Barnes VorTX ammo… WOW!

[DLSJR]

I’m getting ready for our (our, because 3 friends are tagging along with me on their first African hunts) Mozambique safari to Coutada 9 and Mahimba which has us departing on Labor Day. Part of that is getting ammo together for my .338, which I’ll be shooting. I’ve already got plenty of .375 ammo which one of my friends will be burning up through my .375.

I’m having the fellow who custom loads my ammo load up some 225 grain North Fork solids for my .338 as I’m planning to shoot something really big and black with that gun. But, those are for backup shots and I’ll be shooting Barnes VorTX factory ammo with 225 grain TTSX’s as the first two shots.

The guy who loads called me yesterday to tell me he’s worked up a load that shoots to same point of impact as the Barnes factory stuff, but he can’t get close to the same velocity as the handloads with solids are chronographing ‘only’ 2,710 but they shoot to same POI as the TTSX’s. When I asked him what the Barnes ammo chrono’ed at he told me 2,886 fps! Barnes indicates 2,800 fps on the box, so these are well above that. He said the TTSX’s were 3/4” high at 100 yards and touching, with the solids less than 1/2” away, but ‘only’ 2,710 FPS. I told him to not worry about it and load me a box with that load. A North Fork solid at 2,710 will penetrate most of the length of that Big Black animal, I’m thinking. I think a 225 TTSX at 2,886 is going to do a great job on a broadside shot, probably exit unless it hits shoulder bone.

It’s gonna be interesting and a hell of a lot of fun to see how this goes.

 

[Green Chile]

Your load development is done. Just be careful in the heat and I would keep your ammo out of the direct sunlight of a dashboard, etc. You will likely get exits with the 338 and will need to be careful about what's behind it. 338 is a great Africa option with your 375. I already know that everything falls to the 300 and 375 combo so you have power to spare. Looking forward to your hunt report.

 

[Tbitty]

for my .338 as I’m planning to shoot something really big and black with that gun

Just a point of note, but a .338 is not legal caliber for Cape Buffalo (Dangerous Game) in many areas of Africa, if that is the something really big and black you are referencing.

I certainly don't know all the laws of every country, just want to make sure you have the proper equipment. Check with your PH/Outfitter if you haven't already.

 

[DLSJR]

Your load development is done. Just be careful in the heat and I would keep your ammo out of the direct sunlight of a dashboard, etc. You will likely get exits with the 338 and will need to be careful about what's behind it. 338 is a great Africa option with your 375. I already know that everything falls to the 300 and 375 combo so you have power to spare. Looking forward to your hunt report.

Agreed, no need to improve on what we have. I never put ammo on the dashboard; any ammo not in the rifle or my belt ammo pouch is stored inside my backpack that’s on the truck.

 

[skydiver386]

Best of luck on your upcoming hunt. I'd say you are good to go.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

For my Rigby big game rifle, it’s shot the factory Barnes VorTX ammo so well I didn’t even bother trying to load for it, especially after is chrono’d with excellent ES/SD and apps 50fps above its stated velocity. Really impressed with the factory Barnes ammo.

 

[Green Chile]

I found the same was true for my Dakota 416 Rigby. I handload solids for it but the VorTX ammo is perfect.

 

[matt85]

As far as i can tell, a 338 isnt legal for buff in Moz. Not saying it won't work, but I wouldn't go posting about it on the forum.

 

[SStomcat]

I’m having the fellow who custom loads my ammo load up some 225 grain North Fork solids for my .338 as I’m planning to shoot something really big and black with that gun. But, those are for backup shots and I’ll be shooting Barnes VorTX factory ammo with 225 grain TTSX’s as the first two shots.

The guy who loads called me yesterday to tell me he’s worked up a load that shoots to same point of impact as the Barnes factory stuff, but he can’t get close to the same velocity as the handloads with solids are chronographing ‘only’ 2,710 but they shoot to same POI as the TTSX’s. When I asked him what the Barnes ammo chrono’ed at he told me 2,886 fps! Barnes indicates 2,800 fps on the box, so these are well above that. He said the TTSX’s were 3/4” high at 100 yards and touching, with the solids less than 1/2” away, but ‘only’ 2,710 FPS. I told him to not worry about it and load me a box with that load. A North Fork solid at 2,710 will penetrate most of the length of that Big Black animal, I’m thinking. I think a 225 TTSX at 2,886 is going to do a great job on a broadside shot, probably exit unless it hits shoulder bone.

It’s gonna be interesting and a hell of a lot of fun to see how this goes.

So you are planning to use 338 win mag on Buffalo? if I read it correctly. If so have you used it before and how has been your experience. I always thought that a .375 or a 9.3 as minimums.

 

[Monski]

@Red Leg
Mozambique has recently updated the law. You have to use a minimum of .375 caliber for dangerous game.

From what I understood, Moz used to not have a caliber minimum by statute and I was intrigued to see how a .338 Win Mag with 250 grain Aframes would do on a buffalo. I guess the 318 Westley Richards and 333 Jeffery did fine back when. DLSJR could be talking about Wildebeest I guess.

A post from Hunter Habib in 2023 says that the law changed. I believe him.

Either way, good luck!

 

[DLSJR]

So you are planning to use 338 win mag on Buffalo? if I read it correctly. If so have you used it before and how has been your experience. I always thought that a .375 or a 9.3 as minimums.

Have I used my .338 before? Yes, I’ve been hunting with it since 1985. I’m on my 2nd barrel, I’ve used it that much.

 

[SStomcat]

I meant on Buffalo?

 

[DLSJR]

I meant on Buffalo?

No, I’ve not shot a buffalo with my 338. Today I was sighting in one of my buddy’s 470 for our hunt. We just mounted a Trijicon red dot sight on it. The 470 is a great buffalo cartridge!

Ten shots and 3 Excedrin later and it’s ready!

 

[dchum]

Sounds like you are set! Going to be an awesome trip.

Factory Vor-tx in my 30-06 is is also higher than box stated, and that in my 22inch barrel.
Love it.

Maybe people will see you don’t need a howitzer cannon to kill certain animals cleanly.
You are very experienced and certainly know what you are doing.

Best

 

[SStomcat]

No, I’ve not shot a buffalo with my 338. Today I was sighting in one of my buddy’s 470 for our hunt. We just mounted a Trijicon red dot sight on it. The 470 is a great buffalo cartridge!

Ten shots and 3 Excedrin later and it’s ready!

Ahh...you bet. Did you have some one mount the Trijicon and on which rifle? I ask as that is something I may have done in the coming years on my K gun.

 

[DLSJR]

Ahh...you bet. Did you have some one mount the Trijicon and on which rifle? I ask as that is something I may have done in the coming years on my K gun.

My buddy’s rifle is an old Army-Navy box lock in 470. I believe this one is a Webley & Scott. The rifle was formerly used by both his father AND mother to take some fantastic elephants in Kenya ‘back in the day’, I think in the 1960’s. John Sutton was their PH! Mom’s elephant went 92&93 if memory serves me and dad shot a single tusker that went 98. They also shot some fantastic buffalo with it. My buddy wants to shoot a Buffalo with it and also have his son do the same on this safari.

JJ Peradeux (sp?) reconditioned it recently but the Trijicon he installed broke off so I had my buddy take it to the rifle builder I use and he/we had the hard, old recoil pad replaced with a new Decellerator and he reinstalled the red dot with new and hopefully stronger screws. My buddy is out of the state presently so I offered to get it sighted in for him. It shoots more comfortably now.

He appreciated that enough that he offered to let me use it on a buffalo, and I might.