270 grain vs 300 grain TSX

bobdahunter84 · May 30, 2026

Considering getting a custom turret for a 375 Ruger. I'm a Barnes guy, so while I appreciate the inevitable recommendations for something else like an a-frame or accubonds, I've already landed on TSX.

So my question is if there anything out there you wouldn't hunt with a 270 grain TSX that you would with a 300 grain TSX? Looking at some Buffalo Bore load data, looks like the 270 gets about an extra 150 FPS and actually has slightly more energy. With those Barnes bullets performing better with speed, my assumption was that a 270 grain bullet was actually a superior choice if the thought was this is my "go to" load for this gun.

Am I thinking about it wrong?

Flipper Dude · May 30, 2026

The 270 falls below the magical recommended Sectional Density minimum of .300 for dangerous game. I don’t know how big a difference that makes, but a lot of guys with a lot of experience think that it does. Something to investigate anyway. My 300g TSX killed ‘em dead, so I never saw any reason to mess with it.

skydiver386 · May 30, 2026

Flipper Dude said:
The 270 falls below the magical recommended Sectional Density minimum of .300 for dangerous game. I don’t know how big a difference that makes, but a lot of guys with a lot of experience think that it does. Something to investigate anyway. My 300g TSX killed ‘em dead, so I never saw any reason to mess with it.

Exactly.

The 270gr is fine for heavy Plains Game possibly up to Eland, but once you start talking about Buff or other Dangerous Game, the SD of the the 300gr is the better choice.

Some are fans of even heavier 350gr bullets at slower velocity, but those are bonded lead core bullets. An all copper bullet of 350gr would likely be to long to stabilize in standard twist barrels.

If you are buying a turret for a specific bullet weight, shooting at longer distances with the 300gr becomes easier, and to my mind, this negates any advantage of the faster 270gr as far as trajectory is concerned. An accurate method of judging distance, like a laser rangefinder, a custom ballistic turret and the 300gr Barnes X, and you are ready to hunt.

ARHinAK · May 30, 2026

I normally buy into the sectional density theory because it makes sense but the all copper bullets seem to tip the table over on that idea. There’s an awful lot of cases of full penetration pass throughs on elk sized animals with the likes of a 120 TTSX from a 6.5x55.
I’ll be interested in what others think.

PARA45 · May 30, 2026

I'd say, stick with the 300 grs, especially if Buffalo is on the menu. On my first trip to the Eastern Cape, I thought about taking two loads for my 375 H&H (270 & 300 grs), and I was talked out of it. I stuck with the 300 grs and worked fine on everything I shot. The animals didn't notice the difference. Easier to keep track on the trajectory of one bullet.

Datchew · May 30, 2026

I ran the calcs of both, and chose the 270. The 10% mass reduction difference is not significant enough to pass up the speed and improved ballistics. I have a thread somewhere with development details.

My 375 r8 puts a group at 7/8" at 200 yards. Yes, it's quite good with this ancient cartridge. (The only downside to this is it pisses me off that I haven't managed to find a load that good with my 300 win mag barrel.)

I had no problem on my cape buffalo and I'm very skeptical it makes a difference inside 200 yards on the receiving end of the deal.

What it does do is extend the reach on your 375 if you want to take only 1 rifle and need to dial drops a little further out.

You'll find a lot of feedback supporting both 270 and 300. My feeling is the 300 is more inline with the majority of conventional wisdom and opinion.

I would also suggest that if the small differences are pulling you into analysis paralysis, you may be picking the fly shit out of the pepper and perhaps go up a cartridge size to reduce concern.

bwanamrm · May 30, 2026

I doubt there is a buffalo walking that can tell the difference if he is hit well with a bullet 30 grains lighter than another... my thoughts are use the 270 grainers if that's what you like.

Schüler Jumbo · May 30, 2026

Bullet technology has changed the landscape of bullet selection. The monometal bullets have changed how sectional density is viewed. There is sectional density of an unfired bullet and sectional density of the bullet as it enters the target and continues penetration. Due to monometal bullet length the 270 gr will all more seating depth options. While the traditional sectional density calculation remains relative monometal bullet construction material penetrates more than cup & core.

Mark458 · May 30, 2026

Over time the heavier bullet will prove to be a better option, especially when it comes to penetration. Sectional density does matter. Yes in a perfect world where the buffalo is standing broadside and you make a very well placed shot the buffalo will most likely expire quickly and won't be able to tell the difference in bullet weight. But as you know we don't live, or hunt, in a perfect world. Heavier gives you a bit more margin for error and in my mind that trumps what you may give up in down range trajectory.

I've shot several different plains game animals from 200 and even out to 300 yards with my 458 Lott and 500 grain TSX. Practice, practice, practice. Know your gun and you'll get comfortable with the heavier bullet even at extended ranges

JG26Irish_2 · May 30, 2026

To the OP - I have been in your shoes, albeit with the 375HH. Using factory loads, my ER Shaw custom P14 gets a muzzle velocity of 2587fps from the 300g TSX Barnes load. And it has an impressive single digit SD from this ammo which is a bonus for precision shooting. I like to limit my hunting to the distance where the bullet speed drops to 2000fps to insure good energy, penetration and expansion. This is especially importance with mono-copper bullets. With the 300g load at 250fps the velocity has dropped to 1977fps. At 400y it is down to 1658fps. It still hits hard and would kill a PG animal but may or may not expand like it should. I limit it to 250-300y to be sure.

I have some 270g ammo but never chronoed it. But, I have some nice 250g Federal TBBC ammo that leaves the muzzle at 2690fps or just over 100fps more velocity. OK, great. I figured these would allow me to extend the usable range of my 375 out to at least 300 or 350y, right? WRONG

Turns out that these big assed slugs lose velocity like an Apollo capsule re-entering the atmosphere. By 250y the 250g slug has already slowed to 1968fps and by 400y has slowed to 1600fps. This is in no way better than the 300g slug. My rifle shoots impressive groups at 400y but for live game, I limit my shots to much closer which insures a quick and clean kill and good bullet placement. Even with my 300g bullets getting speeds that exceed the box claims due to its 26" bbl, it does not shoot all the way thru a buffalo.

coreydb · May 30, 2026

Nothing either bullet cannot kill within the 7mm realm. Beautiful bullets. I think selection will ultimately be based on availability. If you're like me, I load both, use both.....just 'cuz.

Ruraldoc · May 30, 2026

My PH told me the 270 grain TSX bullet with it’s increased velocity was his absolute favorite bullet on a 375 for buffalo.

Because it was a quick killer and it was not as prone to exit as the 300 grain TSX.

For the record I prefer a 416 but a 375 with a 270 TSX is probably the best choice for buffalo and plains game because it’s trajectory is so flat and forgiving on longer shots on plains game.

Datchew · May 30, 2026

Ruraldoc said:
My PH told me the 270 grain TSX bullet with it’s increased velocity was his absolute favorite bullet on a 375 for buffalo.

Because it was a quick killer and it was not as prone to exit as the 300 grain TSX.

For the record I prefer a 416 but a 375 with a 270 TSX is probably the best choice for buffalo and plains game because it’s trajectory is so flat and forgiving on longer shots on plains game.

I was told almost the identical info by 2 ph's when I was researching.

Rem280 · May 30, 2026

bobdahunter84 said:
Considering getting a custom turret for a 375 Ruger. I'm a Barnes guy, so while I appreciate the inevitable recommendations for something else like an a-frame or accubonds, I've already landed on TSX.

So my question is if there anything out there you wouldn't hunt with a 270 grain TSX that you would with a 300 grain TSX? Looking at some Buffalo Bore load data, looks like the 270 gets about an extra 150 FPS and actually has slightly more energy. With those Barnes bullets performing better with speed, my assumption was that a 270 grain bullet was actually a superior choice if the thought was this is my "go to" load for this gun.

Am I thinking about it wrong?

I used Buffalo Bore 270 TSX for the 375 Ruger. Crushed a Cape Buffalo and Savanah Buffalo. Happy to share more details if u PM. No tracking needed.

45-70guy · May 30, 2026

As far as expansion is concerned I would contact Barnes directly and ask them specifically on your loads and bullets.
Every bullet is designed specifically for a certain application and is sometimes I interchanged with another cartridge.
Making the 2000 fps impact velocity a good general rule of thumb, but not an absolute.

As an example TSX’s for the lever guns are designed to open way sooner, same with the muzzleloader bullets.
The 225g TSX in .358 caliber Barnes told me will expand 1.7x at 1600 fps. For 2.0x expansion add another 100-200fps. This falls way under the 2000 fps rule of thumb and in theory as per that information given to me allows for a slow muzzle velocity of say 2500 fps and still being able to expand properly at 400 yards.
Not that these distances or velocities are to be fail safe but just consideration as they make each bullet individually for a specific application .
I wouldn’t hesitate to use the 270g all day long if it shot well.

270 grain vs 300 grain TSX

bobdahunter84

Flipper Dude

skydiver386

ARHinAK

PARA45

Datchew

bwanamrm

Schüler Jumbo

Mark458

JG26Irish_2

coreydb

Ruraldoc

Datchew

Rem280

45-70guy

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