Any reason not to use a 350 grain .375 bullet for buffalo

[steve white]

In general, your viewpoint correct. Heavy for caliber bullets may at times require a faster twist than standard, however the 375 with its 1/12 rate of twist is perfectly capable to stabilize heavy for caliber bullets. If you were refering to 30 caliber bullets, then the typical 1/10 rate of twist may not be sufficient for long, heavy for caliber bullets such as 220 grains pointed bullets and up in weight. As an example the barrels chambered for the 300 Norma Magnum which is specifically a long distance cartridge requiring these types of longer bullets with higher bearing surface, are often chambered in faster rates of twist such as 1/8 give or take.
The 375, 416, 458 are generally chambered in rates of twist sufficient to properly stabilize heavy for caliber bullets. The notion which I agree with that long, heavy for caliber bullets require faster rates of twist applies more to smaller calibers.

The unappreciated part of the twist rate concerns yaw--even if a load groups well, yaw can put the brakes on penetration when the projectile is traveling through meat.

 

[ftrovato]

I used 350gr TSX’s once on buffalo and will never again. The 350grainers are the solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. In fact, more often than not, they will fail to deliver the desired results.

350 grain monolithics are very long bullets and unless you have a rifle with a very tight twist ratio( which most 375’s don’t) they won’t stabilize. The result is a bullet which tumbles on impact and doesn’t achieve the desired pennatration.

Furthermore, will your impact velocity be considerably lower, which unless you shoot at very close range, will result in an impact velocity of lower than 2000f/s,
2000f/s and faster is essential for optimum performance ( expansion ) of a Barnes TSX.

A 300grain monolithic will outpenatrate it’s heavier brother from any angle on thick skinned , big boned animals, and therefore I simply cannot / will not recomend the 350’s

Ps. I have learned this through experience.... not hearsay

Nothing like personal experience! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Rosch]

I used 350gr TSX’s once on buffalo and will never again. The 350grainers are the solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. In fact, more often than not, they will fail to deliver the desired results.

Before even thinking about loading heavier bullets, there should be some brainwork done, to get a clear look at! My first question would be:
1. Why is the 375 H&H with 300 gr such a burner in the world of Big Game hunting?
Easy answer: Because the well balanced relation between cartridge case, bulletsize and weight is very favourable for the thing she is made and used for. Universal hunting with one gun!
And in comparison to other (most bigger) big game calibers the recoil is quiet easy handable, which might result in better shooting and delivers so better results.
2. Why did any others invent and offer 350 Grainers long ago?
Because it's a "...solution to a problem, that doesn't exist"
Well said @Kopskoot !
So everything is great, no need to change anything!
My advice to the thread owner:
Damned, just get out of Your armchair, switch off the PC, take a 375 H&H rifle and a truck full of ammo 300 grainers, practice and get used to the gun! Offhand, with Sticks or laying on the ground.
If You then spent some time on searching for good hunting offers on the black continent, there might be no more time left, to think about stuff like this!

 

[BenKK]

I love the [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] grain Woodleigh RNSN HDs for buffalo, super emphatic, dozens of good bulls with this bullet. But if I were to switch to a TSX I would use the [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] grain version because the longer one won’t fit the magazine and I think the heavier one would be more likely to pencil through rather than petal-out nicely.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’ve killed a few animals with a .375H&H and 350 Grain Barnes TSX. Buff, Giraffe, Zebra, and I believe a Sable too.

Buff at 65 yards +/-. I’d use them again.

I believe I used RL 15

 

[5shot]

Hodgdon Manual #26 shows every load developing 2400+ FPS with 350s. That would cause some destruction.

 

[SRvet]

@One Day... and the other ballistics experts here: Reading through this thread, the calculations you made and conclusions you came to, are exactly opposite to what @nomspc in his discussion with Kevin Robertson received as advice. Also mentioned in Kevin Robertson's recent podcast, where he claims that for outstanding penetration, one needs good bullet stability, which is found in heavy for caliber bullets, in relation to typical twist rates.

Did I misunderstand something here? Because these views are not two different shades of colour, they are diametrically opposed views. One saying, 350grains (heavy for caliber) is (generally) no good for bullet stability and thus more prone to keyholing and lower performance in penetration. The other saying the heavy for caliber bullets are better for penetration performance....

I'm a bit confused now...

My understanding from studying the works of Doctari that the heavier 350gr expanding projectiles are advantageous because they expand to a greater diameter and therefore create a larger permanent wound cavity than the equivalent 300 gr projectiles. His one exception was with the TSX as the hollow point on the 300 grain is the same depth as on the 350 grain bullet. This means that bullet expansion is arrested at the same point so the expanded diameter of the bullet and therefore the permanent wound cavity will be similar. Combine this with the excellent penetration of the 300g TSX and the 350 grain TSX looks less shiny. For a bonded lead core bullet the 350 grainers make sense

 

[Paul Homsy]

My understanding from studying the works of Doctari that the heavier 350gr expanding projectiles are advantageous because they expand to a greater diameter and therefore create a larger permanent wound cavity than the equivalent 300 gr projectiles. His one exception was with the TSX as the hollow point on the 300 grain is the same depth as on the 350 grain bullet. This means that bullet expansion is arrested at the same point so the expanded diameter of the bullet and therefore the permanent wound cavity will be similar. Combine this with the excellent penetration of the 300g TSX and the 350 grain TSX looks less shiny. For a bonded lead core bullet the 350 grainers make sense

The most important part is the length of the bullet and its bearing surface in relation to the rate of twist of your barrel.
The typical rate of twist of the 375 H&H is 1/12 (one twist in twelve inches). This stabilizes a bullet as long as 1.75 inches. If you have a rifle with a slower rate of twist, stick to 300 grains bullets.
It's ALL ABOUT STABILIZATION. Nothing else. Quality bullets expand and do their job. You want more weight, more sectional density, more penetration. Try the heavier ones. If they work, great. If they don't stick to 300 grains bullets and get a 416 or a 458 or anything you fancy. I wouldn't try to make a caliber work for the next larger caliber up.
The difference between the 300 TSX and the 350 TSX is more penetration with the later because of the higher sectional density.
All copper bullets have a longer bearing surface than their cup and core counterparts because of the lesser density of copper. It's therefore very important to make sure your bullet isn't too long for your rifle's rate of twist.