458 Lott Barnes TSX only no Solids

[Backyardsniper]

I'm selection ammo gor my buffalo hunt in 2022 and upon talking with my PH he offered the usual advice softs backed up with solids, but he added that if I was shooting Barnes X-bullets not to worry with the solids because the acted as king of a semi solid. I have Woodleigh 500gr protected points and I was about to order some Hornady DGS solids when I thout about what he said so instead I ordered 100 barnes TSX 500gr bullets to test and hopefully hunt with. What is your opinions on this. If.you are running barnes is there a need to have solids also?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

My PH told me about the same for my 2021 hunt. I have Buff Bull and cow combo and a lioness booked. He said since my Lott shoots Barnes the best don’t worry about bringing any solids. Use the space for more Barnes. He was happy that I was using the Barnes and said that’s all I needed.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I'm glad to hear it. Seems a little non traditional ha ha to not have the old soft and solids combo but I went ahead and got 100 of them and I'm gonna try them in my lott. I ordered 100 of the 235gr tsx for my 375 for plains game too. I got 500 of the speer 235s to practice with though. I also got 150 of the 350gr speer for the 458 just to get in some trigger.time at the range

 

[Red Leg]

I have only hunted buffalo with a rifle loaded with either 300 gr TSX or A Frame. Both have about the same deep penetration. I should note the 300 gr 375 works perfectly on PG as well as far as you are ever as likely to shoot an animal in Africa (300 meters). Simplifies life enormously.

The only thing that I use solids on now are animals like the tiny ten (suni, duiker, etc.). Obviously, solids would be my choice for elephant.

Depending on how you handle that Lott, you might want to consider the .375 for that buffalo. Use the rifle with which you are most confident in putting a bullet in exactly the right place after miles in the hot sun trying to walk down your bull. 300 grs exactly where it matters is always lethal on buffalo. 500 grs a few MOA off can get someone hurt or worse.

 

[calling4life]

Or make up a load of the 300gr TSX going 3000 fps for the lott and have a really fun plains game setup...

And just take the Lott

 

[Backyardsniper]

That is a possibility

 

[375Fox]

Not sure if you like listening to podcasts, but if you do give this one a try, The big game hunting podcast - Kevin Robertson on Africa hunting bullets. I was really impressed with the conversation. I found the part of the discussion about solids particularly interesting.

 

[Whacker]

Or make up a load of the 300gr TSX going 3000 fps for the lott and have a really fun plains game setup...

And just take the Lott

I have fallen in love with the big bore rifles and I want a Lott now for this specific reason. It would be an elk smasher with that round

 

[Backyardsniper]

They are a super fun round.

 

[IvW]

Any premium expanding bullet is all you need.for buffalo. Forget about Hornady they do not make the cut....
Barnes x needs some speed so if you are using 458WM you may want to use another bullet.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I'm using a 458 Lott. Can I get enough speed with that?

 

[IvW]

Should do if you can handle the recoil, personally I am not a fan of Barnes X.

 

[Backyardsniper]

What's the deal with them? No accuracy or had a bad experience?

 

[IvW]

Many bad experiences for me ended up with the best cotrolled expansion bullet availible which is the Rhino local SA brand it is all I use from 7mm up to 500 Jeff, so I stopped looking.

Accuracy is over rated in DG rifles and calibers, consistant bullet performance is far more important than 1" vs 2" groups at 100 yards.

 

[Professor Mawla]

If you are employing any of the modern premium quality expanding bullets , then you may altogether dispense with using solid bullets for hunting African Cape buffalo or Australian water buffalo . Examples include :

> Barnes TSX
> Swift A Frame
> Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
> Rhino Solid Shank

Amongst all these , my personal favorite happens to be the Rhino Solid Shank .

 

[TOBY458]

Or make up a load of the 300gr TSX going 3000 fps for the lott and have a really fun plains game setup...

And just take the Lott

But only if you like the feeling of getting mauled with a Louisville Slugger evertime you pull the trigger on an impala.

 

[Philip Glass]

I'm selection ammo gor my buffalo hunt in 2022 and upon talking with my PH he offered the usual advice softs backed up with solids, but he added that if I was shooting Barnes X-bullets not to worry with the solids because the acted as king of a semi solid. I have Woodleigh 500gr protected points and I was about to order some Hornady DGS solids when I thout about what he said so instead I ordered 100 barnes TSX 500gr bullets to test and hopefully hunt with. What is your opinions on this. If.you are running barnes is there a need to have solids also?

You have an excellent PH that may know more than most! He is 100% correct that Barnes are the best DG bullet and totally negate the need for solids for buff. They are a game changer for sure.

 

[Berettaco]

Good afternoon, I am headed back to Limpopo in March of 2022, this time for buff - my PH echoed the same about TSX. I have stocked up on 400 gr for my 404 Jeffery and plan on using only those. On my trip over last year for PG all I used was a 30-06 with 180 TSX - excellent outcomes but never recovered a single bullet.

 

[meigsbucks]

I used a 400 gr Barnes in a .416 Ruger on my buff. My PH old me to load a TSX up top and follow with the Barnes Banded Solids. One shot from the TSX put him down in 30 yds.
My next buff hunt will be with the Lott using 450 gr Barnes TSX. I’ll also take about ten Banded solids. (NOTE: at 2020 SCI, at the Barnes booth, they told me they were going to bring back the .375 and .458 solids)

 

[Hyde Hunter]

if you roll your own, you might consider if you have a long action ie CZ550 then go with a 458 win mag +p using 450 or 500 TSX and loading them to 3.680 inches. mine using 450 gr TSX with 78 gr of AA2230 powder gets 2330 fps for about 5500lbs energy per Barnes and no pressure. just a thought