PPU (prvi partisan) .375 H&H performance?

matt85

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I bought a box of this stuff to goof around with out in the woods but sitting here looken at em got me thinking. has any one ever tested the PPU 300gr SP RN bullet either on test media or a living critter?

how do these actually perform? its safe to say id never consider them for thick skinned game but if the bullet performs even "ok" they could be used on medium sized critters (large deer or hogs). I don't really have any intentions of using it for anything other then fun plinking, im just curious.

PS: sorry if this has been asked before but nothing came up in search.

-matt
 
ive found the 375 to be extremely enjoyable to shoot, albeit it does beat you up a little. on Saturday me and a fellow 375 shooter laid a smack down on a "large" log at around 40 yards. the log was around 12-13 inches thick and around 24 inches long but the 300 gr SP RN he was using and my 250gr SP BT reduced the log to saw dust with less then 10 rounds, literally no pieces much bigger then a tennis ball were left. his gun was a very light weight Winchester M70 with a composite stock which couldn't have weighed much more then 7 pounds while I was using a 9.5 pound CZ 550. we swapped guns and loads a couple times and I found his rifle to be very agreeable but couldn't imagine shooting too many stiff 300gr loads from it before my shoulder would quit. the 250gr bullets over a stiff load aren't bad at all and ive also got some 225gr bullets which make for perfect bench loads. I was shooting 50 rounds per range trip but my shoulder was throwen fits the next day so I limit myself to 30 rounds per trip.

-matt
 
Matt, I have not bought them...just because there are so many options in the 375 H&H, but I have little doubt they could make quick work of any elk, it you do your part and aim at the heart/lung region. I did a lot of research into buying these for my 7 x 57 but decided to reload instead.
 
Hello,
I use these ammos for many years ... on the range .. because they are cheap!:thumb: The speed is "correct", not so bad and rather steady. (775m/s).
The cases seem good.
The bullets seem too .... "old fashion", I don't trust them for DG or big plain game .. just for "european game" .. maybe,not sure.. It's easy to find better !!!!

But quite good for .. target shooting, training and entertainment :thumb: !!
 
I think we've taken the search for the "best" bullets too far. The original question was whether the PPU bullets in 300 gr. RN .375" would be OK for large deer or hogs. I actually can't imagine any possible outcome that does not result in a dead deer or hog if they are shot with that bullet. Insufficient penetration? So unlikely that it's nearly impossible. Too tough so no expansion? Very unlikely given traditional large amount of lead exposed at the tip. I've not used PPU SP ammo in .375, but have in .222 and .308, 8x57 and 7.62x39, perhaps a few others. It always shot OK, and behaved in game like any normal cup and core traditional ammo.
 
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Matt, I have not bought them...just because there are so many options in the 375 H&H, but I have little doubt they could make quick work of any elk, it you do your part and aim at the heart/lung region. I did a lot of research into buying these for my 7 x 57 but decided to reload instead.

@enysse, just got back from a trip to Namibia where my ammo box didn’t arrive. I purchased PPU 7x57 173gr as it was all that was available. I was pleasantly surprised with its performance. I shot oryx, Red Hartebeest, blue Wildebeest and even an injured eland with it. The first three species were one shot kills but I must confess the eland took a little more (3). The 7x57 was all that was to hand.
 
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Good question. I bought some and I’m hoping the cases are ok so I can reload. Plan to sight in then use them on pigs and save cases as they were cheap enough to get a start. $3.20 per round. Premium brand cases can come close to that.
Availability is another thing too.
 
@Sika98k beautiful eland, congrats!
 
I haven't used them in 375 but have shot Moose with my 9.3x62. Worked very well but I would suggest they are a little soft. Would work well for anything in North America and probably most Plains Game. Would be pretty leary using them on Buff or Hippo.
 
Reviving this thread. I can get plenty of the PRVI 300s but I've only got my hands on one box of 300 gr A-frames so I plan to do my 300 grain practice with the PRVI. I used to use them in my 9.3x62 with good accuracy but I have been having a difficult time achieving MOA with these in my .375H&H.

My version of quickload doesn't have a good Partizan bullet database so I don't have that tool to use.

I have Varget, RL15 and H4895 (plus a few others, but these are my faves for big cartridges).

65, 66 and 67 grains of Varget got me really inconsistent FPS from 2380 to 2525 and no decent groups.
A cluster around 61 grains of H4895 got me fairly consistent high 2300s/low 2400s but best group was 1.5".

My next batch will be H4895 again, around 62.5 grains unless someone in the AH brain trust has an example of something that worked for them.

I would also be grateful to hear what FPS they would target in a 300 gr load. I've always been a fan of accuracy over velocity but I am new to Africa hunting and don't want to miss key information because I'm afraid to ask a dumb question.

My 250gr TTSX (over 63.5 gr H4895) load is cloverleaf accurate off the bench at 2620 fps and I'm looking forward to taking a spring bear with it next month.

Rifle is a Blaser R8 with 25.75" barrel.

Disclaimer: I am an experienced reloader and understand that anybody giving guidance or direction is not suggesting I try to reproduce their load, merely telling a story of what worked for them, once or twice. I take full responsibility for ensuring my own loads are safe for me to fire.

Thanks all, Allan
 
I’ve shared this story before.

I was once almost nearly killed by a charging bull elephant myself in 2006. I was using a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Musgrave loaded with Prvi Partizan 300Gr round nosed copper jacketed FMJ solid factory loads.

Unfortunately, the bull had charged and I had made an ineffectual frontal brain shot. That bull would have flattened me like a pancake, had my white hunter Devon not successfully downed him with a more efficient frontal brain shot. Devon was armed with a .505 Gibbs magazine rifle which was built by John Bolliger on a Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser action. His bullet of choice was the South African all-brass flat nosed 600Gr DZOMBO MK. VI monometal solid propelled at 2150 fps.

Later, I found out that my Prvi Partizan 300Gr copper jacketed FMJ “solid” bullet had broken up on the elephant’s skull bone and completely split it’s thinnish copper jacket.

I had requested Devon not to shoot unless he saw me get in trouble. And I for one, am immensely glad that he chose to intervene & save my life when he did.

I experienced another issue with Prvi Partizan .375 Holland & Holland Magnum 300Gr round nosed copper jacketed FMJ factory loads. Some cartridges from a box will feed into your rifle, while others from the same box will not. The bolt of a pre ‘64 Winchester Model 70 would close over some of the rounds but couldn’t close over the other rounds from the same box no matter how hard you tried.


That said, I’ve used Prvi Partizan 173Gr soft point factory loads for my 7x57mm Mauser Churchill Gunmakers Model Deluxe and this is absolutely fantastic ammunition. Excellent for all non dangerous game ( and leopard over bait too where legal, I’m sure). I’ll definitely be purchasing more boxes of this ammunition in the very near future.
 
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I’ve shared this story before.

I was once almost nearly killed by a charging bull elephant myself in 2006. I was using a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Musgrave loaded with Prvi Partizan 300Gr round nosed copper jacketed FMJ solid factory loads.

Unfortunately, the bull had charged and I had made an ineffectual frontal brain shot. That bull would have flattened me like a pancake, had my white hunter Devon not successfully downed him with a more efficient frontal brain shot. Devon was armed with a .505 Gibbs magazine rifle which was built by John Bolliger on a Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser action. His bullet of choice was the South African all-brass flat nosed 600Gr DZOMBO MK. VI monometal solid propelled at 2150 fps.

Later, I found out that my Prvi Partizan 300Gr copper jacketed FMJ “solid” bullet had broken up on the elephant’s skull bone and completely split it’s thinnish copper jacket.

I had requested Devon not to shoot unless he saw me get in trouble. And I for one, am immensely glad that he chose to intervene & save my life when he did.

I experienced another issue with Prvi Partizan .375 Holland & Holland Magnum 300Gr round nosed copper jacketed FMJ factory loads. Some cartridges from a box will feed into your rifle, while others from the same box will not. The bolt of a pre ‘64 Winchester Model 70 would close over some of the rounds but couldn’t close over the other rounds from the same box no matter how hard you tried.


That said, I’ve used Prvi Partizan 173Gr soft point factory loads for my 7x57mm Mauser Churchill Gunmakers Model Deluxe and this is absolutely fantastic ammunition. Excellent for all non dangerous game ( and leopard over bait too where legal, I’m sure). I’ll definitely be purchasing more boxes of this ammunition in the very near future.
I have had the same issue Hunter-Habib,
where the PPU’s would not feed in my CZ-550 .375 H&H. 5 or 6 rounds out of 2 x 20 boxes.
Fine for pigs and range time and the brass handles reloading well!
Best priced factory ammo I can source by a long way.
 
PPU is never my first choice but I've shot it in 9.3 x 62 and .308, it's been OK for soft skin animals. I would never take it DG hunting or Plains Game hunting, there are so many better options. Why pay for an expensive hunt and trip to use cheap ammo. The final cost of your ammo is inconsequential to an Africa hunt.

As a fall back and practice round I think PPU is OK. I started shooting 9.3 x 62 several years ago, all my brass is PPU / Privi as it was the only thing available.
 
I wouldn’t personally use them in Africa. I have better options available. I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot deer and hogs with .375 PPU ammo. There’s no doubt they be effective.
 
I have had the same issue Hunter-Habib,
where the PPU’s would not feed in my CZ-550 .375 H&H. 5 or 6 rounds out of 2 x 20 boxes.
Fine for pigs and range time and the brass handles reloading well!
Best priced factory ammo I can source by a long way.
Alby, thanks to you... Now we know that the issue wasn't with pre '64 Winchester Model 70 rifles. But rather with the ammunition itself, since the phenomenon has also been documented in your CZ-550.
 
I've taken both a white tail buck and bull moose with mine. Both were one shot kills, neither passed through.

I also stock up on this stuff for plinking ammo. I've seen over 300 rounds of this through my CZ.
 
PPU produces 4 types of bullets
RNSP (soft point)
FMJ
GROM (type of expanding monolithic)
SOLID RN (non expanding monolithic)


1710282193130.png


However are they all widely available I dont know.
I have rnsp, tried them on paper. (Training) I wouldn't mind hunting in Europe with them.
Grom in smaller calibers has very good reputation.
 
I haven't used PPU factory ammo but I do use their brass in 375 H&H. My impression is that its as good as any other brass. I have used their 9.3 285g soft point projectiles in a 9.3x74R. A basic cup & core bullet that works effectively for thin skinned game, but I wouldn't use it for anything dangerous.

Their .375 300g FMJRN isn't a 'solid' in the sense normally used in african hunting circles. It is just a thin jacket FMJ. I wouldn't mind a supply for cheap practice/training etc. Unfortunately the local PPU agent isn't keen on bringing in their projectiles as they are also the agents for the more expensive brands.
 
Their .375 300g FMJRN isn't a 'solid' in the sense normally used in african hunting circles. It is just a thin jacket FMJ.
You are correct.
But thats why they have Solid, as well
 

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