JJ,

Thanks for some valuable info.

Bears are really soft skinned, and much more lightly constructed compared to the big African vegans. The soft point is a great choice on the brown bear. I also agree that the TSX for the big African game is a much better option.

It's gonna be hard to make a bad choice with a 1/2" diameter bullet over 500 grains in weight. No bear or Buffalo alive is a match for that combination put into the right place. I've seen both killed with guns that are not even close to that level of power.

Your never over gunned for these species, but your certianly at the upper level of Firepower!

Thanks JJHACK... I'm taking my 500 Jeff deer and elk hunting this year, hoofing it up and down the Colorado Rockies with my 11 lb rifle should whip me into shape. Hopefully I'll be in shape before the season arrives.



Chuck

Rokons ain't got no spokes

Seriously, most come with hollow wheels that hold water or extra fuel for long cross country travels.

Back to the topic..... WOW!!! Some folks DO get overly riled at this stuff that is supposed to be fun.... I like them and use them, if someone wants to use something else that has worked for a long time for them, OK by me just go have fun and be a good sportsman about it.

I sure would like to be 'sponsored' by Barnes or some such, I could use a little extra money for my hunting funds. So far, I still pay my own way.

JJ

As a someday wannabe for Africa, I want to thank you for the time it took to write all this up for those of us who appreciate it. I will never live long enough to come close to doing 10% of what you and others have done so I live vicariously through you and these posts. I WILL go to Africa someday, God willing, and then I too will be hooked. I have met a PH from SA at a local hunting show and hope to go with him in the future.
As far as opinions go, we all have them...to argue over some of what has been written here is just childish. If hunter A loves bullet "B" ,so be it...if hunter C hates them, so what? All need to remember, we all have opinions, just like a-holes...thanks again for the knowledge based on what you have seen.

JJ;

Thanks for your excellent posts!

I've only been to Africa once... and that was for a visit with my eldest son and family who lived there at the time, and he arranged for a one-day "safari" where I managed to wack a couple of warthogs with his 12-gauge and Brennekes.

My interest has to do with black bears, moose, etc. Last fall I took my 458WM loaded with 350gr TSX's to Northern Ontario for a moose hunt. No moose showed so I didn't get a chance to try them on big game. MV was 2700+fps. Bear are so dominant now in N. Ontario, that predation on moose calves has reached 70 to 80%!

This year the 350 TSX's will be tried on a black bear, either from my 458WM or my Ruger No.1 45-70 Improved (long-throated)at 2470fps. Since I'm known in this area as a guy with quite a bit of experience with bears (not going into details here), I've been invited to deal with a "monster" bear that's become a local problem bear. The owner of the property has recently shot, and killed, a couple of the offspring, or buddies, of the "monster". They weighed about 300 lbs each. Now, the bear in question has a head that's at least over 20" wide (I'll not go into details over that either - but that's valid)and easily reaches with his paws over 9 ft, by tree markings and knocking down a bird feeder at that height - observed. Also, family members chased into the house and a horse attacked and serious damage done.

In a week or so I'll be setting a bait in the bush about 150 to 200 yards from the house. In baiting, I'll be carrying a rifle for self-defence. It's close quarters in there so it'll not be the 458WM while transporting bait. Once the bear is coming I'll put up a treestand at about 35 to 40 yds from the bait. The 458 will not be used in those close quarters but likely my Ruger No.1 shooting the 350TSX at about 2470 fps. While lugging bait it'll be the Ruger, as my Marlin (45-70) is at the smith's getting a couple of inches removed from the muzzle-end (that's the one I'd prefer to be tottin'for personal protection).

Questions: do you have, or do any of your clients have experience with the Barnes 350-gr TSX in .458" in Africa? And,if so, how did it work? And, what velocity for impact would you think would work best on a 500 to 700 lb bear?

It IS very accurate in both rifles and has a significant diameter cavity in the nose. Barnes (Ty)says it will start to expand in a water test down to 1600 fps.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.


Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Sheesh...I am reminded of the saying back during the Crusades [ah, those were the days!], went like, "kill them all and let God sort them out."

I have NEVER used Barnes anything bullets, mostly because I hunt pigs and deer [and 'Yotes of course]. To be honest I have never had an issue with any of the hunting bullets I've used. Of course I don't kill anywhere near as much game as some here post about, not a value judgment or anything, I just don't pull the trigger unless I'm pretty positive I can drop the animal.

So I'm by no means a world authority.

Now what I am wondering is how, if a bullet can be such a flop, and moreover if this company apparently has never made a good product, it could still be in business and thriving.

My guess is that Barnes bullets must work for some people, right?

Anyway I ordered a few different calibers, a medium caliber, .264 and a bigger one .338, both in the TSX plastic tip thingie version.

I've got an open mind, but now my curiosity is really tweaked.

Fwiw a week ago I blasted a cross-tied stack of newspapers about 14 inches thick. It was pretty dense and a 140 grain Hornady SST just creamed right through it.

I expected it to make it about 10 inches in, but I was surprised.

Yeah it aint a deer or any other game but it does tell you something, even if that is only that if you are going paper hunting this will prolly reliably drop a stack of New York Times.

Ok, that's my two sense, on with the Inquisition!

twosixfour

Welcome to 24hrcf! And pretty darned good early post for a newbie. Well said.

As you prowl about this site yo will find some of us like older or even new but in the clasic style blued steel and good wood rifles wheras many others like the synthetic/stailnless stuff. All is good and all in fun MOST of the time. Don't know why it is not always that way, some folks tend to get thier panties in a wad too quickly over stuff that should be easy to talk about as adults. Might have a 12 year old or two posing as adults, one of the 'miracles' of the internet.

Your monicker is one of my all time favorite calibers. It should have been more popular than it was but is still well liked out here where shots at mule deer run long. Try the 100 or 120 gr TTSX over a good stiff dose of R-22, On deer I predict that you will love the results.

Was the 140SST from your 264 winmag? That is a bullet with great sectional density so if that was the case I am not surprised at the results.

"On with the inquistion" Good one, laughing here.

Good hunting, MARK

Hey RINGMAN......Now just who is US my dear fellow?

Those Barnes Bullets in TSX have been sold American, for the US faction on this forum.

Now JJ HACK for someone who has NO DOG, you sure do spend a lot of time hitting those type keys. I guess it is just in your blood. Now speaking of blood or bloodlines, bring your dog over to my kennel. LOL. I hope you got a good one!

Tonka Toy,

That post was way out of line. You need to grow up, boy.

Now, lets all get back to having fun and having an adult conversation or two about guns and bullets and hunting and such.

MARK