Hornady 375 Caliber 250 grain CX Experiences

[Schuetze]

I'm still working up loads for this year's safari. I just received a couple of boxes of the Hornady 375 caliber 250 grain CX (Copper Alloy Expanding) polymer tipped bullets. Has anyone used this bullet and if so: what do you think?

Game this year will be mostly plains game, but I may take a buffalo if I see one that is as good or better than last years. I'll use the tried-and-true Barns 300 grain bullets for that chore, but the lighter Hornady bullet looks to be a better choice for the lighter animals. Given its nicely pointed polymer tip and its boattail design, it should provide flat trajectory for any longer shots.

 

[Andrew62]

I watch a ton of YouTube videos, about 2 years ago a lady shot a cape buffalo on the shoulder with this ammo, the buffalo ran off, they found it 3 or 5 days later and were able to kill it then. Upon inspection, the bullet simply disintegrated on impact and did not penetrate. I hear people have good success with this ammo on plains game, I personally would find a tougher bullet for buffalo.

 

[ThinusS]

I have not hunted with the 250gr CX, but I have shot several large antelope with the 250gr GMX, that was replaced by the CX, experiencing no problems, (in both 9.3x62 and .375 H&H).
I have used the CX in 90gr 6mm, 130gr 6,5mm and 165gr .30-06, hunting a lot of warthog and antelope, including blue wildebeest, kudu and eland, again with zero problems.
I find it difficult to believe that a copper alloy bullet simply disintegrated, maybe it deflected, I have seen this happen with both Peregrine and the old Barnes X. However, I guess anything is possible.

 

[375Fox]

I don’t have experience with this bullet but just be aware I found a 6” difference at 100 yards in point of impact between 250 Barnes TTSX and 300 gr Barnes TSX. I’d assume same for this bullet.

 

[SRvet]

I don’t have experience with this bullet but just be aware I found a 6” difference at 100 yards in point of impact between 250 Barnes TTSX and 300 gr Barnes TSX. I’d assume same for this bullet.

I had exactly the same, a repeatable 11 clicks down on the scope to go from a zero with the 300g TSX to the 250g TTSX.
I used the 250g TTSX to take kudu impala and zebra with no issues at all other than a bit of excessive damage to the impala. I got a complete pass through on a zebra at 150m with good expansion based on tissue damage.

 

[PanhandlinPat]

I load this bullet for one of my 375s. Can’t seem to run it as fast as other solid coppers without hitting pressure. I don’t remember if I ever settled on a load or not, but seems the accuracy was on par with what you’d expect. Only game I’ve shot was a jackrabbit. One thing to note, this thing has the potential to expand to huge diameters. I pulled some out of my dirt (mud at the time) back stop and they’d expanded to well over 3/4”. I think one was close to an inch. They don’t petal and peel back like a triple shock, but rather mushroom out to a balloon shape. I guess next time I have a big dead steer I’ll do some terminal ballistic testing, if I think of it.

 

[Schuetze]

Thanks for all the answers. I've used Varget for most of my 375 H&H loads in the past. I'll start with the usual caution using Varget to start with and work up.

I have a good Leupold 30mm scope on the rifle with good repeatable adjustments. I'll keep that 11 clicks (I assume at 100 yards with 1/4 MOA clicks) in mind for roughly a 3 MOA difference from the 250-grain CX to a 300-grain bullet.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

During COVID I got a few boxes of Hornady 250 GMX for my 375 Ruger. The POI was 5 inches higher than my 300 gr POI.

 

[Azklmsr]

I’m 6 weeks out myself. I have a strong 300 gr TSX load for buff and a strong 250 TTSX for plains game. Similar 3 min vertical set point difference. I put sharpie marks on my scope. Seems to work well

Love 375. Think I may punch it out to 375 Weatherby when I return in July. Very practical way to push to the 350 gr TSX at same speeds as the 300 TSX in the H & H.

 

[Schuetze]

I’m 6 weeks out myself. I have a strong 300 gr TSX load for buff and a strong 250 TTSX for plains game. Similar 3 min vertical set point difference. I put sharpie marks on my scope. Seems to work well

Love 375. Think I may punch it out to 375 Weatherby when I return in July. Very practical way to push to the 350 gr TSX at same speeds as the 300 TSX in the H & H.

Best of luck on your safari!

 

[Captain Jack]

I was not able to find reliable accuracy with this bullet in my otherwise very accurate Kimber .375, despite trying multiple powders and charge weights. Too bad, too, as I like the CX bullet in other calibers.

How did you fare with yours?

 

[Azklmsr]

I was not able to find reliable accuracy with this bullet in my otherwise very accurate Kimber .375, despite trying multiple powders and charge weights. Too bad, too, as I like the CX bullet in other calibers.

How did you fare with yours?

Not bad. Generally better than an inch with the 300 TSX, Superform powder. 250 TSX and CFE223 powder similar.

I will say it was easier to find loads with std bullets (Speer, Sierra, Horn Bonded DX). Those popped in and without the copper drama.

The Barnes bullets tended to like speed with a +\- 1 grain load band. Temp sensitivity was modest and I tested them from 40F to 95F with no significant issues. I’ve got my Safari loads now for this year.

I have lost all sense of recoil sensitivity. 20 to 30 round bench sessions with the heavy 375 loads, aided with a Caldwell pad and a rubber cup on the scope (9X) have manned me up a bit!

Now for a Buff, Croc, Eland, Kudu, and a Zebra! Guess I’ll have to bring 5 bullets!

 

[Bandera]

I used the same 375 Ruger, 300 grain TSX load for Buffalo and plains game.
Maybe think about keeping it simple.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Yep. 300g TSX will shoot further than I’m gonna shoot.

 

[Azklmsr]

No doubt the 300 TSX will do the job for plains game. It's the 3 kudus behind the kudu I'm shooting at that worries me. LOL.

I'm doing 1 well rung out rifle. (300 WBY is home this outing). 2 loads seem pretty manageable.

Wish me luck!

 

[Flipper Dude]

Good luck!

 

[Captain Jack]

Sorry for lack of clarity, I was asking the OP for his experience with the CX bullets specifically. They’re an odd shape and do not lend themselves to easy handholding, at least not in my trials, anyway.

I’m glad you’ve had success with the Barnes though. I’ve been thinking of loading the 250 TTSX for elk and PG. I used factory 270 Nosler ABs on my plains game safari last year and had great success with those.

Good luck on your hunt!

 

[pilar]

IMO Hornady has the whole Dangerous Games 375 line up messed up
The 250 cx should be 270-300 , drop the 270gr interlock to 250gr and drop the DG off the box !
Just my thoughts FWIW , I don’t have much DG experience unless you count hunting Cain cattle/ feral cattle in the tick buffer zone .

 

[Azklmsr]

Sorry for lack of clarity, I was asking the OP for his experience with the CX bullets specifically. They’re an odd shape and do not lend themselves to easy handholding, at least not in my trials, anyway.

I’m glad you’ve had success with the Barnes though. I’ve been thinking of loading the 250 TTSX for elk and PG. I used factory 270 Nosler ABs on my plains game safari last year and had great success with those.

Good luck on your hunt!

Sorry I misunderstood. Reading back, you were perfectly clear.

I've had very good accuracy with Speer 270 btsp. Those dialed in with a multiplicity of powders on my Model 70 with zero issue. I would assume the same would be the case with the 270 Nosler AB's your using. I'd use those as my "fast flat" bullets if it were not for the copper vs Guilding issue I see on my rifle and Barnes says is typical. I've not tried the CX yet, but given your experience and the good accuracy I'm getting with the Barnes, likely won't.

Next year? Depends on whats on the menu. I've got a 416 Rem that I'm working and a desire to harvest and elephant. If that's the case, the 375 will be backup and used on any supplemental plains, or just bring the 300 WTBY. Either way, nice to have some toys

Have a great day

 

[Captain Jack]

Sorry I misunderstood. Reading back, you were perfectly clear.

I've had very good accuracy with Speer 270 btsp. Those dialed in with a multiplicity of powders on my Model 70 with zero issue. I would assume the same would be the case with the 270 Nosler AB's your using. I'd use those as my "fast flat" bullets if it were not for the copper vs Guilding issue I see on my rifle and Barnes says is typical. I've not tried the CX yet, but given your experience and the good accuracy I'm getting with the Barnes, likely won't.

Next year? Depends on whats on the menu. I've got a 416 Rem that I'm working and a desire to harvest and elephant. If that's the case, the 375 will be backup and used on any supplemental plains, or just bring the 300 WTBY. Either way, nice to have some toys

Have a great day

No worries! Yeah, I’m slowly switching over to all copper for a few reasons, but I have a pretty good stockpile of Accubonds and various other traditional/bonded bullets to work through first.

I’ve got the same issue with an abundance of suitable Africa rifles. Only so much room in the luggage, you know. Guess I’ll take the pretty ones!

Have a good one.