Next year I'm going on a big-4 hunt--lion, leopard, ele, and buff. My PH talked me into getting a .375 instead of trying to shoot a lion off bait with my .300. So I'll bring the .375 and my .458.

The .375 will be used for lion, leopard, any plains game, and, should I encounter one by accident, elephant or buff, though the .458 is intended for those animals. I'll bring 10 or so .375 300 grain solids. The question is what kind of soft points to bring.

I've been working up loads and think I've got three choices: the 270 grain Barnes TSX, the Nosler 300 grain Partiton, and the plain old Hornady 300 grain round nosed Interlock. The 300 grain loads would go about 2550 fps and the 270 grain load 2700.

Surprisingly, according to the JBM ballistics calculator, all three of these loads have similar trajectories. Sighted in at 200 yards, mid-range difference among all three is only about 0.5" and the difference at 300 is only 3 inches.

I'm considering the plain old Hornady round nose. Why? First, it gives the best groups in my rifle. Second, it's easier to load. The base is slightly bevelled and the crimping groove seems to work a bit better with my Lee crimping die.

So here's my question: Does anyone have any experience with, or informed opinions about, shooting lion or the first shot at buffalo (subsequent ones being solids) with plain old 300 grain .375 Hornady Interlocks?

Indy,

I use the 375H&H/458wm combination and it is hard to beat.

I would skip the 300gr RN Hornaday Interlocks. But maybe you are thinking the DGX? PH Rich Tabor related a story about a fellow who showed up with a 375 Ruger and the 300gr RN Interlock for buff. Despite Rich's admonition to use a solid instead, the fellow used the RN soft. The days of tracking that ensued nearly killed the client, who ended up staying in camp while Rich tracked the bull. He caught and killed the bull, and inspection revealed that the bullet had broken up and failed to penetrate the shoulder into the vitals.

FYI, Hornaday lists velocity of that load at 2660fps, not far from "top" H&H velocity.

If you want to go RN, Woodleigh makes both 270 and 300gr RN softs. Woodleigh suggest limiting velocity to 2400fps, but at least they are a bonded bullet. Their semi-spitzer 270 and 300gr softs are rated for 2700fps.

I use 300ge Woodleigh solids for my 375H&H, fwiw.

I tried the std velocity Federal 300gr Trophy Bonded load, and it was so accurate I stopped there. Performance on game from impala through eland has been phenominal. Maybe triy these?

Also North Fork makes excellent softs in 270 and 300grs. And of coursr thier 300gr cup point and FN solids.

Of the three you list, I would rate the barnes, then the Partition, and skip entirely the Interbond, but not the DGX, which should do fine, though their seem to be mixed reports on the DGX.

JPK

I'm certainly no authority and have limited experience, but I agree with JPK's ranking of your listed bullet choices, with the Barnes first, then the Partition. North Forks have a great reputation, so as JPK said, you might want to try those. I'd also throw in the Swift A-frame, one of my favorites. You never hear anything bad said about the A-frames over in Africa. They've always given me very good performance.
Test

Yes, the Swift A-Frames too. Meant to mention them, but in a rush, I neglected to include them.

A BIG +1 vote for the 300 gr. Swift A-frame..

Ingwe

Since starting this post, I went back to the range with some H4895 loads. The Barnes 270 grain TSX are now the most accurate loads. One 3-shot group was 0.6 MOA!

Further, the center of the TSX group was 2.2" higher than the 1.0 MOA group I got with the round nosed 300 grain Hornadies using H4350. The 300 grain Hornadies chronographed about 2560 fps and the 270 grain TSXs about 2690 fps.

Now if 300 grain solids will group where the Hornadies did, I think I'm done. "Good enough" is good enough. I've ordered some North Fork 300 grain solids. Probably end up taking 270 grain TSXs and a few solids.

Incidentally I couldn't get Partitions to shoot at all. 2 to 4 MOA groups strung horizontally despite the 180s shooting so well in my .300 Wby.

BTW: North Fork is having a sale until May 7. If you enter ARRulz in the coupon code, you get 10% off. I ordered 50 each flat point solids in .375 and .458. Even with the discount, this cost about $180.00.

I'd like to echo staying away from the interlocks, and of the other ones, I'd shoot the one your rifle likes best, all else being equal, the 270 TSX would be my choice. Cats HATE velocity and I'd push that 270 as fas as I could and it will penetrate with the other 300gr pills. jorge

What about a 235gr TSX in the .375? For cats and plains game.

i had great results with 235 on kudu,oryx,zebra, impala,eland. all exited but the eland . it was taken at 325 yds and found just under the skin on the off shoulder and it weight was 234.6 i would use again in a heart beat

IndyCA35, I think your PH is spot on when it comes to using that .375H&H caliber. I wish you lots of good hunting!!! Please do take lots of pictures.

I don't have any experience shooting lion or buffalo but I will pass along my experience with using the .375" 300 gr Hornady InterLock round nose bullets on plains game.

On my first safari to South Africa (back in 2000) for plains game I handloaded the .375" 300 gr Hornady InterLock round nose bullets to a chrono'd average of 2480 fps out of my Ruger M77 Magnum rifle in .375 H&H with a 23" barrel.

Here are two bullets that were recovered:



The bullet on the left is from a Warthog that I shot at a distance of about 50-60 yards. The bullet on the right is from a Gemsbok that I shot at about 120 yards. After I shot the Gemsbok then the chase was on! We finally chased him down and I put a finishing shot into him (that bullet wasn't recovered).



The Gemsbok


I learned a lesson on my first plains game safari. Use GOOD bullets!! I used Woodleigh round nose bullets on my next two trips to South Africa for plains game. I was VERY pleased with the performance of the Woodleighs.



Would I personally use the .375" 300 gr Hornady InterLock round nose on lion or buffalo (if I ever got the chance to hunt them)?? The answer is NO!!

Just my two cents worth......

Cheers!
-Bob F.

Worthwhile info Bob. Thank you!

Guy

I have used the 270 TSX on lion and it did a great job.
I have also used the 300SAF on Buf. Solids in the 375 are great for small antelopes.
Using the TDS reticle in A Swaro scope shots were made way yonder so it has plenty of range.

What did the 375 say to the Lion?

Here, kitty kitty.

Wayne

A pard and I used the Hornady interlocks on Plains game in both the 270 grain and the .300 grain. The 270 grainer I would consider ideal... the 300 grainer we used was their BTSP and it performed great as well...never recovered one...all were hanging around 2500 fps...

That being said when it was time for Buffalo i went to 300 gr. swift A-frame and solids...just because...and I was likin' the way they performed...

Ingwe

As usual, whenever I ask a question here, I get fantastic advice. Thank you, all of you.

I'm going to increase the 270 TSX powder a bit and see if I can get about 2750 fps. I will probably take that load and a few 300 grain solids.

The Interlock is out. The Partition is out because my rifle doesn't like it.

I don't want to take any 235 grain TSXs because I don't like to have lots of different ammo. The 270s shoot plenty flat and I would be more confident if by chance I had to use them on buffalo.

Since I'll also be taking my .458 with my proven 450 TSX and 450 North Fork flat point solid loads, I'll not only be set up for cats but one rifle can substitute for the other if need be. For all game. I've even got scope redundancy with 1.5--5 VX3s on both rifles in Tally QD mounts.

After this trip I don't know what I'll do for an encore. Maybe hunt elk with the .375 instead of my .300 Wby. Or maybe the .458. I've gotten 2700 fps with the .458 and 350 grain TSXs. Originally I thought to use that on lion, but the POI is so much different from the heavier bullets. I don't want to be fooling around with sight changes in Africa. I should tell you about the time I turned the windage the wrong way in the National Trophy match at Camp Perry and was down 15 points after the first 2 shots.

Indy: 72gr of RL-15 and Fed 210 primers will give you that. You can work it up to 74. jorge

Don't mean to hijack thread, but does anyone have experience with terminal (terminating?) performance of Hdy 300gr Interbond? I got 6 boxes at closeout price, should I save them to hunt my next Africa trip or blast away in practice/ whitetail hunting?

jimone: Personally I have no experience with them, but have read about it a lot here and on other forums. I shy away from bonded bullets like the Scirocco, AB and IB but others swear by them. I'm sure they will work fine, but my preferences are TSX and Swift AFrame. jorge

I hate you!

Now that we have that out of the way, I vote for the TSX. It is not the most accurate bullet in any caliber I've tried, but it is good enough and the terminal performance is great. I've buffalo, kudu, lord derby eland, and a host of others hanging on the wall courtesy of Barnes TSX. I've got a pair of 40 lb elephant tusks near the fireplace courtesy of Barnes solids.

I'd never think twice about using a Nosler Partition, but the TSX has been best of all worlds to me.

Sounds like you've got a great safari lined up. Envy, envy, envy from here!

Yeah, I know. But I don't want to use any powders except the ones I already use for other calibers. I'm using H4895 for the .375, which is similar to RL-15, and know I can go up a grain or so from where I am.

Alright guys...admitted cherry here. Off to Chifuti next may for leopard/cape buff and PG. Taking my 375 and my 30.06. I don't reload and I do not have the patience to learn.

Won't Barnes triple shocks work for us rookies just as well.

That's what I would use in both calibers. 270s in the 375 and 168s in the 06. With the TSXs you don't need the extra weight and the 270 will shoot clean through a buffalo. In fact Randy Garrett when he was testing the TSXs said he preferred the 270 over the 300. jorge

Absolutely! Tudor Howard-Davies, former editor of the South African Man/Magnum magazine (one of my favorites) sent me an article he had written that proposed that the 30-06 coupled with the .375 H & H was the perfect African combo. With 180 and 300 grain bullets, he demonstrated that both shot with the same trajectory. I'd say with TSX's, do the 165's and 270's, and you will have a marvelous time.

Would I use the 375 for the buff and the 30.06 for the leopard and plains game or would the PH prefer I use the 375 for the leopard, as well?

Thanks for your help guys.

Bob...if it were me I'd use the .30-06 for leopard..but above and beyond my personal preferences, I always made it a point to use/do whatever my PH told me to...

Ingwe

RL-15 has been the best powder by far in the two 375's I've owned......best accuracy and velocity, especially with the 250-270gr weights.

And H4895 is made in Australia!......

I don't think the PH will care but that is certainly a question you can ask him. THe o6 will handily kill a leopard. Once you decide though, that is where you need to install the best scope money can buy. jorge

Boddington's leopard video suggests that the .30-06 is perfect for leopard. I believe he was using Swift Sirocco II bullets. Somewhere recently I read that a large number of wounded leopards were hit with 375 bullets that did not open well on such a soft animal. But, if a softer, fast opening bullet is used there is no reason a 375 can't be used.

The PH will make that call for you on the spot. The .30-06 will do the job nicely, if local regulations allow it.

What does the tip of a TSX look like by the time you get to the third one down in the magazine?

I've never noticed them to get deformed or set back in the case. I crimp .375 and .458.

I do not crimp .300 Wby and I have noticed that the bottom round (Nosler Partitions) sometimes gets set back into the case a little.

Dear Sir, I have hunted in Africa for many many years, I use a Sako Ann 80, The only bullet I have ever used is Federal Power Shok 300 grain round nose, Not Elephant( 500 NE double for these.), but every thing you can think of, Leopard, Lion, Hippo, all the Plains game, lost count.
It does the job on all. DRT ( Dead Right There ) If you hit them in the correct spot.

Welcome Beretta. Offer up your thoughts on the gear bag thread if you will. And, don't call me sir.

I can recomend the Double Tap loaded 270 TSX for the 375 H&H for non-reloaders. Can be purchased from Midway.
I have not tried it on buf but have used them up close and out to 450 yards on various size animals and it works great.
In fact I found myself using the 375 more and more no matter if it is my heavy or light.

Just added another comment to my note pad.

4 pages deep now.

Ingwe....are there strip clubs in Zim??

Don't know, I stayed the hell out of town....
Contrary to what jorge says..its not my style....

Besides, we got enough raucous celebrating done "the night of the leopard"......

Not a clear head or pristine thought in the crowd.....

Ingwe

Ingwe...I knew it really wasn't your style. It was easy to pick upon as I read your posts over time.

I paid for a couple of my areas hunting reports from 08 and 09 that are in the gear thread.

Seems a dangerous game paradise but I might have a good shot at Kudu,Zebra, warthog and with some real luck, a sable.

WTF is up with the pricing of a sable,man? More than a leopard? WHY?

Gear bag Thread ?? sorry I sure what you mean ?

Hello Isaac, I see you have posted 29100 posting, gee, my 2 are to make you laugh

Sable were always limited to a few areas, Zim being one of them....as the country crumbled, due to their nature Sable were the first things in many areas to get poached off, and the prices rose geometrically with each passing year, and each decline in availability...
I got a dandy in Zim in 2000 for $1800...seems like a steal now...
I highly reccomend Zebra...they are always an interesting hunt and a beautiful trophy rug, Kudu goes without saying... Sable is not as challenging-usually- as either one of them, but they are Spectacular.....
a little something to pump you up...as if you need it!



Ingwe

There's a thread under or above this one in the forum titled, "Gear Bag". I was trying to direct you to have a look at that thread and offer input.

My 29K posts are the add-on of Randy who changed his name and his posts got linked to mine.

Yeah..I'd take that. I have to double check buddy but I think they're at 5500 now.

$5500 would buy you half a dozen critters in a PG hunt elsewhere...

Tough call.....


Ingwe

What happens if you whack one with the Range Rover?

Also, Ingwe, are baboons abundant as suggested in a 2008 report but not 09 and for Warties and other trophy type game, does your PH tell you as to what your about to shoot as far as SCI books go?

Baboons are extremely abundant in parts of Zim..
And Bob, I'll tell you the truth, if your PH doesn't feel he needs to recite off SCI qualifications for critters...he will be GREATLY relieved...
Easy thing to remember with PHs..if you have gone to the trouble to get a good reputable one ( and you have..) when the PH says "shoot".....you shoot...
Sit back and enjoy...
It really IS about the hunt... not the inches of horn...


Ingwe

Use the 300 Swift A Frames and I promise you no regrets.