The Accurate Reloading Forums
TSX's what are they?
20 March 2007, 00:33
PeterTSX's what are they?
I need to clear up some confusion in my own mind. Are TSX's expansion bullets or penetrating bullets? They are very accurate in my 375H&H so, do I use them to replace my Nosler Partitions or my solids? The X bullets used to penetrate like a pencil.
Thanks, Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
20 March 2007, 00:59
DonatoI used the 270gr Barnes TS in 375 H&H to a buffalo and also took a hyena and puku with it. These bullets opened up even on these light animals.
20 March 2007, 01:06
BwannaThey would replace your noslers.
20 March 2007, 10:50
Jarrodquote:
Originally posted by Peter:
I need to clear up some confusion in my own mind. Are TSX's expansion bullets or penetrating bullets? They are very accurate in my 375H&H so, do I use them to replace my Nosler Partitions or my solids? The X bullets used to penetrate like a pencil.
Thanks, Peter.
Those are expensive bullets to shoot and not know what they are?
"Science only goes so far then God takes over."
20 March 2007, 16:20
fgullaTSX's are probably the best expanding penetrators, made today. If you want good expansion with near 100% weight retention and the possibility of an exit go with the TSX.Because of its weight retention many will choose a bullet weight a step down or lighter than the norm for said cartridge, upping velocity and flattening trajectory.
20 March 2007, 17:23
Mike_DettorrePeter,
A TSX is a premium bullet designed for both penetration and expansion. Just like X bullet, the Nosler Partition, Swift A-frames.
Use them on buffalo followed by solids.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
20 March 2007, 18:06
Eland SlayerI shot TSX for a little while, until the MRX came out. I think it is even better than the TSX. I'm not sure if they are available in .375 but I shoot them in my .300 WSM. I took a bison with mine last month. FLAWLESS performance!!
20 March 2007, 18:17
Peterquote:
Those are expensive bullets to shoot and not know what they are
Jarrod, I bought some in various calibers initially because they had a reputation for accuracy and were a hunting bullet. However, for the 375H&H with possible applications for Buffalo I had to ask where I would use them. A poster in this thread, and in another thread on buffalo, suggested using the TSX essentially as the expanding bullet, followed by solids, and this advice I shall take.
Thanks to everyone for their advice!
Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
20 March 2007, 18:57
BigBulletPeter,
It is the opinion of many here, that you will only need the TSX in 300 grain for buffalo. Solids are not required. The penetration is so great with TSX that the solids are redundent in this department and not as effectve.
20 March 2007, 19:32
buffybrI used the 300 gr TSX's in my .375 RUM for Buffalo and several antelopes and Zebra in Zimbabwe and South Africa two years ago. One TSX put my Buffalo down, and was recovered in the off shoulder. All the TSX's went through the other animals, and put them down within a few yards.
I was 100% satisified with the performance of the TSX bullets and my .375 RUM.
NRA Endowment Life Member
Life Member Wild Sheep Foundation
20 March 2007, 23:54
HunterJimYou can think of the TSX as Barnes X-Bullet v.4 (or v.5, I've lost track) if you allow me to use software design revision terminology. At least this design seems to work in most rifles.

jim
if you're too busy to hunt,you're too busy.
21 March 2007, 00:43
WarriorWe have ample proof now that the .366/286gr and .375/300gr TSX bullets gives sterling performance on buffalo -
5 perfect examples of retrieved TSX bullets retreived from buffalo are depicted in the Feb/Mar 2007 African Outfitter journal.
The TSX does not lack penetration, whilst at the same time weight retention is invariably 100%, and the mushroom of double caliber stays almost always intact unless major bone is hit. That ensures a very effective wound channel. One cannot ask for better terminal performance.
Warrior
21 March 2007, 05:18
PeterHmmm maybe it wasn't such a dumb question after all! Thanks to all posters.
peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
Any opinions on TSX v. A-Frames for Buff? Or are they pretty equal.
21 March 2007, 07:49
SniperThere is a pretty decent article in the April issue of American Rifleman concerning the TSX's
"In the worship of security we fling ourselves beneath the wheels of routine, and before we know it our lives are gone"--Sterling Hayden--
David Tenney
US Operations Manager
Trophy Game Safaris
Southern Africa
Tino and Amanda Erasmus
www.tgsafari.co.za 21 March 2007, 17:25
Rich ElliottI just finished 2 safaris with clients who both used TSX bullets. It was my first exposure to them in the field. One was a .338 Win Mag with 225 gr. The other a .300 Win Mag with 180 gr. Federal factory loads. To say the least I was impressed. We never recovered any of the bullets. Exit wounds were awesome! This included Mt. Nyala on the heavy side down to Gerenuk, Grants Gazelle, and Bushbuck on the light side. I remember some early Barnes X and Winchester Fail Safe "unleaded" bullets that I thought were pretty much a joke but these TSX bullets are for real.

Rich Elliott
Rich Elliott
Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris
21 March 2007, 21:46
llamapackerI have used the TSX's in .375 / 300 gr. for buff, hippo, giraffe and a host of plains game along with elk and moose in the US. I use them in 30 cal and 270 for most of my hunting in the US. They are an excellent bullet, that penetrates better than anything (other than solids) and still expands. The sharp copper edges do a lot of damage, and you will be hard pressed to find a better performing bullet.
They do NOT replace solids for either Elephant, or for very small game, where you want minimal damage. I still carry solids in the bottom of the magazine to deal with the unlikely charge, or more likely, a "Texas Heart shot" on a departing buffalo. In these situations, penetration is the only real requirement, so I stick to solids.
Bill