I'm taking 2 rifles to the Selous in July. A .500NE double and a .416 Rigby bolt action. The rationale is that I'll take my ele and 2 x buff with the double and the .416 will serve as a backup and to take my plains-game.

So, I've been thinking about suitable soft-points for the .416 and as a keen reloader I intend to take my own hand-loads. So far I have collected 400gr Partitions, 350gr and 400gr Swift A-Frames and Nosler Solids. I also have access to Hornady DGX softs and solids.

In terms of soft-point performance, for my chosen application, is there really anything to seperate those I have mentioned? For example, is the A-Frame really a much better bullet than the Partition?

No buff experience yet for me. But if the .416 Rigby is considered a backup for buffalo, then yes I'd prefer the A-Frame. By the way 105gr of H4831SC behind the 400gr A-Frames was very accurate in my CZ.

If you can get them, the 400gr North Fork bonded core with 103gr of H4831SC is also very accurate in the CZ.

Of course the usual advice to work up to those loads applies.

My experience with the .416 Rigby is mostly with the 400 grain TSX on buffalo. I would use the heavier bullets for buffalo.

The A frame (used once) retains weight much better than the partition (used on non buffalo) with the partition typically losing most or all of the front core.

The TSX is what I use mostly. Since that is not on your list, enough said.

The partition, one of my PH's really did not like them, the rest said they were OK- The one said they just didn't penetrate far enough, and in his experience broke up on heavy bone. I know lots of folks here really like them, but I think the A frame is a better mousetrap with the really heavy stuff. If it was on PG, then the partition is better because it expands quicker.

The Nosler solids are monometal. Good if they work in your rifle.

I would stay away from the Hornady DG series. From what I saw and heard they are inconsistent. Some of the older ones separated easily. Supposedly they took care of that, but I just don't have faith in them. Too many other choices to make me want to take a chance again.

I use different bullets than you mentioned. Specifically CEB and TSX.

However, from your list, I would use only the A-Frame on heavy dangerous animals such as buffalo. As stated many times here, I don't intend to shoot any animal capable of stomping or biting me to death with a non-bonded core bullet, of which the DGX and Partion are. The A-Frame is bonded and can be relied upon to stay together when hitting heavy bone. The others, not so much.

I do like your combo however of the 500NE paired with a 416 Rigby. Much better IMO than the 470NE and 375H&H.

Thanks Todd and all. I've just ordered another box of A-Frames in 350 and 400 flavour. Same with the TSXs. It looks like one of these 2 will do the job reliably. Just need some time at the range to sort out an accurate load.

I would load the 400grn Swift A Frames as you are likely to take at least Buff with the scoped rifle.

Max,

Of the bullets mentioned I personally have shot buffalo with the TSX and SAF. Both worked very well. The people I talked to that shot buffalo with the 400 GR NP where happy also. The Hornady bullets seem to provide mixed results so I think I'd avoid them.

Mark

I'll preface this with the fact that I've only been to Africa once and only shot a single buffalo at the time. That said, I've used Barnes TSX bullets on that occasion (350 grain .375 H&H Magnum handloads) and when I took a brown bear in Southeast Alaska (300 grain .375 H&H factory loads). Both times the bullets performed exactly as advertised, with excellent expansion, penetration and weight retention. Further, I decided on using "X" bullets because a large number of guides and hunters with far more experience than I endorsed these rounds, while simultaneously warning me to stay away from NP on heavy boned/bodied dangerous game.

The Nosler bullets are designed for lighter skinned animals and are expected to not only expand much quicker than other premium bullets (TSX, Trophy Bonded Bearclaws, Swift "A-frames", etc...) but break apart with less penetration. Different bullets for different purposes. Experienced guides don't want their clients to have bullet failures in Alaska, Africa or anywhere else and when they've dealt with the aftermath, no one is happy.

Here's a pic I took of my 350 grain TSX bullets after they'd struck my buff on a quartering shoulder, passed through ribs on both sides and were recovered on the off-shoulder, just under the hide. The bullet on the right was fired from about 70 yards away and the one on the left was fired from only 10 yards. The bear I shot in Alaska was a much smaller animal, but the 300 grain ("X") bullets used performed in a similar manner.

Good luck on your trip and please let us all know how it turns out!

I was wondering why you left out the TSX, most of the PH's are very good with those in a clients rifle. MOst I have talked to would be OK with a mag full of them, no solids on buffalo.

I shot this animal in September with that 416 Rigby, 400 TSX combo, but from a DG rather than a bolt gun.



These are what the bullets looked like:



The top two are the ones that stopped him - spine and shoulder, recovered under the skin, on the opposite side. First shot was to the shoulder, stutter stepped him, the second was to the spine and tipped him over. The bottom two were the coup de grace, from behind the neck, thru the spine, and boiler room, recovered in the skin of the brisket. The top two retained 100%, the bottom two each lost a small part of a petal, not the whole petal, keeping in mind the 2 yard disance from the spine they were shot at.

In a 416, the penetration of these things is impressive to say the least.

Since you are apparently not considering the CEB BBW#13 NonCon, I would strongly recommend the SAF 400gr. on Buff. No need for solids.

I've used a .416Rem with 400gr SAF to take maybe 15 Buff and never had an issue. Any .416 is a great caliber and the SAF 400gr. is a great bullet for Buff. Good luck!

The 400 grain Barnes TSX is what I used in my 416 rigby. The recovered bullets [ I have about a half dozen recovered out of the 80 I have fired at animals] look just like the ones posted. I would not hesitate to use them again. I never had a bullet failure out of them so far,,,capeshock did it for me..

Gotta agree with most of the posts here about Nosler partitions and Barnes TSX. My first buff was in Zambia 20 years ago, and I used a .375NP. It killed him okay, but I didn't like the separation of the front from the rear. Shot a moose with a .375TSX--20yards, full frontal chest. The recovered bullet was .4 grains below nominal weight. More to the point, my wife shot a buff in Zim last summer with a 300grTSX from her .375 Ruger. It was a bit too far back, but it hurt him really bad, and he pitched up after less than 100 yards for a finisher. Best of luck.
Tim

MB:

TSX or AF (forget the solids)....you won't be disappointed.

I recon I have killed about 35 buff with the 400 grain Swift A Frame. The others were either with solids or partitions. The A frame is the best choice.

Stay FAR away from the Hornady softs.

Thanks for all your replies. It really is invaluable drawing on such experience.

Here's my shortlist for both rifles.

.416: Softs - A-Frame or TSX, Solids - DGS

.500NE: - Softs - A-Frame or TSX, Solids - Barnes Banded, North Fork FPS or CE DGBR

I do not expect to shoot solids out of the .416, so I'm not spending a lot of time on those loads. The rest will be a simple case of range time.

The "solid" also works well for the small antelope, so you don't tear them up.....don't know if you plan to take any. If you do, you may want to take some solids for your 416Rigby.

I don't think I would use that 350 grain TSX from an H&H or a 375 ruger on anything smaller than a big bovine as it appears to have opened up a lot slower than the 300 grain TSX. Actually, it might just be the one bullet you could use for a shoulder and chest shot on elephant. A 378 weatherby would make it pop open.

My first buffalo was with the TSX, next 19 were witha A-Frames and the last was with DGXs. The Hornady is garbage, the A-Frames are great, and the TSX didn't impress me.

I wll always use the Northfork, the most accurate tough bullet around. A Frames then Partitions. Good Shooting.

A TSX from my first buffalo. 350gr in 416 Rigby, less than 50 yards. Traveled from the point of the left shoulder and recovered under the skin in the right hindquarter. Not sure you could ask for better performance from a bullet.

Just use whichever of the expanding bullets you have named that shoots the best in your rifle. Any of them will be fine.