i came across some 458 Win. Mag. handloads in africa earlier this year tipped with a copper alloy bullet, banded similar to a Barnes Banded Solid but with a concave nose and a straight profile. they were left with my friend by an american client but neither of us could identify them.
google search turned up nothing similar in the first hundred results.
any ideas?

There were 2 other companies that made the grooved bullets before Barnes started doing it. One of them I believe was actually called Groove Bullets or something to that name. They were in PA. Went out of business I believe. The other company was out of Maine I believe but haven't seen them around for several years and I can't remember their name. I will have to look them up in an older issue of Handloader Digest that I have around here somewhere.

I'm not quite clear on your description. Did you pull one of these bullets? Or, did you see the bands emerging from the neck? You say the profile is straight. Does that mean the concave part was full diameter, like a wadcutter nose? If the bands appeared at the neck and the profile is like a wadcutter, it might be a bullet seated backward in the case. As to who made it, I have no clue. There are some South African bullets that are banded, too.

no we did'nt pull one of them. they are banded most of the way to the nose, which is straight, full diameter, no ogive.
really don't think they were seated backwards.
i too remember seeing some south african banded solid bullets but don't remember the brand, and these were left by an american client.
i have no interest in them except for curiosity.

Just remembered the name of the other company that made banded bullets and it is HT Bullets. These were spendy little buggers back in the 90's.

no we did'nt pull one of them. they are banded most of the way to the nose, which is straight, full diameter, no ogive.
really don't think they were seated backwards.
i too remember seeing some south african banded solid bullets but don't remember the brand, and these were left by an american client.
i have no interest in them except for curiosity.
GS Custom is a South African bullet maker that makes banded solids like described. You can order them through their US distributor, too.

Their website is:
http://www.gsgroup.co.za/03fn.html

I believe that the bullet in question is a Northfork Cup Point soild. This bullet and the GS Custom bullet have Driving Bands and the Barnes bullet has grooves. The Cup Point allows and small amount of expansin and many believed the Cup Point to be a perfect Bullet for Buffalo. North Fork has ceased the manufactor of bullets a few months back..

jwp475,
i think you may correct though North Fork's website offers no pictures of their Cup Point Solid.
thanks guys!

is it something like this? http://www.customprojectile.com/products/pistol_bullets/45_caliber_handgun_bullets/45_cal_452_man_stoppers_260_grain--for_revolvers_only.html
Obviously the pictured bullet is a handgun bullet with a lead tip, but is it this type of concept? You mentioned a concave tip...