Choosing the right 375 H&H bullet

[FITASC666]

375 H&H 300 gr RN soft point

I posted this in the hunting thread and have yet to get answers. My guess is the accumulated knowledge of reloaders will bear fruit.

I've been shooting Federal 300 gr Power-Shok and have purchased Hornady Heavy Mags also RN soft points yet about 200fps faster at muzzle. Now Hornady is out with the DGX; Dangerous Game eXpanding offered in 300gr RN soft point back down to around 2500fps.

What are the fundamental differences in bullet construction, if any, and could they all be used as Dangerous Game ammunition, followed by solids?

Thx

 

[cdet69]

the 375 has a variety of different bullets. their are two types of soft points. one with a thinner jacket for thin skinned game and one with a heavier jacket for things such as lion. I believe the gmx are their all copper bullet which puts it between the two soft points far as application. solids are for head shots on elphant or buffs where max penatration is needed. also good for body shots for same reason. you can also use a hornady 220FP for deer which is an even lighter jacket than all the rest.

 

[loadedround]

Why not give the Hornady Tech Service people a call (1-800-338-3220) and discuss your questions with them and get factual information from the so called "horse's mouth"? What you will get from us is just opinions.

 

[Shoney]

Around 30-35 years ago I used the 375H&H for NA big game (deer, elk, grizzly, antelope, and even shot a few prairie poodles). The selection of bullets were not as good then as they are today.

I settled on the Hornady 270 gr bullet. It performed very well, shot very accurate groups to 350 yards, and was economical. Today Hornady has 6 different 300 gr bullets to choose from.

If I were to be working up loads NA game from todays bullets, I would seriosly look at the Nosler 260 Partition, and the Hornady 300 gr BTSP.

For large African antelope, the 270 gr Hornady or the the Nosler 260 Partition, and for dangerous game either Nosler 300 gr Partition and solid.

 

[Casefull]

I use barnes bullets in mine...depends on what you are hunting?

 

[FITASC666]

Hornady Tech Support

I have spoken with them and the young man assured me both rounds would do the job. That's when I got skeptical. If both do the same then why bother with a new line of ammunition.
Anyways, I can count on TBBC or Barnes Xs for the first shot(s) and follow up with solids.
The quarry is Cape Buffalo, then large coastal black bear in BC Canada.

 

[ForneyRider]

We went with 225gr Hornady and 235gr Speer for non dangerous game. 235gr used to be a factory load. The 220gr are FN for 375 Winchester lever guns. I think 1-2 people make a 200gr in 375 caliber for .375JDJ pistol. But they are all .375 caliber.

We went with 300gr Partition for moose and bear in Alaska. This with IMR 4350 powder. We use Varget for the lighter bullets.

There is an article on yearly G&A mag by Coddington regarding the 375H&H. He shot his elephant at 7 yards. He discusses his ammo in the article.

The solids are for max penetration and little to no deformity or weight loss in the bullet. Nosler, Barnes, Hornady and others make banded solids.

My brother just sent me a lion hunt video where the hunters stalked a lion. The lion charged, and the hunter made a head shot. The lion was dead as it slid into the crouching man. No marks on the hunter except for some saliva. There are "lion loads" specifically for that type of hunting. I responded to the email with the words "F that".

My dad uses his Winchester mdl 70 375H&H to shoot coyote, hog and deer. The 300gr Partition really puts those monster coyotes down. I got him a 30-30 Winchester this year.

Hornady has "Heavy Magnum" for traditional labeled magnums such as 7mm Mag, etc. with loads that are about 200fps faster. Their "Light Magnum" is for non-magnum loads that have been boosted. E.g. 30-06 Springfield Light Magnum is about 300 Win Mag velocity and 270 Win "Light Mag" is about 270 WSM velocity.

The GMX is marketed to compete with Nosler E-Tip and Barnes X bullets that are non-lead. GMX are going to expand like a normal bullet, whereas a banded solid is engineered to not expand. Depending on your game, and your hunting tactics, will decided between the GMX or a solid.

Norma PH line offers 375H&H with 350gr Woodleighs.

 

[FITASC666]

Forneyrider

Thank you for the answer. Have you any experience with Norma's PH 350gr Woodleighs. I used the Woodleigh several years ago in a .338 in Federal's 250 gr. Good Moose medecine. I'm now thinking of Cape Buffalo. Not the same beast.

 

[Casefull]

I like the idea of some solids in your mix with the cape buffalo. Those things have heavy bone and you don not want the hollow points coming apart on impact...the solids are going to penetrate always.

 

[FITASC666]

Loadedround - Erratum

This is the email reply from Hornady:
The DGX will give more penetration with more weight retention. The gilding material is different as it is electronically applied to the steel jacket. They are not bonded. The ammo that you purchased is very sufficient for the black bear. Thanks

 

[ForneyRider]

I haven't tried the Woodleighs but my brother asked me to make him some of the 250gr for his 8x57.

The Woodleigh's for the Norma loads are FMJ or SN. I never hunted Africa or Cape Buffalo. But watching the hunting videos and reading the magazine ads, the style of hunting is basically getting the Cape Buffalo/Elephant to come up to you and you put him down with a double rifle with banded solids facing him head on. A few other videos showed 100-150yard shot with 375H&H broad side. For the broad side shot, I would use the Norma 350gr FMJ or SN.

Woodleighs are not a precision tool like a Partition or the GMX.

 

[Reid73]

This is the email reply from Hornady

Seems like it was a reasonable response.