Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only who has used a 375 H&H for elk

and how did it perform? I got an elk tag this year and I am considering taking my 375 HH just for the fun and history of it. Obviously it is far more than needed but I gotta think a 270 GR TSX would be big medicine.

I took a big cow with mine last year.. A 260 Accubond over a charge of Varget I believe.. We are away now, so can't check the load.. Worked super. I suppose she was 400 yards or so.. She went right down and never moved as far as we could tell.. The only downside, was the drop.. The shot would have been far easier with a 7mm or .300, but it worked fine when it hit.. That is the only thing with that caliber.. We hunt open country and public land, so there is not always time to use a range finder and run turrets.. You have to shoot now, and be able to judge range.. If you are shooting at 300 or less, I would say no problem.. Great caliber.. I killed a moose with it last fall also.. Enjoy..

I never killed an elk with a .375, but am currently working up .375 H&H loads. I caught your reference to a LR shot and am interested in the 250 TTSX with its superior B.C. and slightly faster MV than the 270 TSX. It should, in theory, be a better LR projectile.

But, from what I've read, the 270 TSX may be more accurate than the 250 TTSX. I don't know why that would be, and hope my range experience doesn't confirm it.

DF

If drawn,gonna take my pair of .375's. One is using a 300 gr Sierra and the other a 260 gr NP,figure if I do my part (shot placement) either one will do the job.

Here are two pics of the type of country I'll be hunting. Same area,just a couple miles apart.

I have taken two bulls using the 260 gr Partition loaded to 2700 fps. Worked just fine as expected. Here is one of them.

Excellent question. I've been thinking about taking mine this year too. It will be loaded up with 260gr. Nosler partitions..

I've shot two elk with my .375. The first was a small bull quartering towards me at about 130 yards. Placed the crosshairs on the point of his shoulder and touched off. He took off running and I took another shot which broke the spine and put him down. Now here is the verrry odd part. I was shooting 260 gr. Nosler partitions, 2700 fps. A very good bullet at normal speed. That first bullet hit the top of the humerus, right where the scapula joins it. The scapula was pounded into bits the size of a quarter, but he bullet deflected outwards on impact and failed to penetrate the ribs and chest cavity underneath. If I hadn't connected again with the shot at the running elk I would have lost it.
I thought the relatively big tough .375 bullet would be immune to that kind of behaviour. Nope.
The next season, sitting in the same tree stand, with the same rifle and load, I shot a cow elk just 20 yards further out. She was in roughly the same position, but I moved my point of aim just a tad forward. She wobbled a few steps and fell over. The bullet penetrated the heavy shoulder muscle, broke ribs going in, went thru both lungs, and exited near the last rib on the far side. Exactly what I would expect.
I have seen the shoulder bone socket stop bullets from a .308 before. But I never expected the .375 to have any challenge. You just never know. For what its worth, I consider the .308 entirely adequate for elk.

A pic of the bull in my story...

I've used the .375 H&H on both whitetails and elk.....IMO one gains nothing over a .30-06 on such game....there is no such thing as deader or deadest.....

If one can handle the recoil then go for it because it does give one the confidence that he is using "enough" gun.....LOL
Here's a few pics:

jmp300wsm, The .375 has been my only hunting rifle,for everything,since around 1982.It,obviously,has been my elk rifle since my move to Wyoming in 1985. I did,however,get an AI in 1989 which is my "only" hunting rifle.I'm was very pleased with the performance of the .375 H&H using Hornady 270 SP' s.The only reason that I went to the .375 AI,was to go a lighter rifle with higher velocities(a little more reach).With the AI, I went with the Barnes 270 and have been completely satisfied. I am going to work with the 250TTSX this summer, because of the higher BC. I'm hoping to add another couple of hundred yards to my effective range! I hope that this gave you the info that you were seaking!!!! memtb

I have used mine to take a couple of deer in Texas. As you would expect "no Problem" really am just curious to see how the 270 TSX performs on a much "tougher" bull elk. Every other caliber I have used TSX's in has performed spectacularly But have yet to try these.

I've heard glowing reviews on the 270 TSX, both at the ranga and on game.

I, like you, want to work up some 250 TTSX loads for the reasons you've outlined. I've heard they don't shoot as well as 270 TSX's. I hope that's wrong and I await your report.

DF

Vapodog that is one sharp looking Win 70! Is it a pre 64 or a Classic?

I have harvested 8 or 9 with the Ruger variation. Used the 250 sierra, 235 ttsx, 270 tsx, and the 260 np. All worked fine and shot well. Only ever recovered 1 slug (270 tsx) from a follow up shot that ran nearly the length of the bull. I finally settled on the 260 partition as its pretty hard to beat and shoots the best of the bunch in my rifle.

That's good to hear. I plan on trying a 260gr. nosler partition this year, if the 338 doesn't get him first

Some nice rifles pictured. I threw this swirly on this one to hunt it!! She's ready for some elk huntin...

I've killed a couple with mine and the seemingly popular 260 partition.

Worked just fine, but no better than a .270 Win or .300 Win or anything else.

I have had that 260 partition stop in smaller animals like wolf and whitetail, but not the 2 elk I have killed with it. Weird.

The performance of the 270 gr TSX out of the H&H is somewhat legendary on cape buffalo.

That is what I understand as well. Figure an elk should be a walk in the park?

I've killed several elk with a 375 H&H loaded with the Hornady 270 gr spire point. The outcome was just what you'd expect it to be. One thing that I was pleasantly surprised with is the minimal meat loss (bloodshot) as compared to elk I've killed with other cartridges like the 300 Win. I see no reason not to use the 375 if you want to.

Shot a moose last fall with my .375 Ruger and 250gr TTSX. One shot broadside and it blew right through its neck, bang flop. The 250gr TTSX are accurate in mine, last time at the range I fired my last six rounds at the same target and ended with a one inch ragged hole. I'll be using the same combo this fall.

I've shot one cow with a Ruger No. 1 375 H&H - used a Speer 270. Walked up on her bedded in timber and shot her when she stood up at less than 50 yds. Bang/flop and four legs in the air...

Not an H&H, but I've shot two elk with the 270 gr TSX out of a 375 Ruger at 2700 fps. The first one, the largest bodied bull I have ever shot (all 4 bare quarters on the meat hooks weighed 525 lbs), was shot at 217 yards and the bullet broke both shoulders and was found sitting sideways just under the hide on the off side. It was perfectly mushroomed and weighed 269.3 grains after it was cleaned up.

I have taken 1 elk and 2 deer with the 375 H&H. I used the old Speer Grand Slam bullet, worked fine and hit hard. The Elk was about 400 yards.

Nice shooting!

I've got a few of those old 285 gr Grand Slams left, maybe 25 or so. Really ought to use them on something.

while this is NOT my 375 H&H sako carbine, in the picture posted above, My SAKO CARBINE is almost an exact clone except, that my stocks about 5 shades darker, so its about as dark as walnut gets.
IT been my back-up carbine used, during several years, in the thick timber to my 340 wby rifle for decades.
I love the way it carries and handles, its had both a 2.5X and a 4X Leopold scope.
It accounted for three small but legal (4x4 and 4x5)bull elk and one cow elk in that time.
the carbine like 75 grains of WW760 under a 270 hornady spire point, 215 federal primer.
http://www.hornady.com/store/375-Cal-.375-270-gr-SP-RP/
now my personal experience has shown my my 340 wby and 375 H&H are about IDEAL for my personal elk rifles but its mostly due to both having a flawless record, and my confidence using those rifles, not because that power levels mandatory. a 35 whelen , even a 30/06 with the correct ammo,have also been well proven to work well.
the first bull was at about 120 yards,shot in the mid 1980s, a high heart lung shot he crumpled on bullet impact the bullet passed thru.
the second was standing looking at me from 50 yards, a shot to the center lower neck dropped him instantly, bullet was in the gut.
third was quartering away and walking briskly, a shot hit about mid ribs and exited lower chest,opposite side, he ran about 40-50 feet and dropped.
the cow was out at about 190 yards, she got hit in the chest a bit far back, bullet passed thru, she just stood in shock for 30 seconds then turned to walk away and fell over

http://handloads.com/loaddata/defau...;type=Rifle&Order=Powder&Source=

My Whitworth custom rifle and my Sako Mannlicher stocked .375 H&H have cleanly taken elk with a single round of the Speer 235 grain reloads.

Great cartridge, perfect, in my opinion, for everything from deer to buffalo.

Terry

I need to mess around more with those 235 gr Speer bullets...

I have been kind of surprised at how well they hold together when they open up this much (fired into rather pea-gravelly mud). I imagine they'ed work really well thwopped into a broadside elk's ribs.

I forgot I bought a couple boxes of Hornday 270gr. sp interlocks for my 375 H&H. That should work on elk... I need to load some up and see how she shoots though....

bsa1917unter,
I used those, and loved them in my H&H. I have about 800 or so left from a bulk/blemish purchase many years ago. I used a hundred or so fire-forming for my AI, but with the component shortage I've been saving them!! memtb

Those, frankly like every Hornady I have used in many chamberings, have shot very well in three H&H's I have owned. They make great, oft underrated, bullets IME.

Thanks Ed. I'm a big time Hornady interlock user. They have always seemed to work. I'll work up a load for the old girl one of these days..

The .270 Hornadys work on elk like critters in Africa...






And even on an elk like critter for a pard here in MT...





Performance was flawless.

Does this mean you are stepping out of the closet and admitting the 270 is good for anything and just a tad better than say a 7x57???

Think those 270 gr Hornady's would work in a .375 RUM?

Truth be known...maybe not. Their performance was flawless at 2450 FPS....push them a lot harder and you might shed more weight.......

Fixt it for you.

Thanks Ingwe.

Better off with a 270 gr Swift A-Frame.

I would HIGHLY recommend the Swift A-frame...seems to do well at any speed ( even 2450...) and it expends most if not all its energy in an elk sized target. See the little bump on the Sables shoulder?.....its a 300 gr. A-frame that came in from the other side at about 35 yards.

Beautiful sable.. One animal I wanted but will never get.. Also a beautiful .375.. You still have it?????? How can you shoot plastic stocks after having such a wonderfully beautiful rifle???

Sold the rifle to a bud a few years ago...hes out there killing elk with it

I never babied my rifles and I have wood stocked blued rifles that are 30 years old and look better than most a tenth their age...however I have learned to like the luxury of not paying attention to little dings, bumps, and rainstorms on a SS/Syn rifle

OTOH, being somewhat a traditionalist and hunting Africa in warm dry climates, it seemed to me a sin to use anything other than classic rifles. So I didn't.



Gophers and coyotes don't beg for classic rifles, so they get SS/Syn.

Ok, I see your point.. Ever wish the .375 was back home again?

Thanks again Ingwe. The 300 gr SAF is on the short list of bullets,along with the 260 & 300 gr NP's.

Lovely Sable and .375.

The .375 RUM I have is a Rem 700 SS/Syn. As it is in the gunsafe it weighs 6lbs & 14 ozs. Going to put another stock on it and right now I like either English walnut or a laminate,what say Ingwe?

It also has no iron sights,dunno if I want them or not. Was thinking of using money for iron sights and getting a better grade of English walnut. Do have a fixed Leupold 2.5x scope that is going on the rifle. Again what say Ingwe?

If you aren't gonna put sights and a barrel band on it, and cerakote it matte black, save your money on either the walnut or the laminate.
Either make it classic or keep it pragmatic.

Nope, Im good with it. I grew out of hunting things that you need a .375 for and in my old age am now plinking varmints, deer, antelope and pigs. Don't want to shoot anything thats overly hard to get back to the truck

For all that stuff, stainless/syn works! I especially got confirmation on this when I dropped my rifle from an 8 foot high rack whilst predator hunting in texas last winter. Force of habit had the chamber empty, and even a close look didn't reveal any damage whatsoever, even though it landed on those white rocks in the hill country. Also got rained on the next night....

I am about in the same boat as you are.. Varmints, deer, antelope, pigs, black bear, turkey and birds are my favorites.. while I can see your point of syn rifles, not for me just yet.. Maybe never..

It would be good to be able to say I really don't need this any more and peddle the rifles and shotguns I am pretty sure I have little use for..... BUT something always tells me maybe someday you'll want it, and its paid for an not eating anything...

You' re a lucky man..

Gotcha.

Thanks Ingwe.

You and I are both living in relatively dry climate. Wood/blue has worked for a lot of generations, and its still as good as ever! However I travel a little to hunt, even my varmints so Ive made the switch. My wife bought me a really nice little Model7CDL in .22-250 and I actually took it to Africa.....but Im sure glad it wasn't the one I dropped off that high rack!

Something on the order of this?



Realize it's not a very good pic,but this'll help me out.

I don't see problem with using one. Europeans use 9,3x62 for hunting wild boar, moose, stag,..... When optimally loaded 9,5x73 is about 20% more powerful of the two chamberings. The only problem with H&H round is that factory ammo is 200fps too fast in any given loading it would be nearly perfect round otherwise.