Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Deer loads in a 375

I have a 375 Whelen AI, I’d like to use it on smaller game - deer. (Practice on game, you know.)

I’m thinking 235 gr Speer Hot Core. Is there a better bullet for whitetail? I also am considering a NOE cast bullet, hollow point GC cast with 50/50 Linotype and wheel weights. I bought the mold, just have not had time to cast and test. (I forget off hand nominal weight, I think about 270 gr).

Thanks

I’d use the same bullet that I intended to hunt larger game with. I’ve used 270 and 285 grain bullets on deer and elk and they worked very out of a 375 H&H.

I used the same bullet (Hornady 270 SP), in my H&H for all game. The H&H has been retired for 25+ years now. If I started using it again....I would try the Barnes 250 TTSX or the “new” 270 LRX! When I got my .375 AI, I went with the Barnes 270 TSX for all of my hunting. Though several years ago went down to the 250 TTSX for improved ballistics. With it I’ve taken a couple of elk, two antelope, and a few coyotes. I don’t “download” them for the smaller stuff....same rifle, bullet, load, zero for all of my hunting!

Wanted to use my cast bullets on “small” big game....just haven’t pursued it. Should be good for antelope/ deer out to 150 yards or so! memtb

Hornady 270 at 2510.

Yikes. You wouldn’t think a big bullet moving at that speed would blow such a nasty hole

DF

ringworm,
Is that the norm for that bullet and load?!?!

The Hornady is pretty soft.

Same load

I have a reduced load for my 375 using (IIRC and thats a big if but I can go look if your interested) 225gr flat nose pistol bullet and IMR 4227 about 36gr once again using memory. It's not real fast maybe 1700, you can hear it hit paper at 100 yards BUT its very accurate and good out to 125 yards. I seldom have a shot that far and it's the hammer of Thor on deer. Recoil is similar to a 243.

It looks like a high shoulder/spine shot, if so.....exploding bone makes a impressive wound! memtb

Back when I was prepping for my first Africa trip, I shot a couple of desert mule deer (about the size of your average midwest whitetail) and a couple of big bull elk using 260 AccuBonds in my .375 H&H. All were one-shot kills, with minimal meat damage, and only the two used on mule deer exited. They would also reliably put five shots into one inch at 100 yards, if I did my part.

I've shot alot of venison with 300gr noslers at 2500 with no issues. Certainly less damage than the typical .270 or '06 performance. The Hornady 300gr RNs were pretty soft and good for lots of mess.

+1 While I haven’t shot a “lot” of venison, with my H&H... I ‘ve seen much less damage than that of .270’s, .300 mags, etc. Even my AI, is pretty gentle, except at close range or if a major bone is contacted! memtb

First pic is from neck second is a double lung shot.

my old friend loved his 375 H&H to deer hunt with always knocked the deer down very little meat lossed,he used it moose hunting years ago in Minnesota he shot a big cow his partner ask him which direction did that moose go when you" john " shot moose with this 375 H&H ? john said and pointed DOWN . ya the 375 is a hella of a round !

I have shot several deer with a 375 RUM using 225 Hornadys with AA5744. Load was about 2700 fps. It worked well shot well and was pleasant shooting.

I load a 235gr speer over 69gr of RL15. doesn't do any damage like that bullet did. Nice clean hole. I also load some 270gr hornadys over the same powder but haven't used them on game yet

Ive shot a couple of WT with the Hornady 225 at about 2700 from my 375R. The exit hole is about size of a half dollar and they do bleed well. MeAt damage is no worse than that of 270 and 06s. Its about a 300WM load. Recoil is fairly mild.

My experience as well on two bull elk with the 260 gr Partition at 2600 fps via my 375 H&H.

I've shot a dozen or so with the 235 Speer over R17. Forget the charge weight, but mv in excess of 2900 from 28" barrel. Inside of 100 yards or so it can get a little messy, but definitely does the trick. Recovered one empty jacket from a pine tree 10 feet behind the deer, but it dropped like struck by lightning.

I haven't been able to find the 260 Accubond in forever. I don't look for them everyday and bought two boxes of them quite some time ago. Now that there almost gone there gone from the lineup at Nosler.

I used a 300gr. Partition at 2,500 fps to take a deer. Seemed to work just fine.

How far did you have to track it??

I'm a big fan of Partitions, but I'm shooting a 375 Whelen AI and I didn't think a heavy premium bullet would be necessary.

I also have 375 H&H AI and that will get the heavy Partitions or??? (If I go to Africa next year.)

I suspect the TSX bullets would work well too.

Pic from the stand.

You might try the GS Custom 200 Gr. HV mono. A little pricey but worked well on mule deer, elk, and a coyote last fall. 3100 out of a 20 in. 375 Ruger.

I've been using 300gr Sierra game kings , 66.0 gr hybrid 100v. Gets me 2280 fps and makes a nice 200 yd soft shooting deer load .. my rifle doesn't have issue dropping 3 in an elongated hole at 100yds .

Honestly was just thrown together from the surplus stuff at the bench

235gn Speer over 80gn of Rel 15 for 2850fps.
Any Deer, Any Size, anywhere.
John

I'm finding the suggestions interesting. The only input I may have would be on your cast bullet. Wheel weights and linotype at 50/50 would be a pretty hard bullet. Probably no expansion, per se but maybe shattering if you hit bone. I think pure wheel weights or even wheelweights cut about 4 to 1 with pure and velocity kept at 2,000 fps or less should work quite well.
Good Luck,
Rick

FWIW, Ive used the Lee 255gr 378 bullet unsized with Lee alox driven with about 15gr of an obsolete shotshell powder for about 1500FPS. Duplicates the old 38-55 loqd. Whats amazing, is this load stays well under an inch for 3 shot groups, but itsPOI is about 8" off the jacketed bullet loads.

I killed three mule deer with a .375 H&H in thick timber at 25 to 75 yards. The 285 gn Grand Slams expanded well and there was no discernible blood shot meat. Even on the one that went through both shoulder bladed and the spine. Just a 1-1/2" hole in one side and out the other. One perfectly mushroomed bullet was recovered but it went through a 6" Lodge Pole Pine before striking the deer.

Thats one way to control expansion. Get it started in advance before hitting soft target.