Had actually obtained A-Frame 400 grain for my 416 RemMag, but intends to exchange them with TSX 350 or 400 grain because I am very happy with TSX’s ability to expand and hold together at the same time, and believes that the TSX expansion easier than A-Frame. I have seen this in my .300 WinMag and also use the TSX in my 243w and 9.3 x74R.

I've calculated TSX 350 and 400 grain in Quick Load and at the same pressure the 350 grain should have 200 joules more energy than 400 grain at the muzzle, and I’ve since then been a little unsure about what I should choose. 350 grain will have a flatter trajectory and probably more energy on impact, 400 grain has generally been judged by many to be the king of penetration, but what is the truth about it if the 350 grain has more energy / speed than the 400 grain?

What is your experience, including A-Frame vs. TSX in 416 calibres

In my Model 70, 400 gr A-Frame in the Bore and 3 400 gr Barnes solids in the Mag. Worked quite well. Got a Buff with a 36" Spread and 12" Boss.
My PH recommended I use all solids. He prefered the Barnes flat nose or the Speer TBSH.

Stick with the 400 grain bullet better penetration on buffalo. Personally I know other hunters where the TSX petals have broke off thus changing the path of the bullet in the animal and decreasing penetration. I think the TSX is a great bullet and does a lot of tissue damage but I'm old school and trust the Swift aframe 100% shooting 100's of big game critters with it and zero failures. Both bullets are great choices on buff so whichever bullet you choose to use will be a great choice.

Dirk

I used the 370 grain North Fork soft for the first shot, the same North Fork flat point solid for the follow up shot on my Buffalo in the Selous. The perfect pair in my opinion, both loaded with RL-15 to 2430 fps. He stumbled to his feet after the first shot that quartered from his last rib to lodge in his neck bone at the first rib retaining 99.1 % of its weight. He walked in a small circle then I drilled the solid through both shoulders and down he went, stumbled back up and then collapsed for good. Good luck and good shooting.

quote:

My PH recommended I use all solids. He prefered the Barnes flat nose or the Speer TBSH.

Sorry forgot to write about that point
Yes some prefer solids only for buffalo, but I would prefer the bullet in the chamber to be an expanding type, follow up shoots would be Banded Solids or similar.

Used 350 gr Barnes X at 2700 fps from a Rigby on a Buf in Tanzania in 2006.

On a followup shot I hit the fella in the right side flank (I'm kinda short and could not see well in the grass). The bullet smashed the right femur, penetrated the entire length of the gut, blew through the chest and lodged under the skin in the front of the chest wall. At least 6 feet of penetration. MORE than enough! Is the only 350 Barnes X I ever recovered.

Same year I blew one through the chest of a Bison. Picked up a chuck of rib coming in and blew it out the other side. Penetration? NO PROBLEM!

Mike,
I can't find my pics of that hunt, late "winter" 2007 right?.. and yep, blew the bison to bits!

Hey, are you in Texas yet

Jeffe,

I believe it was Feb 2007 for the Bison hunt.

Am in Dilley. The State of Texas would not allow me to "upgrade" my special license to a full one ... so I am looking for piggies. Haven't seen any. Okie has taken two nice doe at the request of the land owner. One was with the .375 H&H and one with a .270 Win. Both hit just about right. The .375 270 gr Barnes X hit doe was DRT with little meat damage. The .270 hit doe ran 40 yards with the top of her heart destroyed. Even though there was plenty of damaged meat there was little blood trail. Amazing.

Okie did a fine job.

We're seeing a significant dog problem here. Will explain at another time.

Sounds fun.. Hmm, go to the local game warden and have a talk with him, and ask if you can.. that's just administrative rubbish...

Heartshots are like 50/50 for me, ... if the heart had JUST pumped, they run, if not, DRT..

btw, the 500 AR is a piddie ear seaker! WOW

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
Used 350 gr Barnes X at 2700 fps from a Rigby on a Buf in Tanzania in 2006.

On a followup shot I hit the fella in the right side flank (I'm kinda short and could not see well in the grass). The bullet smashed the right femur, penetrated the entire length of the gut, blew through the chest and lodged under the skin in the front of the chest wall. At least 6 feet of penetration. MORE than enough! Is the only 350 Barnes X I ever recovered.

Same year I blew one through the chest of a Bison. Picked up a chuck of rib coming in and blew it out the other side. Penetration? NO PROBLEM!

Thanx for good posting have you shoot other buffalos than the one you recovered the bullet from?

You will be well equipped for buffalo with any of the bullets mentioned so far in this thread.

That is, the 350 or 400 grain TSX, the 400 grain A-Frame or the 370 grain North Fork.

I have two .416s, one a Rem. Mag. and the other a Rigby, and have used all of those bullets, plus the 350 grain A-Frame and 410 grain Woodleigh, in my rifles.

All of them hit like dynamite.

For buffalo, however, I would prefer to use 370 or 400 grain bullets. Holding all else equal, higher sectional density equals better penetration.

Also, I believe that follow up solids are entirely unnecessary for buffalo when using such excellent expanding .416 caliber bullets. I would only feel the need for solids for use on elephant or for body shots on hippo.

I use the Swift A-Frame 400gr, first out followed by Barnes solids. Never a problem and killed a half-dozen with that combo. I am also of the opinion that when loaded with all A-frames while Lion hunting, if an opportunity Buff shows up, don't worry about not having solids in the magazine. Just shoot away with the A-Frames and you'll still kill your Buff.

quote:

I would only feel the need for solids for use on elephant or for body shots on hippo.

Somewhere on the internet I’ve seen a picture of a 400 grain solid bullet sticking out of the tusk on an elephant. It was a follow up shoot that hit the elephant in it’s arse and the bullet went all the way trough the stomach and ended up sticking half way out trough one of it’s tusks.

No one else who have tried the 350 grain TSX for real?

quote:

Originally posted by BlaserGun:
Somewhere on the internet I’ve seen a picture of a 400 grain solid bullet sticking out of the tusk on an elephant. It was a follow up shoot that hit the elephant in it’s arse and the bullet went all the way trough the stomach and ended up sticking half way out trough one of it’s tusks.

It was Peter V - used to be a member here - long time no see - however here is the thread on HA.com with pics:

http://www.huntamerica.com/www...218&page=0&fpart=all

I only have experience with the 400 gr A Frame and it performed flawlessly. There has been a lot of discussion regarding the TSXs (another superb bullet) and their length that sometimes causes them to tumble in the standard weights (like the 400gr 416s for example). The solution with the TSX I think is to go down in weight to the 350. I had a conversation with Randy Brooks a couple of years ago and he preferred the 350 TSX over the 400. Makes perfect sense to me as the 350 penetrates with the best of them AND gives you the added benefit of more velocity. Speed kills...jorge

quote:

Speed kills...jorge

Thanx for the post.

Yes even the police here in DK overwhelm us with signposts that tell you about it, there should be no doubt about that point

Randy should definitely know something about performance of TSX bullets

quote:

Originally posted by mouse93:
It was Peter V - used to be a member here - long time no see - however here is the thread on HA.com with pics:

http://www.huntamerica.com/www...218&page=0&fpart=all

Thanx, I found more about it here http://dzombo.com/testimon.htm