Anyone care to share their experiences with either? I'm shooting a 500 Jeffery, but experiences in 500 NE, 500 A2, etc would be good to hear.

Have only had excellent results with all the TSX bullets I've shot on game. This includes the 570gr TSX in my 500NE.

Recovered 1 from a Buff Cow, and 1 from a Giraffe Bull. The Giraffe recovery was a broadside shot into the left shoulder. Found under the skin on the right side. Interestingly, there was another 570gr TSX placed about 4 inches to the side of this one, same angle, range, etc. That one fully penetrated and is still flying out there somewhere as far as I know.

With the Buff recovery. That 570gr TSX was fired into the South End of my son's North bound Buff cow as a back up shot at about 30 yards. Entered the left hind quarter and recovered under the skin forward of the right shoulder, in the neck area. As with the Giraffe, another 570gr TSX was placed a couple of inches beside that one resulting in complete penetration, exited and is in orbit now with the Giraffe bullet.

The buff TSX was in the perfect "X" shape we've come to expect. The Giraffe TSX stayed completely intact, no petals sheared but it looked smeared by comparison. I've posted this pic numerous times but here it is again. The 570gr TSX from the Giraffe is on the far left. I gave the Buff TSX to my son and unfortunately, he lost it. No pic!

I've not used the A-Frame but have never heard any negatives about them. IMO, it's a better bullet than the Partition and certainly better than the DGX. But I still give the TSX the edge.



For reference again from the left: 570gr TSX, 500NE, Giraffe Bull, 40 yards; 350gr TSX, 416 Rigby (HOT), Buffalo Bull, 20 yards, point of shoulder!; 300gr TSX, 375H&H, Brown Bear, Broadside Shoulder at 100 yards; 300gr TSX, 375 H&H, Sable, Frontal shot recovered in spine, 100 yards; 225gr X, 340 WBY, Bull Elk, extreme range to stop wounded animal going over ridge line.

Thanks Todd, I have a great load with the 570g TSX in my 500 Jeffery at 2300 fps. Very accurate, recoil manageable. They feed so nicely too. I bought some 570g A-Frames awhile ago, so plan to put some down range tomorrow. Going out with my sons, so probably will shoot at close range. I'll have to shoot for groups and chrono the loads another time.

I've killed my share of buff and hippo with the 570 grain TSX at 2,500 fps with my .500 A2.

Generally, depending on the lot no., I have used around 110 to 113 grains of RL-15.

Will post photos, time permitting. All the victims died right there, in very dramatic fashion.

Thanks Mike, I had such good luck with my A-Frame on my brown bear from my 375 Weatherby that I thought I'd give them a try. My 500 Jeffery go to load right now is the 570 TSX / 130g H4895 giving me 2300 fps for sub MOA accuracy. I just have no experience on DG with the TSX so thought I'd ask the folks that do. I would like to see those pictures though Mike. Thanks again!

P.S.

Just got back from the range. The A-Frames grouped just over an inch at 100 yards, the TSX's about 3/4". Both rounds fed and extracted fine, but the TSX's just felt slicker. Recoil felt the same with both, but with the same load of 103g H4895 the A-Frames were almost 100fps slower (I'm sure due to the fact that the A-Frames are much shorter and take up less of the case capacity). So I'm sticking with the TSX's, but I do have about 6 A-Frames loaded still that have jack rabbit written all over them ...

Chuck: how did you seat the bullet-by shortening the case or by seating outside of the cannelure groove? I'm loading Swift's and they are right on the groove for oal. Thanks for the info. I'll let you know after I shoot the Swifts. MMP

I seated them on the top (just barely within) the cannelure grove. I have a Lee Factory Crimp Die which I use to crimp them as well and they did crimp into the groove. By contrast I seat my TSX's to 3.63" OAL. I do wish the Swift bullets weren't so short and stubby though. Feeding and extraction was fine, but not as smooth as the TSX's.

Anyone ever figger out why Barnes doesn't make a 535 TSX for the 500 Jeff? One hell of a buffalo round. MMP

I have written Barnes several times and asked them to PLEASE provide us with a 535 grain TSX to go with the 535 grain solid. However, I can't seem to get any response. I guess they must think there is not enough market for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
I have written Barnes several times and asked them to PLEASE provide us with a 535 grain TSX to go with the 535 grain solid. However, I can't seem to get any response. I guess they must think there is not enough market for it.

I'm glad that you wrote them. I wrote some time back asking for a 450 grain high-BC TTSX.
that should have a balancing flat-nose solid, too.

Chuck, sorry for the delay in responding, but I've been pretty busy with work.

Here is one of the photos I have of 570 grain .509" TSX bullets recovered after penetration of three to four feet of Cape buffalo:



As you can see, all of the petals are shorn off. That's because I drove the bullets very fast - 2,500 fps MV. The petals wreaked havoc on the lungs and other internal organs. Heavy caliber TSX bullets can do this.

The shanks of the bullets alone expanded to .82 caliber (left) and .64 caliber (right) and gave excellent straight line penetration.

Thanks Mike, would you use the TSX or A-Frame on softer skinned game like brown bear?

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Thanks Mike, would you use the TSX or A-Frame on softer skinned game like brown bear?

Chuck, I've used a 300gr 375H&H and a 350gr 416 Rigby TSX on my two Brown Bears. When I hunt my next, it will be with a TSX or possibly the new CEBs. If you look at the pictures I posted of the TSX bullets, you'll see the middle bullet is the 300gr 375 TSX I used on the second Brown Bear. You really can't expect any more perfect TSX performance than that bullet. It looks like one of the bullets out of Barnes's advertisements.

Thanks, I'm such a Luddite, I've killed one large feral hog (450 lbs dressed) at 8 feet with the 570g TSX and it was impressive. It entered between the eyes a little to the right, tore out the neck vertebrae, liquified the intestines and exited out the left ham. Though I've used Nosler Partitions for so long, it's hard for me to change ... But the TSX's are so accurate and feed so well in my 500 Jeffery and all of your experiences are so positive, that I'm going to stick with them.

Though I'm comfortable shooting them at 2300 fps, at 2500 fps it's just painful for me Mike. I applaud your fortitude.

Chuck, I wouldn't hesitate to use the TSX on bear.

As you know, the bullet has a huge hollow point and was designed for .500 NE velocities so there's no doubt that it will expand.

I like to drive it faster in the .500 A-Square because the cartridge has the horsepower and the bullet can handle it.