TSX - You Can't Have It Both Ways!

[Philip Glass]

For my 375HH and Rigby 416, the Barnes factory ammo were superbly accurate, so much so, I ended up just ordering two cases for the Rigby. It was shooting less than .5” MOA, consistent velocities, well above Federal, and was by far the most reasonable.

On my most recent trip, two bulls, both with TSX, first was a front and other broadside, one dropped in his tracks, the other made it barely 15 yards. Both received follow-ups on approach, but they were finished after the first shots. View attachment 708373View attachment 708374View attachment 708375View attachment 708376

Wow, excellent!

 

[Philip Glass]

I’m sure the Barnes TSX is a good bullet, but I have never felt compelled to jump on the Barnes bandwagon. I like Swift A Frames and see no reason to switch.

Can’t disagree with that!

 

[Philip Glass]

I don't agree with your assessment regarding the .375 ruger vs. the .375 H&H - while the Ruger is certainly a superior cartridge from ballistic standpoint; it is not a superior cartridge for rural Africa where ammo availability for the ruger is non-existent

But if you have no ammo on arrival you also don’t have any underwear! We can’t worry about every last thing and the ammo being lost is low on my list.

 

[375Fox]

But if you have no ammo on arrival you also don’t have any underwear! We can’t worry about every last thing and the ammo being lost is low on my list.

I’ve had my rifle arrive, but my bag and ammo not arrive. Pretty grateful to have my own rifle in Cameroon even if I had to use someone else’s 375 H&H ammo. I had extra underwear thankfully but only 1 pair of pants.

 

[Surgeon1]

Yes, I frequently use Wipe Out products, they remove mild to moderate copper fouling well!
With a whole tool chest full of products, tools and tricks, moderate to severe Copper fouling can
usually rehabilitate most barrels.

 

[Surgeon1]

Almost every loose or leftover ammo box in every PH's possession I've looked thru will have
300 WM, 375H&H, 416 Rigby in it. Frequently you find 308, 30-06, 338WM, 470NE, 7x57.
I never recall finding 243,270, 340 or 460 WBY or 577 NE. Several have had 7.62x39.
So, if losing your ammo box in route to hunt it makes sense to take one of the most encountered
rounds.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I’ve done it on the Texas Heartshot but I guess I’ll just have to keep shooting buffalo until I finally get one to pass through. .416, .470, and .450/400 and no exits. I promise to keep trying and report back!

I understand that your reply is tongue in cheek. I sincerely hope it doesn't happen.

 

[Sika98k]

I made a mistake not shooting TSX in Namibia out of my 30'06. A Hornady bullet failed on a Gemsbok and was lost after two days tracking (the tracking experience was a thrill in itself). I am certain that a TSX would have anchored that animal. I had some 220 grain NP along, but the PH said he had bad luck with partitions and preferred I shoot the Hornady. I'm not sure when the TSX came out--this trip may have been just before then? It was about 23 years ago.

I think that’s exactly what your PH had with Nosler Partitions, bad luck ! I have used them on my last 6 trips to Namibia hunting plains game. Those bullets that have been recovered have shown excellent expansion.
The bullet in the photo is a 175gr Partition fired from my Rigby 275.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I think that’s exactly what your PH had with Nosler Partitions, bad luck ! I have used them on my last 6 trips to Namibia hunting plains game. Those bullets that have been recovered have shown excellent expansion.
The bullet in the photo is a 175gr Partition fired from my Rigby 275.View attachment 709729

Would you care to elaborate on the photo? Is that the entry side?

 

[steve white]

I remember well being told by Barnes that their new X-Bullet will reliably expand at an impact velocity of 1600FPS or more. That was the early 90's

The first two Barnes X bullets that I witnessed strike meat were 165's from a full throttle 30-06 load on a mule deer at 80 yards give or take. I am confident those two bullets were WELL above what the factory quoted as minimal velocity to expand. All ends well as the deer was recovered. If I had not seen the direction the deer was facing I would have had a hard time differentiating the exit from the entrance wound. Not the situation for a solid.

Shortly there after that mule deer incident I happened to stop by the shop of a friend / gunsmith. I was asked to take the bore scope and examine a barrel laying on the bench. The story was that there were less than 200 rounds of Barnes X through this barrel. There are so many variables such as barrel maker, cleaning practices, etc. that I just chalked it up to operator error. Not a far stretch with a 7.62 Warbird?

The blue X bullet? If you have had a negative experience with moly-coated bullets you may be a bit skeptical when you see that paint job.

My second trip to Africa my PH told me that he didn't want those bullets in his camp.

My early experiences with the Barnes X bullet were not so positive but fast forward to 2025 and we are talking about a completely different bullet as the evidence in this thread proves.

What were your negative experiences with moly coated bullets? I haven't used those in ages

 

[Dirtdart]

What were your negative experiences with moly coated bullets? I haven't used those in ages

I will chalk it up to operator error on my part. If you stick with moly I would venture a guess that it is fine but I found it very difficult to get out of the barrel.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Moly is very slick but very hard.
Moly fortified grease is only recommended in friction type bearings and pins on loaders, excavators and whatnot. It excels at this job.
It must not be used in and roller, ball, or needle bearings. When the roller or ball rolls over the super hard moly it chews up the bearing very slowly.
I’m not sure where bullets and rifle barrels fall into this but I’ll just stick to uncoated bullets.

 

[WyoBull]

Ever used Wipe Out?

I use Wipeout in all of my rifles and really have had great results with it.

 

[Dirtdart]

I’m not sure where bullets and rifle barrels fall into this but I’ll just stick to uncoated bullets.

I had come to the same conclusion. I am sure the blue coating on the Barnes XLC was different but I wasn't going to take the chance. The XLC did not have a long production run for some reason?

I just opened the last bottle of Barnes CR10 that I have. When this one runs out I am going to try some of the other bore cleaners mentioned in this thread.

 

[Ray B]

I recall testing various bullets for Handloader's Digest. In 1990 Barnes had their X bullet and it was tested for impact performance. The problem with the X and also the Winchester FailSafe was due to the cuts in the bullet- basically the X. On contact the four petals caused by the X would start peeling back. this was designed to provide expansion, increased frontal area and resistance. However the petals did not bend back evenly and in some cases broke off at the petal base. The remaining petals acted as a rudder causing the bullet to veer off at times deviating 90 degrees from the line of bullet flight. I have not heard of this problem with the newer Barnes bullets, so I presume that the issue has been corrected.