.375 H&H, AI, or Weatherby Mag

[Pigoutultra]

Is there any feeding reliability difference with between these cartridges? If so, is the performance difference worth it? Is it true that you don't need to buy special brass for the AI or WM cartridges, just fire-form H&H brass? Please describe your experience with any of these cartridges.

 

[Loosedhorse]

We gotta stop meeting like this, Pigoutultra!

H&H, of course.

1. The straighter (non-tapered) the case wall, the stickier the extraction with hot rounds.
2. More velocity is likely to get you LESS penetration with soft-points.
3. More velocity will get you more recoil.
4. Ammo availablity and cost.

Why mess with perfection? Just 'cause old P.O. says he "improved" the .375, doesn't make it so!

 

[Robert]

H&H hands down.

 

[SaxonPig]

1. I always favor standard, readily available calibers over exotics and (shudder) wildcats.

2. The performance gains in the Weatherby and the customs mentioned don't justify the expense and trouble. Guys buy Weatherbys so they can say they own one, not because the additional 150 FPS makes a lot of difference.

 

[MachIVshooter]

not because the additional 150 FPS makes a lot of difference.

More like 400 FPS between .375 H&H and .378 Wthby., and a 40% increase in energy. That's a lot.

Is it true that you don't need to buy special brass for the AI or WM cartridges, just fire-form H&H brass?

The AI case is made by fireforming. The .375 Weatherby is basically the AI, and has been obsolete for half a century; The current .378 Weatherby cartridge is an all around bigger case.

The .378 Weatherby and .375 Remington Ultra Mag are a completely different class of .375 caliber cartridges, hitting harder at 200 yards than the H&H does at 50.

 

[SaxonPig]

OK, my "off the top of my head" estimate of 150 FPS was low. The 400 claim is a little high. Specs for both indicate a little less than 300 FPS increase with the 300 grain bullet for the WBY over the H&H and that is significant.

But is it needed? Is it worth the extra cost and trouble of dealing with an exotic cartridge? Is there anything you need to shoot with a 375 caliber 300 grain bullet at 2925 FPS because the same bullet at 2645 FPS simply won't do?

Anyone who wants a 378 WBY or any other caliber is welcome to it. I just don't think going exotic is justified in real terms.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 400 claim is a little high. Specs for both indicate a little less than 300 FPS increase with the 300 grain bullet for the WBY over the H&H and that is significant.

From COTW, 12th edition:

.375 H&H, 2 Factory loads listed

-270 gr., 2,690 FPS/4,340 FPE
-300 gr., 2,530 FPS/4,265 FPE

.378 Wthby, 2 Factory loads listed

-270 gr., 3,180 FPS/6,062 FPE (+490 FPS/+1,722 FPE)
-300 gr., 2,925 FPS/5,701 FPE (+395 FPS/+1,436 FPE)

But is it needed? Is it worth the extra cost and trouble of dealing with an exotic cartridge?

That's a different story. I had wanted a .375 H&H from about age 12, but when .375 RUM came out, I decided I'd rather have a rifle capable of spitting out 300 gr. pills at 2,970 FPS (which it does with my loads). Doesn't mean the .375 H&H would have been inadequate, I just liked the idea of a .270 trajectory with twice the bullet.

 

[Loosedhorse]

.378???

Odd cartridge. .378 "belted Rigby," wider case that the .375, slightly longer. Doesn't give you more sectional density than the .375, but again hits hard enough to really upset non-solid bullets (and might lessen penetration). Leaves the barrel hard enough to upset many shooters, too. Guess all you need is a muzzle brake, and now everyone will be upset!

I think such a round might be needed for hunting thick-skinned game at distance--but which of those animals are taken at over 200 yards?

I've seen factory loads for 300gr .375 H&H at 2650fps. Why go higher? Of course, "just because I want to!" is good enough reason.

 

[SaxonPig]

My source shows a 280 FPS difference with the 300. Whichever, the WBY is faster.

And kicks harder.

And is more expensive to shoot.

 

[Pigoutultra]

For options like the .375 AI and Weatherby, rarity of ammo is a moot point. You can just as easily fire plain old .375 H&H ammo in there and viola, yah got yourself once-fired .375 AI or Weatherby brass. At least that's my understanding, if I wrong I would greatly appreciate being corrected in a thr manner.

Edit: OOOhhh, it just dawned on me that perhaps extraction would be just as or more reliable with the AI version due to a larger case capacity. Thus if you loaded it to H&H levels, the pressure would be lower perhaps improving extraction reliability. Am I wrong?

 

[TGReaper]

Betting against the . 375 H&H is a bad idea.

My heavy rifle is a .375 H&H because it is arguably the most versatile cartridge available.

Everything from gophers to big bears.

TGR

 

[mr.trooper]

While I can certainly handle heavy recoil, I would personally rather not deal with it if I don't have to.

That's why I personally would be looking at a 9.3x62 Mauser, or a 35 Whelen were I in the market for a middle bore.

That said, If you HAVE to have one of the cartridges on your list, you simply can't ever go wrong with the classic 375 H&H.