question about old Failsafe bullets.
- Thread starter smitty81
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 38,192
- 8,295
To my knowledge, the FS was not bonded. They are not the identical design of the XP3 bullet, though there are similarities to permit more ready expansion on game. The FS was a totally different design from the AB, more closely approximating the TBBC or the Barnes (with the rear receiving a steel insert) than the AB.
Greg Nolan
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2004
- 2,144
- 22
The fail safe had a nose like the Barnes X without a polycarbonite tip and a hardened, lead filled chamber in the rear. the front of the lead core had a steel cup that kept the lead core in place and from expanding too much. The rear of the lead slug was also capped at the base of the bullet to prevent the lead core from slipping out of it's chamber on impact since it wasn't bonded.
It had 2 attributes that some people didn't like. 1. The steel cap wasn't perfectly positioned and it caused accuracy problems. 2. It didn't always expand reliably and I've removed the few I've recovered from hitting bone and it looked more like a solid and was even bent in the middle with minimal expansion.
The XP3 has a polycarbonite tip with a wider opening to initiate expansion more reliably and the rear core is bonded, eliminating the need for the steel cap in front of the lead core. It is still capped at the rear of the lead core. Most field tests show this to be a more accurate and more reliably expanding bullet. It's pretty close to the new Tipped Trophy Bonded bullet but without the Barnes tripple shock style grooves on the sides.
It had 2 attributes that some people didn't like. 1. The steel cap wasn't perfectly positioned and it caused accuracy problems. 2. It didn't always expand reliably and I've removed the few I've recovered from hitting bone and it looked more like a solid and was even bent in the middle with minimal expansion.
The XP3 has a polycarbonite tip with a wider opening to initiate expansion more reliably and the rear core is bonded, eliminating the need for the steel cap in front of the lead core. It is still capped at the rear of the lead core. Most field tests show this to be a more accurate and more reliably expanding bullet. It's pretty close to the new Tipped Trophy Bonded bullet but without the Barnes tripple shock style grooves on the sides.
Alaska
Handloader
- Aug 20, 2006
- 1,109
- 583
The Fail Safe was the first of its kind very unique bullet that cost alot to make..........today the only bullet that comes close to it
is the the Winchester XP3 bullet...........the Fail safe had a steel cup insert alot like the Partition Gold bullets of the past..........the Fail safe is a good bullet for HEAVY game.......still have some!
Very accurate too! These costed to much to make!
is the the Winchester XP3 bullet...........the Fail safe had a steel cup insert alot like the Partition Gold bullets of the past..........the Fail safe is a good bullet for HEAVY game.......still have some!
Very accurate too! These costed to much to make!
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,249
- 8,440
A buddy of mine has a mess of 'em that he got a good deal on some time ago. Not incredibly accurate, but okay. They penetrate Very Well.
FWIW, Guy
FWIW, Guy
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 13
I still have some XP3 Winchester loads of the Failsafe. My issue with them was having to shot and elk (4) because the 180 FS did not expand in passing through the chest of an elk. All four shots were lethal, BTW.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 27,132
- 13,638
smitty81
The Fail Safe bullet is not bonded.
It is a hybrid design, cross between a X bullet up front with a Partition rear core. The rear core sits inside a steel cup to prevent the bullet shank from riveting upon impact.
A deep penetrating bullet for heavy game butvery costly bullet to produce.
JD338
The Fail Safe bullet is not bonded.
It is a hybrid design, cross between a X bullet up front with a Partition rear core. The rear core sits inside a steel cup to prevent the bullet shank from riveting upon impact.
A deep penetrating bullet for heavy game butvery costly bullet to produce.
JD338
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
- 2,618
- 0
The old Failsafe was complicated, expensive, and not very accurate....and as mentioned above, had some problems with proper expansion....so I never found them very interesting.....when it comes to bullet constructions, simple if often better.
