Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Factory .375 HH Mag ammo for Moose?

Hello, I was hoping to see what kind of factory ammunition people were using for moose in 375 H&H mag? I don’t have any brass to start reloading, so I was just going to start by buying some factory loaded ammo and was looking for something for Moose.

I've never shot a moose before but have over 1000 rounds through my 375 H&H. I've taken a fair amount of game with this rifle from impala to zebra. A 270 TSX is never a wrong answer. Find a factory loading with that bullet and focus on learning to shoot the rifle. Once you are ready to handload, use the same bullet over RE15 and you will be set for life anywhere in the world.
Cheers

I can offer four pieces of advise:
1.) One experience of taking a bull moose w/ a 375HH; not an expert
2.) Which handloaded bullets have shot the best in my rifle
3.) If I had to start over today reloading the 375HH
4.) Factory ammo guidance, based on the above three items

I took my bull moose w/ a handloaded 260 accubond leaving the muzzle at 2,715fps from a 24". Moose was 200 yards away. First shot hit him in the shoulder; shattered one front leg, but he was still wobbling on three. Second shot was perfectly in the boiler room, and he face planted / lights out. Impact velocity was ~2,300fps at that distance. First bullet fully disintegrated when it hit the shoulder bone; second bullet was on the off side and did not fully punch through. Did the bullet work? Yes. Do I still shoot that bullet? No, I would have preferred additional penetration.

Despite gun magazine article talking about how the 375 puts all bullets in the same hole, that is not my experience with my rifle. I have found the 260 partition shoots slightly better than the 260 accubond. I have also found that the barnes 250TTSX and 270TSX shoot well with various medium powders (IMR-4064, RL-15, Varget). The hornady 300 DGX shot horribly for me w/ several pounders.

If I started over, I would shoot barnes 250 TTSX bullets 99% of the time. The other 1% would be barnes 270 TSX for things trying to eat me. While RL-15 will give you good accuracy and velocity for the 250-270 pills, varget behind a 250 barness TTSX is fantastic. ~71 grains slings them at 2,825fps and prints nice 3/4" groups. The case fill is absolutely perfect - no powder rattle. Velocity, accuracy, and point of impact do not seem to change w/ temperature.

Double tap ammo offers the barnes 250 TTSX. I would call them and ask when they expect it to be back in stock. link to double tap ammo My 2nd factory ammo option would be 260 partitions from nosler. Currently out of stock and expensive as hell, but they shoot well and its a tough bullet. Third I would try the hornady outfitter 250 CX. I have not tried this bullet, but would hope it would perform similar to the 250 barnes. And if I coudn't find those, I would just buy Hornady 270 spire point (in stock). Factory ammo in 375hh has gotten extremely expensive; if you are a handloader, you will have more options and shoot more. Midway has factory overrun 375hh brass for sale at a really good price. brass link And barnes 250 TTSX are in stock at multiple places. If you don't have Varget, others such as RL-15, IMR-4064, or even IMR-4895 will give you good results. For the cost of 20 rounds of factory ammo, you can buy 50 pieces of brass and bullets.

Hope that helps. Message me if you would like a summary of my handloading notes.

250gr Hornady GMX or CX worked well for us. Double shoulder shot at 200 yards, bullet found on the off side in the hide. Moose dropped like a sack of rocks.

I took my first moose with a 270 grain Hornady SP…..did a good job. I took my second with a Barnes 270 TSX. When I got my AI, I went to the Barnes 270 grain TSX, because they held up much better on close range shots.

Either should work good in your H&H…..though, now Barnes offers the LRX, which I’m now using! memtb

This is of great help. It seems that everyone one this post so far agrees the Barnes 270 TSX would be the bullet of choice. I do have all of the powders you mentioned on hand except the Varget but I could get my hands on enough to test some loads and have some loaded for the hunt well before the day gets here.

A 250 or 270 copper is a good choice.

I tend to lean towards the 250 as the better option for shooting past 100yds, just for the added velocity/BC (which is a plus for expansion with monos). I haven't tried the barnes 270 LRX, but would think the nose profile could be more finicky than the 250TTSX or 270TSX. Pure speculation - happy to learn from others who have tried it.


Reassuring to see my neighbors to the north having good results with a 250 mono; they shoot moose like Americans shoot whitetails, so their recommendations outweigh anything I can tell you!

And all this talk about moose hunting is making me want to book another trip to Canada.....

This is my first moose hunt so I am trying to get as much advice as possible.

Gte901m I am going to try some of your loads because everyone on here seems to agree. Going to put in a small order to Midway tomorrow. If you still feel like messaging me your load data that would be excellent.

Brandon, My most recent Barnes, between the 270 TSX and the 270 LRX that I’m now using was the 250 TTSX. That should be a great bullet at your H&H velocities. As gte901 suggested, it can add extra yardage to your effective shooting range. With your H&H powder capacity, it will give you higher velocities, flatter trajectories, longer effective range, and very likely……the moose will neither complain nor know the difference! 😉

You may also check with Blue Collar Reloading. The las5 time I looked they had a good selection of Barnes .375 bullets and at a decent price! They’ve been my go to place for quite a while! memtb

I just checked……they also have Hornady brass!

https://www.bluecollarreloading.com/

Thank you I just placed an order for Barnes 270grain and some 350 grain. The 350gr are just for fun to try a few powders with. Also per gte901 I found some Varget for a decent price and have it on the way with a set of Lee 3-die set.

Factory load data for 270 pills and RL-15 varies significantly.

• Barnes: 270TSX, 75.5 @ 2,725fps
• Hornady: 270interlock, 74.3 @ ~2,700fps
• Alliant: 270speer btsp, 71.0 @ 2,675fps
• Speer#12: 270 btsp, 74.0 @ 2,717fps

My interpretation of the data is ~2,700fps is max from a 24".

270 TSX, RL-15, Fed215m, Norma brass, 3.595" oal, 24"
Grains / fps / 3shot group

• 70.0 2,607 1-3/4"
• 70.5 2,608 1-3/8"
• 71.0 2,631 3/4" **validated several times**
• 71.5 2,655 1-5/8"
• 72.0 2,676 1"
• 72.5 2,688 1-1/8"

Pressure is the main driving force for velocity; case volume and lot variances tend to skew charges weights for a given bullet. I would feel comfortable working up to 2,725fps; each grain of powder was adding ~36fps, so ~73.5 is probably max. However, 71.0 has shot so well for me I haven't bothered. In reality, all of these are accurate enough for moose hunting!

When loading a top charge of RE15 with a 270 TSX you will be at case capacity and most likely a slightly compressed load. No big deal but just something to be aware of. I've also found that using a Lee crimp die allows the round to feed much smoother than without a crimp. For me 2700 or so is about max with this combination, at least in my rifle. It also shoots well under an inch for 3 shots. I'm right where gte901m is using RE15 in my M70 SE but you would obviously still want to work up to that. I see identical accuracy results with the 250 TTSX with a slightly lower powder charge. Personally, I think you could choose either bullet and be done with it, I just happened to settle on the 270 first.
I've never known anyone to load the 350gr TSX so you are on your own there.

Factory load data for 250s and Varget:

• Barnes: 250TTSX, 73.7 @ 2,821fps 24"
• Hornady: 250CX, 70.8 @ ~2,700fps 24"

250TTSX, Varget, Fed215m, Norma brass, 3.595" oal, 24"
Grains / FPS / 3 shot group

• 70.5 2,792 1-7/8"
• 71.0 2,815 1/2" **validated several times**
• 71.5 2,823 1/2" **validated several times**
• 72.0 2,842 1-1/2"

Both 71.0 and 71.5 have repeatedly shot well for me; pick one or split the difference. I consider 71.5 max based on the velocity matching Barnes' max. Even 72.0 did not show pressure indicators on my brass, so I feel comfortable with 71 and 71.5.

And one last thought, if you are having accuracy issues you may you have a scope mount issue.

My rifle weighs 9lbs scoped and ready to hunt; 40 ft-lb of recoil when shooting the 270TSX @ 2,630fps.

When I first got my 375hh I wasted a lot of handloads / time chasing accuracy when I had a scope mount issue.

Scope mounting systems are highly personal preference; I think most would agree upon:

• Ring contact w/ scope tube; this includes alignment, diameter, and ring width
• Proper clamping force; including thread lubrication, possible tread locker, and appropriate torque

Scope mounting: On my wife’s 9 lb. .338 WM (same recoil as your H&H) and my 9 lb. .375 AI, we drilled the reciever to the next size larger screws, Loctite the base to the receiver, Loctite the scope in the saddles, and Loctite the base screws and saddle screws as well. We haven’t had a scope movement issue…….yet! memtb

Just about any factory loaded 375H&H bullet will kill a moose. But given that moose tags are hard to get for those of us in the lower 48 I recommend a premium bullet just in case you happen to hit a bone.

When you start reloading look for Reloader 15 powder. It works well in my rifles with any bullet I have ever tried from 235 - 500 grains.

My 375 H&H is an Interarms Whitworth and 80 grains of CFE223 behind 270 gr. TTSX in Winchester cases and Federal 215 primers gives me 2806 FPS

I watch a lot of moose get shot, mostly with my reloads... virtually all TSX or TTSX, mostly with 338... and I always use them for big bears, usually in my 375AI with 270gr TSX. I can think of 5 that did not leave, but one made an exit and got caught in hair when the exiting bullet hit the rock the buck was laying against.

I have never seen an Accubomb exit wound. I have seen quite a few shot into critters.

Someone suggested using a premium bullet "in case you hit bone." Nope. Use a good monometal and aim for bone. And it will still do far less meat damage.

👍👍👍👍👍👍 It’s hard to argue with these results! memtb

I find it hard to imagine a factory load .375 H&H that is not appropriate for hunting moose, unless it is a non-expanding solid bullet. Moose are "normal" not exotic game around here, and most would hunt moose with much smaller cartridges. .270, .303. .308 7mm mag, etc. Most any currently available expanding bullet .375 load will penetrate adequately, expand enough, and kill effectively. I've based my opinion on a few elk I've taken with the .375, but moose are not much different. The only moose that I have shot with a .375H&H was taken very efficiently at just over 300 long steps, with a very inappropriate bullet - the old style blue box 300 gr. RN factory load, by Federal. To read internet comments about the old cup and core round nose I may as well have been throwing rocks. But full penetration, good expansion, and a 20M death dash says otherwise. My brother has taken a few moose with .375 lightweight bullets, 235 gr. TSX and Speer. No complaints.
My advice, avoid the extreme heavy/tough bullets and the light/fragile bullets. Anything else will work very well.

You are correct I appreciate all the insight and comments. Midway will be delivered tomorrow and just waiting on my brass then I will begin my load testing. I was also worried about the scope rings and bases. They are all red Loctite and torqued to the proper inch pounds. I just decided to upgrade the scope to a new Leupold 5hd-2-10x42. I was figuring I did not need any more power then that by stepping up to a 12 or 15.

Not H&H, but my .375 Ruger shooting the 270 gr. TSX has been lights out on a Kodiak Bear and 2 A-Y moose. I would never use anything else.

Nothing wrong with Remington or Hornady 270 grain, if your rifle shoots it. Moose are not hard to kill, it just takes them a while to know they are dead.

Shot my bull moose with a .340 Wby and 250gr Partitions. The bull may have gone 3-4 feet, it was had to tell at 165 yds.

At the time I didn't have a .375 H&H, but now on my 3rd - relatively new since February '23 - I've shot a lot of different handloads through it's 22" barrel, including 235 TSX's, 250gr Sierras, 250gr TTSX's, 200gr and 250gr Hornadys, 270 TSX and 300 TSX.

I've settled on the 250gr TTSX at 2850 fps from 77 grs of CFE 223, WLRM primers and new Rem brass. It shoots 3 into MOA or better when I do my part. It's sighted dead on at 50 and 100 for backup to my .458 in a couple weeks for a bear.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

I shoot 80 grains of CFE223 in my 375 H&H, Winchester cases. Federal 215 primer and I get 2806 FPS

For many years my primary rifle was a 375 H&H pr64 SG and I took something close to a couple dozen moose with it with various bullets but the 300 TBBC became my favorite. Having gotten older and needing a scoped rifle, I moved to lighter calibers and rifles......300 WSM & 9.3x62. Judging from the performance I've gotten with the Barnes TSX with those rifles, I'd move in that direction with a 375 also.

And if you want to try those 270s w/ Varget....

Factory load data:

• Barnes: 73.5 @ 2,715fps
• Hornady: 75.1 @ ~2700fps
• Speer: 67.0 @ 2,549fps (seems like an outlier?)

270TSX, 3.595"oal, Varget, Norma brass, Fed215m
grains / fps / 3shot group

• 69.0 2660 3/4"
• 69.5 2690 1.5"

69.0 has shot so well for me, I didn't see the need to add more.

Barnes' max velocity of 2,715fps seems like a good place to stop; 70 would probably get you there.