Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only technical reloading question .375 h&h

I doubt you will reach anything close to that.

If it was rechambered to .375 Weatherby Magnum it would come close.

I doubt you will reach anything close to that.

And I doubt that you want to! Manuals are printed for a reason!

Get a .375 RUM,it will get that 3000 fps you want with the 260 grain Accubond.

I have a 375 H&H AI which has a marginal amount of case capacity greater than the 375 Weatherby. The rifle has a 26” barrel. If I loaded 260 grain bullets to 3,000 FPS, I believe that would be a maximum pressure load, higher pressure than what I’d normally want to load.
I’ve had a 375 H&H with a 24” barrel. I never attempted to load that 375 that warm.

Forgidaboudit.

I agree. Ain't happening. Don't even try.

235gr Speers at 3K, yes, 300gr Partitions at 2680 and 300gr Barnes banded solids at 2700, yes, why not get a compact 2.5-10 Nightforce with clean NP-1 reticle and spin a little if you want to shoot long with a 375 H&H? 260gr Accubonds at an accurate 2850 fps would cover any stateside hunting to 500 yards.

I ran some 260 grain BT (not Accubonds) pretty fast but found that I was loaded too hot. Dropped back to 73 grains of R-15 and every thing was good. I found even 2,800 fps was too much for the BT and urged Nosler to beef them up or get rid of them before someone poked a cape buffalo with them and the buffalo objected. Incredibly they listened and soon quit the BT in favor of the Accubond which is a great bullet.

Many people slightly under load the 375 H&H for better performance and easier shooting. Like others have mentioned if you want speed go to the 375 WM for + 150-200 fps, the 378 WM or 375 RUM for + 300 fps. but this would put things over my comfort level and the bullets may perform less well at these velocities.

If you have to exceed 3,000 fps then the 235 grain and less bullets can do this with R-15, R-16 & R-17 and other powders as well.

I get about 2,860fps using 270gn out of my CZ 375H&H with a 26" barrel.

in my 375 I keep it at 2750 to 2850 will still rock you but handles quite well

No need to hot rod the 375 H&H it has been getting things done for over a hundred years with the standard velocities. Now there are lots of sleeker 375 bullets available that can coax out even more long range performance than was previously possible. For me I like the 235-270 grain range as the 300 grain loads are right at my recoil threshold for bench shooting. They aren't bad with a standing bench but sitting especially a low bench I usually only shoot a dozen or less shots at a sitting. While hunting I hardly notice the recoil.

That is 378 Bee territory

I'm curious. Why 3K fps?

DF

Glad that you asked that question.... I am planning a safari next year. The PH is an advocate for DoubleTap ammunition indicating that the best .375 H&H round for leopard is made by DoubleTap using a 260 grain Nosler Accubond bullet. He indicates that they claim 3000 FPS. I wanted to get a sense as to whether this was possible without exceeding the SAAMI specification.

I think that I now have the answer, based on the posts as well as my checking the various bullet and powder manufacturers websites. Best reported is 2790 or so using RL15. Keep in mind that I have heard that manufactures is to back off so that pressure is 2% or so below max pressure when publishing their reloading data. However, a 2% nominal decrease from maximum pressure wont amount to a cup of warm spit in terms of muzzle velocity. So unless DoubleTap has found a supply of pixie powder that generates higher velocity without increasing internal pressures over SAAMI maximum they are either stretching the claim of 3000FPS or they are overloading those rounds. If course, it is always possible that the PH misheard the claimed muzzle velocity.

I will probably avoid using their ammunition in my .375.

I'm thinking you meant 2,790 fps with RL-15, which BTW is a respected and much used .375 H&H powder... I don't know what Double Tap is smoking, or loading, but don't think 3K is happening. Double Tap does advertise some pretty interesting data.

I'd be concerned about a "balls to the wall" load going to Africa with the potential of hot weather. Seems I remember reading reports of early .416 Rem loads with hard to open bolts in the heat due to excessive pressure. Not a good thing to happen while hunting DG.

Your PH must not be a gun nut, and reportedly a lot of them aren't.. Great hunters, maybe...

DF

THANKS, I edited the post correcting my typo on the speed. The PH indicated that there were few issues when a leopard was hit with that round so he likes when it is used.

Another option is the Cutting Edge Raptor, 235 gr.which can be pushed at 3K out of a .375 H&H. It's a mono with six blades that frag on impact, the core boring on thru. I've heard that some PH's like them, not sure about on leopards. I've shot some amazing groups with my M-70 .375 H&H, no blood yet.

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/375-235gr-er-extended-range-raptor

Expensive, but compared to the cost of a hunt, not an issue IMO.

I do have Raptor experience, but with a .308. Check out this link and the review I submitted. See how that bullet fragged the hog's spine which was not in the direct line of flight. Chest shot hogs usually run, this one was DRT. https://cuttingedgebullets.com/308-135gr-er-extended-range-raptor The 235 .375 Raptor group was about that good. They are accurate. Both of these bullets are ER, good for long range. The .375 version should be good for PG.

DF

In my Win M-70 Transitional, 25" barrel the Barnes TTSX 250 grain bullet, using RL-15 will get very close. Oehler 35 P at 15 feet, MV = 2950 FPS. Very consistent MV, 0.5 MOA at 200 yds. Used it as my medium last September in Zim without any problems. On my 5th reload on the Winchester cases I use.

Not quite 260 grains at 3K MV, but functionally equivalent and lethal enough.

I
I purchased some Double Tap 338 win 250 grain Partition Gold that was advertised at 2800 FPS. I choreographed them in a 29" kreiget b ass's reel and got less than 2600 FPS

Hmmm...

Lots of fluff?

More bun than beef?

Ya reckon Double Tap .375 H&H 260 NAB ammo, reportedly at 3K, may be similar?

DF

Sounds like a classic case of BS advertising to me. Long before the super bullets and wonder loads appeared the standard 375 h&h loads you can buy over the counter in 270 gr& 300 gr were getting the job done in fine style or we all would have heard about it. What 30-40 yd shot from leopard in a tree to the blind? A lot of guys who go to Africa leave their remaining ammo as a partial tip for the guide ,is that what he really wants? I think standard pressure accurate loads would serve your needs much more in Africa than some stoked to the max stuff for a 30-40 to 250 yd shot .Max reliability and safe pressure should be ctr in your thinking here. Just the way I see it ,no disrespect intended. MB

I've never tried any 375 ammo from Double Tap, but I've tried several of their handgun rounds and unlike Buffalo Bore and Underwood the Double Tap rarely equals their claimed velocity

I'd say there have been a bunch of leopards zapped with the .375 H&H long before Double Tap existed...

I've read there is a South African company making rounds especially suited for big cats. I don't know the specifics. May be something to check into.

DF

Just to repeat what others have said down loading is a good idea for hot climates. I worked up a max load for the 250 gr. Barnes with R15 and then loaded some 260 BT with the same load. They shot fine in cool weather but would be hard to extract in 90 degree heat. Once there was published data available for the now 260 gr. Accubond I found out I was three grains over Noslers max load. Same issue with 250 gr. Kodiaks they took the same max load as the Nosler not the Berger.

The Accubond or the Partition both are excellent for Leopard as the expand easily. The Ballistic tip and ABLR also would qualify.

The Nosler 260 should make a good leopard bullet with almost any loading.
And I have heard reliable reports of brass failures with DT rifle ammo ?

I would like to contact anyone who had a Brass failure with DoubleTap ammunition. Any chance you can dig out the contact info and PM me?

No experience with any of the big cats, Lion, I could see the merit of a 375H&H. Leopard? Is it a requirement? Their not that big. To my way of thinking, a 338 of any flavor and a 210 -225 grain bullet would be perfect. Am I missing something?

Some countries require a minimum of .375 H&H for dangerous game.

Yes, I know that. I guess I should have been more clear. If you could kill one cleanly will a 338, or lots of other rounds, I’d be more concerned about practicing with my rifle than bullet choices out of a 375 H&H.

Anyway, this post seems to be wandering. Thank you all for your opinions on reloading a .260 gr accubond t375 H&H to 3000 FPS. It doesn’t sound possible.

If anyone can get me in connect with someone who has had a brass failure, or incident failure when using DoubleTap ammunition, I would appreciate getting that contact so I can hear it from the horses mouth.

Double Tap doesn't list the 375 H&H but does list the .375 RUM and lists it getting 3065 fps from a 26" barrel. Maybe that is what your PH saw.

https://doubletapammo.com/collectio...ducts/375-rum-260gr-nosler-accubond-20rd

Now, that makes a lot more sense...

I wonder what goes thru a PH's mind when he sees a client unsheath a mega magnum that looks store bought new...??

I'm sure a 260 NAB at 3K is effective...

I'll stick with my .375 H&H...

DF

JWP475 You choreographed them? What dance step were they doing?????? Or did you CHRONOGRAPH them? I laughed for two minutes solid after reading that. Didn't have any coffee to spew. As you can see I'm easily entertained. I read this because I have a 376 Steyr and cannot possibly get these velocities. Maybe when I grow up I can do this. But I bought seven boxes of 260 gr and three boxes of 300 gr Partitions so there is no chance of my buying another 375 bullet for a while. Good luck and be safe to the OP. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

Double Tap lists a 375 H&H with 260 Nosler at 2900 FPS MV.

https://doubletapammo.com/collections/all/products/375-h-h-260gr-nosler-accubond-20rds

I’d believe it if I saw it over a chrono. My experience with DT has been okay, but at least their pistol ammo has slightly wishful reported MVs, at least IME.

I have zero experience hunting big cats, but I wonder if 100 to 200 FPS MV would really matter on a leopard? A 260 gr Accubonds at say 2700 FPS is nothing to dismiss.

Of course I chronographed them how else would I have know, they didn't get the advertised velocity

Strange it isn't in their drop down menu of calibers.