Guys,

Finally had time to photograph bullets recovered during my Newbie hunt in Tanzania.

The first is a 300 grain .375 TSX recovered from a Hartebeast. This was a followup shot on the ground at about 25 yards. The bullet entered the left rump and was recovered from the front of the chest wall after penetrating the entire beast. The bullet's MV was 2604 fps. It retained 100% of its original weight.

The second bullet is a 350 grain .416 caliber Barnes X recovered from a Cape Buffalo. This also was a followup shot taken on the ground at less than 20 yards. MV from the Rigby was 2700 fps. The bullet entered the right rump, broke the right rear leg, traversed the gut, and was recovered in the lungs. It weights 270 grains which is 78% of original weight.

As the PH said, the weight retention of the 350 grain Barnes X was superb given that it smashed the main bone in the rear leg and penetrated 5 foot of Buf.

The third and fourth projectiles are lead balls recovered from the underside of the Buf where they were encysted just under the skin. Obviously old poacher wounds. They weighted 405 and 456 grains respectively.

Wow, 2700 fps out of a 375 and a 416, that's smoking! geat bullets aren't they? jorge

PS: I hope the buff extracted revenge on the offending poacher!

Jorge,

WOOPS, I typo'd the .375 velocity. Should have been 2604 fps. Good catch! Will edit the post.

Thank you!

Mike,

Glad to see the 300 TSX worked well as I may use it in a 375 Weatherby for my whole safari next year. I never got to personally use the 350 X in my 416 for buff but I always suspected it would perform as yours did. Obvioulsly a great choice for the job. Those musket balls are a neat trophy in themselves. I have a 50 ish caliber one I cut from the neck of a big eland I killed in Tanzania in '03.

The Moilanen's that you spoke to are having a great time in Mahenge. I'll let them tell the story later but they are seeing a ton of game.

Mark