugs filled level with the top of the neck and capped. For comparison used Remington FMJ 95 gr @ app. 960 fps. Gun used was a Browning BDA. BB cut clean holes at 10 yards and no movement or perceived "shock effect" on impact. The Remingtons cut holes with a 1"split above and below the holes. Granted, the .380 ACP is no powerhouse. Far from it. But a 100 grain bullet @1200 fps should IMO make a better showing than that. That's .22 LR velocity and I think the .22 would have caused more damage than that. Your results may vary.
 
Bullet fragmentation or not?

I think this way: Looks like very-very high speed (rifle velocity) bullets does the job better, even 60 gr. from a .223. That is the why shooters want high velocity in handguns. If you do not like fragmenting bullets you can stay with the old LSWC HP at 980 fps, give penetration and expansion, no high pressure no high cost of the exotic new bullets.
 
That's .22 LR velocity and I think the .22 would have caused more damage than that.
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So jon, did you shoot it with a .22 just to see if it does cause more damage?

And jon, windshield washer fluid jugs ain't people and not even a gelatin test.

I know you spent alot of money, but the 100 grain stuff you bought is HARDCAST Flat nose. It's not a hollowpoint and it's actually made not to expand.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=127

Should have bought their 90gr JHP instead.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=129
 
Since I like many here reload, I think we could pretty much put together our own ammo that would closely match BB....unless, again, they are using unobtanium components which I doubt.
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That's flirting with danger. Factory ammo doesn't necessarily use powder available to the handloader. Don't try to pull the bullet and analyze the powder. Some powders that aren't available to handloaders look just like some that are---and with different burning rates.

Buffalo bore isn't cheap, but it's carry ammo, not plinking stuff. You don't want to be running that much soft lead thru your bore anyway.
 
I read the ad that stated BB loaded a .380 ACP round, 100 gr. @ 1200 fps, so I stopped by Cabela's (sp?) and picked up a box of 20 for $21.60 inc tax. Testing was on windshield washer fluid jugs filled level with the top of the neck and capped. For comparison used Remington FMJ 95 gr @ app. 960 fps. Gun used was a Browning BDA. BB cut clean holes at 10 yards and no movement or perceived "shock effect" on impact. The Remingtons cut holes with a 1"split above and below the holes. Granted, the .380 ACP is no powerhouse. Far from it. But a 100 grain bullet @1200 fps should IMO make a better showing than that. That's .22 LR velocity and I think the .22 would have caused more damage than that. Your results may vary.
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The loading you bought was not designed for "shock effect" but rather for penetration (many people don't trust .380 JHP to penetrate adequately). If you wanted to see "shock effect" you should have gotten some of Buffalo Bore's 90grn Speer Gold Dot .380 loads.
 
Perhaps. But in my "test", primitive tho it may be, more damage was done with the FMJ at lower velocity than with the BB. Maybe you could duplicate the test with your choice of BB and let us know the results.
 
Perhaps. But in my "test", primitive tho it may be, more damage was done with the FMJ at lower velocity than with the BB. Maybe you could duplicate the test with your choice of BB and let us know the results.
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If I did, it would have to be with a different caliber since I don't own a .380 handgun.
 
That's flirting with danger. Factory ammo doesn't necessarily use powder available to the handloader. Don't try to pull the bullet and analyze the powder. Some powders that aren't available to handloaders look just like some that are---and with different burning rates.
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Nnobby45,

I think you misunderstood my post.
I was not suggesting doing anything unsafe, I think you read too much into my post or saw something that was not there.
I am not suggesting anyone stray away from published data for ANY loads and that is not what I said.
My example was using VV N110 for .357 Magnum---a powder that most people will not try because of price....but it gives high velocity and low pressures...isn't that what BB states for their ammo??

PLEASE, just read my posts and don't add anything to them.
I was just suggesting that by buying proper components and following published load data, that a reloader could get very close to BB ammo SAFELY.

NEVER suggested pulling bullets and analyzing any powder...just read what's there.:)

Lately, I have been running a lot of lead bullets through my revolvers.
My barrels do not lead up at all and I can shoot till I get tired without any problems.
Also, I can remove any lead that does accumulate in my barrels in less than 5 minutes tops.
As long as your lead bullet is properly matched to your revolver in size ( diameter) and your using the proper bullet (hardness) for velocity, leading is no problem whatsoever.
 
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I have experience with their 44 mag and 45 LC loads. In a SuperRedhawk with 9.5" barrel, my measured velocities exceeded those stated on the box by 25-40ft/sec for 44 Mag. I never crono'd the 45LCs, but they are accurate and a blast to shoot in my Ruger Bisely.
 
Hi. There are some one with personal experince with Buffalo Bore ammo? Publicity show the item 20B, a .38 Spl. load with a 125 gr. JHP bullet at 1258 fps in a 4" barrel S&W Mountain Gun, and 1072 fps in a M60 2" barrel
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I have used a variety of Buffalo Bore ammo and found it to be as advertised in all cases. It is usually hotter than other brands and, of course, has a price tag to go along with that.

All in all I have found it to be excellent ammunition.:D
 
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