Barnes TSX or Northfork

Nomsag

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I have a 404 Jeffery that I’m taking on a buffalo hunt. I’m trying to decide between Barnes TSX and Northfork. I used Barnes in my 375 on two previous buffalo, and they worked flawlessly. A-frames are out of the equation, because nobody has them, or they are astronomical in price. I’ve read some pretty good things about the Northfork bullets on this site. I’m just looking for opinions.

Jackie
 
My moderate load for the .416 Rigby has been the 350 gr Barnes X propelled by 98 gr IMR 4350. Out of a CZ Safari Mag it gave me 2700 fps.

Kills Cape Buffalo nicely and the recoil isn't bad. Is pretty loud though ...
 
I used the North Foks on 2 buffalo with a 404 Jeffery, could not be happier with their performance. Now they are as hard to find as A frames.
 
I have a 404 Jeffery that I’m taking on a buffalo hunt. I’m trying to decide between Barnes TSX and Northfork. I used Barnes in my 375 on two previous buffalo, and they worked flawlessly. A-frames are out of the equation, because nobody has them, or they are astronomical in price. I’ve read some pretty good things about the Northfork bullets on this site. I’m just looking for opinions.

Jackie

I’m my opinion, take what you can get your hands on. If you can get both, shoot the more accurate of the two in your rifle.

I am a total 100% fan of the North Fork bonded cores. Between me and my family and at least 5 rifles in various calibers, I’ve never seen a recovered bullet that didn’t look like you’d expect. Perfect mushrooms and found under the skin of the offside of the animal.

That said the TSX enjoys a good reputation that has been earned. I’m not as big a fan of the bullet as some as they tend to deposit a lot of copper in my barrels. This leads to a reduction in accuracy and severely so. Remedied by a cleaning of the barrel however. Others have not seen this from what I’ve read.

And occasionally you will read of failures to open in the medium to small bores. I don’t think this is too common, but I’ve had PHs also tell me they’ve seen it. But we aren’t talking about a small caliber here, so I would shoot it confidently.
 
Cannot comment on the Northfork but my PH suggested TSXs and no solids in my 470. First shot was shoulder to shoulder and exited the opposite side. The insurance shot on the down buffalo was spine down through the chest and exited. Just like a solid, you need to be sure there is nothing behind your target buffalo as, in my experience; the TSX will exit.
 
I assume you mean the bonded North Fork (currently made in Sweden) soft point? The TSX is a great bullet and I've used it for Buffalo and quite a few other game. No issues. Matter of fact it has proven to be one of the most accurate of all the premium monolithic expanding points I've ever shot. However, for consistent, predictable performance, I still have the greatest confidence in one of the three current bullets of a similar design- the bonded Rhino soft point (made in RSA), the bonded North Fork soft point and the bonded TBBC. Interestingly all three use the same design theory. All have bonded cores in a very thick, tapered jacket with a thick, cup shaped solid supporting base. They all perform about equally. I would rank them similarly consistent to the Swift A-Frame. Realistically, it may be only a one in a few thousand type thing where a TSX or TTSX might fail or under-perform, but if given a choice and hard pressed to recommend a fail-safe soft point for DG, I would go with one of those three or of course the Swift A-Frame. :)
 
If the TSX shoot flawlessly, why fiddle with the carburetor. Unless the 404 does not shoot them accurately
 
North Fork bullets are made in Sweden and are available in several countries, including the USA.
You can look them up on the Internet.

I have shot them since they were first invented and still do in my 1895 .405 ( .411) and 45-90 (.458). Also in doubles of each caliber. I hand load them to fit the needs for a hunt from Texas to Africa.
They have never failed me on game from deer to Cape Buff and ele.

I have also shot the Barnes TSX .405 WCF ammo in my rifles and they also performed well. Both brand bullets often shoot through game. Both take Nilgai easily with shoot throughs, making the Nilgai look not-so-tough.
My ..458 Beretta DR is regulated with NF 350 SS at 2300---2500 fps and a good authority rates that bullet very high. I plan to find out soon on Texas exotics.
 
“A-frames are out of the equation”. Swift is going to be hurting if they don’t soon get their A-frames in stock. They’ve been too scarce for too long and prime safari season approaches. Folks are going to be forced to turn to others and work up loads for those alternatives. I know once I expend the time and components finding alternative loads that work for my rifle I only change again grudgingly.
 
Well, astronomical in price is relative, IMO. Going on a $20,000+ hunt while trying to save $300-400 on bullets seems a bit penny wise and pound foolish. Plus, one of the downsides of having a 404. While popular among a few dedicated followers of late not nearly as common as either the 375 or 416 calibers.
 
Well, astronomical in price is relative, IMO. Going on a $20,000+ hunt while trying to save $300-400 on bullets seems a bit penny wise and pound foolish. Plus, one of the downsides of having a 404. While popular among a few dedicated followers of late not nearly as common as either the 375 or 416 calibers.
Swift A-frame Scarcity is way more of a problem than cost.
 
We are talking about two excellent bullets that if put in the right place will hammer anything you run across. There are now many good bonded bulet’s these days. I’ve become a rabid fan of TSX and have lost count of how many calibers I’ve hunted with it now. From 5.56 to .470.
I am however intrigued by the new Hornady copper bullet. As it has been said previously you have to take what you can get these days. Just make sure it’s a premium bullet.
PG
 
How about 450gr woodleighs and 400gr barnes banded solids for back up.
 
On a side note you have to check Swifts website for available ammo. Ammoseek.com does not find Swift’s ammo on their website for some reason. I was wanting some .300Win Swift Sicorro and searched for more than a month on ammoseek and then found it directly on Swiftbullets.com!
If anyone finds a similar situation where ammoseek is not seeing available ammo please post.
PG
 
NF second or third best buffalo bullet ever made...the other two are Rhino and Swift A frame
 
NF is one of a very few expanding bullets that is weight foreward design which avoids any tumbling. They mushroom perfectly and I rate them marginally better than Swift A frame(also weight forward design but relyung on mechanics to achieve that after impact). Rhinos are exceptional but not availible over the pond.
The same cannot be said of the TSX.

Cant understand people still recommending solids for buffalo.....especially round nose barnes.....
 
NF is one of a very few expanding bullets that is weight foreward design which avoids any tumbling. They mushroom perfectly and I rate them marginally better than Swift A frame(also weight forward design but relyung on mechanics to achieve that after impact). Rhinos are exceptional but not availible over the pond.
The same cannot be said of the TSX.

Cant understand people still recommending solids for buffalo.....especially round nose barnes.....
Thank you for the information. I’m going to try the Northfork bullets.
 

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