I have decided to load 235 gr bullets for deer and other sundry little critters and wonder if any of you have loads that work for you. I was looking at RL15 or H414 at about 2700. How does the big case do with low case powder densities? Should I be putting filler in? I have been reloading ffor years but this is my first light for calibre loads at low speed. The H414 has more volume for the charge and that is my reason for considering it. I use it a lot for smaller bores like 30-06 and 7x57 where it gives excellent consistancy.

Thanks in advance

Randy

I run 235gr TSX's over 75 grains of RL15 in my .375H&H. Get a little over 2800 fps with 26" barrel. Could probably go a little faster. But this was accurate, so I just stopped. One mule deer doe so far at 90 yards. One and done.

Picked up a couple boxes of 235gr Speer HotCor's to try. But have not gotten around to trying them yet.

I used the 235 speer ahead of 69gr of reloader 15. Is not bad to shoot at all and hammers em

I used the 235 Speer with 84.8 grains of BL-C 2. It was 2800 FPS+ as I recall with out digging out the test records. 1.25" or less at 100 yds. I got the load from Hodgdon, 25" barrel CZ

Africa Hunter,

Did you have or see any pressure signs with the BLC2 and Speer 235's ? My first attempt at the 235gr TSX's was with BLC2 based on the Hodgdon website. Velocities for starting loads on the chronograph were WAY faster than max. I switched to RL15. Have had good accuracy and no surprises with pressures or velocities using RL15.

I understand there is a significant difference in bullet construction. However, I did not expect the radical delta in pressures. If BLC2 behaves well with the Speer bullets, I may go back and try that again. Which primers were you using ?

I am loading 225 grain Hornady bullets with IMR3031 for a friend that is recoil sensitive in the extreme. These bullets are going down range at approx 2450, which if you stop to think about it is plenty to kill a deer, moose, or bear, since it nearly duplicates a 30-06 220 grainer. Call me later today, and I'll give you the exact load data. The actually shot pretty good out of his Voere - three into around an inch at 100 yards.

Knowing that your CZ550 is such a tack driver, I cannot imagine that this load would not suffice for sniping deer from your "stand."

How does it duplicate the 06 beyond velocity? That bullet in the 06 has a SD of about .330 while the 375 225 has a SD of about .240. The 06 gives up better than 20% in diameter to the 375. Not even close for a comparison. The 220 is a heavy for caliber load in the 06 so should be compared with a 300 or even 350 for the 375 to get a close comparison.

However, on a deer size animal I suspect that would be an excellent close range load with adequate shot placement. I used a moderately speedy 270 grain bullet this year on a smallish buck and found its performance to be excellent with minimal meat damage and a excellent killing power. I can certainly understand some folk are recoil avoiding but, at the moment I can assure you I never hear the rifle go off or feel the recoil. Perhaps others have a different experience?

Randy - I haven't used them on game yet, but got some 235 gr Speer bullets from a friend who used to hunt mule deer, bear and elk with a .375 years ago. He described the results on game as "a train wreck" which I took to mean that it put 'em down real well. He's still quite a shot.

Curious, I loaded up some 235's over Varget for about 2700 fps. Still haven't found a real accurate load, but I haven't tried real hard yet either.

I did slam one of the 235 gr bullets into a row of water-filled one-gallon plastic milk jugs at about 20 yards. It fared much better than I anticipated:









That bullet was recovered from the 5th jug. It weighed 180 grains and measures .73" diameter.

FWIW, Guy

I used the 235 speer on a impala and a warthog in 1993. At a 2900 fps mv it was devastating. Tore a big hole though the impala but did not exit a 20 yard broadside shot on the 225# wartie. The pig died instantly though.

Bb

I use the 235 .375 in a .375 Hawk at about 2800 fps. and it kills stuff dead. Hogs and deer. I haven't recovered on including in a 250 lbs. hog; TOO much penetration.

I've been using the Speer 235 in a couple of .375 H&H rifles for a very long time. These have dropped - I SAID DROPPED - every animal except one stubborn elk almost instantaneously, he went thirty yards before falling. I load them to velocity of 2,860 and they are very accurate at that speed, less so at reduced speed. The Speer 235s and the Hornaday 300s - softs and solids - worked in Africa 9 times, and will probably work again.

Terry

Hodgdon lists H4895 for the 375 H&H. You could use their reduced recoil load recipe.


http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf