Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Recommend an "All Around .375 Softpoint"

In preparation for my 2011 safari, I just picked up a .375 Model 70 to complement my .458.

Here's what the all around .375 softpoint has to do:

1. Weigh 300 grains. I'll take a few North Fork softpoints and want the softs to shoot to the same POI. I'll load them to 2500+ fps and, at about 3" high at 100 yards, they will be dead on at 200. Special sight-in for leopard, I suspect.

2. Kill a lion. Lions only weigh about 400 pounds but sometimes it's tough to penetrate them, I am told.

3. Kill a leopard. Leopards don't weigh much but you need accuracy for the first shot. You want to kill them DRT if possible (expansion).

3. Kill a buffalo if we chance upon one while hunting plains game.

4. Plains game for bait, etc.

So what are the choices?

1. Nosler partition, which I have used with good results in other calibers.

2. Nosler AccuBond. What's the difference between its performance and the Partition? Some recommend this one instead.

3. TSX: I have successfully used these in my .458. Are they too tough for use on leopard.

My choice of the ones mentioned--hands down would be the 270gr TSX pushed as fast as you can get it. Second choice 300r TSX. And they are NOT too tough for leopard use. jorge

I agree with jorge.

I have used the 270 grain TSX, at nomial 2700 fps, from PG to Buff and it would be my first choice out of a 375....accuracy has been great as well. Second choice would be North Forks or the 300 grain TSX but I have not used either, as the 270 grain TSXs have worked great and see no reason to change.

Have you considered the Swift A-Frame?

I have used them on leopard and buffalo, as well as plains game. They flat work.

Talking to a bunch of PHs, the only bullets that no one has had a bad word to say about were the A-Frames.

Hi IndyCA,

No, I haven't been to Africa... But, I do get obsessive-compulsive about playing with different bullets and loads. Others here can give you more experienced advice, but the really big thing I've learned is how different make bullets of the same weight,, and how the same make bullets of different weights, but same speeds, can have quite different POI, left and right. It has to do with what part of the bullet is touching the lands last... which has to do with bullet shape. There's also plenty to do with seating depth and how the front end greets the lands... much like hand placement on a football. Test and re-test!

I really like North Forks and if you're traveling all that way for a grand adventure, then a few bucks more should be worthy insurance. Here's what I posted on another Africa bullet forum:

The North Forks are a bit spendy,, but nothing compared to what one of my wooden arrows cost. These bullets aren't for everyday target shooting,, but I figure that for going all the way to have an incredible life experience/hunt, the cost of a pizza is all that we're really talking 'bout, and the payoff of bullet integrity and mass-shape retention is well worth it.

I went up to Philomath, here in Oregon, to pick up a box of .308's and got to learn about the metallurgy that goes into these bullets. Very impressive quality of materials and actual processing/heating-cooling, to produce a bullet that won't peel back, or come apart.

These bullets open at low impact velocities and maintain a relatively constant diameter and mass,, and hold together at higher velocities, where other bullets separate, or peel back.

Good shooting!... Ken

+1..

Often overlooked, the Speer 285gr Grand Slam has done well for many years.

As an Oregonian am I genetically programmed to respond "Nosler Partition." In this instance, as with beautiful women, genetic programming and common sense are in perfect agreement

I've used the A Frame on buffalo, both with the 375 & 416. Superb bullet as well. jorge

It is a great bullet for buffalo...VERY tough!

If I had to choose one for everything, it would be the 300 A-Frame...sooo...+1!

Ingwe

Here are three recovered from Zebra(125yd) Eland (175) & Wildebeest (65). The last one is a 180 gr Hornady recovered from an impala at 80 yards,weight 78gr. There's a lesson in there somewhere....jorge

Jorge if you look closely at the bump on this Sable's shoulder, it is a 300 gr. Swift A-Frame that looked exactly like yours...weighed out at 96%...



Ingwe

BUT, it did not exit. Me likey exit wounds so I still say 270TSX.

i would go with the tsx .iam no expert but been there twice and used them on a ton of stuff there .tough as hell!! kudu,gemsbok,blue wildbeast,impala,eland,lioness,zebra,blesbok all taken with 375 h&h tsx 235 gn at 2900 fps a little light for buff though? good luck

TSX.

As for Leopard - shoot far enough north.

Indy,

I have had great success with 300gr Trophy Bonded softs as loaded in the Federal standard velocity factory load. Vey, very accurate in my rifle. So accutate that after trying them I gave up reloading softs for the 375H&H and only load my own solids.

The Trohy Bonded works very well for all sizes of game. I have talen impala and bushbuck up through eland with them, and they have worked equally well at each end of the spectrum and everywhere in between.

I have recovered three, iirc, one from and eland that I spined, one from under the skin on the offside shoulder of a wildebeast and one from a waterbuck. The rest exited, again iirc, and that would be a whole lot that exited. The three recovered bullets all look like they belong in a mgazine add, perfectly mushroomed, with four petals and lead intact.

I would highlt recomend the 300gr Trophy Bonded softs.

Another bullet you ought to consider is the North Fork soft. I haven't tried them but those who have used them report excellent accuracy and phenominal performance on all game.

The one advantage to the Federal factory 300gr Trophy Bonded load is that they are available fairly widely in Zimbabwe in gunshops and amoungst PH's should you find yourself needing additional or replacement ammunition. I have, on two occations, "borrowed" a box when, on extended trips. I was running low. 11lbs of ammo just isn't always enough, even when it makes the trip and doesn't go missing enroute.

Solids are a good idea too. I have used 300gr Woodleighs, but if your rifle will feed the NF's that would be my choice. I shot the Woodleighs into a dead elephant skull to check penetration, and it was sufficient, but you know I like the NF's. I used a Woodleigh as first choice on a grysbok to avoid blowing the little critter to pieces, and when running low on softs I have used them on impala for cat bait. While not prefferred, they will do the job should you need them.

JPK

Hard to beat the Nosler Partition or Swift A Frame. I have used both with great success. I just can't get the TSX to shoot out of my .375. Wish I could!

Mike

What rifle/scope combination is that? Thanks.

Check out the North Fork site and see how the bullet of your caliber choice performs at different velocities. These bullets are essentially a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. You'll notice that they have a good, wide metplat at all velocities and retain a long, massive shank, which keeps them plowing through, straight.

http://www.northforkbullets.com/magento/