Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game **.375 Bullet Test Results**(lots of pics!)

Stupid thing won't let me post more than a couple pictures per post. Don't have time to fix it now. Will repost later.

Well, dangit...get with the program. We want to see!

Damn, I was looking forward to this.... At least tell us what bullets you were testing.... Photos can come later...

tag for later view

Yep, tag. I was looking for some reading

Yeah hurry up...GRINS...ScottyO.

looking forward to it

Ok, here's a preview.

You're such a tease...

Ok, here's the moment you have all been waiting for.

The line up, as previously revealed:



- The impact velocity was made to duplicate .375 Ruger and .375 H&H loads at 100 yds.
- Expansion was measured at the widest part of the bullet. Take a look at the pictures when comparing the expansion of different bullets, sometime a sliver of lead or copper at an odd angle can give deceptive results.
- Test rifle: Ruger Alaskan .375 Ruger
- Test media: Wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!
- Disclaimer: I know wet newspaper does not give identical result to flesh and bones, blah, blah, blah....

Speer 235gr HC
Average Penetration (inches): 15
Average Weight Retained (grain): 200.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 85.3
Average Expansion (inches): 0.764
Note: Impressed with this little cup and core bullet. Great penetration and retained weight. No sign of the core slipping.

CEB 235gr Raptor
Average Penetration (inches): 23.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 182.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 77.6
Average Expansion (inches): 0.409
Note: Crazy penetration for a 235gr bullet. The petals did shear off in a "star" pattern and really shredded the paper for the first few inches then the shank continued for super deep straight penetration.



Barnes 250gr TTSX
Average Penetration (inches): 18.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 246.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.738
Note: Typical TTSX performance.

Hornady 250gr GMX
Average Penetration (inches): 19.5
Average Weight Retained (grain): 247.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.9
Average Expansion (inches): 0.753
Note: If this was a beauty contest, the GMX would win for sure. Very impressed with this bullet. I was surprised that it expanded deeper in its hollow point than the TTSX since the TTSX is supposed to expand to lower velocity. I haven't shot any game animal with anything by Barnes bullets in over 10 years but I might have to try the GMX next year!



Nosler 260gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 17.83
Average Weight Retained (grain): 207.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 79.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.690
Note: Typical Partition performance. The top lead portions are just sitting on top of those bullets, they are no longer attached.

Well I hate to be the one...but 'newspaper' will do that.


AT the same time I DO appreciate your time, effort, and diligence for this project.

Thanks A Lot

Jerry

Nosler 260gr Accubond
Average Penetration (inches): 16.7
Average Weight Retained (grain): 204
Average Weight Retained (%): 78.5
Average Expansion (inches): 0.742
Note: Pretty much mirrors the performance of the Partition in a sleeker package.



Hornady 270gr Interlock
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 228.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 84.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.90
Note: Very impressed with this plain vanilla cup and core. If you compare it to the Partition, it penetrated deeper, retained more weight and expanded wider! No sign of the core slipping.

Swift 270gr A-Frame
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 266.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.6
Average Expansion (inches): 0.71
Note: Probably the most consistent performer of all. Each bullet look identical, weigh the same, etc... One slipped out of the stack.



Matrix 270gr Bonded
Average Penetration (inches): 16
Average Weight Retained (grain): 189.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 70.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.8
Note: One of the bullets lost its jacket.




Barnes 270gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 19
Average Weight Retained (grain): 269.15
Average Weight Retained (%): 99.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.71
Note: 100% weight retention. One slipped out of the stack.

Thanks for all your work. I enjoy seeing all the test results. I personally shoot old stock Hornady 270 gr out of my Ruger Alaskan 375, they work great on everything from whitetails to elk.

CEB 270gr Safari
Average Penetration (inches): 23.2
Average Weight Retained (grain): 197
Average Weight Retained (%): 73
Average Expansion (inches): 0.418
Note: Similar in performance to the 235gr Raptor despite weighing 35gr more and a very different profile.



Hornady 300gr Interlock RN
Average Penetration (inches): 17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 167
Average Weight Retained (%): 55.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.581
Note: Factory ammo, not loaded down. Was running out of fresh newspaper and this is the only one I was able to recover. Disappointing performance for a 300gr bullet compared to the other lighter cup and core tested.

Very cool test. Thanks for putting in the effort. I like to test any bullet before I use it hunting. You can learn some very cool things. There no perfect media to test bullets in but as long as the media is consistent from test to test the results the results are informative and useful.

Thanks again. GRF

I really don't intend nor want to be the contrarian but..

I/we have been told numerous times that the R N bullets are designed for faster and wider expansion...so IMO it performed as designed.

Thanks Again

Jerry

Wow...very interesting. Thanks for doing that for us.