Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .375 TSX terminal performance?

My .375 H/S Mauser shoots the 235 gr TSX bullets better than most and it fits my magazine without eating up too much case space. Does anyone have any experience with this particular TSX bullet's terminal performance on game? I'm familiar with the .308 TSX bullet performance, but am curious about this one leaving the barrel at about 2,600. Everything else that shoots it is likely to be faster, and it might be designed towards deep penetration on even thicker and tougher game than Elk....

Reno, purely anectdotal.....my pal has used them on kudu(about 70yds),eland(325)moose,and elk(app 225).Not sure about the elk and moose but he recovered one from the eland(expanded like the picture book after shoulder area hit),and the kudu,in which it blew the petals after going through the chest cavity into off side shoulder.he showed me both bullets.

IIRC kudu, elk and eland were DRT.

He started them at over 2900 on his 375H&H. I would not be concerned about driving them hard.

Actually, I'm concerned that at modest velocity they might not open up at longer range range where velocity falls off to below 2,000 fps (225-250 yds). At this size and weight, it seems to me the right bullet would still be effective. A B.C. of .270 isn't much help. Trying to rationalize where to draw the line on effective range.

What a coincedence. Last evening I reread Dave Scovill's article about the development and testing of the .375 H/S in Handloader #166.
Anyway,while Binging,I did find this in reference to the .375 235gr TSX:

"This barnes bullet is designed to expand at a minimum of 1900fps, which would not give you much range if you are wanting a bullet to expand (out of a handgun). I talked with barnes about this when I had my jdj."

Reno, You could bump it up to 2800 fps w/ 70 gns H-4895 accuracy and expansion should be first class @ listed ranges.

Recoil wont be that much greater, if thats a concern.
Good luck, and Good shootin'

Gunner

EZ, Thanks for the refrenced quote. Not sure who reflected on the bullet's design, but that's a relevant comment that points to my concern. I'm a bit constrained by my Model 24 Yugo magazine (3.220 max) so bullet choices are tricky. I have been looking at the 270 Speer Boattail that has a B.C. of .429 vs. .270 and would probably deliver more wood downrange in a "western" scenario where it seems hard to get inside 250 yds.

Gunner, Although Dave Scovill seems to have gotten 2,790 fps with the 235 X bullet in his rifle, Barnes actually publishes data for the 235 TSX in this cartridge and they don't show more than 2,610 with around 60 grains of propellant (not 4895 though). So far I'm at 2,530 fps with 59.0 gr of RL15. I'm willing to push a little, but I don't think that I'll get there (2,800) with my 24" barrel. Have you?

Reno,
If I were you I start a thread about your concerns on the Big Bore Only forum. I would think you'd get more repies.
For what it's worth I use the 270gr Speer Spitzer in my 9.3x62 at just over 2400fps using 59gr of RL-15 (20"bbl). Only taken two deer so far,both at under 200yds,but they never ran and the bullet gave me minimal meat damage.

Yes I have Reno, in fact I have ran 300 gn bullets to 2700 safely in the 375 H&H w/ W760 and IMR-4350 powders.
If You'll look At the barnes load data on there web site, which was updated on 2/2010. 2800 fps is actually a mild, or starting load for the 235 TSX w/ 70 gns. of H-4895, and a recomended powder from barnes, which means, they found it to be accurate w/ this particular bullet, it is also an extreme powder from Hogdon, very temp stable.
My 375 also wore a 24" brl.

Gunner

I think you'll be happier if you can get more speed from that bullet. (Or perhaps try the 250 TTSX when it becomes accessible.) I developed a load for the 235 TSX in my 375/350 Rem Mag. If memory serves me it was shooting at 2500 fps near the muzzle, (but it may have been 2600.) Anyway, I shot a moose at around 150 yards with it, actually with two of them. Neither bullet exited. This one went through both shoulders - the area of both, not the bones. It hit the hide on the far side and rebounded back inside about three inches.



More is always better than less when it comes to speed with Barnes bullets, especially the TSX.

I have used that bullet in my .375 H&H on game with excellent results. Another bullet you might want to look @ is the Sierra 250 gr BTSP. with what little testing I have done with it so far I am quite pleased.

300gr@ 2700?? yikes!

Yes Jorge, the rifle was a cherry safari grade Browning w/ a 24" apparantly fast brl. Those 300 gn TXS's were accurate @ those speeds, and normal case head expansion just above the belt.
IIRC Barnes is listing those speeds in there load data, I miss that rifle terribly, a bud kept throwin' hunnert's on the truck hood till I could no longer resist.

Gunner