.375 H&H Magnum bullets : Light weight hunting bullets for longer hunting distances in the Kalahari

Gert Odendaal

AH legend
Joined
Apr 19, 2012
Messages
2,700
Reaction score
3,305
Media
901
Articles
1
Hunting reports
Africa
2
Member of
SAJW
Members, I will be going on a trip to the Kalahari this hunting season. I decided to take the .375 H &H Magnum . Usually I use the 270gn bullet weight while hunting in bushveld regions. Since this type of hunting will be totally the opposite of bushveld hunting...long open flat plains and streets between dunes I am contemplating using 200 -220 gn bullets . And will try to zero out to 250 meters ...the scope will be a Minox 4-10 x 42 it should be sufficient. I would like your opinons and suggestions ..
 
I used the 260 grain accubond in my 375 H&H , pushed it with RL 15.

It shot as flat as I needed in the Kalahari, and flat as I need here in Alberta

I had fairly long shots on zebra and cull oryx. Couldn't have asked for better performance.

I would use it in africa again and continue using it here.

I haven't tried lighter bullets in the 375, the 260 accubond was all I needed.


Craig
 
I used the 260 grain accubond in my 375 H&H , pushed it with RL 15.

It shot as flat as I needed in the Kalahari, and flat as I need here in Alberta

I had fairly long shots on zebra and cull oryx. Couldn't have asked for better performance.

I would use it in africa again and continue using it here.

I haven't tried lighter bullets in the 375, the 260 accubond was all I needed.


Craig
Craig, thank you for your opinion ,it is much appreciated. Craig, I was thinking of going even lighter to the 220gn bullets since I will be shooting springbuck as well and I am only taking hart/double lung shots and does not want meat damaged..you opinion in this regards? On the Oryx and kudu bulls it does not matter at all.
 
I found the meat damage , In shooting whitetails here, much less than when shot with my 25/06-30/06 rifles with a soft point such as the interlock.

Not a lot of meat on the ribs, but I have found very little blood shot meat with my 375 in comparison to faster rounds. The velocity seems to cause a lot of that , not so much the caliber.

The little 257 bullets anchor deer very fast though. If you hit one in the shoulder a lot of can be ruined though. Even a fast accubond out of my little 25/06 can wreck some meat if I place the bullet in the shoulder instead of behind.

I did take a whitetail with my 458 Lott this November . The bullet,. 500 grain a frame, shot through lengthwise at approx 200 meters . Didn't lose much meat off it.
 
I think my idea I have is that in using the 225 gn bullets it caters for the longer shots in the dunes and open terrain of the Kalahari. As well as some parts where the possibility of bush veld patches to get kudu within shorter distances ...I realize it to be very important to make use of a good set of shooting sticks in this environment as well,,so I will be crafting a set of quad legs shooting sticks for more stability due to the absence of a lot of cover and trees to make use of...maybe using these two combinations to hunt the Kalahari this year will just make the difference ...
 
I use the Speer 235 grain and found they work really well
 
Personally I think that is the wrong way to go. A 300gr bullet at 2550 fps with rifle sighted in 2 1/2 inches high will drop 9 inches at 300, what more do you need? With that load you can take on Eland which I would not with the light weight bullet....
Past 300 get closer....
 
IvW, noted..how effective is a 225 or a 235 gn bullet on larger animals like the Gemsbuck and Eland , providing a good accurate shot placement??? Maximum 250meters out?
 
Not good I tried that many moons ago and immediatly dropped that idea....too much meat damage lack of penetration and you limit yourself to perfect broadside shots. Just stick to a 300gr, sight in 2 1/2 inches high and you are good to go all the way to 300.

The premium 300gr will also make a lot less damage on springbuck. A highh speed 200,-220gr will mange it.....you probably have the arse and half the backstraps left....

Way too much is made of velocity, know your load and rifle and stick to that.

If you insist on higher velocity go to the 260 Accubond but realise that if you hit bone you will loose that front quarter. I would not use it on Gemsbuck or Eland.
 
Not good I tried that many moons ago and immediatly dropped that idea....too much meat damage lack of penetration and you limit yourself to perfect broadside shots. Just stick to a 300gr, sight in 2 1/2 inches high and you are good to go all the way to 300.

The premium 300gr will also make a lot less damage on springbuck. A highh speed 200,-220gr will mange it.....you probably have the arse and half the backstraps left....

Way too much is made of velocity, know your load and rifle and stick to that.

If you insist on higher velocity go to the 260 Accubond but realise that if you hit bone you will loose that front quarter. I would not use it on Gemsbuck or Eland.
IvW the 270 gn how would you rate it`s performance in the same Kalahari scenario??
 
So I will be taking only the .375 H&H Magnum for this hunting trip..it is a rifle I build myself with my great friend Johan Greylings guidance that fit me beautifully since I build it for my personal use ...and Johan gave me all the components and assist in the rifle stock design that works great for me ...one rifle to hunt them all???
 
Is there a recommended 300 grain bullet, 375 hh, pointed, boat tail with better BC for longer shots on plains game?
 
Mark, good question, it will be nice to get some info on this (y)
 
IvW for Springbuck small fame game as well?? I want to use one rifle and one bullet grain weight
 
Is there a recommended 300 grain bullet, 375 hh, pointed, boat tail with better BC for longer shots on plains game?
Boat tail in a 375 H&H out to 300 will have zero advantage. 400 and up is when that will start having an effect.
We are talking Gemsbuck and Eland at 250....not sheep or goats at 400+
 
IvW for Springbuck small fame game as well?? I want to use one rifle and one bullet grain weight
Yes for sure....300gr Rhino at 100 on springbuck no problem or meat damage...200gr at high velocity at 100 half a springbuck......
 
Boat tail in a 375 H&H out to 300 will have zero advantage. 400 and up is when that will start having an effect.
We are talking Gemsbuck and Eland at 250....not sheep or goats at 400+
My longest distance if I really need to go there is 300meters..and I will really try to close the gap by stalking where possible..
 
I also used a 260 grain Accubond in Northern Namibia.....at just under 2800 fps it was quite effective to my range limit........300M................I have also used 200, 220 and 235 grainers, and 250 Barnes. Plot the trajectories out, and you may find that the 260 grainer with high BC is the best compromise.....it was for me...............best of luck...................FWB
 
IvW is there an alternative if I can not get Rhino 270 gn softs ?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,626
Messages
1,131,439
Members
92,686
Latest member
SherrillGl
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top