375 H & H Bullets

if you hand load then I recommend the 270gr TSX, it will out perform the 300gr TSX in the 375 H&H.



-matt

I would agree...speed is the friend of mono metals. Nothing really to be gained with the heavier bullet and you see a reduction in velocity!
 
Hmmm...may have to try the 270 gr. Although my 300 gr handload is not slow cranking out at 2,655 FPS. Over 100 FPS faster than any factory 300 gr I have tried. All the Federals are about 180 FPS slower. The Barnes, 120 FPS slower. Hornady, 120 FPS slower. Haven’t found the new Swift ammo yet.
 
Cutting Edge Bullets makes a great flat nosed solid in 300 grain. They're also relatively inexpensive. For some reason, Nosler feels that their turned brass solids, which are in no way special, should be valued like 3 times more than any other solid on the market. Also, you may want to look into North Fork Cup Point Solids. I hear they are magnificent. Hornady DGS are built like tanks as well and they have a fairly good reputation. There are a number of good solids to choose from as they aren't that difficult to get them to do what you want them to do. Softs are much more vairiable.
 
Hmmm...may have to try the 270 gr. Although my 300 gr handload is not slow cranking out at 2,655 FPS. Over 100 FPS faster than any factory 300 gr I have tried. All the Federals are about 180 FPS slower. The Barnes, 120 FPS slower. Hornady, 120 FPS slower. Haven’t found the new Swift ammo yet.

That is smoking for a 300 grain. I get 2860 out of a 250 grain but suspect the recoil is a bit more stout with yours. If it works you may not want to mess with success.
 
Hmmm...may have to try the 270 gr. Although my 300 gr handload is not slow cranking out at 2,655 FPS. Over 100 FPS faster than any factory 300 gr I have tried. All the Federals are about 180 FPS slower. The Barnes, 120 FPS slower. Hornady, 120 FPS slower. Haven’t found the new Swift ammo yet.

faster is almost always better with mono-metal bullets. if you can get 2650 with 300 then you could get 2800 with a 270 which will still pass threw a buffalo but do more damage on its way threw.

-matt
 
That is smoking for a 300 grain. I get 2860 out of a 250 grain but suspect the recoil is a bit more stout with yours. If it works you may not want to mess with success.
Yep I was surprised too at the speed. Not even Barnes’s max load of RL 15! I may need to chrono it in cooler weather. I decided to stop there because it was punching 3 rounds into 1/2” groups. At over 90 degrees the primers also showed slight cratering with one more grain, so I called it good.

BTW, I only average 2,815 FPS with the 250 TTSX, but again it consistently punches 3 into 1/2” @ 100 meters. Good enough for my old eyes and I think good enough for a croc (I’m hoping!)
 
faster is almost always better with mono-metal bullets. if you can get 2650 with 300 then you could get 2800 with a 270 which will still pass threw a buffalo but do more damage on its way threw.

-matt
It's entirely possible. I've found Alliant RL17 is a wonder in .375 H&H. They don't post the data so you have to ask them for it. I don't push my 270 TSX loads but a moderate load with RL17 I chronoed 2775FPS From a 23" barrel.
 
FWIW here is my two cents. If you want to hand load a solid try the Northfork CPS bullet as was mentioned earlier by ChrisG. If you want factory try Federal Cape Shok with Woodleigh Hydro-Statics.
 
for reference I use a 300gr TSX in my 416 RM at 2700fps and this load has absolutely hammered every animal ive shot with it. at 300gr this load is a full 100gr light compared to its standard loading but to date ive only recovered a single bullet after it passed length wise threw a blue wildebeest (animal was shot in the chest and the bullet was found near his tail).

-matt
 
Solids are not a good idea for Cape buffalo and are not needed for backup shots by a client. The risk of hitting and wounding another is just too great.

When using high speed mono metal bullets for hunting Cape buffalo you will be seriously limiting your possibilities of taking a shot when using these. The possibility of the bullet shooting straight through the buffalo is real and you will be responsible for any other buffalo killed or wounded. This will result in a dangerous situation if you need to deal with 2 wounded buff from the same herd.

Most buffalo hunting will be from herds and rarely will the opportunity arise where you will be lucky enough to be hunting single or small groups of dagha bulls. If you are absolutely sure you will be hunting single or small groups of dagha bulls, then it is not so significant.

The ideal buffalo bullet has always been a heavy for caliber controlled expansion bullet. For the 375 H&H that is 300-380gr bullets. The bullet should hold together and not exit but rather be found on the opposite side just under the skin.

You normally pick up fresh buffalo tracks early in the morning, close to a watering point, as buffalo prefer to drink twice during the day, start tracking and hopefully catch up to the herd as the day warms up and they find shade to lie up during the hot part of the day and ruminate. Not all stalks will be successful and many miles could be covered over a number of days before finally you get into position and spot a good bull. If you now find the once in a lifetime buffalo is standing in front of another it would be impossible to take the shot if the bullet you are using is possibly going to exit.

If you are an ethical hunter, you will now have to sit and wait and hope your bull decides to somehow move and clear any buffalo behind it. It is now the hot part of the day, the wind is not constant and keeps swirling, suddenly you get a whiff of wind on the nape of your neck, the herd gets your sent and the whole lot thunder off. Your trophy bull disappears with the herd. You may try another stalk but by now the wind is all over the place. The call is made and you now have to walk all the way back to the cruiser that you left 5 hours ago.

Had you been using a North Fork, Swift A frame, Trophy bonded bear claw or the excellent Rhino bullet in a weight from 300-380 gr's at a mv of 2200-2400 fps, you could have taken that shot and you would have had your once in a lifetime buffalo.

If you can control your shooting and only take shots with no buffalo behind and be prepared to pass up your once in a lifetime buffalo because another is standing behind it, then use a 270 gr Barnes TSX loaded to the highest velocity you can get from your chosen rifle if you like, if not, then rather use the sensible well proven, option of one of the premium grade bullets mentioned and give yourself all the opportunities of getting your once in a lifetime buffalo.

The realities are that the "perfect shot" is not always available when hunting Cape Buffalo, so why limit yourself further by using a bullet that restricts your ability to take a shot when it presents itself?
 
IvW, nice explanation! It got me excited to hunt a Cape buffalo again!
Thanks!
 
I agree with the above, but I always do what guide says. If he says bring solids, he most likely wants them used once the initial shot is taken with softs. Switch to solids for tracking.

I think it starts the hunt off on a good note if you do what the guide asks you to do.

Last time I went I was bringing my 375 for a friend and ,416 Rigby for me.

Guide said I didn't need solids for 416 but he'd like solids for the 375 for follow-up work
 
I agree with the above, but I always do what guide says. If he says bring solids, he most likely wants them used once the initial shot is taken with softs. Switch to solids for tracking.

I think it starts the hunt off on a good note if you do what the guide asks you to do.

Last time I went I was bringing my 375 for a friend and ,416 Rigby for me.

Guide said I didn't need solids for 416 but he'd like solids for the 375 for follow-up work


Guide said I didn't NEED solids for 416 but it wouldn't hurt to have some. I did not think out my ratio of solids to softs very well considering that I was hunting leopard as well. Need to shoot lots of bait for leopard...!

I didn't take long before I was pretty short of TSX's for the 416, so I started shooting bait with solids. Some pretty dramatic drop and flops on impala with solids. That was a bit surprising for me. Long story short, we were looking for impala and ran across a very nice buff and I was loaded with solids. The buff was on the alert and getting ready to bolt so I shot him facing me at 100yds with the 416 solid. He ran about 100 yds and died.

my buddy had my 375 and shot his buff at 100 yards or so with the TSX's and it died within 40 yards. Both were one shot kills. Moral of the story is "hit them where you are supposed to and do what your guide says".

you can watch these shots this fall on Tracks Across Africa. We were hunting with Chifuti safaris.

DSCF0095.JPG
 
Hello All,

I am trying to purchase an ammo pouch with a magnetic closure for a waist belt in 375 H & H with no success. Any suggestions where one can be purchased?
Aloha
 
Norma has in loaded Ammo 350g FMJ and RNSN Woodleighs, they also have Norma Solids 300g.
 
Getting any two different bullets out of any individual rifle to same POI is going to require some range time. I'd try turned copper- North Fork Flat Point Solids or GS Custom Flat Point Solids and turned brass- Cutting Edge Flat Point Solids. These are all banded, mono metal solids with a similar design theory to the Barnes.

I think any good, tough premium "soft point" or controlled expanding bullet may penetrate all the way through even the biggest buffalo so the "pass through risk" argument is NOT 100% cut and dried in favor of using only soft points as is often pointed out. I know if after a large DG is hit and is hauling the mail at a bad angle though the brush and trees, you do need to keep shooting. There IS a good argument for following up with solids that may be called upon to penetrate bone, tissue and wet paunch contents to reach vitals when all you are doing is holding for "center of moving large black mass".

I'd do what your PH suggests if for no other reason than for no surprises and everyone will know what each is carrying and be on the same page.
 
I used a .416 Ruger on my buff. My PH had me load a Barnes TSX up the spout and back up with solids (which were Barnes Banded). My second rifle was a .375 and I had the Swift AF and Barnes Banded Solids in it as well. Yes, both the .375 and .458 BS are considered armor piercing which is BS!. Just another little bite out of our rights.
But to answer your question... I have since worked up a load for the Barnes TSX using WW748. I then picked up some Hornady DGS 300 gr. I had to play with powders and charges but got it shooting to almost the same point of impact. The edges of the groups touch at 100 yards. Up close and personal with a buff you wouldn't know. I use H4895 behind the Hornady. Good luck.
 

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