Barnes or A frames for croc

[revturbo9967]

I’m going to start working on loads for my 375 for buff. I have some decent accuracy from factory Barnes 300 gr tsx ammo , around 1 inch at 100 yards. I have a few hundred 300gr tsx bullets and I think I can tighten that up a bit with hand loads. I also have A frames which I want to load as well. Many on here seem to lean towards A frames for buff with Barnes a close second in popularity. For those who have hunted buff with either of these, which of the 2 options would be best for croc too?

 

[Bullthrower338]

I don’t see you going wrong with either bullet for buff as they are both superb bullets for the application, I have not shot a crock yet but I have killed some big lizards in Texas, Louisiana and Florida and I would have to assume the shooting to be quite similar. Small target area, accuracy is king, so in this case I would find the best shooting load out of your rifle, whether it is an A-Frame or Barnes will not matter as long as it drills into the brain on the first shot.

 

[Sarg]

A frames are great Big Game bullets & Barnes are Ok, common, easier to get & cheaper (at least where I have been) seems the 300gr TSX in the .375 H&H when used on Buffalo just works very well (so does the A Frame & TBBC) so if you have a load that shoots & have plenty of bullets just shoot those a bit then shoot your Croc with them, Crocs are mostly shot in the brain or neck to have them DRT/SRT so either will work if you have a accurate load.

PS a very large percentage of out hunters use the 300gr TSX in the .375 H&H on Buffalo & it works very well !

I

 

[revturbo9967]

Thank you guys

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I don’t see you going wrong with either bullet for buff as they are both superb bullets for the application, I have not shot a crock yet but I have killed some big lizards in Texas, Louisiana and Florida and I would have to assume the shooting to be quite similar. Small target area, accuracy is king, so in this case I would find the best shooting load out of your rifle, whether it is an A-Frame or Barnes will not matter as long as it drills into the brain on the first shot.

Yep….that

 

[Red Leg]

They have both worked for me on buffalo. Whichever is the most accurate in your rifle would be the choice for a buff and croc.

 

[Andrew62]

I've taken 5 buffalo with Barnes TSX 300 grain bullets and 1 croc with the same. For simplicity, I'd use whatever you are using on buffalo for the croc.

 

[Vintageguy]

I bought Barnes recently but good luck finding A-frames. They’re not figuring to have any until late summer. Shame because they’re a great bullet but I’m working loads for Barnes now in case I need to make the switch due to availability. I love A-Frames but I haven’t heard anything negative on the 375, 300 grain Barnes either.

 

[fourfive8]

For croc- any decent bullet in a 375. Accuracy is everything! Even a huge croc has a small brain.

 

[revturbo9967]

I bought Barnes recently but good luck finding A-frames. They’re not figuring to have any until late summer. Shame because they’re a great bullet but I’m working loads for Barnes now in case I need to make the switch due to availability. I love A-Frames but I haven’t heard anything negative on the 375, 300 grain Barnes either.

I have quite a few A frames and will put them to good use

 

[BRICKBURN]

They have both worked for me on buffalo. Whichever is the most accurate in your rifle would be the choice for a buff and croc.

What Joe said. Accuracy for that Croc will be paramount.

 

[WyoBull]

I am heading over in August specifically for Cape Buffalo and Crocodile.
I worked up a load for my 375 H&H using Barnes 300 gr TSX over 67 gr of RL15. Cloverleafs 3 shots at 100 yards out of my Wimchester Model 70.
I am very confident in this load combination. I am a Barnes fan and load them for a number of different calibers because I have never had a problem with them and the performance for me has been outstanding.

 

[rookhawk]

I’m going to start working on loads for my 375 for buff. I have some decent accuracy from factory Barnes 300 gr tsx ammo , around 1 inch at 100 yards. I have a few hundred 300gr tsx bullets and I think I can tighten that up a bit with hand loads. I also have A frames which I want to load as well. Many on here seem to lean towards A frames for buff with Barnes a close second in popularity. For those who have hunted buff with either of these, which of the 2 options would be best for croc too?
View attachment 468677

I wasn’t clear what caliber we were talking but since you mentioned Buffalo too, I’m assuming 375hh?

I honestly don’t like either option very much. Too strong of a bullet.

My son used imr4895 loaded slower with a 260gr Accubond. Worked fine. I think a 260gr partition would stand the chance of sending a fragment into the brain if your shot was off by an inch. Might be even more risk mitigation.

You should seek out a rather weak, soft bullet for croc that opens easily. Same scenario for leopard. An a-frame is the toughest soft that exists and is wonderful, but it’s the opposite of what you want on a small animal like a croc. Barnes wouldn’t likely even begin opening so your basically shooting solids.

 

[revturbo9967]

Yes this is a 375 h&h . I was wondering if these bullets were too tough to open on shallow vitals. My PH likes spine shots on croc, so I’ll go that route given the opportunity. I can work on other loads as lighter bullets seem to be available. Thanks for the input.

 

[AZDAVE]

Which ever is the most accurate!!! remember on the croc you are shooting at a golf ball sized brain. or about 2 golf ball sized spine shot depending on what angle the croc is at.

 

[revturbo9967]

Thanks everyone

 

[PeteG]

Either of the two will do very well.
I would go with the one that shoots most accurately, consistently.
Both are nice strong well constructed bullets. Perfect for the situation youre looking at.
in the past, I favoured the a frame, but the performances i have had recently with monometal Peregrines has me thinking carefully about saying one is better than the other.

 

[Sarg]

Just use the 300gr on every thing don’t change weights for different animals as the bullets must shoot to same point of impart !
The shrapnel of bone from a skull shot will shred the brain, not so sure on a spin shot but shoot it again quickly in the lungs or through both front shoulders, I like to shoot mine when coming out of the water facing land but they can roll very quickly into the water if you miss a vital shot .

I have shot a lot of Crocs over the years & only lost the one I shot off a Cow in the Limpopo but I wasn’t shooting it to recover !

 

[booker]

I have an addition question.
I have Hornady 300gr Solids and 300gr DGX bonded rounds for my .375H&H.
I will be hunting Buffalo and my friend a Croc. Any concerns or experience with these factory rounds?
I was thinking first round the DGX and following shots the solids for Buffalo?

 

[revturbo9967]

I broke my rifle in and got it on paper with hornady solids . They were far over pressured from the factory in my opinion. Primers were as flat as they could be, and bolt was a bit sticky. It was around 55 degrees outside, so it wasn’t the heat. They also shot around 4 inch groups at 100 yards. Knowing that, I wouldn’t take them to a hotter climate. I personally have never hunted with either of these hornady bullets, but from what I’ve read on here I wouldn’t take them over, there are just better options available. Barnes has 375 h&h 300 gr tsx loaded ammunition readily available . If I was stuck to factory ammo, I would go that route.