Buffalo Bore: Is it worth the $$$?

[KBintheSLC]

I recently picked up a couple of boxes of BB 38 special ammo for carry use... 150g Hard Cast Wad Cutter, and 158g Soft Lead Hollow Point... both were loaded warm, but within standard pressure levels. Upon inspecting the ammo, I immediately noticed some issues with the quality control of the 158g stuff. I found one round that the bullet was not seated deep enough, and another round that had a poorly cast/deformed bullet. This was 2 of 20 or 10% of the box that were defective. The box of 20 cost me $25... or $1.25 per round. At this price, I can see no reason to have such poor QC.

Upon testing the ammo on wet phone books, it performed as expected from my S&W 637. However, it was nothing extraordinary compared to some less expensive S&B 158g JSP. They basically did the same thing compared to the S&B which only cost me $20 per 50 rounds.

The range master and I were talking about the BB "premium" ammo, and he asked me what was so special about it to justify the high price. I could not come up with an answer... I mean, its just a cast lead bullet with no jacket in a standard brass case with a regular old primer and some decent powder behind it right? So, why $1.25 per round? We laughed a little when we decided that it must be the fancy over-kill packaging that I am paying for.

Anyway, I doubt that I will buy any more of their stuff since I really can't see any reason to... especially the 38 spl. I have to admit that I like BB's .32 ACP 75g HCSWC-FP in +P... but that is another thread.

What are your reasons for paying the high price for Buffalo Bore ammo for your revolvers?

Thanks, KBintheSLC

 

[gmh1013]

Yeah I noticed the same thing

Order from Midway and was expecting .38 perfection.....what I got was about half of the round were not seated all the way.
Hell the Monarch made in Serbia form Academy is better QC'ed than this.
I have bought my last box of BB
I tried to take a pic but camera is lacking in close ups.

 

[zxcvbob]

I haven't tried BB ammo, so I'm not going to say anything bad about it. When I want premium ammo, I load it myself. (My HD gun is stoked with handloaded .38 Special 158 grain soft lead hollowpoints.)

 

[rcmodel]

what I got was about half of the round were not seated all the way.

Well, I hate to tell you, but I can see nothing at all wrong with the load in your picture.

It has a heavy roll crimp, applied correctly in the crimping groove in the SWC bullet.

The lead projecting in front of the crimp is the front driving band on the bullet, and it is supposed to be sticking out exactly like that.

rc

 

[gmh1013]

I need to take other pics of other rounds.....

 

[chieftain]

I shoot Buffalo Bore in my Marlin 1894 CP 16" rifle in 357magnum. There the BB approaches 30-30 velocities and energy levels. Use it for social intercourse.

Works great. Haven't had a lick of problems with it.

I really don't see any gain for a 38Spl and BB. Only in the really hot stuff, magnums and such. If you want a hot 38 get a 357magnum.

Good luck.

Fred

Stupid should hurt.

 

[KBintheSLC]

GMH1013,

I think the one in your photo above appears to be seated properly. Maybe the one you shot was not one of your bad ones. The one I had trouble with had a portion of the gas check sticking out above the top of the case. I will post a photo of the two offending cartridges tonight.

 

[indiandave]

I use Buffalo Bore in my carry guns, never had a problem.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I use Buffalo Bore in my carry guns, never had a problem.

Both of the "bad" cartridges went bang... but thats not the issue here. The issue is that they cost $1.25 a piece, are they worth that much compared to other less expensive ammo? Especially considering the issues described in the OP.

 

[Prepster]

I love Buffalo Bore's .45 Colt loads, and have never had an issue with them. Pertaining to the "are they worth the price?" question, I feel that Buffalo Bore is a waste of money if you are seeking a good load in a common caliber, such as KBintheSLC's 38. They are, in my opinion, just hot-rodders for very specialized purposes. I appreciate what they make, but I would never buy their .38, 9mm, etc. because the market is filled with equally as good and higher value competitors.

Regarding the poor quality rounds, did you contact their customer service department? A little noise on your end might get a free box of ammo or something of that nature.

 

[wnycollector]

I think for my .38 snubs I will stick to remington's 158gr +P LHP. It clocks in at ~ 825fps in my M36. I practice with the georgia arms FBI load since it is 1/2 the price of the remington.

I like doubletap for .357, .40, .45 and 9mm.

Buffalobore is great stuff...its just a bit to expensive to shoot enough of it in my pistols to feel comfortable that it functions @ 100%. For me, "new" ammo I need at least 200 rounds to go through in order to feel ok with it.

 

[.38 Special]

I'll look forward to seeing some pics of the defective rounds. I was open minded until the picture of the absolutely perfect round was displayed... But I can hardly imagine how a gas check could end up protruding from the case of a loaded round and would very much like to see it.

As far as I am concerned, Buffalo Bore provides one particularly useful service: they load Veral Smith's LBT bullet designs for the large bores. These are spectacular bullets and everything the big game hunter can hope for. If you do not handload, then I think a box or two of these rounds are absolutely worth the money.

But like the others, I mostly don't see the point in most of their other offerings. Their .380 loads are probably worth looking into for folks using it as a carry round. The .38 SWCs and such? Too much money, IMO.

But "big picture", I do not understand the handgunner who does not handload. All factory loads are "too much money" as far as I am concerned.

 

[gmh1013]

I looked at the round again and it had rolled on the bed I was taking the pic....the round IS not seated well and crooked ever so slightly.
In my SP101 .357 its enough that it might cause some lead to shear off
when I fire the round.
In fact I dont want to shoot from my Ruger 357, I will shoot it from my Old Rossi .38.
1/10 of an inch may help.

 

[DammitBoy]

Whatever you do - DON"T buy buffalo bore ammo from midway! Especially the plus p loads for 45 long colt. They have boogers on them!!

(It'll leave more for me)

 

[hoptob]

What are your reasons for paying the high price for Buffalo Bore ammo for your revolvers?

BB 158 gr. +P load is the hottest commercially available 38 spl. It's velocity/power (1000+ fps / 350 ft*lb from 2" bbl) exceeds anything else on the market today and likely matches or exceeds 38/44 loads of the past. I respect good load development work Tim Sundles is doing and happy to support it with a few extra bucks paid for his products.

Keep in mind that other SD loads ain't cheap either. Around here Speer 135 grainers sell for $20-25 for a box of 20. Famed Remington R38S12's -- $45-50 for a box of 50. Why all these loads are so expensive? That's a good question, folks.

Mike

 

[KBintheSLC]

Sorry... didn't have time to post the pix last night... I'm taking a motorcycle course from 6-10 PM and didn't have time afterwards. Coming soon... I promise.

 

[L-Frame]

I use BB 158 +P 38's in all of my carry revolvers. Love the large gas checked lead bullet and the extra pop it gives, without having to go to a hot 357. I haven't seen a QC issue personally and, as already been posted, would like to see the QC problems mentioned above.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Crappy pic until I get more loaded and resnap the pic.

Here's my .357 Mag 185gr cast FN at 1200fps (4 inch Ruger). I charge $15.35/50rds using virgin Starline brass.

Here's my .357 Mag 215gr SWC at 1125fps. These are a bit more at $15.82/50rds using virgin Starline brass.

 

[iblong]

I think they make a great product,as far as price goes there all to high thats why I reload.I have this load in my steel 38 and the357.shot some out of my airweight 38 and decieded it might be a little hot for it.I know they claim its safe to use but wow!seems alittle much to me,going to drop that one down to the non +p version.Going solely on the pic,It looks the way it should.Wide firm crimp in the crimp grove.
Bob.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Just added the image to the OP... as you can see, the one on the right is properly seated, but the bullet is mashed. The one on the left is sticking way out... enough to see the first gas check (EDIT: that ring is not the gas check).

 

[.38 Special]

Just added the image to the OP... as you can see, the one on the right is properly seated, but the bullet is mashed. The one on the left is sticking way out... enough to see the first gas check.

You're right. That sucks. It isn't acceptable from any ammo, let alone premium stuff.

I do think you are having an issue with terminology, however. The gas check is the little copper cup at the base of the bullet. That is not exposed in the pictures you have posted, and I cannot imagine any situation where it possibly could be. The bit that is showing in your picture is simply the crimp groove.

In your shoes I would contact the manufacturer and ask that they make it right.

 

[Elvishead]

.38 Special:

In your shoes I would contact the manufacturer and ask that they make it right.

I agree.

Instead of doing the company an injustice, and bash them on line. You could try to inform them of there error's. They and everybody just may benefit from a more positive action instead of making a big nigrative out of it all.

 

[Husker_Fan]

Admittedly, the only experience I have with BB is with their 180 grn hunting load. That is a fantastic product. The round you show are not acceptable to me for premium ammo, but I figure everyone makes a mistake from time to time. What seperates a good company from a bad one is how they react to those mistakes. I'd give them a chance to make it right.

 

[freakshow10mm]

I agree.

 

[Jackal]

In my opinion, BB is not worth the extra $$. I sincerely doubt that whatever I'm shooting (alive or not) would be able to feel the difference between a "premium" Buffalo Bore round or a standard 158gr SP from any major manufacturer. Besides, if you need a super heavy .357 load, you should be packing a .44mag.