375H&H Mag 300gr Nosler Partition...surpassed?

[BeeMaa]

I am currently shooting my 375H&H Mag CZ550 Amreican Kevlar with 300gr Nosler Partitions in anticipation of my first PG hunt.
I went with the Nosler because it is said that the Nosler solid will give the same point of impact as the PT for a possible future DG hunt.
The PT's shoot well in my gun, giving 1.5" groups at 200 yards from the bench.
My concern is after reading about all the other types of premium (TTSX, Swift A-Frame, Woodleigh..etc) that I could be using something better.
Also I am limited to factory loads. I do not reload and do not see myself picking it up anytime soon.

I know that I'm probably kicking the hornets nest here, but I'm looking for personal hunting experience that I lack on African PG.

 

[Ridgewalker]

PG only and you’ll do just fine. I used 180gr NPs out of my 300 WM and they worked fine. That said, IMO I’d want a tougher bullet as in Swift A-frame, Federal TBBC, Barnes TSX, etc for DG. They will usually get you deeper penetration especially if big bones are hit. Took a my only buffalo so far in September 2017 using a Barnes TSX which performed just as it should.

1.5” at 200yds is outstanding! That will get you the tiniest of the Ten with no problem, but there may not be much left!

Best of luck in your hunt!

 

[matt85]

its a PG hunt... pretty much any quality expanding bullet will work fine from a 375 H&H. my preference would be for a light and fast mono-metal bullet but a Noslar partition will do just fine if its shooting well for you.

in my opinion there is no reason to ever use a solid in a 375. the only time you will want a solid is for hunting elephant, hippo, or rhino and i consider the 375 H&H marginal for these three animals (it will work but there are MUCH better cartridges).

-matt

 

[Ridgewalker]

I have been told and read by PHes that the new premium softs are so much better these days there is no need for a backup solid. But I used solids for the duiker and would have on the small night critters if I had the opportunity. Just saying there is a good use for a solid that hits the same POI as a soft. So just keep those solids just in case.

 

[BenKK]

its a PG hunt... pretty much any quality expanding bullet will work fine from a 375 H&H. my preference would be for a light and fast mono-metal bullet but a Noslar partition will do just fine if its shooting well for you.

in my opinion there is no reason to ever use a solid in a 375. the only time you will want a solid is for hunting elephant, hippo, or rhino and i consider the 375 H&H marginal for these three animals (it will work but there are MUCH better cartridges).

-matt

I don’t know, I am glad I used a 300 grain Woodleigh Hydro on my giraffe - bigger animal than any buffalo I’ve shot.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I don’t know, I am glad I used a 300 grain Woodleigh Hydro on my giraffe - bigger animal than any buffalo I’ve shot.

Yep, giraffe are another whole different game. On my first trip, I buddy shot a giraffe with a Hornady solid from his 458 Lott which blew up on the shoulder bone. Two more shots to finish it.

 

[matt85]

Barnes TSX or Swift A-frames will do a fine job on giraffe. same goes for buffalo, there is no need to use a solid on buffalo.

Hornady bullets have never impressed me.

-matt

 

[BeeMaa]

My wife and I have been talking about a DG hunt after the trip we already have planned.
If this does happen, a 416Rigby or 458 (undecided which one) would grace a spot in the safe.
I will be shooting friends rifles in these calibers to see which one I am capable of accurately shooting comfortably.

Giraffe is another one for my second trip wish list and it seems like the caliber selection is all over the board.
Again, is the 375H&H Mag with 300gr PT a good choice, or is it closer to the low end of caliber selection?

It just seems like the Nosler PT (developed in 1948), although very good and proven time and time again, has been surpassed by more modern designs.
That is my real question, more specifically for the 375H&H Mag.

Thank you very much for your insights so far.

 

[Ridgewalker]

BeeMaa, I have read about and seen on TV where people shoot giraffes in the neck near the junction of the head with cartridges as light as a 270 Win. But I won’t do that. As I recall in the book The Perfect Shot a premium bullet of at least 300 grs is recommended. Dr Robertson, the author, probably has as much if not more experience with biopsying Africa game as anyone around. I trust his judgement and experience.

IMO, the NP does not have what it takes to do a clean kill on a giraffe if a slight error off of sticks is made and you hit one of their massive leg bones. That said, as I indicated earlier, I’ve only seen the one my friend shot with the 458 Lott. Not a pretty sight. Its skin looked like it was 1” thick.

Hopefully someone with actual experience themselves will report to you.

 

[Shootist43]

I'm headed for Africa in July. A 375 H&H may be one of the two rifles I wind up taking. After a number of discussions with IvW outlining his experiences with a number of different bullets will be using Swift A Frames. They are sometimes referred to as a "bonded" Partition. As you so eloquently stated the Nosler Partition was, is and will continue to be an excellent bullet. That being said, for calibers operating at today's higher velocities IMHO there are better choices.

 

[sierraone]

My comment related to your 200 yard 1.5 inch group and giraffe. First that is a great group at 200 yards. But pertaining to giraffe, last year while hunting in the Northwest province, I must have seen 30-40 giraffes during a week long hunt. Had I been hunting one, I doubt if there was ever more than a 50-60 yard shot I would have been taking. A few were probably within 30 yards or so. So take that for what it's worth. And good luck on your hunt!

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

He BeeMaa,

I never hunted in Africa for PG. But I have hunted here in Patagonia for Big Red Deer and huges wild boar. And for water buffalos in the north east of Argentina. I have used for all, among other rifles/cartridges, my Win 70 Pre 64 in .375 H&H with 300 grs NP.
A lot of friend have been in Africa for PG. In their experiences, there are no differences between our big european Red deer and a Kudu, Orix, Waterbuck and similar animals. May be big Eland could be another thing...
My point is: I still like the 300 gr Nosler Partition more than other premium bullets. There is a confusion about the penetration of the NP bullets. To loose 1/3 of their weight has nothing to do about penetration. The thin front jacket folds towards the base giving a not to broad front of the remaining 2/3 of the bullet. And, that thin front jacket part is responsible of the expansion at very low velocity of all NP bullet. The best of both worlds, even today....In my experience, a 300 grs NP .375 bullet is one of the best you can use for PG. And other bigger critters....By the way, I NEVER could recover a single NP from a Red Deer from any of the cartridges I have used for them, 7x57-.30-06 and .375 H&H. At ALL angles shots they left two holes. One bigger than the other....
Good luck!

 

[BenKK]

I cheerfully shot a lot of buffalo with all manner of bullets. But they were all free! For me, my giraffe was an expensive piece of conservation, and I chose to use the very best bullet possible that had the least chance of failure. I shot him on the walk at 120m. I actually found hunting giraffe in Botswana harder than I thought it would be.

 

[Graham Hunter]

I find it quite humorous the number of people that refer to the Nosler Partition as a 40 yr. old bullet. The NP was developed 40+ years ago and was the premium bullet of it's time. It held that position for a very long time. But over time it has evolved and improved. Is your Chevy truck you drive still the same Chevy you drove 40+ yrs ago? Of course it is, 4 tires, steering wheel, engine and transmission. Nothing changed. If I knew the exact situation and animal I was going to be shooting I may choose a diff bullet than a NP. But if the situation is unknown I'll be packing a NP.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Good post, Graham! By the way, if I need other bullet than a solid, I surely chose a NP.

 

[Dr Ray]

I’m using 300 grain Nosler partitions in 375 H&H on my forthcoming buffalo hunt in the Northern Territory. BenKk who is very experienced said that they would be fine.

 

[Dr Ray]

Yep, giraffe are another whole different game. On my first trip, I buddy shot a giraffe with a Hornady solid from his 458 Lott which blew up on the shoulder bone. Two more shots to finish it.

Wow! I would never had expected that to happen.

 

[Bill Bunn III]

I took six plains game animals last yr with my 375 H&H using the 260 gr. Nosler partition, all one shot kills. Recovered the bullet on the far did just under the skin after breaking both shoulders on my kudu. Recovered the bullet in the tail head of my blue wildebeest after traveling all the way through him, frontal shot from about 80 yards. My PH said it was one of the hardest hits he had seen by a 375 H&H. In my opinion the partition is an excellent round, and served me well.

 

[Art Lambart II]

The NP is a great bullet for a PG hunt in any caliber, use it with confidence and have a great hunt.

 

[meigsbucks]

I've never used a Nosler Partition in the .375 but when I've used it in other rounds it has always performed well. Partitions are never a bad choice.
As far as your question, first, this is a plains game hunt. Choose your bullet for THIS HUNT. The Nosler should be great for these animals in a .375, maybe one of the best choices.
Choose your bullets for your dangerous game hunt at that time. You could use the Noslers, Partitions and Solids, but I think there are better choices. The Swift A-Frames, Barnes TSX and Trophy Bonded all will do the job and are available in factory loads. Unfortunately Barnes doesn't have a factory load for solids as the BATFE determined that the .375 and .458 Banded Solids are armor piercing.
Enjoy your safari.