Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 375 H&H for deer?

I don't use a 375, but I do use a 9.3x62 with 250 gr Accubonds.

Ingwe...excuse my ignorance, but is the concept this: The lighter the projectile, pushed at higher velocities, the more damage tissue-wise? If so, a .250-3000 Savage with a bullet of either 87-100 grains will make more of a mess than say the .375 H&H or a .444 Marlin? Interesting!

Very basically speaking, yes, thats about it....others will confirm or deny but an impact velocity of 2500fps +or- seems to be the magic number as far as big holes, explosive action etc... Of course a lot depends on the boolit used etc...
But for instance...a 220 gr. bullet in a .30-06 does CONSIDERABLY less damage, meat and bloodshot-wise- than a 150 grainer...
Compare..if you ever get the chance..a shoulder shot deer with a basic CnC bullet going say 2900fps, with a shoulder shot deer killed by a 45-70 @ 1200fps, or a round ball from a muzzleloader @1100 fps...
In the first case, youll be scrapping some meat and cleaning up bloodshiot, in the latter case, as the old timers say..."you can eat right up to the hole"...
An example for you with the .375 on small stuff. I was calling jackals in Namibia a few years back, got a few in and shot them with my 7x57...popped them open in a big way...
Did the same with the .375 and a 270 grain bullet, and it just put a quarter sized hole through them...

Ooodles of light game...Impala, Hartebeest, springbok, etc are killed each year with the .375 and utilized as table fare...

I hope this helps, and that my ballistic gack explanation didn't get too convoluted,I can get carried away...

Ingwe

As a small tangent does anybody have a good "deer load" for the .340 Wby? I mean, obviously my 340's preferred load of a 210 TSX at a little over 3000fps works (assuming I'm not having to stop a charge) but the "eat right up to the hole" factor is out the window.

A lot depends on whether or not you hit bones or if you slip one between the ribs.

I'm using mine for deer season this year. We'll see what kind of damage it does. Using 270gr Hornady's. I used this same round on impala and gemsbok and hole wasn't much bigger on the exit side than entry.

Heeler, you won't be disappointed! I don't listen to people with opinions, I listen to people with experience! And it seems like Ingwe and Whelennut have the experience! Good to see there are some hunters on here and not just armchair wannabes!!

Have you got one yet? Glad I'm not the only loon in Tennessee packing a .375 this season!

I am going to be bundled up and sitting 15 feet up a white oak in Cannon County with a Ruger No.1 Tropical in 10 hours and 15 mins. If Mr. Big stumbles by he gets a 270 grainer through the slats.

Yeppers. Right now at my house I have at least one each of: .243, .270, .30/06, 7 Mag, .300 Win Mag, & .375 H&H. The .375 is my go to gun, the one I pick up when going out for big game. I have used the Barnes 235 gr X and the Speer 270 gr BTSP. Trying a new load of 250 Sierra Game Kings with RL-15. Have yet to get anything with that load.

Like others have said you can eat right up to the bullet hole. If I was at my home computer I could post pictures of what an exit hole looks like. On a lighter note you ought to see what it does to prairie dogs.

I could kill any thing in NA deader than yesterday's puppy love with a single shot from any of the other calibers. So why do I use the .375? I flat out like it! It is an old friend that smacks with authority.

One bit of advice would be to reload because feeding a .375 factory ammo can get pricey.

Let us know how that Sierra works out. I have some but haven't tried them on game yet. They are to be a replacement for the 260 ballistic tips that gave erratic performance even on light game.

So far accuracy wise I am quite pleased. I am getting 3 shot groups in the range of 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" @ 100 yards. I measure my groups outside to outside.

I didn't bag an animal with the Sierras but I did torture test them. They were going an estimated 2800 fps or so. About 10 to 20 feet off the muzzle it completely penetrated at least 5" of a green tree. You would figure at that close of a distance it would splatter. Also at 25 feet or so they penetrated about 9-1/2" of seasoned log before it found a rotten spot to get out. Didn't splatter either. Did not appear to have any core jacket seperation. Seeing how they held together at high velocities encourages me to try them on game. We'll have to wait and see how they expand at lower velocities.

Looking back on the replies and I had to laugh at this one...This is coming from a guy with an avitar of a 3 foot flame coming out of some un-Godly hand cannon...now THAT is funny schittt!

Ok guys! Here it is. I got a small 5 pt here in TN today with my new 375 H&H. 235 Speer @ 2750 fps. 60 yd shot, bullet entered where the neck joins the shoulder and exited behind the off shoulder. Exit was 1 in diameter! NO MEAT DAMAGE!!! but inside the chest, the organs were mush. Just the way it's supposed to be - fast humane instant kill. The deer traveled 2 feet after the hit - STRAIGHT DOWN!

Tennesse .375s rule, apparently. I busted a small 7 point and a larger 5 point this morning. I will post details and pics later this weekend. Too dang tired right now. Had a 400 yard drag X 2...gotta get an ATV; 50 hurts.

One exit hole was a little large as it smacked right through the upper leg joint. Insides were pureed by the 270 grainers.

Best thing was the kick with the muzzlebrake removed was like a .270 and so was the perceived blast.

Nice job! 2 deer in one day! WHERE DO YOU HUNT?? LOL!

Way to go!!

Two in one day. Awesome!!

Sounds like a twin to my 375 Winchester in a lever action Big Bore 94. Certainly does knock them flat.

sure I guess if you want to tote it, seems like a lot of rifle for a little bit of meat, but what ever floats the old boat

Ruger #1 or Whitworth Mauser - 235 grain Speer over 83 grains of 4350 - priceless deer/elk/whatever load!

Terry