Has Anyone Taken Big Game With the Win FailSafe Bullet

bea175

bea175

New member
I would like to have some feedback on the performance of the Winchester FailSafe bullet on big game. I was thinking of using the FailSafe for Elk this year in my 280 Ack and was wondering what was the reaction from big game after being hit with this bullet, like quick kills, run a long ways, ect's? Any info would be helpful. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Lots of elk and several deer with the 180gr 308Win factory load, all one shot kills, the only bullet ever recovered was from the spine of a big cow shot in her bed, she never moved. The bullet was nicely formed and weighed 178grs.

All the others were pass thrus with good wound channels and blood trail if they weren't dead right there. The farthest any ran was a cow on the run shot thru the lungs just behind the shoulder, went 125yds or so blowing blood all over the place at every breath.

Most that I can remember didn't react at impact, just fell over or moved a few feet, wobbled and fell. A couple bulls that I can recollect did kind of a slow spin, wobbled and dropped.

Most of my hunting is done in timber, so the shots are all less than 150yds or so, most around 100yds.

I try for a just behind the shoulder, don't like to ruin any meat if I can avoid it.

Tim
 
Two frends of mine use them on whitetails. Don't remember them losing a deer yet. In my opinion they are a little overkill for deer, but effective nonetheless.
 
I watched my dad shot a cow @ 200 yards with a 160 out of a 7 mag last fall. She ran about 50 yards and laid down, dad shot her again but it was not necasary. Just be aware that the Failsafe has been replaced by the XP3. See Best Constructed Bullet below for link.
 
Friend of mine killed a whitetail with a 180gr a few years ago. It absolutly pulverised both shoulders and made a nice big exit wound. The deer met the ground very fast.
 
I shot a very large 6x7 Bull Elk in Montana a few years back with 180 grain Fail Safes out of a 300 Win Mag. The shot was directly in the near shoulder and penitrated all the way to the other side and I found it just under the skin. This was an extremely large boned and older Bull. Only went about 40 yards. The bullet stayed together perfectly with a nice dime sized mushroom. Would highly recommend these bullets for elk.

Erich
 
My experience is with 338 Failesafe. It worked great out of a Browning Bar. Elk did not like it though. I would be sure of the placement on a 280.
Rick
 
I have killed elk with my 30-06 and the 165 gr Nosler Partition, 338 RUM with the 225 gr Partition, and my 338-06 Ack and the 210 Swift Scirocco. I just haven't taken a elk with my 280 Ack and have a couple of boxs of Failsafe and will load them for elk this year. I know they change to the XP3 but just wanted to use the Failsafe. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I have took a deer with a 308 Win FailSafe Bullet. I worked great, droped it right there. It is a fantastic bullet design, it works for deer on up. I’m a huge fan of premium bullets.
 
I have taken 2 deer with a 30-06 150 grainer and they both dropped right where they stood. Left big exit wounds and did a number on their neck.
 
I shot a Whitetail doe with one at about 55 yards, 140gr .270. She was running and I shot her in the neck. She spun around 2 times while in mid-air and fell DRT. Nickel size entry hole and a softball sized exit. I like them.
 
The Failsafe has had some good reports and should make the 280 Ack a good Elk Rifle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I shot a White tail in the neck walking from left to right with a 300 Win mag and 150 grain Failsafe, the bullet hit a twig first and the entered the neck, it left a hole the size of a softball and the buck nearly flipped, buck went down like a lightning bolt hit it. No meat wasted, If they shoot well in your rifle, it is a must for big game.
 
I shot a California Bighorn ram at about 85 yards with them. He was standing looking straight on at me and I shot him in the center of the chest. One shot and he dropped like you'd jerked a rug from under him and rolled over on his side. I was using the 140 grain in a .270.
 
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