Is Solid bullets the way to go in a .375 ?

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Seems like the payoff would be worth it. Take out both shoulders and the heart at the same time.

You guys tell me why you do use solids or why you don't use solids. There are no multiple tiers of dead.

:)
 
Seems like the payoff would be worth it. Take out both shoulders and the heart at the same time.

You guys tell me why you do use solids or why you don't use solids. There are no multiple tiers of dead.

:)
If shooting buff out of herds, watch out for pass thru's that might wound a second animal standing behind.
 
Is Solid bullets the way to go in a .375 ?

This question cannot be answered so global. It also depends on what you want to hunt.

The FMJ or Solid was certainly once the best choice for this cartridge as far deep penetration of the bullet was concerned , for example when hunting buffaloes. But that a controversial discussed problem decades ago.

I don't want to speak through experience since I only shot one buffalo a long time ago with the cartridge 375 H&H Magnum , and this one with an ABC bullet from Hirtenberger , a bullet that could be compared to a Trophy Bonded bullet. These bullets no longer exist.

Nowadays, IMHO , with the modern strong SP bullets that we have at our disposal , an Solid bullet no longer needs to be the first choice and the way to go in a .375 , for buffalo hunting.
 
A solid from a .375 is “best” for a duiker or for braining an elephant. Otherwise a quality SP like a 300 gr Swift A Frame or TSX is a much better choice. In fact, with quality SP’s, I don’t use a solid in the magazine for a follow-up shot either. They drive deep and cause significantly more damage than a solid. Miss the shoulder, graze a lung, or even the heart with a solid and you may never see that bull again. They seem to have an odd habit of not providing the perfect shot presentation. There are all sorts of multiple tiers of non-perfectly placed shots.
 
Lake Edward/Uganda at the beginning of the Nineties
375 H&H Magnum/272gr ABC bullet from Hirtenberger

upload_2020-5-20_11-16-20.png


It is a light bullet for something like this , but has a good deep penetration. Three hunters and each shot a buffalo with the same cartridge.
 
Lake Edward/Uganda at the beginning of the Nineties
375 H&H Magnum/272gr ABC bullet from Hirtenberger

View attachment 349078

It is a light bullet for something like this , but has a good deep penetration. Three hunters and each shot a buffalo with the same cartridge.
Thanks, and that looks like a nice buffalo!

I'm wondering why everyone I see using TSX in a .375, uses a 300 and not the 350. I always pushed my other rifles to max heavies.
 
Thanks, and that looks like a nice buffalo!

I'm wondering why everyone I see using TSX in a .375, uses a 300 and not the 350. I always pushed my other rifles to max heavies.
Some do indeed like the 350. I personally find the 300 gr bullet perfectly balanced for everything. I have come to the point where I hate bringing multiple rifles on a trip. If the destination is Africa, my .375 breaks down into something not much larger than an attache case, and with the 300 gr bullet I get close to 30-06 trajectory for longer shots at plains game, and plenty of penetration to drive to the far side of a buffalo or eland.
 
I'm wondering why everyone I see using TSX in a .375, uses a 300 and not the 350.

Because sometimes more is just more and not better is my short answer. My long answer is covered by @Red Leg above.
 
If I would take an rifle caliber 375 H&H Magnum for buffalo hunting nowadays , I would also only use 350gr or even 380gr bullets , like Rhino Penetrator for example.
 
Absolutely not . @Red Leg Sir is 100 %
correct . Let me use my own personal experiences as a retired professional shikaree ... As a reference .
For the purposes of this discussion ... I shall be using the word " Solids " to refer to .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre 300 grain Winchester brand solid metal covered bullets . I shall be using the word " Soft Points " to refer to .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre 300 grain Winchester Silver Tip soft point bullets . We did not have any monolithic solid bullets , during our time .

You use solid non expanding bullets for shooting small game ( Such as mouse deer or 4 horned buck ) ... Without needing to worry about excessive meat damage ( As would typically be caused by bullet expansion in such petite animals ) . They are also vital for shooting elephants or rhinoceroses .

On everything else ... a premium quality soft point bullet with a controlled rate of expansion is best . Take our Indian gaur bison , or it's African cousin ... The cape buffalo for instance . A .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre 300 grain solid metal covered bullet makes for too minute a hole ... In the heart or lungs of a gaur bison . A gaur bison shot through the heart with a 300 grain non expanding bullet ... Can still remain very much a threat , for up to 18 minutes . A double lung shot with such a bullet is even worse . My longest tracking job on a client's wounded gaur bison ( which had been shot through both the lungs , by a 300 grain .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre Winchester solid metal covered bullet ) was 14 hours . Back in our time ... The ideal method to quickly dispatch a gaur bison with a .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre rifle , was to take a double lung shot at it from a perfectly broad side position ... By using a 300 grain Winchester Silver Tip soft point cartridge . The soft point bullet would properly open up inside both of the brute's lungs and it would go no more than 75 yards .... Coughing blood from it's nose and mouth , before expiring . Today , a modern semi soft point bullet ( With a controlled rate of expansion ) would be ideal ... Because it would allow the operator to take shots at the animal from ANY angle . Such bullets include the Swift A Frame or the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw soft point bullets ( Among countless others ) .


Remember that if you intend to dispatch your game animal quickly via body shots... Then , your objective is to use projectiles which guarantee the largest possible would channels . When using non expanding bullets ... The only way to get a larger wound channel , is to step up in terms of calibre . So , a 500 grain Hornady solid metal covered bullet fired from a .458 Winchester magnum calibre rifle creates a far larger wound channel in a gaur bison's heart than a .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre 300 grain solid metal covered bullet . A gaur bison shot through the heart with a 500 grain non expanding .458 calibre bullet ... Shall succumb to it's injuries far quicker than a gaur bison shot in the same region ... By a 300 grain .375 calibre bullet .

In my entire career ... I have only seen 1 rifle which was capable of breaking both the shoulders of a gaur bison , with only 1 shot. It was a .476 Westley Richards calibre double barreled side by side rifle , loaded with 520 grain ICI Kynoch solid metal covered bullets . It was quite an intense sight to witness . My client's 1st and only shot not only broke both the shoulders of the gaur bison ... But it also punched a sizeable hole right through the brute's heart . The gaur bison just gave up ... Then and there .

When using solid bullets on gaur / Cape buffalo ... You are also endangering the other animals right behind the gaur / Cape buffalo which you are shooting at . There will always remain a risk of the bullet passing completely through your intended game animal ( Without significantly rupturing their vital organs ) and hitting another animal behind them .

To summarize ... The only appropriate circumstances for using solid bullets for gaur bison / Cape buffalo , is :
> When you are using at least a 500 grain bullet of .458 bore .
> When you are hunting a solitary animal ... Which does not have any other herd members around it .
 
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I had read and heard that a SP or expanding bullet such as a Nosler Partition or Federal Swift A-Frame or Trophy Bonded Bear Claw was recommended for the initial shot and solids such as Federal's Sledgehammer for follow up. My PH in Limpopo had as much confidence in the TBBC and Swift-A Frame as he had in the solids and said the "old rule" of soft point for initial shot and solids for follow up wasn't used as much as in the days before great ammo like TBBC and Swift-A Frame. I had TBBC and Sledgehammer with me when I hunted cape buffalo in 2018 and loaded TBBC in both barrels of my 375 double but had Sledgehammers in my belt and used two to finish the bull. You do want to be aware of potential pass through and wounding of a second animal with solids.
 
What is causing you to continue changing your mind? Your questions started with 250 grain GMX, then Barnes ammo, now only solids? Also, if you’d like to use your 375 in USA most regulations state you need to use an expanding bullet. You might get penetration from a solid but it’s not always ethical. If you don’t use FMJ bullets to hunt with a 300 or a 338 having a 375 doesn’t change things. You want penetration plus damage caused by an expanding bullet for a clean kill. Solids have their uses but not as a primary bullet.
 
What is causing you to continue changing your mind? Your questions started with 250 grain GMX, then Barnes ammo, now only solids? Also, if you’d like to use your 375 in USA most regulations state you need to use an expanding bullet. You might get penetration from a solid but it’s not always ethical. If you don’t use FMJ bullets to hunt with a 300 or a 338 having a 375 doesn’t change things. You want penetration plus damage caused by an expanding bullet for a clean kill. Solids have their uses but not as a primary bullet.

I'm guessing because he's new to this and going thru the same learning phase we all have. This isn't exactly a new topic for those of us that have been around, but it's new to him.
 
And talking about solids for elephant, hippo in a 375 H&H. Full metal jacket or break away bullets, like swift break away, woodleigh hydro, or cup point solid (north folk)?
 
Take your 375 with a solid and with the cheapest soft point you can buy (a premium bullet like a Swift A Frame or Barnes is built too tough to expand with this) and shoot a groundhog or any medium sized varmit just behind the ribs. You will see the bullet choice is much more important than the caliber. With the solid it will just run away with the cheap soft point it will drop where it’s at, because the solid does no damage besides a hole.
 
Ever watch the video Death by Double Rifle? They shoot buffalo at close range with two double guns over and over with little results. Obviously with solids.
I agree with @Red Leg solids are only for small antelopes and ele brain shot. I would use Barnes for everything else.
Philip
 
And talking about solids for elephant, hippo in a 375 H&H. Full metal jacket or break away bullets, like swift break away, woodleigh hydro, or cup point solid (north folk)?
The Woodleigh Hydro is a solid - and a very good one - with which I have a bit of experience. Not sure what you mean by "breakaway".
 
And talking about solids for elephant, hippo in a 375 H&H. Full metal jacket or break away bullets, like swift break away, woodleigh hydro, or cup point solid (north folk)?

Actually, for elephant you go back and get a proper elephant rifle in .416 Rigby or greater which you load with solids like CEB solids. ;) :A Stirring:

 

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