I was just looking at a data sheet I pulled from the Barnes website on the 375 H&H. Using VIT N540 and RL15, they were quoting velocities of up to 2965 fps with the 270 grain solid, 2836 fps with the TSX of the same weight and 2735 fps with the 300 grain solid and 2655 with the 300 grain TSX.

Usually, I've found the velocities quoted in the Barnes manual to be on the low side for bullet weight. What they have listed here exceeds even what I was able to get with Northforks, which in my mind should be a lower pressure bullet at the same weight.

Is this data accurate? Have any of you who are shooting TSX's in the .375 getting these velocities? If so, the 270 grain Barnes .375 bullets just might be about the perfect combination of mass and velocity!

Pete

Pete,

It depends upon the length of the barrel for sure. Interestingly, in a study reported in Gregor Woods' book, "Rifles for Africa" an extensive test using the Barnes softpoints in a variety of calibers on a variety of game concluded that the 375 H&H, at normal bushveld distances, yielded the best penetration when launched at 2450 mv. Apparently, this speed allowed the petals to fold back to 90 degrees from the shank and gave it a scything motion versus mushrooming up and plowing along.

I have 2 375 hnh's, both with 24" barrels. Using RL-15 WITH THE 235 AND 270 TSX I get the velocity they are showing for the max loads. The loads group well too. Haven't tried the banded solids. In my 416 rigby with the tsx (350 and 400) I get the results they show in manual. However in my '06 and 300wm the data in the manual seems conservative.

I used the old Barnes X 300-grainers (FB Cannelured) for all plains game, and backup for cape buffalo.
I used 72-grains of RL-15 and got a perfect 2532 fps average in my 24" Douglas stainless barrel (1:12" No. 3 sporter) of a 6.75# Pre-64 M70.
That was the max load back then, in their manual, and it was 3/4 MOA in my rifle.
No pressure signs.
It worked great.

I often find Barnes manual data "printed" velocities to be 100 to 150 fps overly optimistic.
I do not think the TSX is that much different regarding the max charges and max velocities obtained.
Neither were the XLCs.
Neither are the GSC HVs.
All good bullets.

For DG loadings for Africa...~2500 fps is ideal for optimal and straight-line penetration with 300 grainers...TSX & solids.

I booked a lion hunt for next year, so I'm looking for max velocity. I as much hydrostatic shock as possible and a fast opening bullet. By the same token, it needs to be with a bullet that's still heavy and tough enough for buffalo and where there's a sister bullet in a solid for tuskless elephant.

If the 270 grain TSX can safely be pushed to 2836 fps out of a 24 inch barrel, I can't imagine a more perfect bullet for what I'm looking for. I was initially going to go with the 250 grain Northfork. I can get 2900 fps with that bullet using 85 grains of H4350. Then I was going to bring my .416 for the big stuff. If I can get by with just two loads, a soft and a solid for my .375, then I can bring something a bit smaller for my second gun.

Pete

I ran some 270 Gr. TSX over the chrony the other day. Load was 76.0 grs. of Rl-15. Average velocity was 2744 fps from my 24" barrel 375 H&H. Groups were under one inch. That load should work for anything from Duiker to Cape Buffalo.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I ran some 270 Gr. TSX over the chrony the other day. Load was 76.0 grs. of Rl-15. Average velocity was 2744 fps from my 24" barrel 375 H&H. Groups were under one inch. That load should work for anything from Duiker to Cape Buffalo.

That sounds very real.

The .375 Weatherby does with 300-grainers
what the .375 H&H does with 270-grainers.
The heavier the bullet, the greater the advantage of the Wby over the H&H.

.375Wby advantage with the lighter bullets may be less than 100 fps, not worthy of the rechamber.
But with 350-grainers, it may easily add 200 to 250 fps.
270 and 300 grainers may add 150 to 200 fps in the .375Wby versus the .375H&H.
That is my drift.

quote:

I booked a lion hunt for next year, so I'm looking for max velocity. I as much hydrostatic shock as possible and a fast opening bullet. By the same token, it needs to be with a bullet that's still heavy and tough enough for buffalo and where there's a sister bullet in a solid for tuskless elephant.

Like I said ~2500 fps is IDEAL. Why do you want to make it less so??? I make DAMN SURE mine are NOT going faster than 2500 and over 2400. Time proven.

ledvm,
You better tell Saeed he is doing it all wrong with his .375/404 Jeffery, which, as he loads it,
duplicates the .375 Wby factory external ballistics, but at lower pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
ledvm,
You better tell Saeed he is doing it all wrong with his .375/404 Jeffery, which, as he loads it,
duplicates the .375 Wby factory external ballistics, but at lower pressure.

Each to his own and for lion...probably fine. But for straigh-line penetration with a Barnes Solid in an ele skull...~2500 just right. Too fast can deform the bullet and get erratic penetration. And...2500 fps with a Barnes 300gr TSX through the chest of a lion...well...what more could you ask for...dead lion.

Since you menitoned elephant, it might not hurt to work up some loads that develop the same POI with the TSX and a solid. Try using RL 15 with a 270 TSX and Banded Solid and experiment a little. I have found that most 375 H&H's will group both of these bullets to the same point of aim/impact at 50 or 100 yards in the 2400-2600 fps range with just a little load development work. You might want to try the 270TSX and the 300gr Banded Solid combo also. Minor load tweaking will get you the desired results.

With RL-15 mine will shoot both 300 gr TSX and 300 gr Barnes Banded Solids to the same POI at >2400 fsp but </= 2500 fps.

I wonder what the expansion of the TSX is at those high velocities. Shooting a lion isn't like shooting a buff. Don't really want that bullet zinging through a lion.

Better to worry about shooting it in the right place than a couple hundred feet of increased velocity.

Myself I don't like Barns Bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
Myself I don't like Barns Bullets.

Good thing you don't live in Kalifornia

OK, I picked up some 270 grain TSX's today and a pound of N540. I'm really curious to see if I get the same results they have in their data.

I'm going to put a solid load together as well. The solid load would be primarily for elephant and following up on buffalo, so whether it hits in the same spot as the TSX load doesn't really matter, as one would be sighted in with the scope, the other with open sights.

I've killed a lot of game with TSX's in smaller calibers. In my experience, the faster you push them the faster they open and the more damage they do. I'm just really curious to see if I can safely break 2800 fps with this bullet!

Pete