Has anyone used TSX bullets on a buffalo? I am shooting a 375 Ruger, and not impressed with the Hornady DGX. I have shot both into dry paper, the TSX seems to perform but the DGX falls apart. Or other suggestions welcome.

I have used 350gr Swift A Frames on buff in my 416 Rem Mag. They performed very well, held together, excellent penetration.

What he said. Swift A-Frame 400gr., YES!!!

The TSX is a great buffalo bullet. I use them pretty much exclusively in my .500 A-Square, which is my No. 1 buff rifle.

Here are some that we recovered from a couple of the buff I shot last year in Tanzania. (These are .509" 570 grain TSXs.)








A couple of others were pass-throughs.

At 2,500 fps, they hit like a lightning bolt. No need whatsoever for solids.

I've used quite a few. Mostly 500gr, 450 Dakota, at 2400fps. Great penetration. No need for solids. Be careful with herd shots as passthroughs the rule, not exception.

My uncle has shot two with tsx. One with .416 Taylor and one with a .375H&H. My cousin has shot 4 with tsx from his .375rum. I've shot one with tsx from my .375H&H. No problems what so ever. DEAD. I think txs and a-frames are hard to beat. The kicker for me was the 300 grain tsx and 300 grain barnes banded solids grouped identicle in my .375.

Brett

MR, 570g TSX at 2500 fps ouch! I'm thinking the same bullet at a leisurely 2300 out of my 500 Jeffery ...



Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
MR, 570g TSX at 2500 fps ouch! I'm thinking the same bullet at a leisurely 2300 out of my 500 Jeffery ...



Chuck

That'll do the job, Chuck, no doubt about it.

There is nothing like hitting a buff on the point of the shoulder and seeing him smacked right down. Flat down and out - and smack on the ground.

Nothing else, including a .458 Lott, will do that with any regularity, at least not in my experience.

If they do get back up - and they will if there's an ounce of strength left in them - they won't be half of what they used to be, and they won't be long for this world in any case.

Just add one more for insurance, while they're wobbling around, and that will put them paid.

Chris,

A 300gr TSX will penetrate a bufs head...Will pentrate from one side to the other...Chopping and slicing while traveling thru... I have used them on buf and my friend has also...
velocity around 2300 to 2500 and they will do their job...

Mike

I have used the .375 H+H, 300 gr TSX on buffalo. DRT. Excellent performance.

Bill

I'll be returning to the Save to hunt with Mokore Safari for buffalo and leopard in August. I'll be using the TSX in my 30-06 and .375 H&H. I used the TSX last time I was there and quite a bit here in AK. I am impressed and don't plan on using anything else for the forseeable future.

Anyone have any experience with 350's in the 416 Rigby? I'm planning for Zim next year and trying to get bullets figured out ahead of time.

I tried them in my .416 but the would not group well, around 2" at 100 yards. Switched to A frames and got it down to 1". Both bullets were 400 grainers.

The TSX and Swift A frame are the two best "mass produced" buffalo bullets on the market. Have had many clients use both and am very impressed.

The north fork get good reviews but haven't actually seen one used.

At .375 Ruger velocities bullets like the woodleigh pp etc are too soft. And the DGX don't work even if you down load them by a couple hundred fps

Ganyana. Are there any better bullets for buffalo than TSX (not "mass produced")?

I've used GS solids with excellent results but are there any better softs than TSX?

Swift

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Swift

x2

Swift bullets are good but at high velocity will over-expand.

It is a shame that Ray is no longer posting here. He would tell us horror stories of X-bullet failures!

Thanks for your responses. Now that i have that answer, what would be your first choice for solids? I am also taking a 416 Rigby with me. The TSX bullet shoots great out of that gun. I have been shooting the Hornady DGS, which shoots within an inch of the TSX's. But if there is a better solid i am willing to try it.

All of the bullet types mentioned on this post are excellent....no question about it.


But make your life easy...use solids. Most of Africa buffalo hunting ends up in the thick stuff. Do not play around. You need not worry about penetration or poor bullet performance with a solid on buffalo. In addition, the solids sight in better.

One gun, one bullet.

It is like one house and one spouse theory.

Solids!


dale

Nope to solids I have had trouble getting a clean kill on anything with them

Personally I have not used the TSX on buffalo as yet but I've used it on about 25 other animals including a very big Livingstone's eland and a Lord Derby eland. I'm getting the same feedback from clients also. No need for solids on buffalo with the TSX.

I heard solids only for buffalo on my first couple of safaris in Zim but that seems to have become an antiquated idea as more and more people are using the TSX, A-Frame etc.

Mark

I am far from an expert but have killed several buffalo…most with my 470NE and 450 Dakota. I have used the X-bullet, Swift, TBBC, Woodleigh Soft and solid, and NF Cup point. They all worked well but I prefer the NF Cup point to all of them. Interesting enough the only bullets I have ever recovered from shooting at a Live buffalo were the X-bullet and a Woodleigh Solid. The X bullets were found on the off side of the shoulder (side shot) and the solid was found in the chest (rear running away shot). I have recovered a few other bullets fired into dead buffalo including the TBBC and Forth Fork among others. I like the NF simply because it always seems to pass through the animal and the exit holes are torn to a point that they bleed very well. If there was ever a need to do any tracking I expect this would come in very handy. The only bullets that have given me fits were the Woodleigh Solid when used on Side shots. They seem to zip through the animal and cause little trauma. The exit holes tend to be identical to the entry and do not bleed near as much as the Cup Point. I believe the true solid has a place and is the only thing I would want to use while tracking wounded game. I expect most PH’s would also use only the Solid for obvious reasons. However as a hunter it is my belief that some type of expanding bullet is necessary for the first shot under normal hunting conditions.

FIrst, dry paper is a terrible choice for testing a bullet, as is wood or dirt. If you don't have access to bal.gel. then wetpack is next best thing. I have only used the NorthFork on buffalo, two buffal, two shots. The last trip a guy in camp used the 400gr TSX in his 416rem on a good buff. It did a fine job, but I honestly prefer the bonded softs like the Swift or NF. The Hornady DGX is likely to perform equally well. The two TSX are from his buffalo, that is my 380grNF in the middle.


Bullet on left is wetpack tested @ 2225fps IV. The right is from the buffalo @ aprox. 2175fps IV.

Thought I'd add a 500 grain Woodleigh. Both recovered from buff. Left the Solid for comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
If you don't have access to bal.gel. then wetpack is next best thing.

I disagree ... pigs are the next best thing!

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Lozano:
Has anyone used TSX bullets on a buffalo?

Chris. It is an excellent bullet. Do not hesitate to use it.

TSX is the bee's knees

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Lozano:
Thanks for your responses. Now that i have that answer, what would be your first choice for solids? I am also taking a 416 Rigby with me. The TSX bullet shoots great out of that gun. I have been shooting the Hornady DGS, which shoots within an inch of the TSX's. But if there is a better solid i am willing to try it.

Barnes banded solids shot identical to tsx in my .375 with handloads. You may try them to see if you get the same results.

Brett

Personally, I would not classify bullets made of a solid copper and have a hollow point as "soft points".

I am unaware of any bullet that has lead in it that can penetrate as far as bullets like the Barnes X and others made of copper.

We have been using these - Barnes X and our own Walterhogs - on everything from duikers to buffalo, and they work like a charm.

In fact, I have stopped using any solids for buffalo once we have seen the performance of these bullets.

True.

The TSX is a monolithic copper expanding bullet.

One must admit, however, that "soft point" is easier to say.

Saeed makes an excellent point. The Barnes TSX gives the best of "solid and soft" performance.

You get maximum penetration from the TSX compared to any other "soft point". Yes, true solids will penetrate further.

You get phenomenal expansion from the TSX, without any fear of the "cup and core" separating. Worst case is you may loose a petal or two, but will still have 90+% weight retention. In most cases, much closer to 98%+.
The cutting edges of the petals help open a great exit wound as well.

Typical softs like the Swift A-frame work exceedingly well, but you will never get the penetration of a TSX. In most cases you won't need it, either. I have no problem using these for leopard and lion, but no need to with the TSX available. The TSX simplifies my ammo requirements.

I am very happy using the TSX from my 375 and 416 on everything except elephants and the really little guys like duiker. I use solids on both of these, for absolutley maximum penetration on the elephant, and to prevent destroying the duiker!

Bill

I've used Woodleigh's in my 416 Rigby with test-book results. 98% weight retention and classic mushroom and wound channel I could not have asked for more. (As a side note I have used Swifts on Lion and same perfect result with them as the Woodleigh on the Buffalo.)

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
In fact, I have stopped using any solids for buffalo once we have seen the performance of these bullets.

I'm loading Barnes TSXs in my back up rifle for Buff (416 Rigby)...

Due to the airline weight restrictions and ammo availability for my main rifle (600 OK) I'm limiting how much ammo I'm taking for the 416...

I wanted to keep things simple and just bring one box of 400 grain TSXs but my PH wants me to bring solids as well…

Not a real problem as the Banded Solids are shooting pretty close to the same point of impact…