375 H&H bullet performance

Jarrod Todd · Mar 14, 2017

Bullet test comparison to determine performance. A few might find this interesting. The pills where shot out of a 375 H&H at close to max velocities at a distance of 50m shooting into 20ltr drums filled with water, the 168 Barnes is out of a 308. Although this doesn't show real life comparisons as when used on game due to meat and bone structures etc, it shows the difference between bonded, monolithic and conventional projectiles.
Cheers

BWH · Mar 14, 2017

Very nice! I'd be curious to see the 375 H&H in TTSX data.

IvW · Mar 14, 2017

Rhino 300, 350 and 380 grain bullets would have been 99% weight retention, 2.5 times caliber expansion with 4 petals. Best bullets made.

Interesting test though. Thanks for sharing.

One thing is quite clear, when using the 375H&H and especially for DG, you need to use premium bonded bullets for best performance, eg. Swift A frame, Throphy Bonded Bear Claw or mentioned Rhinos.

Jarrod Todd · Mar 14, 2017

These are projectiles I had on hand. The Rhino, Swift A frames and bear claws are all available in Australia. Although limited to where you can purchase them. Once I get my paws on them I'll test and share the results.

Velo Dog · Mar 14, 2017

Hi Jarrod Todd,

Thanks for the photos and your post on these.
The "soft performance" of the old fashioned, not-bonded "cup & core" type projectiles, (compared to the more modern designs you tested) proves once again that, a hunter should not use rather soft / light for caliber bullets at rather high velocity, (especially when hunting 20 liter water drums at 50 meters).
Thanks again for this illustration.
I always prefer such comparisons when they are accompanied by photographs.
Although not so critical on smaller animals like deer / impala sized ones, nonetheless in regards to large, tough animals, I believe that premium bullets are worth their extra cost, every penny of it.
Thanks again, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

PS:
Specifically regarding the Sierra 250 grainers, do you recall the velocity you had fired them at for this test ?

colorado · Mar 14, 2017

Nice, I'd like to see how the new Woodleigh HDs 350g RN and the 300g A-Frames perform in your test. This 300g A-Frame penetrated a 900 lb brown bear diagonally at 13 yards and retained weight as 299.5 grains.

Jarrod Todd · Mar 14, 2017

Velo Dog said:
Hi Jarrod Todd,

Thanks for the photos and your post on these.
The "soft performance" of the old fashioned, not-bonded "cup & core" type projectiles, (compared to the more modern designs you tested) proves once again that, a hunter should not use rather soft / light for caliber bullets at rather high velocity, (especially when hunting 20 liter water drums at 50 meters).
Thanks again for this illustration.
I always prefer such comparisons when they are accompanied by photographs.
Although not so critical on smaller animals like deer / impala sized ones, nonetheless in regards to large, tough animals, I believe that premium bullets are worth their extra cost, every penny of it.
Thanks again, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

PS:
Specifically regarding the Sierra 250 grainers, do you recall the velocity you had fired them at for this test ?

Hi Velo Dog
I agree 100 percent with you. There is no compromise when using on game, a well constructed bullet is an absolute must.

Jarrod Todd · Mar 14, 2017

Velo Dog said:
Hi Jarrod Todd,

Thanks for the photos and your post on these.
The "soft performance" of the old fashioned, not-bonded "cup & core" type projectiles, (compared to the more modern designs you tested) proves once again that, a hunter should not use rather soft / light for caliber bullets at rather high velocity, (especially when hunting 20 liter water drums at 50 meters).
Thanks again for this illustration.
I always prefer such comparisons when they are accompanied by photographs.
Although not so critical on smaller animals like deer / impala sized ones, nonetheless in regards to large, tough animals, I believe that premium bullets are worth their extra cost, every penny of it.
Thanks again, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

PS:
Specifically regarding the Sierra 250 grainers, do you recall the velocity you had fired them at for this test ?

The 250gn Sierra was fired at about 2850fps

Royal27 · Mar 14, 2017

Anyone who asks why premium bullets should be used needs to read this thread and look at those pics.

I'd sure like to see some more premium bullets performance in this test to prove it out even more.

I've personally become such a believer in premium bullets that I don't hunt with anything else now, even on small animals or whitetail here in the states. I will admit the 180 grain TTSX from my .300 wsm was slightly more than I needed for that porcupine I shot, but damn it was fun.

woods1126 · Mar 14, 2017

Thank you Jarrod. This is exactly why the use of premium bullets is so important. Kevin

CAustin · Mar 14, 2017

Thanks for sharing!

petrusg · Mar 15, 2017

Thanks for sharing with us

BWH · Mar 17, 2017

Look forward to seeing your next experiment!

sheephunterab · Mar 17, 2017

I'm typically not a big fan of these types of test medium experiments as they often have little correlation to real world results but I'd say those a fairly representative of the type of performance you'd see on a real animal. But, what a bullet looks like after being fired often isn't indicative of the internal damage it did. We seem to want to believe that weight retention is king and in some applications it can be and it others not so much but your test does demonstrate the effect of high impact velocity and bullet construction.

Ray B · Mar 17, 2017

I conducted a similar test, using every 180 gr .308" bullet I could get and a few 165grs, several years ago. Results published in Handloader Digest. Results were very similar with the exception that mono bullets were just being developed and they had difficulties. Those problems seem to have been addressed since it appears they penetrate in a straight line (previously the petals would open irregularly, acting like a rudder and veering the bullet off course). In my tests the stiffly jacketed bonded core bullets performed the best- nice to know the more things change, the more they stay the same.

BRICKBURN · Mar 17, 2017

BWH said:
Very nice! I'd be curious to see the 375 H&H in TTSX data.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/i-blame-all-of-you.17339/page-3

BRICKBURN said:
Finally got out and shot.

I did not use the set trigger. Just wanted to shoot the gun this time out.

Conclusions:
If I want to see about real accuracy I need to put a scope on this baby.
I am sure I can get SUB MOA with a scope with little trouble. I'll see in the near future.

The front sight covered a five inch circle at Fifty yards.
The front bead covers every bullet, except one.
This was all at 5600 feet elevation.
Right around Zero C.
250TTSX with H4895 Powder.
I did not take a lot of time to shoot these strings. So, there are some flyers.
The 71.0 and 72.0 were shot very quickly. Under three seconds per round. Which shows.
I tend to shoot off to the left.
Groups were not too bad.

Friend said "It does not kick as much as my .300WM" (shooting 150 grain bullets. )

All in all, a happy purchase.

69.0 Grains
View attachment 32867

69.5
View attachment 32868

70.0
View attachment 32870

71.0
View attachment 32862

72.0
View attachment 32861

These are the sticks you carry around in the Boreal Forest. It was a bundle up day for sure.

View attachment 32872

The Penetration Test:

24 inches of solid kiln dried treated wood. I think the rocks were softer.
View attachment 32869

Thirteen inches into the wood. Through three and into the fourth. 375H&H 250 TTSX 72.0 Grns H4895
View attachment 32863

After 13 inches of wood. 375 H&H
View attachment 32871

The 300 Grain 45-70 made it through nine inches of wood.
View attachment 32866

The end shots and the results.
View attachment 32865
View attachment 32864

The top three bullets - left to right.
the first two are 150 grn 300WM. Not much left. A little bit of jacket and lead.
(The 150 gr. 300WM penetrated as far at the 45-70.)
The 45-70 bullet. About half the bullet left.
The bottom row are the 250 Grn TTSX. 97% + weight retention.

sheephunterab · Mar 17, 2017

A number of factors can cause a bullet to veer off course or tumble such as hitting bone, angle of shot, passing through different densities of medium, a chunk of mud on the hide...etc. I suspect the bulk of bullets tumble or veer off course when passing through an animal. I think we try to equate too much of what we see in test mediums to the real world but the fact is that few bullets ever strike an animal at a perfectly perpendicular angle and then pass through a perfectly uniform test medium. And in truth, even in gel, the bulk of bullets are rarely perfectly nose forward when they come to rest. Any bullet that sheds weight is much more likely to tumble and veer off course as well just because weight is not shed uniformly.

Jarrod Todd · Mar 17, 2017

BRICKBURN said:
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/i-blame-all-of-you.17339/page-3

Thanks for sharing your results. I always find it very interesting!

Jarrod Todd · Apr 9, 2017

Testing with the Rhino projectiles. Excellent weight retention and large surface area. Seems to me they are a well constructed bullet.
Will be using these on Australian water buffalo.

Shawn.54 · Apr 10, 2017

I decided last fall to hunt cinder blocks with my 375 Ruger so I placed one for a broad side and one charging me at 100+ yards bullet was GS Custom 200HV at 3213fps at muzzle.
The sad part is I left them set on table and I think my wife threw them away before I could weigh them.
The one on the left was the broadside and completely destroyed the block the one on the right was dead center of the end and it went threw 3 of 4 webs and was laying inside last core hole the block was still intact with about 1" holes threw webs.
Wish I could have gotten weight retention. Top is unfired.

375 H&H bullet performance

Jarrod Todd

BWH

IvW

Jarrod Todd

Velo Dog

colorado

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