Shots And Performance Of Barnes Bullets

[Justin D.]

We returned on Monday (24 AUG) from South Africa on our first ever trip. I figured I would post the shots we took, the ballistics of the shots, and other relevant information for folks to view if they were interested. The rifles I used were a Winchester M70, chambered in .375 H&H with a Bowers Group VERS 375 Suppressor using Barnes Vor-TX 300 grain TSX factory ammo and a Bergara HMR, chambered in .300 Win Mag with a SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor using Barnes Vor-TX 180 grain TTSX factory ammo. My wife used a Savage 110 High Country, chambered in 30-06 with a SilcenerCo Omega 300 Suppressor using Federal factory ammo with Barnes 180 grain TSX bullets.

The first animal we harvested was my wife's bull Gemsbok. She shot it at 117 yards in the open plains, standing broadside facing to the right with her 30-06. It took one shot, which was a complete pass-through taking out one lung. It ran approximately 65 yards before expiring.

The second animal harvested was my eland. It was shot at 179 yards in wide open, flat plains, standing broadside facing to the left. The first shot (RED), entered above the leg, hit a rib, and took an immediate 45° path to the right. It severed open the stomach and was found below the hide about halfway back on the animal. The second shot (BLUE) was taken as an insurance shot as advised by my PH. The Eland was at a steep quartering away to the left shot. It entered directly behind the front left leg and the bullet was recovered just inside the hide of the opposite front shoulder still in the meat. This shot took out a lung and the lower portion of the heart. From the first shot to the second was approximately a 20 yard difference due to animal movement. From the time of impact of the second shot to expiration was approximately 30-40 yards. Both bullets recovered retained their entire weight.

The third animal harvested was my sable. The sable was shot at 89 yards in wide open, flat terrain with the .375. It stood broadside facing to the right. It took one shot and was a complete pass through. The bottom of the heart was gone as were both lungs. The sable reared up on it's hind legs upon impact, spun 180°, drove down into the dirt and expired on the spot.

The fourth animal we harvested was an Impala ram. It was shot at 115 yards standing broadside facing to the right after an approximate 1-1.5 mile stalk. This shot was taken with my .375 an hit directly up from the back of the front leg about 1/3 - 1/2 of the way up the body. The bullet passed through and took out both lungs. The impala ran a total distance of 87 human paces in a circle after we tracked him down. Though he ran the 87 paces, he expired approximately 35 yards from where he stood when the initial shot impacted.

The next animal harvested was my wife's Nyala she took with her 30-06. The shot was taken from an elevated cliff at a modest downward angle across the river just above the flat-top Acacia tree in the photo right at 100 yards. The Nyala stood broadside facing to the left. The first shot (RED) hit high, spining the Nyala, and dropping it in it's tracks. (She called that the rifle rose on the sticks the second she pulled the trigger and that the high shot was on her.) This shot was a complete passthrough. The coup de grace shot (BLUE) occurred with the Nyala on the ground and the belly facing toward us. Due to the elevation, the shot entered through the top of the leg, shattering the bone, and taking out the heart and lung. The 2nd bullet was recovered but was lost to RSA airport security (Don't ask). It was an instant expiration from that shot.

The Bushbuck was harvested by me using my .375. He was shot in tall grass at 153 yards and all I could see was his head and top of his back. He was standing ever so slightly quartering in facing to the right. I put the crosshairs where I thought the front leg was and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit a little far back but elevation was good. The bullet hit a rib, and just like the Eland, took an immediate hard right and exited on the opposite front leg. Through the path of the bullet, it spined the Bushbuck and took out both lungs. He dropped where he stood and was expired when we got to him.

The final animal taken was the Kudu. The Kudu was taken with my .300 Win Mag across the Mountain Valley at 256 yards after beginning the stalk at 1,750 yards. The Kudu was in a more open mountainside but the side the shot came from was extremely forested (The photo shows where the Kudu lays and the finger is pointing to where I shot from. The Kudu was broadside facing to the right. After having him in the scope for approximately 5 minutes due to him being behind a tree, he stepped out and I put the crosshairs right on the backside of the front leg and pulled the trigger. The shot was a complete pass through taking out both lungs and the heart. The Kudu ran less than 30 yards before expiring.

Entry side

Exit Side

 

[Sabre]

Where did you get the line drawings of all the animals?

 

[Mark458]

Great report and great detail.

 

[Justin D.]

Where did you get the line drawings of all the animals?

I had the outline drawings done Google Gemini and then I added the shot points and lines with a photo editor.

 

[Sabre]

I had the outline drawings done Google Gemini and then I added the shot points and lines with a photo editor.

I wondered if it was AI, but they looked so consistent in style I wondered if someone made them as a series.

I like the idea of using the drawings to show shot placement and explain how things unfolded.

I enjoyed reading your report, thank you.

 

[ARHinAK]

This is an excellent example of shooting, diagrams, and brief explanations. This should set the standard for how it’s done.

 

[Mark458]

We returned on Monday (24 AUG) from South Africa on our first ever trip. I figured I would post the shots we took, the ballistics of the shots, and other relevant information for folks to view if they were interested. The rifles I used were a Winchester M70, chambered in .375 H&H with a Bowers Group VERS 375 Suppressor using Barnes Vor-TX 300 grain TSX factory ammo and a Bergara HMR, chambered in .300 Win Mag with a SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor using Barnes Vor-TX 180 grain TTSX factory ammo. My wife used a Savage 110 High Country, chambered in 30-06 with a SilcenerCo Omega 300 Suppressor using Federal factory ammo with Barnes 180 grain TSX bullets.

The first animal we harvested was my wife's bull Gemsbok. She shot it at 117 yards in the open plains, standing broadside facing to the right with her 30-06. It took one shot, which was a complete pass-through taking out one lung. It ran approximately 65 yards before expiring.

View attachment 788842
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The second animal harvested was my eland. It was shot at 179 yards in wide open, flat plains, standing broadside facing to the left. The first shot (RED), entered above the leg, hit a rib, and took an immediate 45° path to the right. It severed open the stomach and was found below the hide about halfway back on the animal. The second shot (BLUE) was taken as an insurance shot as advised by my PH. The Eland was at a steep quartering away to the left shot. It entered directly behind the front left leg and the bullet was recovered just inside the hide of the opposite front shoulder still in the meat. This shot took out a lung and the lower portion of the heart. From the first shot to the second was approximately a 20 yard difference due to animal movement. From the time of impact of the second shot to expiration was approximately 30-40 yards. Both bullets recovered retained their entire weight.
View attachment 788858
View attachment 788859
View attachment 788860View attachment 788861

The third animal harvested was my sable. The sable was shot at 89 yards in wide open, flat terrain with the .375. It stood broadside facing to the right. It took one shot and was a complete pass through. The bottom of the heart was gone as were both lungs. The sable reared up on it's hind legs upon impact, spun 180°, drove down into the dirt and expired on the spot.
View attachment 788862

The fourth animal we harvested was an Impala ram. It was shot at 115 yards standing broadside facing to the right after an approximate 1-1.5 mile stalk. This shot was taken with my .375 an hit directly up from the back of the front leg about 1/3 - 1/2 of the way up the body. The bullet passed through and took out both lungs. The impala ran a total distance of 87 human paces in a circle after we tracked him down. Though he ran the 87 paces, he expired approximately 35 yards from where he stood when the initial shot impacted.
View attachment 788864

The next animal harvested was my wife's Nyala she took with her 30-06. The shot was taken from an elevated cliff at a modest downward angle across the river just above the flat-top Acacia tree in the photo right at 100 yards. The Nyala stood broadside facing to the left. The first shot (RED) hit high, spining the Nyala, and dropping it in it's tracks. (She called that the rifle rose on the sticks the second she pulled the trigger and that the high shot was on her.) This shot was a complete passthrough. The coup de grace shot (BLUE) occurred with the Nyala on the ground and the belly facing toward us. Due to the elevation, the shot entered through the top of the leg, shattering the bone, and taking out the heart and lung. The 2nd bullet was recovered but was lost to RSA airport security (Don't ask). It was an instant expiration from that shot.
View attachment 788866
View attachment 788868

The Bushbuck was harvested by me using my .375. He was shot in tall grass at 153 yards and all I could see was his head and top of his back. He was standing ever so slightly quartering in facing to the right. I put the crosshairs where I thought the front leg was and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit a little far back but elevation was good. The bullet hit a rib, and just like the Eland, took an immediate hard right and exited on the opposite front leg. Through the path of the bullet, it spined the Bushbuck and took out both lungs. He dropped where he stood and was expired when we got to him.
View attachment 788871

The final animal taken was the Kudu. The Kudu was taken with my .300 Win Mag across the Mountain Valley at 256 yards after beginning the stalk at 1,750 yards. The Kudu was in a more open mountainside but the side the shot came from was extremely forested (The photo shows where the Kudu lays and the finger is pointing to where I shot from. The Kudu was broadside facing to the right. After having him in the scope for approximately 5 minutes due to him being behind a tree, he stepped out and I put the crosshairs right on the backside of the front leg and pulled the trigger. The shot was a complete pass through taking out both lungs and the heart. The Kudu ran less than 30 yards before expiring.

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Entry sideView attachment 788880
Exit SideView attachment 788876
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Any theories on the 300 grain TSX making sudden right turns.

 

[ARHinAK]

I’d chalk it to the fact that even heavy premium bullets that have a proverbial ton of forward momentum can ricochet or be thrown of course by a bone. It the bullet had hit a small tree branch right in front of the animal we would mostly all be not surprised if the bullet changed course. At least that’s the way I see it.

 

[Justin D.]

Any theories on the 300 grain TSX making sudden right turns.

Both rib hits were on the right half of the bone. In a former life I've seen some bullets do some wazoo things. That said, when we would shoot through car windshields other glass, a bullet would always try and exit perpendicular to the surface that it hit. So if we shot into a car windshield, you would aim above the target as the bullet would angle downwards and vice versa when shooting out of a car windshield. We've had targets get hit center mass from the front with zero prior entry obstructions and exit through the back around the kidney area.

I can only assume that's the same concept here. It hit at just the right angle and while it shattered / splintered the rib bone everywhere, the bullet took the path of least resistance. I wasn't super surprised on the eland just due to the sheer size and mass of the bones. However, the Bushbuck sure had me scratching my head.

 

[Safari Dave]

Barnes TSX are great bullets, no doubt.

But, they are not the best bullet for every possible application.


Great penetration, decent expansion.

Hunters need to understand how their chosen bullet is supposed to perform and select bullets accordingly.


Sometimes, a frangible bullet is the best option. Sometimes, a solid is the best option.

Everything depends on the situation.



A TSX is not the correct choice when shooting a buck impala when a cow is standing directly behind it.

IMHO, have a very good understanding of your bullet's performance in your chambering and your rifle, or just do what your PH tells you to do.

 

[C.W. Richter]

'Very thorough report and diagrams, 41! Glad you enjoyed yourselves. (no issues with Barnes. 'had some near death issues with the early TSX in low V std guns and they'd not group under 1") but the LRX and my personal fav, RIP MRX they made good things happen far out! That said, I kinda got hung up on your first story about the '06 getting one lung (per the diagram) but presumably jumping over (or diving under) the far lung, or maybe the animal was a giver and donated the lung prior? Did she shoot it from an 89 degree angle (above or below?) LOL I did not read further, and in more than a decade I've NEVER seen a hunting report so specific with diagrams, etc. LOL Enlighten us. Surely I am mistaken! Woe, is me for sure!

 

[Sabre]

A TSX is not the correct choice when shooting a buck impala when a cow is standing directly behind it.

I don't think there is a correct bullet for this scenario. Seems like the only ethical choice in this hypothetical is to not shoot and wait for a clear shot.

 

[Rumrunner]

Very nice report. Enjoyed the read.

 

[Hooknbullet2]

Great report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kdenn]

Very well written. Like Barnes bullets also.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I also prefer to shoot them just behind the shoulder. Growing up with six people to feed in our family, wasting meat blowing up shoulders was not desirable. Ribs on deer were dogfood. However, in Africa it seems most PHs are fixated on having clients shoot plains game through the shoulder. The trajectory taken by that big 375 bullet after impacting the little bushbuck is certainly perplexing. Perhaps it hit some brush right in front of the animal and was tumbling or wobbling when it hit him. What did exit wound look like? Big hole?

 

[Justin D.]

I also prefer to shoot them just behind the shoulder. Growing up with six people to feed in our family, wasting meat blowing up shoulders was not desirable. Ribs on deer were dogfood. However, in Africa it seems most PHs are fixated on having clients shoot plains game through the shoulder. The trajectory taken by that big 375 bullet after impacting the little bushbuck is certainly perplexing. Perhaps it hit some brush right in front of the animal and was tumbling or wobbling when it hit him. What did exit wound look like? Big hole?

It was definitely a head scratcher on the Bushbuck. It was in an open field with no trees, sticks or anything within about 150 yards of him. It was straight hip-high, plains grass. He was on the top of a small rise and the bullet had a clear and unobstructed flight path. I was on a slight elevation so it put me on a flat shot to him. It caught the right half of the rib, shattered/splintered the rib, took the hard right through the spine and exited. The entry hole had dark red blood but the exit hole was pouring bright, red blood. The exit hole was smaller on the bushbuck than it was on the Impala. So for hitting two bones and exiting clean, I was definitely perplexed.

 

[BeeMaa]

Bullets are designed to operate in a velocity window to provide a level of penetration/expansion that’s consistent for taking game. Operating at the upper or lower edges of the window will have varying degrees of performance.

Choosing what works best for the game at the expected distance is part of the hunting experience.

 

[KevinNC]

Animals are in my experience seldom "perfectly broadside". It's quite possible that the deflections were a good bit less than illustrated and that the angle of the animal was more than estimated. As my late father, a 36 year police veteran used to say, "there is nothing more unreliable than an eye witness". Humans see what they want and expect to see. This is not a criticism of the author. Excellent real world breakdown of your experience.

 

[Sabre]

Animals are in my experience seldom "perfectly broadside". It's quite possible that the deflections were a good bit less than illustrated and that the angle of the animal was more than estimated. As my late father, a 36 year police veteran used to say, "there is nothing more unreliable than an eye witness". Humans see what they want and expect to see. This is not a criticism of the author. Excellent real world breakdown of your experience.

I think it's both. People are often a bit off on exactly how the animal was standing. But people also underestimate how much a bullet can change course after hitting an animal. The most common thing is for it to go on a relatively straight path. But most people have seen a bullet deflect off a stick/twig and accept that it can throw off the travel, but they don't think hitting a rib or heavier bone can do even more to the bullet path? I think we are just so used to them traveling relatively straight we don't want to accept that they can change course.

Add that to people not being accurate historians, and the truth is likely somewhere an average between the two.