For those who have "been there, done that," what are the favorite brand(s) of bullets for use in Africa? I am planning for a safari, and will take my own .375 H&H Magnum rifle. I've used Barnes TSX bullets with great results in .30-06 and .300 Win Mag calibers on deer-sized game, and know they make 300 grain bullets in both soft (TSX) and monolithic solids for the .375.

I've also heard good things about A-Square bullets, and like the fact their soft-nosed (Dead Tough) and solid bullets have the same shape/BC, so they should shoot to the same point of impact.

Any experience with either of these, or perhaps better bullets to use? I reload, and plan to take all of my own ammunition with me. To keep it simple, I plan to use this one rifle for everything, varying between soft nosed and solid bullets as the species of game and hunting situations dictate.

Thanks in advance,
Bill Thibeault

TSX bullets are good but unless you're going after big dangerous stuff I wouldn't waste my money on them.

What I like (please don't laugh premium bullet addicts) are Hornady 300 gr. FMJ RN bullets and Hornady 300 gr. BT Spire Points. They're both accurate and for me have pretty much the same point of impact at 100 yards using the same load of RL-15.

I have had great success with Swift A-Frames, Barnes TSX, and Barnes Solids; plains game up to eland, three Cape buffalo, and one elephant.

Bill ----- If I were you I would definitely look at the North Fork bullets. In my rifles they are the most accurate-tough bullets on the market. I used them for Buffalo and plains game in the Selous and will next time. Good shooting.

Count me in for the A-Square. I have shot bull elephant and buffalo and other meduim to large game and been very pleased. I use it in my .338, .458 double, and .458 Lott magazine rifle. For plains game, I have found that any good soft bullet works just fine. I used TSX in .338 on one safari and punched a bunch of holes in animals--kind of like shooting armour piercing ammo. For elend the TSX were wonderful--perfect mushroom. Anything smaller and the ammo did not expand. Many do not like the A-Square, however, it is pretty much all that I use now. I have stashed a lifetime supply of soft and solid bullets. Many who do not use it also have never used it--go figure. Many urban myths surround this ammo. Good hunting.

Ammend my post. Many who have bad things to write about A-Square have never tried it-go figure. Many urban myths surround this ammo.

For plains game: I have never failed to kill any decently hit animal with the first shot from a .300 magnum using the 180 grain Nosler Partition. Every shot, from 20 yards to 275 yards, exited with the exception of a diagonal shot at a wildebeeste, a spinal shot just behind the head on a 13.5 foot crocodile, and a killing shot on a hippo after I ran out of .458 ammo.

I see no reason to try any others.

Big bore soft point: I use the Barnes TSX in my .458. Only one shot at an animal, a buff, but it seemed to work well. I did not recover it.

Solids: I like the .458 North Fork 450 grain .458 flat point. Informed shooters say will penetrate as far as a 500 grain round nose. I killed an elephant and a buff with it. The buff took a Texas heart shot which broke the front shoulder. The bullet looked brand new except for the rifling marks.

These North Forks are lightly more accurate, in my rifle, than the TSXs or Barnes solids, both 450 and 500 grain. But any of them will shoot "minute of buffalo."

Hard to beat Swift 300 gr. A frames in a .375 H and H.

I personally like the 300 gr Barnes TSX which has worked very well.

One of my PHs in SA made the comment that he really liked the performance of the Swift A frame too ... especially on dangerous game.

I've taken plains game up to gemsbok and zebra with the 270 gr TSX in 375. Complete pass through one shot kills. I'll use them again.

quote:

For those who have "been there, done that," what are the favorite brand(s) of bullets for use in Africa?

The 200 grain A-Frame in a .300 H&H was plenty for Kudu and Gemsbok.....One shot kills!

I also used a 60 grain Hornady flat point in my .25-20 for Duiker.....and again....a one-shot kill but that isn't likely what you're looking for.

The more I read abut the TSX the more I'm inclined to try them.....way way too many positive posts about them!

I wouldn't hesitate to use Northforks either but they're more $$$ and not necessarily a better bullet than the A-Frame. They have to cmpete and they aren't doing it!

Hornadys have been my chocie in the past, but if I was to take a .375 again I would probably load up some Swift A-Frames. I sure liked the 450 grain Swifts in the .458 Win.

Bill,

If you like the 300grainer in your 375 then use the TSX and their solid ( if you feel you need one)..........

Or if you want to flatten the trajectory slightly go with the 270 TSX/ solid combo

Regards,

I just finished loading, a few minutes ago, a bunch of .458 TSXs in .458 Lott for an old time PH to take back to Africa with him after the Reno show, he likes them so well for buff that he doesn't even bother to carry solids any longer.

Here is a 270 gr .375 TSX that was recovered from my buff after 4-5 feet of penetration, it still weighs exactly 270 grains. The TSX is a good bullet.

Folks,

I completely agree with Andy. The more I use the TSX the better I like it. For an all around Africa load it maybe the best thing out there eliminating the need for a solid for all but elephant.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by adrook:
I just finished loading, a few minutes ago, a bunch of .458 TSXs in .458 Lott for an old time PH to take back to Africa with him after the Reno show, he likes them so well for buff that he doesn't even bother to carry solids any longer.

Here is a 270 gr .375 TSX that was recovered from my buff after 4-5 feet of penetration, it still weighs exactly 270 grains. The TSX is a good bullet.

That is literally picture perfect.........

The bullets here are three I used on game in zim and Tanzania

buff X bullet recovered under skin off shoulder, Bridger solids the first to kill a bull ele in Zim second and third , Fourth is a FNcopper solid, and fifth took a leopard 300 gr Hornady
I love the TSX on buf and plains game...

Mike

quote:

TSX bullets are good but unless you're going after big dangerous stuff I wouldn't waste my money on them.

Very poor economy. When you consider the cost of a Safari, the cost of premium ammunition is insignificant, why take the chance?

I have never had a failure with Swift A Frame.

I have too agree with Grumulkin, on any plainsgame hunt, Hornady bullets are great in my book for plains game

My 1st & only hunt in Africa (thus far) was in June 2008 - plains game South Africa. I was very successful in taking all the game intended. I was shooting a 375 H&H using 300 grain Woodleighs.

Prior to the hunt I used this site as the "bible" for that great adventure & like Bill I wondered what bullet to use. The experts here all offer great advice.

BUT, prior to the hunt I spent a great deal of time developing accurate loads with SEVERAL PREMIUM BULLETS!

Would it be easier for new comers like Bill & myself if you guys would list the BULLETS NOT TO USE?

I believe J. Hornady developed his bullets hunting africa's tough animals and for the most part...he did a darn good job of it. I doubt you would lose any game animal anywhere if you used the proper Hornady bullet for the task and place it where it belongs. I still have the 180gr Interlock shot from my 300 Win. mag into the shoulder of a 1200lb moose at 25yds, sitting on my reloading bench. Perfect mushroom and 59% weight retention, and almost made it all the way through both shoulders. DRT performance. I do like partitions and accubonds too. I have a bunch of Barnes triple shock and XLC's in a variety of calibers but only tried out a few and did not shoot any game with them yet...but I want to see how they do as well.

I've used TSX on two safaris with a 300 Wby, 375 H&H and a 378 Wby. For the most part, the TSX seems to work well. However, I had a couple of shots for the Weatherby's where expansion was questionable. I'm working up loads with Partitions, Accu-bonds and A-frames for this years Limpopo hunt. However, I may have a tough time finding a more accurate load for my 257 Wby than the 100 gn. TSX for bushbuck and Reedbuck.

quote:

I have never had a failure with Swift A Frame.

Neither have I.

Another happy Swift-A Frame customer.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:

What I like (please don't laugh premium bullet addicts) are Hornady 300 gr. FMJ RN bullets and Hornady 300 gr. BT Spire Points. They're both accurate and for me have pretty much the same point of impact at 100 yards using the same load of RL-15.

I also use hornady i use the 300gr interlock at 2400f/sec on all plainsgame if i go for eland ill use the interbond it shoots same place with the same load they also look the same

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:

quote:

I have never had a failure with Swift A Frame.

Neither have I.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Thibeault:
For those who have "been there, done that," what are the favorite brand(s) of bullets for use in Africa? I am planning for a safari, and will take my own .375 H&H Magnum rifle. I've used Barnes TSX bullets with great results in .30-06 and .300 Win Mag calibers on deer-sized game, and know they make 300 grain bullets in both soft (TSX) and monolithic solids for the .375.

I've also heard good things about A-Square bullets, and like the fact their soft-nosed (Dead Tough) and solid bullets have the same shape/BC, so they should shoot to the same point of impact.

Any experience with either of these, or perhaps better bullets to use? I reload, and plan to take all of my own ammunition with me. To keep it simple, I plan to use this one rifle for everything, varying between soft nosed and solid bullets as the species of game and hunting situations dictate.

Thanks in advance,
Bill Thibeault

Bill,

You already have the answer.

If the TSX have given you good results so far, I doubt you will find any better.

We have used Barnes X bullets for years, and have nothing but praise for their performance.

We have shot animals from duikers to buffalo with them.

The only reason we have stopped using them because we made our own lathe turned copper bullets.

Their performance has been just as good as the Barnes.

If you look at the Hunting page, you will see several of our hunt reports.

I'm going to keep using my Trophy Bonded Bearclaws. Never had any reason to use anything else.
When I economize, I shoot Hornady, Sierra, & Speer. They were good in 1960 and I haven't seen any drop off in quality since then.

TSX all the way in my opinion!

I have used Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and Trophy Bonded Sledgehammers on seven (7) African Safaris for the last number of years, killing all of the Big Five, the Magnificent Seven and over 70 plains game, all without any problems whatsoever. I have also killed whitetail, antelope and mule deer here in the States with the Bear Claw, without any problems. The vast majority of the animals shot with it and the Sledgehammer have been one shot kills. I just shot a nice Mexican Mule Deer in Sonora, Mexico, last week with the new 180 grain Trophy Bonded Tip in .300WSM and dropped it dead in its tracks.Sorry about the blood in the pic.

I've had great success with 300 gr and 270 gr TSX bullets from my .375 RUM on two trips to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Mostly one shot kills on everything to Buffalo and Eland at ranges of 30 to 348 yds. Both bullets are MOA accurate in my rifle, and the few that I recovered were classic Barnes mushrooms.

On another South African hunt I had great results with 160 gr Accubonds from my 7mm Rem Mag on antelope up to Red Hartebeest and Black Wildebeast. One of my PH's, who also shot a 7mm RM, was constantly amazed at the large internal wound channel that these bullets made.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
TSX bullets are good but unless you're going after big dangerous stuff I wouldn't waste my money on them.

Oh brother! In light of Bill Thibeault's current use of Barnes bullets on deer-sized game, this advise has to be the worst I've seen posted in years.

If Bill, or anyone else, feels absolutely compelled to economize on some part of a trip-of-a-lifetime, don't skimp on the bullets you use. The bullet is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. It's what does the killing.

My PH recommended I use 'premium' bullets. No mention of specific brand. I chose Barnes X flatbase...it was before Barnes came out with the triple shock, which is only more of a good thing.
Just remember, you draw blood but don't recover the game animal, you still bought it. Think about that before you choose an inferior bullet.

In 30-06 and 375 H&H I have used Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and have been very happy with them. I've used them on plainsgame and Buffalo.

A Zebra downed with one shot from about 200 yards using a cheap crappy Speer 270 gr. cup and core boat tailed spitzer.
A Zebra downed with an expensive Barnes bullet.

Notice the difference?
A Blue Wildebeest taken with one shot from about 85 yards with a single cheap crappy Speer 270 grain boat tailed spitzer.
An Impala taken with a single cheap crappy Speer 270 gr. boat tailed spitzer bullet.
A warthog taken with a single crappy and cheap Speer 270 gr. boat tailed spitzer bullet.

I had eight one shot kills with 300 grain Nosler Partitions out of my .375 and some shots were not at great angles. Completely happy with the performance, didn't recover them all but the ones that I did recover looked really good.

Here is a picture of an Eland. It was shot with a 300 Win Mag with a 180gr cheap, unbonded lead core bullet. It was a broadside shot at 80m and the near side shoulder was broken.

May be i`m blind,but where is the eland?

quote:

Originally posted by HrH:
May be i`m blind,but where is the eland?

Moral: Use a quality bullet on your Eland.

I had great success with the Barnes in 270 grain, here is one that was recovered from a Gemsbok.

I am not sure if there is anyone who had used Barnes X as extensively as we did.

We have used them in several calibers, shooting animals as small as klipspringers, cape buffalo and everything in between.

I would imagine several hundred animals have fallen to the Barnes X.

And I can assure you we have never had a single failure.

I know, we have heard some who claim that the Barnes would whizz through an animal, and the animal would disappear without a trace.

I suspect these hunters have either missed the animal, or hit marginally.

Also, some hunters have claimed that the Barnes X is no good for lion and leopard.

I have shot 3 leoprads and 6 lions with them.

Every single one of them died in less than 7 yards.