Has anyone tried these bullets on African game?

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/375-235gr-er-extended-range-raptor

I was wondering if they expand too quickly for tough game, how they'd compare to 250 TTSX and 270 TSX.

DF

Bumped from the depths of obscurity...

DF

Lots of info and real world experiences with those bullets over on AR. They are well liked over there.

Thanks, Jorge.

Will check it out.

DF

Stupid design. They do not expand, the petals shear off. I hate them.

That was until I used them. Devastating bullet

Buffalo entrance 470 Nitro




Same buffalo exit

I used the 300gr .416 Raptor to follow up on a wounded 6.5' POW black bear that was running straight away after taking a shot from a 300 win mag. The bullet penetrated from the base of the tail and exited left chest. The bear dropped instantly at the shot and internal damage was extensive. Interestingly, I found 2 of the petals in the fatty layer under the hide on each of the bears shoulders.

Also used the 185gr .338 Copper Raptor in Africa from a 338 Win at 3050fps to take blue wildebeest, kudu, impala, blesbuck and waterbuck. All went down immediately at the shot and internal damage was absolutely incredible.

The best part is that both the 416 and 338 both shot the CEBs into one ragged hole. Given these tremendous experiences, I plan to shoot the 235gr ER Raptor from my 378 WBY at around 3200fps on my next trip to Africa in 2019. I would have zero concerns hunting game up to and including cape buffalo with the bullet.

Thanks, AK.

My experience with the 135 gr. CEB Raptor out of a .308 Kimber Classic/Broughton was great, like .3+" groups at a hundred yards. Amazing accuracy that I wasn't expecting.

I shot this bullet into the chest of a hog last year. Hog was DRT, which isn't the rule for chest shot hogs. They usually run unless you hit the CNS. The petals tore up the spine which wasn't in direct path of the bullet, thus it ended up being a CNS shot.

I'm going to try the 235 gr. Extended Range CEB Raptor in my .375 H&H. It should do a job on WT's, hogs, even bigger stuff like Nilgai, although I had been thinking 250 gr TTSX's for Nilgai.

DF

I've used the 250gr TTSX on whitetail out of a 9.3x62 (slightly slower velocity than a 375H&H) but the terminal performance is not in the same league as the CEBs.

Granted that gap closes when you launch TTSX at warp speed but for slower rounds the CEBs are where it's at.

I have 135gr Raptors loaded for my 30-284 that should be back from the gunsmith at any time. Hopefully I will be able to use test them on POW blacktails this November.

I hope the 135 CEB is as accurate in your 30-284 as they were for me. I was/am amazed at how well they group and their terminal performance.

Let us know.

DF

.308, surprising accuracy, impressive terminal performance.

What does "POW" stand for in this thread?

Thanks, RS

I think AK was referring to Prince of Wales Island.

DF

Correct, I was referencing Prince of Wales Island.

DF: That is one heck of a group, hope I can get the same level of accuracy out of the 30-284.

I used a CEB 275 gr bullet in my .375 H&H on a cape buffalo a few years ago. Devastating bullet. Their 300 gr solid worked to the same zero very easily. It was only one experience, but I would not hesitate to use it again.

I use CEB's in my 22-250 50gr., 6.8 SPC 70gr., 300 BO 308 100gr. 300 RCM 130gr., 375 Ruger 230gr. 450 Bushmaster 160gr., 458 B&M 250gr. 45 cal. muzzleloader 40 cal. 165gr.

Have yet to find a gun that didn't shoot them better than other all copper bullets or cup-cores.....

Shot everything from woodchucks to moose most DRT all recovered maximum 50 yards.....

A little pricey....but worth every penny....a $2.00 bullet is a small percentage compared to $5000-$12,000 or more spent on a single animal hunt...

What I do to off set higher cost of shooting CEB is find a cup-core bullet that weights close to the CEB...shoot it to practice....

CEB usually has a couple sales a year....Black Friday week 30% off free shipping over $400....join CEB on Facebook they announce sales and discounts there....

Thanks, coyotewacker, good info.

Yeah, bullet price is not a major concern with me, don't shoot that many at critters, practice with cheaper stuff.

The 235 gr. Extended Range .375 Raptor sure does look interesting. I'm going to shoot some this weekend to see how they group. If they're anything like the 135 gr. .308 Raptor, should be good to go.

And with the CEB design, you don't have to push them to the max for optimal terminal performance. I think a moderate .375 H&H load should work very well. The only reason I'd want to max it out would be for LR shooting and I'm not planning to shoot long range with my .375 H&H. I have other rounds for that.

This bullet should do a job on WT's and hogs, would be interesting choice for Nilgai. Those animals are pretty tough, people talk about how they soak up lead and run. I'd like to see a Nilgai "soak up" one of these bullets, properly placed. Then, see how far he runs...

DF

DF.....one thing I've found out about CEB's they love speed and you can use lighter weight bullet that will penetrate better than the heavy weight for caliber cup-cores...

In 300 BO no problem with 100gr. CEB to get 2400 fps out of a 16" barrel with W 296 and drop 300 lb. black bears....see it done twice....

Special Rifle Zone in Michigan you can use 35 caliber or larger maximum 1.8" straight wall case....I use a 450 Bushmaster and 160 gr. CEB on whitetails get 2700fps in a 20" barrel and a case full of Lil'Gun 5 DRT bucks....no problem putting 3 shots into 3" at 300 yards with a AR-15, Savage and a Ruger American...

CEB's are the next generation of premium bullets and here to stay.....

Great info.

Ya got me thinking, dangerous for a Loony.

DF

I've shot 2 Cape Buffalo with the 475 gn Safari Raptors out of my 500 NE rifle. Excellent results. I shot a Hippo with a 375 gn Safari Raptor out of my 416 Rigby, same results, dead right there. Last Spring I dropped a Grizz right in his tracks with a 235 gn ER Raptor out of my 375 H&H. So far on big dangerous game this bullet has done it's job very well. Oh yeah, it's very accurate as well.

I just got in from a shooting session behind the house, using my tailgate benchrest.

I shot a three shot .315" group at a hundred, .375 H&H M-70 SS Classic with 235 gr. CEB Extended Range Raptor and 76 gr. RL-15, Fed 215 primers. My PACT chrono missed the speed, but it should be in the 2,800 fps range. Next time I'll use my Magnetospeed.

Some criticize measuring groups to thousands, and I agree, call it .3+" or .32". When you measure edge to edge with a caliper and subtract bullet diameter, it comes out like that.

This may be my "keeping" load for this gun. I think the Raptor will do just about anything I want this gun to do from hogs and WT's to Nilgai and bigger. Would be rough on 'dillers. I'll check in with gunner for fine points on 'diller killing with serious ordinance.

This group was shot with a 6X scope, but what a scope it is. Here's a link. Rig is 9#, 1 oz as shown. http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/11844701

DF

Nice shooting. I'm just getting into the Raptors with my smaller calibers and I'm expecting great things! I have excellent accuracy wit the 150 FBR's in my 300 Weatherby.

I can't see it killing any better than a TSX. That said, I rolled two running nilgai with the 250 gr Speer and the 250 gr Partition out of my 35 Whelen. Last elk hunt had the 140 gr TSX via 270 Win drop a bull elk at 250 yards within two steps. But, understand the loonyism...

Ed,

Loony stuff, no doubt about it...

But this CEB ER Raptor shoots tighter groups than the 235 TSX in my gun, although the Barnes shoots close to an inch.

You know, Loonies want a field gun with BR accuracy, even though we can't shoot BR groups without a bench rest and I don't find many bench rests out where I hunt...

Can't get overly logical here...

DF

Dead is Dead can't get any Deader than dead.....what ever works best for you....

CEB's are made on a Swiss CNC....Barnes TXS's are stamped out....that's part of the reason CEB's shoot better....

I have 2 parcels of land to hunt a 64 and 60 acre fields the surrounding property owners will not allow me to recover a deer if it goes on there property....DRT is my only option and CEB's have fit the bill.....

"the surrounding property owners will not allow me to recover a deer if it goes on there property..."

You certainly have some real nice neighbors.

Yankees...?

But, we have some like that down here.

Hopefully not as many...

DF

I've been looking at trying the 300 grain CEB raptor in my .404. What do you guys think of that idea? Any idea what speed would be good?

The 300gr CEB Raptors I mentioned using on the black bear were moving at a leisurely 2500fps from my 20" 416. Despite the low velocity, expansion and terminal performance was incredible.

In a 404 you will be able to get way more speed but even 2500 they just plain work.

Mono's generally like speed but Raptors are engineered to perform at lower speeds, evidently they have a wide performance velocity window.

So, you won't need to "red line" them to get full expansion.

I've had some guns that wouldn't shoot them as well as others. But when they're good, they're very good...

And they kill stuff very dead...

DF

After seeing the posted results I may have to try some of these. Among others the 160gr .358's look interesting for my 350 Mag.

They frankly surprised me, both regarding accuracy and terminal performance.

They kill with authority and shoot good doing it.

DF

I will be using them in my .358 win this year for Kodiak deer and maybe my unit 13 caribou if I am feeling froggy.

Send a Email to CEB usually will get back to you in a couple days with load data....give them cartridge, barrel length and CEB bullets you would like to use.....

[email protected]

I posted this before. This is a chest shot sow that didn't run, fell DRT. I intentionally chest shot her to see how the .308, 135 gr. Raptor would perform. I generally shoulder/neck/head shoot hogs.

You can see how chewed up the spine is; it wasn't in direct line of flight, the petals did all that. Her lungs and heart were messed up, too.

I think this bullet performed as advertised.

DF