Got my second .375 H&H up and running. Weatherby action, 26 inch barrel. Looking for a longer range load. Purchased some Sierra 300 Grn Game Kings, anyone with a pet load. I have had great luck with the 270 Grn Barnes X in my "Africa" .375 but want to stretch this one with a higher BC load. Help please
.375 H&H Longer Range Load - Help
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comfisherman
Well-Known Member
Id look at noslers website and use the 300 grain accubond load data. Would assume that they have similar baring surfaces and with similar weights starting with 10% down and working up would be a safe bet.
Rhino Bullets, a London, England company, makes a 380-gr. bullet available from a place in Salem, Oregon:
Safari Bullets | Specifications
I don't know how it would work for longer ranges, but it's the heaviest one I could find.
Note the recoil with such a bullet using maximum loads will make accurate shooting very difficult. I know of a person who used 350-gr. custom made boattail bullets in his .375 H&H for 1000-yard matches back in the 1960's. The 14-pound rifle's recoil was brutal. But accuracy was very good only when he was able to hold the rifle repeatably from shot to shot as it moved quite a bit while the bullet was going down the barrel, just like large bore double rifles. He finally gave up on the project and went back to 30 caliber magnums.
Safari Bullets | Specifications
I don't know how it would work for longer ranges, but it's the heaviest one I could find.
Note the recoil with such a bullet using maximum loads will make accurate shooting very difficult. I know of a person who used 350-gr. custom made boattail bullets in his .375 H&H for 1000-yard matches back in the 1960's. The 14-pound rifle's recoil was brutal. But accuracy was very good only when he was able to hold the rifle repeatably from shot to shot as it moved quite a bit while the bullet was going down the barrel, just like large bore double rifles. He finally gave up on the project and went back to 30 caliber magnums.
I find the recoil on my Winchester 70 .375 H&H with 300 Grn Barnes X to be moderate at best. the rifle weighs just over 10 lbs with the S&B 1.5x6. I put 80 rounds down range yesterday and another 60 with a .300 Weatherby that weighs about the same and bucks a bit more. Again, certainly dont find the recoil to be hard to manage in a .375, I HATE muzzle breaks, dont feel the have a place on a hunting rifle. If you cant handle the recoil buy a smaller caliber. Sorry thats my soap box. Now back to the load, thanks I will look up that bullet and BC, I am thinking 300 Grn Sierra is heavy enough, just looking for anyones pet load data.
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
dig,
For stretching shooting distance the single most important item, besides the cartridge and rifle, is being able to shot consistently. The greatest innovation for increased consistency, for me, is the muzzle brake.
Pushing 300s as hard as I could in a Ruger #1 was only comfortable for off hand shooting. I had no nifty stuff hanging on it. Even had that thin red Ruger butt pad.
Right off the bat I'd suggest a brake such as the Muscle Brake by Jim See on this forum. With Kirby's PK brake on my 375 AM results in not much more than a twitch when she ignites.
Your barrel is of a good length for stretching things a bit.
The key to stretching it is "bc" and velocity. A balance between bc and velocity may well be key to success.
Do some computer runs with JBM Ballistics or some such program to see what turns out best.
Here are some bullet selection suggestions:
Hornady 300 gr - 0.460 G1 bc
Nosler 300 gr - 0.485 G1 bc
Rocky Mtn 370 gr - 0.926 G1 bc - Most probably too heavy to get adequate MV.
Sierra Game King - 300 gr - 0.475 G1 bc
Speer #2472 - 270 gr - 0.429 G1 bc
I'm thinkin' 1800 fps would be about max range to ensure expansion. But with the amount of FPE remaining I think I'd go for bone with the large 375 bullets.
Keep us posted
For stretching shooting distance the single most important item, besides the cartridge and rifle, is being able to shot consistently. The greatest innovation for increased consistency, for me, is the muzzle brake.
Pushing 300s as hard as I could in a Ruger #1 was only comfortable for off hand shooting. I had no nifty stuff hanging on it. Even had that thin red Ruger butt pad.
Right off the bat I'd suggest a brake such as the Muscle Brake by Jim See on this forum. With Kirby's PK brake on my 375 AM results in not much more than a twitch when she ignites.
Your barrel is of a good length for stretching things a bit.
The key to stretching it is "bc" and velocity. A balance between bc and velocity may well be key to success.
Do some computer runs with JBM Ballistics or some such program to see what turns out best.
Here are some bullet selection suggestions:
Hornady 300 gr - 0.460 G1 bc
Nosler 300 gr - 0.485 G1 bc
Rocky Mtn 370 gr - 0.926 G1 bc - Most probably too heavy to get adequate MV.
Sierra Game King - 300 gr - 0.475 G1 bc
Speer #2472 - 270 gr - 0.429 G1 bc
I'm thinkin' 1800 fps would be about max range to ensure expansion. But with the amount of FPE remaining I think I'd go for bone with the large 375 bullets.
Keep us posted
benchracer
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From what I can tell, the Barnes Triple Shock X bullets are the best of the bunch in terms of G1 BC's for .375 bullets that will stabilize in a factory twist barrel.
The 300 gr. SGK is notably inferior to the 270gr Barnes TSX in the BC department and even more so to the 300gr TSX.
The 260 gr Nosler Accubond has about the same BC as the SGK and could be launched quite a bit faster. It would still be inferior to either of the Barnes TSX's.
Unless you intend to re-barrel to a custom twist, your best bet would be to go with the highest BC you can find in a bullet in the 270 gr weight class and push it as fast as you can.
IMO, that spells Barnes TSX or Nosler Accubond.
Depending on what kind of velocity you are able to achieve, the 235 gr TSX may also be worth a look. It has a .400 G1 BC. If it has enough of a velocity advantage vs a 270 gr bullet, it might be worthwhile. Running the numbers through a ballistic program would likely tell the tale.
The 300 gr. SGK is notably inferior to the 270gr Barnes TSX in the BC department and even more so to the 300gr TSX.
The 260 gr Nosler Accubond has about the same BC as the SGK and could be launched quite a bit faster. It would still be inferior to either of the Barnes TSX's.
Unless you intend to re-barrel to a custom twist, your best bet would be to go with the highest BC you can find in a bullet in the 270 gr weight class and push it as fast as you can.
IMO, that spells Barnes TSX or Nosler Accubond.
Depending on what kind of velocity you are able to achieve, the 235 gr TSX may also be worth a look. It has a .400 G1 BC. If it has enough of a velocity advantage vs a 270 gr bullet, it might be worthwhile. Running the numbers through a ballistic program would likely tell the tale.
Good idea. Just be sure the ballistic coefficients and software used are based on actual time of flight data testing the bullets between two screens. Data calculated from any other method is too often wrong. And the "wronger" it gets, the greater the error in bullet drop as range increases.
Thanks guys been using the 270 Grn Bares X (now Triple Shock) For years its a great comprimise and hammers game, buffalo, moose, bison, eland, elk, the Sierra and Nosler have a better BC so will try those in the 300 grn range. Interestingly I loaded some old Speer 250 Grains and they pushed just over 2,900 ft per sec (warm day) with no pressure, and grouped right under an inch. I have found the bigger calibers do not tend to be as bullet sensative for groups. It will be a couple weeks but will update everyone on the progress.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
Dig,
I have gone this route with my 375H+H before I re-chambered to the Weatherby version.
My best loads were found with 2 very different powders; ie: H4350 and Win760. Both powders gave similar velocities with Sierra 300gr SPBT's, around 2600fps AVERAGE VELOCITY.
The H4350 load was 80gr's and the 760 load was with 79gr's. I found 760 to be kinder on my brass, the primer pockets didn't open for more than 10 firings. All loads were in Winchester W-W Super brass with a WLRM primer.
BTW, the best long range bullet I have found in this calibre is the Nosler 260gr Accubond, which I was able to safely get an average velocity of around 2750-2790fps depending on the powder used.
On a side note, the 375Weatherby can achieve 2950fps with this bullet, making it an even better long range venture, mind you the recoil is a bit much from prone, even with a 14lb rifle!
Best of luck with it.
Cheers,
MagnumManiac.
benchracer
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Barnes 270 gr TSX BC .503
Barnes 300 gr TSX BC .555
Nosler 260 gr Accubond BC .473
Nosler 300 gr Accubond BC .485
Sierra 300 gr Gameking BC .475
MidwayUSA shows factory loads from CorBon and Double Tap for the Barnes 235 gr TSX loaded to 3000fps and 3100fps respectively. A quick run on the JBM Ballistics trajectory calculator shows the 235 gr TSX @ 3000fps beating the 270 gr TSX @2700fps in drop to 1000 yards and retained velocity to 600. The 270 gr TSX drifts less and retains more energy at pretty much all ranges. The 300 gr TSX @ 2600fps does even better at wind drift and retained energy. Drop and retained velocity are very similar to the 270 gr TSX.
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Thanks, thats great info I should have looked a bit harder at the Barnes, love the bullet. I have multiple boxes of the 270 Grn X I purchased when the TSX came out I was afraid it would not shoot as well (like those stupid coated ones) so literaly stocked up. Now I will try te TSX cant beat the Barnes Bullet for performance!
As for the Weatherby Mag conversion could not agree more, fantastic cartridge and does not kick bad at all, now the 378 Weatherby Mag, forget it! Much worst than the 460 Weatherby Mag.
Be a week or two headed on a spring bear hunt but will order and try the TSX 270, SKG 300 and maybe the nosler.
Thanks everyone! Great advice! Except the muzle break, lol.
As for the Weatherby Mag conversion could not agree more, fantastic cartridge and does not kick bad at all, now the 378 Weatherby Mag, forget it! Much worst than the 460 Weatherby Mag.
Be a week or two headed on a spring bear hunt but will order and try the TSX 270, SKG 300 and maybe the nosler.
Thanks everyone! Great advice! Except the muzle break, lol.
Yes to both and certainly stock has something to do with it synthetic on the .378 Wby as opposed to wood on the .460 however I find that the bigger high velocity calibers (.338-.378, .378 Wby) have a much sharper and violent recoil than the heavier slower calibers (.375, .416, .458). The .458's, Winchester and Lott, tend to be very gentle in comparison. My 375 H&H and .300 Weatherby Mag both wear McMillan stocks of similar design and weigh it within 1 lb yet the .300 Wby has noticably sharper recoil.
comfisherman
Well-Known Member
Check those barnes bc's from midway against what barnes publishes. I got all hot and excited when I saw the .400 bc on the 235 tsx. Thought I could drive those fast for me, and down load them for my wife.... Then I was given a barnes catalog and the bc from them is .270 which isnt all that exciting.
From barnes website
375 Caliber
Diameter Weight Description S.D. B.C. CAT#
.375" 235-gr TSX FB .239 .270 37552
.375" 270-gr TSX FB .274 .326 37556
.375" 300-gr TSX FB .305 .357 37558
.375" 350-gr TSX FB .356 .425 37560
for a straight across 300 grain comparison, a .357 bc compared to a .485 of the accubond is no comparison. I'm not entirely sure why midways are so off, their adds are pretty solid. Usuaslly my gold standarad for the 375 hh is 4350 and win 760 but my goal was speed in a 19.5 tube.
From barnes website
375 Caliber
Diameter Weight Description S.D. B.C. CAT#
.375" 235-gr TSX FB .239 .270 37552
.375" 270-gr TSX FB .274 .326 37556
.375" 300-gr TSX FB .305 .357 37558
.375" 350-gr TSX FB .356 .425 37560
for a straight across 300 grain comparison, a .357 bc compared to a .485 of the accubond is no comparison. I'm not entirely sure why midways are so off, their adds are pretty solid. Usuaslly my gold standarad for the 375 hh is 4350 and win 760 but my goal was speed in a 19.5 tube.
