Alaska
Handloader
- Aug 20, 2006
- 951
- 401
Bring back the Fail Safe bullet!
Fail Safe
- Thread starter Alaska
- Start date
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 6
The Fail Safe bullet was ahead of its time in some design features, when it worked as designed. Plus, they were quite accurate bullets. I shot an elk with a 180 Fail Safe (.30-06) at about 140 yards through the lungs, downward angle. He acted completely unphased and I shot him again, slightly different angle further away through the lungs again, he stood there and allowed me to get a little closer (120 yards) and on the third shot, he finally leaked-to-death, lowered his head and fell over! All three bullets went through both lungs but did not expand very much. Exit holes were small and closed up.
Others that I know, had the same experience. I guess that the new CXP-3 bullets are the improved version of the Fail Safe. I have not tried them.
Others that I know, had the same experience. I guess that the new CXP-3 bullets are the improved version of the Fail Safe. I have not tried them.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,433
- 3,442
I was getting 3150 and 1.5" groups at 300 yards with my pac-nor barreled 378 Wby with the 270 grain bullet.
- Thread starter
- #4
Alaska
Handloader
- Aug 20, 2006
- 951
- 401
I have ample supply of the .338 in 230 gr and .284 in the 160 gr and .308 in 165gr
I use them in the 340 wby and 7mm WSM and the 300 wby.
Very tough bullet for heavy game i noticed the lighter bullets in the FS perform excellent on moose.
I would like to fine some 140 gr FS in .284 for the 7mm WSM.
In my expercience with FS i use them very much like a solid bullet and shoot for shoulder shots only, very little expansion due to design but that bullet will exit.
I use them in the 340 wby and 7mm WSM and the 300 wby.
Very tough bullet for heavy game i noticed the lighter bullets in the FS perform excellent on moose.
I would like to fine some 140 gr FS in .284 for the 7mm WSM.
In my expercience with FS i use them very much like a solid bullet and shoot for shoulder shots only, very little expansion due to design but that bullet will exit.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,537
- 6,604
I've shot a fair number of moose, elk and black bear with the Fail Safe. I loaded the 160 grain FS preferentially in my 7mm RM and the 180 grain FS in my 300 WSM. I don't recall ever losing an animal with these loads.
They were indeed very tough bullets. I remember firing the factory 338 / 230FS's into some hard objects and marveling at how those beasts burrowed through just about everything. Their new XP3 does seem to be an improved version. I am kinda surprised we can't get our hands on them as handloaders. Scotty
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 6
I still have a box of the 7mm Mag 160 grain and (2) boxes of the 180 grain .30-06 Fail Safe ammo. I will not shoot game with either one of these calibers after nearly losing an elk to the 180 Failsafe .30-06, 180 grain. Perfect shot, ideal conditions, no expansion of bullet. Thirty caliber in and .30 calber out. I use them for sighting in and practice ammo.
