I loaded 300 TSXs and Banded solids in the .375 as a back up buffalo rifle, but shot my buffalo with the .416. Judging by the way the solids whistle through a giraffe that is the size of 2 buffalos I wouldn't be using them for the first shot on buffalo. The chances of hitting 2 are too great. The 300 TSX exited a eland for me, you'd best be looking behind your buffalo with those as well. PHs are split between softs and solids for the follow-up, and all premium softs. Everyone I talked to wants a soft for the first shot.
Randy Brooks of Barnes Bullets swears by 270 grain TSXs for buffalo, and has killed more than most. The chances of the 270 solid shooting to the same POI is good. Swift A-frames have a flawless reputation for the big stuff too, and are a little easier to keep inside. This is one of the few times you don't want an exit hole.
The PH A-Zone and I are booked with for the buffalo hunt pretty much kiboshed the idea of using TSX bullets. I was a bit perplexed by that at first, thinking the TSX would be the ideal one-bullet-does-it-all approach to buffalo hunting. It seems the problem is in fact that this expanding bullet is just too likely to exit the buff, creating exactly the problem you described (pass-through hit on another animal when the buff you want is in a tightly packed herd). The choice we've been given is A-Frame, Woodleigh, or Trophy Bonded, all in 300 grain weights. But since a) I'm paying for his professional expertise, and b) he's been hunting dangerous game professionally for over 25 years, this really isn't one of those times when I need to be arguing the point based on my own theories. And moreover, I think it's not lost on these guys whether or not you follow their instructions. If you didn't listen to their advice on bullet selection, I think they can't help but wonder if you'll be listening to their instructions if things get a bit hairy in the thick stuff. As it is, I'll bring what the pro tells me