I just returned from two weeks of hunting. I used my old Ruger tang 35 Whelen with the 225 gr TSX at 2700 fps.

The first critter to go down was an elk that we called in to 40 yards. He stood facing me straight on. As I aimed awating him to turn I swear he looked right through my scope at me. Worried he was going to flee I held a bit low on the chest and fired. At the shot he turned, lunged twice and dropped dead. The bullet did not pass through but was not recovered.



The second guy was a moose that we chased on horseback up river for a bit over two hours. He finally presented a broadside shot at 175 yards. As he was just entering deep woods that headed down hill I centered on his shoulder and fired. His front end fell to the ground at the shot, he then got up, stepped and turned away allowing a second quartering shot behind the ribs that ended it. The first bullet had centered and shattered the entering shoulder passing through the off shoulder coming to a stop under the hide. It weighs 168 grs. The second bullet passed through.





Once again, I am sold on the X/TSX bullet and the 35 Whelen.

Great stuff Boxhead! That moose has one of the slickest coats--awesome. What a neat experience on the elk--makes you wonder if he really was looking at you scope--a reflection or something perhaps--nice shot though!

Tell us a little more about the rifle!

Thanks for the share.

Congrdulations on 2 fine animals... I also like the TSX bullets ..

Most excellent!! Congrats. Thanks for sharing the photos.

-Bob F.

Cool story Boxhead, nice elk and moose too. The 35 Whelen and the 225 tsx were made for each other. Funny about the elk looking at you, he may very well have been.

Boxhead:

I am a bit surprised that the TSX lost that much weight at that distance. I am also pushing the 225 TSX bullets that fast. I think I am going to back off on the powder and slow it down a bit.

I sent you a PM.

Dave

Congrats! Looks like the Whelen worked great! Hope I do half as well in about 2 weeks in Colorado. I am taking my Whelen mauser out for 2nd season elk. I'll be using eother 250 grain Speer GS or 250 grain Noaler partitions at a bit over 2500 fps.

Can't go wrong with the 225gr TSX in a Whelen at 2700fps. That's my combo as well and it worked perfectly on my moose last year. I'm hoping to try again on this upcoming trip.

A couple nice trophies you got there, gotta love the old Whelen.

Boxhead:

I guess I would have to say I am a bit disappointed in the performance of the TSX bullet you have pictured. I don't want mean to be too critical. After all, you got your moose so the bullet worked, right? However, if you did indeed launch that 225 TSX at 2700 fps, at 175 yards it would have only been going about 2284 fps but it still lost 26% of its' weight and all four petals were sheered off.

Dave

How much would a nosler partition, regular cup and core or bonded bullet lose in the same situation? 26% compared to 50% or more is pretty good in my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by raybass:
How much would a nosler partition, regular cup and core or bonded bullet lose in the same situation? 26% compared to 50% or more is pretty good in my opinion.

Ray, that is a pretty good point and the penetration was there aplenty. However, my conern was the bullet losing all four of its' petals and the weight loss. Don't forget, because the TSX bullets are longer, you have to use a lighter, shorter bullet. Lighter bullets usually mean less penetration so a TSX has to hold together. I have been thinking about using a 250 grain TSX bullet in my 9.3X62 for a buffalo but Boxhead's post has me concerned. You will see this same knock on the TSX in Terry Wieland's book as well. Boxhead's second shot was a through and through entering behind the ribs. I'm thinking that with a TSX it might be best to place the bullet just behind the shoulder if possible.

Dave

Here's a few more for info.

These 250 gr X's from my 9.3x62. Left to right, gemsbuck double shouldered at 60 yards, bushbuck "Texas Heart Shot" at 70 yards, two kudu (w/ 1 shot...) just behind the shoulders at 120 yards and an eland high shoulder at 25 yards. All animals either dropped right now or within 5 yards. Weights are 250, 250, 250 and 222 grs, respectively.





And this one is a 185 gr TSX at 2970 fps from my 338-06 in just behind the near shoulder of a bull elk, centering the off shoulder at 270 yards. The elk collasped at the shot. It weighs 122 grs.

These TSXs from the 9.3 did much better!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
I'm thinking that with a TSX it might be best to place the bullet just behind the shoulder if possible.

Kind of felt that was the best place to put a bullet anyway. The only time I've ever aimed for the shoulders was on black bear in Alaska, as I didn't want to track a wounded bear. What kind of buffalo are you hunting? If you are hunting cape buffalo then I'd probably go for the shoulder as well from what I hear since I have no experience. I've never felt the need to break down the shoulders on any animal from pronghorn to elk that I've hunted here in CO.

I loaded soome .375 H&H with 300 grain TSX for a friend who went on safari to Tansania. He used them on quite an amout of game including several buffalo and was very pleased.

I have one bullet recovered from a buffalo, it dropped him dead and looks just perfectly deformed, like from their catalog.

Personally, I only shot 2 roe deer with the 45 grain .224 TSX which also performed very well.

Originally posted by taylorce1:

quote:

I've never felt the need to break down the shoulders on any animal from pronghorn to elk that I've hunted here in CO.

Agreed. Why waste meat.

Awesome hunt and great pics, i love my Whelen, although i have not bloodied it yet.

Considering that 225gr TSX shattered the on side shoulder, passed through the off shoulder and came to rest under the skin, on a moose, i would say it performed perfectly. If it kept its petals it wouldnt have penetrated as far, and you cant have 100% weight retention with the loss of the petals, like i said, perfect performance in my book.

Good shooting! Thanks for the story and pics, the Whelen sure is a great big game cartridge....