Does an all round TSX or TTSX exist?

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SRvet

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Please excuse the newbie question that may have been covered elsewhere. I am new to owning a 375 (in fact won’t own one until next week when it is delivered) and am pondering the choice of bullet weight for this calibre. I am pretty set on the TSX and/or TTSX but am unsure if there is an all round choice for a Cape Buffalo cow and plains game hunt next year. One option would be to use a heavier 300g (or 350g?) TSX for the buff and then a lighter 235 TSX or 250 TTSX for the plains game or is there a universal solution in the 270 or 300g TSX that simplifies the whole process? I’m after real world experience rather than a theoretical answer if that makes sense.
Whilst mentioning the 350g TSX I understand the theory behind the greater diameter of the expanded bullet, but has anyone seen much better on game performance than the 300g TSX with sufficient numbers of animals to be meaningful?
Many thanks in advance
Simon
 
@SRvet First allow me to welcome you to AH.

I would not set your sights solely on the TSX/TTSX.
Each rifle is a puzzle unto itself and finding the combination to unlock rifle accuracy can be a struggle.
Two seemingly identical rifles may need completely different loads to realize their full potential.
I would recommend buying several kinds of premium ammo and testing them.

My wife and I are currently going through this process with our 300WM, 375H&H and 416RM.
Our real world experience is that our 375 doesn't like the Norma Oryx or Hornady DGX at all.
It's Barnes 300 grain TSX all day long, but the 300 grain Swift A-Frame is a close second.
Our rifle has a 60cm barrel with a 1:12 twist, which I consider a little slow for the caliber.

Buy several kinds of premium ammo and see what groups well for you is my best advice.
I've recently stopped using Federal Ammo, but they do make the TBBC, Sledgehammer and Woodleigh Hydor in 375.
My problem with them is consistent availability as they only do seasonal runs and can be very expensive as a result.
If you live in a "lead free" zone, you may need to handload to get the results you desire with the TSX.
I know others on AH who reload the 375 with 250 grain and 270 grain TTSX.
 
Simon, check out the bullet performance thread here on AH. It may give you a bit of direction. Bee Maa has given you some good info, IMO.
I tend to be an experimenter, so I test (at the range) a lot. In Africa I have used Barnes 235 TSX, 250 TTSX and 300 TSX. I use a two scope method, ie for DG a 1-6x sighted for 300 TSX and for PG a 2-12x sighted for PG. It works for my purposes. I did not like the results on game with the 235 TSX. So now they are out of the equation. The 250 TTSX has been an excellent performer. The 300 TSX worked well on the one buffalo I have taken as well as several PG.
That said, if I only used one bullet for everything in Africa in my 375 H&H, it would probably be the 300 Swift A-frame. No bullet is perfect, but it seems to have the best overall results for a combination PG and DG hunt. Swift’s factory load (expensive) shoots very well in my MRC and is the fastest of all the 300 grain factory loads I have tested.
JMO&E Best of luck finding “your load”!
 
Do yourself a favor. Stick with the 300 gr bullets in 375. It will do anything you need to do in Africa with that weight. I tried the two bullet weight approach last year in Africa, and found it to be a hassle.
I used 270gr TSX on most everything I shot, but when I switched to buffalo hunting, I swapped over to 300gr TSX. In hindsight the 300s would have done everything needed without a scope readjustment. I suppose the two scope approach that @Ridgewalker suggested would work fine as well. So if you were to use two different bullet weights, that's the route I would take. Otherwise just stick with one bullet weight, and enjoy your trip.
 
If you have not yet purchased a scope, get one in something like 1-8 power with a ballistic turret and a "cat tail" or "switch view" lever. Select the best bullet for your DG hunt and hunt at 1X. If PG presents itself, you will almost always have time to dial in the range and change the power of your scope. PG shot well with a 300 gr are just as dead as with a 235 gr. The ballistic turret will allow a "zero" at every range without guessing at holdover. All of my PH's had range finding binocs and always instantly told me the range.
 
I hunt everything with a TSX 270 gr.
Hand loads with Varget give me 2611 FPS with 4087 ftlbs energy. They are very accurate in my CZ 550 and recoil is very manageable for a quick second shot.
The 270 gr TSX expands perfectly at these velocities (Limpopo hunting so inside 200 m) and does very little neat damage even on Impala.
Penetration and expansion are no problem in game up to and including buffalo.
 
Ozzie Bob Nelsons .35 Whelen loads beat that .375 load all over the place!:eek::rolleyes:o_O Better kick that thing in the butt or we'll never hear the end of it!:rolleyes::rolleyes::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::D:D
 
Simon,
I recently used the 270gr TSX in Cameroon with great success on a variety of game including buffalo and LDE. For your buff cow and PG hunt The 270 or 300gr will work well. I do not advise changing bullet weights for PG. just use the same setup all the way through the hunt so nothing goes wrong.
Philip
 
I could not urge you more strongly not to use multiple loads in the same rifle on a single hunt. At some point you will almost be guaranteed to have the wrong load or sight setting when a world class whatever pops from cover unexpectedly. I have been on multiple hunts for bull buffalo and assorted regional plains game. I have used both the 300 gr TSX and A-Frame, and either will deal with anything you will encounter at any range any competent PH will allow you to take a shot.
 
I've kept it simple on my 4 trips and for my M03 Africa 375 H&H; 300 grain Barnes TSX for two buffs, baboons, monkeys, hyena's and plains. One zero, two scopes (one for backup and dusk) and was off to the races. Had a stash of 300 grain Barnes banded solids if needed (loads developed for same POI and the TSX's). Find a load, stick with it and practice practice practice.
 
sestoppelman said:
Ozzie Bob Nelsons .35 Whelen loads beat that .375 load all over the place!:eek::rolleyes:o_O Better kick that thing in the butt or we'll never hear the end of it!:rolleyes::rolleyes::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::D:D
Click to expand...
.
Sestoppelman
It's not a pissing competition mate. What works for one may not work for another. The 375 is a great cartridge that's been around a l9ng time and has proven itself time and time again. The Whelen works for what it's needed to do.
It is only recently with the advent of better powders that the Whelen has been given a new life.
A 300gr in a 375 will shit all over a 300 in the Whelen.
The 350 Rigby worked well so I can't see the issues with a properly loaded Whelen.
T the Whelen is good but the 375 is better.
Bob
 
:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::D:D
 
I use 235gr TSX, 63 gr of 4064 for pg out to 250 yds plus, scope set at 5 or 6. 350gr TSX, 58.2gr of 4064 for dg, scope set at 3. Win 70 Safari Express.
 
why you need to adjust a scope on a 375 for normal hunting is open to question.
even the with 300 gn bullet sighted in dead on at 200 yds you can still aim dead on out to 250, and if you want 300, aim a bit high.
should you want to use 2 bullets, a 300 gn dead on at 100 sight setting will usually put a 270 gn bullet dead on at about 220 with a bit of load work, and you can aim dead on at 260ish and aim a bit high at 300.
bruce.
 
I dial my 3-9 scope down to 3 for dg to get as wide a field of view as possible. I've found 5 0r 6 to work best for me for pg at the ranges I shoot.
 
TOBY458 said:
Do yourself a favor. Stick with the 300 gr bullets in 375. It will do anything you need to do in Africa with that weight.
Click to expand...

Completely concur..

300 gr TSX will handle anything from impala to cape buffalo just fine..

That is the only projectile i shoot In my Win 70 in .376 H&H
 
mdwest said:
Completely concur..

300 gr TSX will handle anything from impala to cape buffalo just fine..

That is the only projectile i shoot In my Win 70 in .376 H&H
Click to expand...
Factory Barnes TSX 300 grain.
This is the exact load my wife is using in her 375H&H.
The rifle with these loads is capable of MOA accuracy...every time.

Load up and hunt the world.
Possibly a touch too much for rabbit...but you never know when the "big fangs" are gonna show up.
 
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