Federal 375 HH 300 gr AFRAMES VS SWIFT BRAND

[Hatchetjack]

Anyone notice any accuracy difference in the two brands ?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have ran both in my CZ 375.
The POI is different that is given as FPS is different. As for accuracy both shot well. I prefer the Federal load as it is less expensive and easier to find.
Now in the CZ 458Lott I run only Swift Factory Aframes and Soilds.

 

[Hatchetjack]

Good to know Thankyou

 

[Troubleshooter]

The POI is different that is given as FPS is different. As for accuracy both shot well. I prefer the Federal load as it is less expensive and easier to find.

Same here. The Swift branded ammunition had an average velocity 80 fps faster than the Federal. Standard deviation between the two was almost identical. Both shot well.

 

[375Fox]

I did not see a difference between the two previously, but I’m not sure there will ever be a steady supply of swift 375 ammo again and it looks like federal has really reduced the velocity of their current 375 loads with swift. The high energy safari rounds are gone. I bought my last several boxes of 375 H&H swifts from Pendleton ammo. I did see a significant accuracy difference with their ammo in my gun. Pretty comparable price.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The Federal Premium 300Gr Swift A Frames are loaded to 80 FPS less than the Swift factory loads. This is still more than adequate to get the job done, although penetration visibly suffers at acute angles when body shots are being taken on hippopotamus bulls (the most challenging shot for expanding bullets in my field experience).

 

[Hatchetjack]

The Federal Premium 300Gr Swift A Frames are loaded to 80 FPS less than the Swift factory loads. This is still more than adequate to get the job done, although penetration visibly suffers at acute angles when body shots are being taken on hippopotamus bulls (the most challenging shot for expanding bullets in my field experience).

Did you notice any accuracy difference? What rifle were you shooting?

 

[Hatchetjack]

I did not see a difference between the two previously, but I’m not sure there will ever be a steady supply of swift 375 ammo again and it looks like federal has really reduced the velocity of their current 375 loads with swift. The high energy safari rounds are gone. I bought my last several boxes of 375 H&H swifts from Pendleton ammo. I did see a significant accuracy difference with their ammo in my gun. Pretty comparable price.

Pedeletons shot better in your rifle ? A friend of mine bought some and stated the recoil was quite a bit more

 

[coreydb]

The Federal ammo's performance is consistent with the A-frames. I'm concerned with Federal's reduction in velocity with their .375s, because that's what I shoot. That said, I still have faith in and continue to use Federal ammo because of their consistency.

 

[375Fox]

Pedeletons shot better in your rifle ? A friend of mine bought some and stated the recoil was quite a bit more

In my Sako yes. They do have more recoil because the velocity is a little faster. They write 2600-2650 on box. They also shoot higher than the federal ammo. Federal use to have “high energy” ammo at similar velocity but they don’t anymore. Swift says 2503 fps on their box. New federal is 2400 fps on box. I wouldn’t care what velocity federal’s ammo is if I could mix and match past ammo and shoot similar points of impact, but that’s not what I’ve seen.

 

[Hatchetjack]

I wonder when swift with have more 375 on the shelves

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

My 375 that I hunt with shoots the factory federals to under 1" and consistently around 2520 fps.
If I switch to one of my other 375 rifles rifles, the velocity slows down closer to the published velocity, albeit it's still a little faster than 2400 fps.

Factory Swifts shoots slightly faster in both rifles and but gets larger groups. If I remember right Swift ammo was 50-100fps faster depending on the rifle.

 

[mark-hunter]

The high energy safari rounds are gone.

To me, this sounds dangerous. It reminds me of 458 Win Mag ammo fiasco in its early years.

What is the level of actual reduction of velocity with the latest ammunition, in 375 HH with Federal or other factories?

 

[375Fox]

To me, this sounds dangerous. It reminds me of 458 Win Mag ammo fiasco in its early years.

What is the level of actual reduction of velocity with the latest ammunition, in 375 HH with Federal or other factories?

Factory ammo is typically a very conservative loading. Hand loaders can push maximum safe levels as listed in reloading manuals. If factory ammo decides to do same and label it as “high energy” for marketing I don’t see problem. Bullets like swift A frames, TSX, trophy bonded bear claws handle that velocity well.

Here is difference of two federal factory ammos. The top and bottom bullets are both federal TBBC in 375 H&H. One from batch labeled high energy I think box reads 2700 fps. The bottom is from cape shok line. Box I think is 2520 but I chronographed at 2460. I only did it because they shot so low. The middle is also a federal swift A frame from plastic safari box. I can’t remember velocity probably 2500 or so on box. The new federal stuff reads 2400 FPS on box. It makes a big difference in where it impacts compared to other 375 H&H rounds.

 

[BeeMaa]

I tried one box of the Federal SAF loads against the Swift branded SAF's (both 375H&H) and my CZ550 didn't like the Federal. I was able to shrink the groups with the Swift boxed loads by about 0.5". I also tested the Federal TBBC, Barnes TSX, Federal Woodleigh Hydro (solid) and Federal TB Sledgehammer (solid).

Since I sold the CZ and picked up a Blaser for my 375H&H, I changed to Barnes branded TSX because they shot the best in my testing about 4 years ago. I tested the Federal TBBC, Swift A-Frame and Barnes TSX. All of my Blaser barrels shoot better with the TSX than anything else. The real bonus was that the Woodleigh Hydros from Federal shoot to the same POI as the Barnes TSX.

My issue is that I don't handload, so finding something factory loaded that is accurate to my standards is important. It's that or I have to go to Hendershot's or Safari Arms for custom loads.

 

[Hatchetjack]

I tried one box of the Federal SAF loads against the Swift branded SAF's (both 375H&H) and my CZ550 didn't like the Federal. I was able to shrink the groups with the Swift boxed loads by about 0.5". I also tested the Federal TBBC, Barnes TSX, Federal Woodleigh Hydro (solid) and Federal TB Sledgehammer (solid).

Since I sold the CZ and picked up a Blaser for my 375H&H, I changed to Barnes branded TSX because they shot the best in my testing about 4 years ago. I tested the Federal TBBC, Swift A-Frame and Barnes TSX. All of my Blaser barrels shoot better with the TSX than anything else. The real bonus was that the Woodleigh Hydros from Federal shoot to the same POI as the Barnes TSX.

My issue is that I don't handload, so finding something factory loaded that is accurate to my standards is important. It's that or I have to go to Hendershot's or Safari Arms for custom loads.

My model 70 shoots the tsx in one ragged hole as well. The federal brand aframes shoot well just not 1 hole like the tsx. The TBBC didn’t shoot well. I’d like to try a box of the swift brand a frames , just not sure how long it will be before we see them for sale again

 

[BeeMaa]

My model 70 shoots the tsx in one ragged hole as well. The federal brand aframes shoot well just not 1 hole like the tsx. The TBBC didn’t shoot well. I’d like to try a box of the swift brand a frames , just not sure how long it will be before we see them for sale again

Rifles can be fickle and just shoot better with certain loads. Although I did have a Savage 116 in 300WSM that loved every load I put down it. Everything shot MOA or better out to 200 yards.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I tried one box of the Federal SAF loads against the Swift branded SAF's (both 375H&H) and my CZ550 didn't like the Federal. I was able to shrink the groups with the Swift boxed loads by about 0.5". I also tested the Federal TBBC, Barnes TSX, Federal Woodleigh Hydro (solid) and Federal TB Sledgehammer (solid).

Since I sold the CZ and picked up a Blaser for my 375H&H, I changed to Barnes branded TSX because they shot the best in my testing about 4 years ago. I tested the Federal TBBC, Swift A-Frame and Barnes TSX. All of my Blaser barrels shoot better with the TSX than anything else. The real bonus was that the Woodleigh Hydros from Federal shoot to the same POI as the Barnes TSX.

My issue is that I don't handload, so finding something factory loaded that is accurate to my standards is important. It's that or I have to go to Hendershot's or Safari Arms for custom loads.

Hopefully you stocked up on the Woodleigh Hydros since Federal Discontinued loading those projectiles

 

[BeeMaa]

Hopefully you stocked up on the Woodleigh Hydros since Federal Discontinued loading those projectiles

I have at least 4 boxes worth. Should be a lifetime supply considering the number of times I'm expecting to hunt elephant.

Federal ran a sale a while back on all their safari ammo that they were discontinuing.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I have at least 4 boxes worth. Should be a lifetime supply considering the number of times I'm expecting to hunt elephant.

Federal ran a sale a while back on all their safari ammo that they were discontinuing.

I understand that mentality, unless you start adding T10 stuff to your target list or leaving ammo with your PH.

I personally like to keep a case (from the same lot #), on hand of each factory load I shoot, per firearm. The only issue that comes is when I sell a gun, or find something that shoots better. I’ve got a bunch of ammo in the garage for stuff I no longer own firearms in. A bunch of it is also in loads that are no longer offered from various manufacturers. I suppose I should go through it all and sell it.