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> 375 H&H bullet selection
375 H&H bullet selection
@ 11:23 pm (GMT) |
Olivier ROUVIEREAfter 10 years of successful big game hunting in Europe exclusively with 308 Win (ELD-X / Tipstrike), I'm planning to go on safari before I turn 60 to hunt 1 Buffalo and 1 Sand. The first thing to do is to follow local regulations and I've decided to go for the 375H&H.I'd like to cover light, medium and heavy game, with the same point of impact at 30m, which is my zero distance. What would be the best bullet selection? - Trio: Federal Power Point 300gr / DGX Bonded 300gr / DGS 300gr (CNS shooting only) or - Double: Interlock 270gr for PG and TSX 300gr or - Another combination? With all my consideration to the Nathan community |
Replies
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@ 11:44 pm (GMT) |
Olivier ROUVIERERe: 375 H&H bullet selection... to hunt 1 Buffalo and 1 Sable |
@ 07:43 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 375 H&H bullet selectionHi Olivier, much will depend on your expected ranges for plains game (ask your guide) and also whether you are using a bolt action / scope or a double rifle.Both of the combo's you suggest have merit, it just depends on the set up and ranges. For example, the 300 Grain Powershok is a round nose with a real world velocity somewhere between 2400 and 2500fps depending on barrel length. If you want to reach out a bit with this, it will need to be sighted (scoped rifle) 2" high at 100 yards, dead on at about 150 and 2" low at 200 yards. Do not expect any bullet expansion beyond 200 yards (below 1800fps). You could try going all Hornady, running the 270gr Interlock alongside the DGX. The 270gr features the same jacket as the SST / ELD-X but without the fast expanding tip design - a basic conventional bullet loaded to a decent muzzle velocity. The DGX bonded is of course very tough. Differences in bullet shape and also bullet material can have a dramatic effect on the POI so you will have to experiment to see how it all fits together. I don't really want to go too far into this because the choice will ultimately depend on what is available to you locally and how the loads print together. Instead I will say that when used on buffalo, the .300 grain loads will impact at a rather low speed regardless of bullet shape. The key therefore, is to get close (to enhance hydraulic force) and keep your shots well forward. Regarding solids - A true flat nosed solid can produce hydraulic force. A round nosed solid not so much. Either way, if using these for body shooting, aim at the front line of the front leg (broadside) and not at the center of the front leg (as when using the line of the leg as a ref point). All of this aside, for DG, you will likely want to run some form of expanding bullet for the first shot (e.g. DGX) with solids in reserve. You cannot take a bovine down immediately if aiming behind the shoulder (meat saver) with any .375 bullet design. But it is also difficult to obtain a pole axe effect with good shoulder shot placement simply because the cartridge speed is low. You just have to think your way through it, shoot, reload and then watch. You don't have to riddle it with bullets immediately - just a matter of not looking like a deer in head lights after the first shot - cycle the action and stay focused. You mentioned CNS shooting. You can if you want, use an expanding bullet and aim for the low neck / neck shoulder junction. This can tip heavy animals over immediately but it can help to have a small level of weight shedding (bonded lead core / 10 to 20% shedding) as one does not always hit center spine and any fragments can help broaden destruction (spine and arteries). The worst shots occur when people get flustered by the novelty of the situation and for example, with the animal quartering on, simply think 'aim at the shoulder' without taking time to visualize the bullet path, failing to understand that from a quartering on angle, a center shoulder aim will produce a slow killing (zero reaction) rear lung shot. You must try to avoid being flustered and visualize the bullet path from all angles. Although the front third of the lungs are smaller than the center (the center located tight behind the shoulder), you will achieve higher overall trauma by thinking 'front third'. OK, hope that helps a bit. All the best for the hunt. |
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@ 05:57 pm (GMT) |
Olivier ROUVIERERe: 375 H&H bullet selectionHello Nathan, and thank you for your reply.The rifle will be a straight-pull action R8 23" barrel + Kahles k16i scope. I will stick with the DGX/DGS combo for short range bovine as you mention and choose one of the only 2 options available in soft point bullet, starting with the 270 interlock which will give me more range than the Federal Power-Shok. Yours sincerly |
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