I'm hoping to shoot a lion in the fall of 2006 and was planning on using 400 Gr Barnes TSX out of my 416 Rigby. The question came up if these might not be too hard. Anyone have any experience?

SBT,

I personally think it may be to hard but I would call Barnes just to ask them if they have another bullet that may be better...
How's the weather in Wyo...

Mike

Will you be hunting lion from a blind over bait?
While it will do the job "quickly" with correct shot placement I would recommend a "softer" soft point.

Mike,
I'll take your advise and call Barnes. sometimes the logical solutions just seem to pass me by.

It is spring here. Today, it started out sunny at around 40 degrees, then snowed at 35 degress, dropped to 30 then back up to 50. Typical spring in Jackson Hole!

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
I'm hoping to shoot a lion in the fall of 2006 and was planning on using 400 Gr Barnes TSX out of my 416 Rigby. The question came up if these might not be too hard. Anyone have any experience?

Go ahead and use them.

I have shot 3 lions with Barnes X bullets, all died within 10 yards of being shot.

I too have shot a lion with X bullets. They performed beautifully.

This one was recovered from a raking shot.

I shot a lion last year in Tanzania at 25 yards (measured) with a 400 grain Barnes X bullet (blue coated) from a 416 Rigby (mv=2470fps). The bullet performance was perfect, with the petals expanding all of the way back to the shank (my bullet looks about like the one pictured above). We had found a calf cape buffalo (~6 months old) that the lion had just killed and partially eaten. We hung it up in a tree and built a blind down wind from the bait. We sent the trackers on with the truck to check another lion bait for sign. Exactly 15 minutes after the truck left the lion came back to his kill, which we had hanging up in a tree. He sniffed it and then moved down wind, towards us were he layed down in the shade of a tree, so he could watch it. I had decided to take him, but there was a 2" tree between me and him right were I wanted to shoot as he was laying down. About that time the wind swirled (we felt it on the back of our neck) and the lion smelled us - he stood up and faced in our direction, trying to locate us. After a few minute (seemed like an eternity) he sat down, still facing us. The Ph nodded "now" and I eased out from behind a tree I was standing behind and shot him one time in the chest. He let out a short growl and his back two legs kicked once and that was that (he never moved)! The skinners found the bullet in the back of his chest. This was only one of two Barnes X bullets that I recovered on this hunt -the other was from the south end of a north bound zebra. I also shot a 15-20 lb. duiker on this hunt (Texas heart shot) and the 400 grain X bullet expanded fine - punching a X-shaped hole through it's chest.

I shot a big lion with 300gr Barnes X and he didn't go 30 yards, it will be the same with the 400gr as well.

Just got off the phone with the Barnes tech guy. The TSX is the bullet they recommend for lion. He said it is not too hard and should give double diameter expansion and leave a quarter sized exit wound.

Scott,

That was a fast answer..and right to the point...I would get the load perfected and practice with other cheaper tips but do not change sights....Right before go back to them and shoot a few more...Save 40 or 60 virgin brass for Africa..

Mike