TSX all the way or solids in the mag for buffalo

[DLSJR]

I just had this very discussion a couple weeks ago while buffalo hunting with Alan Vincent on Hammond.

Alan’s opinion was that the TSX is such a fantastic buffalo bullet that it’s all he uses and wants his clients to shoot, except when hunting buffalo in herds such as is common on the Savé Valley Conservancy. Then, he wants something like a Bearclaw or A-Frame for client’s first shot so you don’t hit a 2nd buffalo with a pass-through; but TSX’s in the magazine for all follow up shots.

He said the only time to shoot a solid these days is for elephants, rhino or dry land hippo.

 

[BAYLY SIPPEL SAFARIS]

In my limited experience one hunting one buffalo I can vouch for TSX. A one shot kill. He staggered about 30-35 yards and piled up. The bullet was recovered on the offside rib cage having punched a great hole through the heart and expanding perfectly.
Next week I am hunting 3 buffalo cows with @BAYLY SIPPEL SAFARIS in Madikwe. I will be using 300gr TBBC’s in my 375. View attachment 690338View attachment 690339View attachment 690340

Cant wait to see you! Promises to be a great time!

 

[Nyati]

Swift AFrame or TBBC

 

[BryceM]

A whole tank full of TSX is what I want. The only exception would be elephant. Sure, they might pass through, but that’s sometimes true with about any bullet (enters and exits without ever hitting bone). Best to be mindful of what’s behind.

 

[grand veneur]

I don't shoot if there is something behind, regardless of what I have loaded, SP bullets or solids. In the two cases where I shot a buffalo with the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum and an A-Frame bullet, I had an exit. I shot another buffalo with the same cartridge and a TSX bullet. Both shots stayed in, no exit, but I only used this bullet one time. As far as I can remember, I have never had an exit with Hornady's classic SP bullets, but this kind of bullets are rarely used nowadays for shooting buffalo.

 

[JD Noblin]

In my experience, I put a soft in the chamber followed by all solids regardless of make (Barnes, Swift, etc). What led me to this position was a situation I experienced In 2018 on a cape buffalo hunt. I was using my 458 Lott with 500gr Northfork softs. After the first shot, the bull was facing us at 25 yards and throwing his head up and down rapidly....the second 500gr soft bullet from my 458 Lott (intended for a high chest/spine shot) actually hit him at the back of his jawbone lengthwise and went in 3", stopping inside the bone....virtually no penetration. Nor could we see any effect the shot had on the bull. Below are pics of the bullet recovered from his jawbone....note that the bonded front of the Northfork is almost gone.

Please note that I am not saying Northfork bullets are bad, in fact I hold the exact opposite view as I love Northforks and use them in numerous firearms on all kinds of game. However, for the followup shot described above the soft did not penetrate whereas I believe a solid would have most likely penetrated further causing mortal damage. As as result of this experience, I went to using a soft followed by all solids regardless of who makes the projectiles.

 

[Fordy]

Gday
Nicely put & shown

In my experience, I put a soft in the chamber followed by all solids regardless of make (Barnes, Swift, etc).

yep you’re covering bases
Cheers

 

[grand veneur]

Cartridge with SP bullets and solids in the magazine was a classic concept for buffalo hunting for years, but it certainly caused various troubles at times. Since solids are no longer popular for buffalo hunting nowadays, I would not bother with the topic anymore. If a buffalo is running at 25 yards in your direction with its nose forward, the probability is great that the PH will shoot to the same time or more likely before the client.

 

[Fordy]

Gday grand veneur

Cartridge with SP bullets and solids in the magazine was a classic concept for buffalo hunting for years, but it certainly caused various troubles at times. Since solids are no longer popular for buffalo hunting nowadays, I would not bother with the topic anymore. If a buffalo is running at 25 yards in your direction with its nose forward, the probability is great that the PH will shoot to the same time or more likely before the client.

Please I mean no disrespect @ all but the above is surely worthy of a discussion as so many possibilities occur in the field & one I like to cover as many bases as possible

So couple quick questions please

what happens if the critter comes in from the side & your ph can’t shoot due to the thickness of the vegetation or people in the way ?

also what happens if your in a situation of you extremely close to a boarder you cannot cross & one that the only option is a south to north shot or even worse a up the left side hard quarter away & your first shot for whatever reason has failed to secure the critter ?

Others reasons also exist

That is when imo a solid is the one you wish you had
Yes to me I understand a lot has come in development of the likes of the mushroom & shedding monos but they still fail where a solid will reign supreme

Once again no disrespect just a conversation worthy of having it for some situations but definitely not all
Cheers

 

[grand veneur]

Gday grand veneur

Please I mean no disrespect @ all but the above is surely worthy of a discussion as so many possibilities occur in the field & one I like to cover as many bases as possible

So couple quick questions please

what happens if the critter comes in from the side & your ph can’t shoot due to the thickness of the vegetation or people in the way ?

also what happens if your in a situation of you extremely close to a boarder you cannot cross & one that the only option is a south to north shot or even worse a up the left side hard quarter away & your first shot for whatever reason has failed to secure the critter ?

Others reasons also exist

That is when imo a solid is the one you wish you had
Yes to me I understand a lot has come in development of the likes of the mushroom & shedding monos but they still fail where a solid will reign supreme

Once again no disrespect just a conversation worthy of having it for some situations but definitely not all
Cheers

My personal opinion is completely different, as I have often hunted buffalo in West Africa with just a local guide, without a rifle for backup, and a few trackers. There is a reason why I primarily used my rifle caliber 460 Weatherby Magnum and also FMJ bullets in this time. I had to manage myself dangerous situations with buffalo, but above all with elephants. However, on the Forum, one must be very careful when it comes to discuss about the use of solids for buffalo hunting and anyway, people every time refer to the opinion of their PH.

 

[Fordy]

Gday

My personal opinion is completely different, as I have often hunted buffalo in West Africa with just a local guide, without a rifle for backup, and a few trackers. There is a reason why I primarily used my rifle caliber 460 Weatherby Magnum and also FMJ bullets in this time. I had to manage myself dangerous situations with buffalo, but above all with elephants. However, on the Forum, one must be very careful when it comes to discuss about the use of solids for buffalo hunting and anyway, people every time refer to the opinion of their PH.

Thankyou for the heads up
Still trying to work my way around the way this forum works

Totally appreciate it & get the part of asking the opinion of the ph & I also must be extremely careful on how I say this so I’ll say this with some caution/reservation

I also ask a ph ( I’ll not drag my last ph into this discussion he’s a sponsor here but I’m positive he would back me ) I discussed with my last ph on numerous occasions prior to the hunt commencing the use of different bullets & what situations we would possibly be encountering ( some are ones i mentioned before but more exist)

Once our hunt was underway numerous times I was asking what bullets or he was asking which I had in what order from solid’s only to 2 softs then 2 solids for example & as the terrain or situation changed & sometimes we would discuss it together as we entered specific parts & around the fire that night it was then going over that to see if & where ea could be improved on

Now i don’t know everything that’s for sure but I also know enough to know when the likes of the say Barnes for conversation sake will be of no use & also detrimental to the situation that’s potentially about to occur from either too much penertration or not enough (strengths or weaknesses) & that surely is a worthy discussion but I guess it’s a taboo subject for whatever reason I can’t fully understand

For my future reference the same flip situation can be used in elephant as predominately solids used & expanding largely frowned upon so how does one approach that ?

im a advocate of solids on elephant but also willing to learn if another has found a better killing system than what we already use so why wouldn’t we talk openly about the strengths & weaknesses of ea system & move forward ( thorough testing needs to be done if it is to go to next level)

That’s how I’ve learned so much in my life & try to give some back to others by openly discussing these types of things & while it’s not always right it’s better than not discussing & going off a side that show’s only part of the picture & that’s what I was trying to do in my first response to you in post number 29

I mean no disrespect at all & if it’s one I’m stepping on toes I’ll go back to my rabbit hole just let me know please & all cool this side of the ditch

Cheers

 

[Foxi]

Has anyone had an exit with TSX on buffalo shoulder shots?

A solid is unbeatable in thick stuff, but even these can be distracted, in which case you just have to keep your finger straight.

two steps further and you are happy about your solid

 

[Fordy]

Has anyone had an exit with TSX on buffalo shoulder shots?

Gday foxi
Depends on caliber , pill size & species & condition of the buff along with the part of the shoulder your impacting

But to answer your question Yes on asiatic & cape for me
Cheers

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

TSX

 

[Fordy]

Gday foxi

Has anyone had an exit with TSX on buffalo shoulder shots?

A solid is unbeatable in thick stuff, but even these can be distracted, in which case you just have to keep your finger straight.
View attachment 690623

I noticed you edited your post with the additional part of the solid when I first replied to your original post

On the part of “distracted “ do you mean deflected?

If so I agree on the whole but also that once I get my answer to a previous post I have some very interesting data on deflection on different pills ( bullets ) that I’ve been working through for awhile now

Cheers

 

[Hunt anything]

If you’re hunting in the Zambezi delta you will most likely be hunting buffalo out of a big herd. You will not want solids in this situation. In the thick maybe. Do whatever your PH wants.

 

[Foxi]

Gday foxi

I noticed you edited your post with the additional part of the solid when I first replied to your original post

On the part of “distracted “ do you mean deflected?

If so I agree on the whole but also that once I get my answer to a previous post I have some very interesting data on deflection on different pills ( bullets ) that I’ve been working through for awhile now

Cheers

Fordy,
I've just added a photo of the buffalo in the thick stuff.
Except for one, mine were only ever to be found in the thick.Yes I ment deflected. Always associated with risk if the flight path is not clear.


@Hunt anything
sure, when they are in a group never a solid.

 

[grand veneur]

If you’re hunting in the Zambezi delta you will most likely be hunting buffalo out of a big herd. You will not want solids in this situation. In the thick maybe. Do whatever your PH wants.

Not only in the Zambezi Delta, where I have also hunted, but also in Burkina Faso, I have mainly shot buffalo from herds. If there was something behind, I did not shoot.

 

[Andrew62]

Once our hunt was underway numerous times I was asking what bullets or he was asking which I had in what order from solid’s only to 2 softs then 2 solids for example & as the terrain or situation changed & sometimes we would discuss it together as we entered specific parts & around the fire that night it was then going over that to see if & where ea could be improved on

For me personally, I do not want the stress of remembering what bullets I have in my gun at any given time. If I am hunting buffalo I will be fully loaded with Barnes TSX or Swift Aframes.

Another thing I see sometimes are people taking 2 guns into the bush, a scoped bolt rifle and a double rifle, then depending on the situation they decide which gun they want to use. I think that is great if that is your preference, but for me, I prefer not having the stress and anxiety of knowing where the tracker is with my 2nd gun.

I suppose I like keeping it simple because I am simple minded!!

 

[grand veneur]

It is certain that if you have a mixture of cartridges with different bullets in the magazine, it can quickly lead to confusion. I suspect that more than one buffalo was unintentionally shot with a solid. In the excitement of facing the target, mistakes can easily occur.