.454 Casull for Plains Game - Barnes XPB vs Swift

The recent stories from Darrell, Gary and Mark have been pretty inspiring and as a result I have started to plan for a plains game trip.

I've always been a believer in heavy for calibre but have also been impressed by the performance of the Barnes all copper projectiles. At this stage I'll intend using a .454. The main bullet options come down a 325g Swift A-Frame vs a 250g Barnes XPB.

Previously thought the Barnes were a bit too light but they seem to penetrate and perform far better than expected. Like to know people's experience with them and what they'd recommend.

I don't think you can go wrong with either.

Whichever one shoots better in your gun. I couldn't get the Swifts to shoot in my FA .454, but that may just be that gun...

Bob, just curious as to what powder you were using with the A-frames? Both tradmark and I were using 296/110 in our guns. Here is a cylinder full at 60 yards shot with the 325 grain Swift A-frame from my 6" gun:


I didn't think that that was too shabby for a red dot sight and no aiming point.

I'd like to try the Barnes Busters but they are hard to come by these days...

The Barnes Busters are shooting very well in mine and Mark's FAs with 28.5 of 296 and Mark was able to get the swifts and the busters hitting the same POI

nice group Darrel,my S.R.H. will shoot groups like that all day long,that is if I do my part,...get the shakes every so often,think I'm gonna have to cut down on my coffee intake-lol-john

I tried W296/H110 with the Swifts in my .454, but it just didn't like them. I've used them in a .45 Colt and in a couple of .44s and had much better results so I just attribute it to the gun...

Thanks John! My .454 SRH shoots great too, as does my .480 SRH.

Thanks for the info Bob. I guess every gun has its own "personality" and likes what it likes.