Looking for recommendations on which bullet to reload for my 375 H&H? Will be hunting mixed bag of PG & DG including buffalo & croc.

Does 30 grains really matter or am I over thinking this?

Also if anyone has a recommendation on which powder they like I’d appreciate a suggestion. The book suggests RL15?

Thanks!

The 300 out of my 375 was easy to load for, RL-15 @ 2511 FPS. Easy peasy.

For Buff I am a big fan of 300 gn TSX in .375H&H. My handloads do about 2490 fps. Always reliable expansion and great penetration on very big buff. Have shot Impala with the same load. Complete pass through and DRT. Even on Impala the bullets expanded judging by the exit wound. I propell mine with RL15. With this powder it's usually pretty straightforward working up a sound working load.
I also have loads with TSX 270 gn that out to 150 yds shoot very close to the same POI as the 300 gn TSX. I've never used any on game but have read on AR of hunters using them for Cape Buff with good results. With TSX 270 gn I use either RL 15 or Varget ( AR 2208 ).

Thanks for the quick replies. How many grains of RL15 work best for you?

It depends a little bit on your action. A Win M70 can accommodate a longer COL than a Mauser. If using a Mauser, I like the 270 grain because you can get more powder and higher velocity. With the Longer M70 action you can seat the 300 grain bullet longer and still get good velocity.

I like IMR 4064 for any monometal bullet in the 375.

I've used the 300 grain ones with no issues, and saw no reason to change.

My load is pretty much however much VV N540 that gets me over 2500 (last lot was 72.3 gr)

Killed buffalo just fine. Used it on croc and cats as well. Kills eland well, and used it for Lord Derby Eland.

I’m shooting a Winchester M70 Super Express.

I shoot 75 gr of RL-15 under 300 gr TSX. Very accurate for me. I get ~2525 fps from that in my M70.

I think I was at 72gr of rl15.

I like the 300 gr. TXS in my M70, and have gotten the best accuracy with 71.0 gr. of Win. 748. Velocity is almost exactly 2500 fps. Last trip I shot croc, hippo, and impala with that load, all one shot kills. I have used the 270 gr. only on plains game. Best accuracy was with RL-19.

Many people think that a lighter bullet shoots flatter, not true in the 375 the 300 grain is flatter shooting than the 270. same thing in a 30-06 the 180s shoot flatter than the 150s. am talking about comparing same bullet profile.

I’ve used both the 270 and 300 grain out of my 375. Used them on plains game, Buffalo, and brown bear. Either will work just fine. I would go with the one that shot the best.

I’ve had great success with the 270 gr TSX in my .375s on Buffalo, Leopard, Bears and lots of plains game. Always had plenty of penetration on Buffalo so saw no reason to go to the 300 gr. I switched from RL-15 to Varget as it seems to be more consistent from lot to lot.

That is a good point to remember about R-15 (which is a favorite powder of mine). When buying a new lot and especially for a new rifle...start at minimum and work up in groups of 3 over a chronograph. Watch velocity and for that uniquely tight group.

R-15 can vary from lot to lot (as can any powder).

A few years ago I had the pleasure of speaking with both Connie and Randy Brooks on this very subject. Both of them preferred the 270 to the 300 based on their sample of buffaloes killed whilst texting their bullets before production. Same opinion on the 350/400gr in the 416.

I started reloading using IMR powders, and have always had good success with them. A 74gr charge of IMR4350 under a 270gr Barnes TSX gives me 2400fps, and sub-MOA accuracy. A considerable number of animals have fallen to this loading over the years, and two weeks ago, this load put down a very nice Alaskan brown bear on Admiralty Island. I have also had very good results with IMR4831. I have never had a problem with variation between different lots of the same powder, but agree with others here that caution should be taken when starting with a new lot of powder.

I shot a Racoon the other day that had been hit by a car with a 300 grain Barnes tsx.

Complete pass through.

Doesn't matter at all.
Hitting the buff in the right place does matter.

300, just the way God intended.

76gr of RL15 - 270gr Swift A-Frame did quit well (cape buff, brown bear, moose) mod. 70. Im sure ether tsx bullet will also do well. As always hit em where it counts

Back when I was guiding on buffalo here in Australia I had two loan rifles that I would provide for clients who wished to travel without the hassle of bringing their own.

Both were in .375

Way back when I went out and bought a "brick" of Federal Premium factory loads that were loaded with the 270gn T.S.X's

Somewhere around 40 clients used those rifles with those loads on our Asiatics with absolute success.

I personally used the same loads on half a dozen or more buffs and feral cattle bulls myself with complete satisfaction.

I would not hesitate hunting buffalo with either the 270gn or 300gn. Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Well, I guess I will be the contrarian!!

First I ALWAYS load a lead core SOLID as first round, then back up with bonded lead core Trophy Bonded or Swift bullets for Buff.

Second, I also feel that, although more Buff have probably been killed with the 375 H&H than any other cartridge, I feel the 375 is on the light side for Buff, and may not be legal in some countries? PH's have used it forever but are precision shooters under difficult situations and know exactly what and where... most Yankee hunters don't have this experience.

Years ago, you could follow your Buff until you take him down. Today, there are so many boundaries onto adjoining properties and Parks you MUST drop that Buff so as not to lose the trophy!!

I prefer the Over 400 calibers, and 416 Rigby is my favorite for Buff...or larger, either double Nitro, or Big Bolt cartridges>>> same bullet combination as above.

I am itching to try out my new 450-400 3"!!
In my doubles I start with 2 lead core SOLIDS and follow up with lead core Softs.

Cheers,

I have used many of the RL 15 loads with the 300 TSX as mentioned above with great success.
Was recently made aware of H4350 pushing a 270 TSX to +2800 FPS.
I tried the load in my Kimber 89 and it has a slow barrel. I hit a bit over 2800 FPS. I can tell you it hits you in the should a bit sharper than the RL 15 / 300 TSX load.
Check the Hodgen loading website if interested in the data.

EZ

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:
I have used many of the RL 15 loads with the 300 TSX as mentioned above with great success.
Was recently made aware of H4350 pushing a 270 TSX to +2800 FPS.
I tried the load in my Kimber 89 and it has a slow barrel. I hit a bit over 2800 FPS. I can tell you it hits you in the should a bit sharper than the RL 15 / 300 TSX load.
Check the Hodgen loading website if interested in the data.

EZ

After shooting my .500 NE all afternoon with a generous helping of R-15...you bring up a good point EZ...there is something about the pressure curve of how R-15 burns that it is a better feeling recoil than most other powders in big cartridges.

I have used 300 grain TSX in Africa and Australia. Killed numerous buffalo including cape and water buffalo, hippo, eland, MANY small plains game. All without a failure and with most positive results. I load them with H4895 and they shoot sub minute of angle in every e75 H+H I own.

I personally use the 300s. I took Kevin Robertson's advice from his book 'Africa's Most Dangerous' and load them around 2350.

Speaking of his book: The 270gr TSX is one of the very few 'exceptions' to his SD rule for buffalo.

So take your pick!

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Truccolo:
Back when I was guiding on buffalo here in Australia I had two loan rifles that I would provide for clients who wished to travel without the hassle of bringing their own.

Both were in .375

Way back when I went out and bought a "brick" of Federal Premium factory loads that were loaded with the 270gn T.S.X's

Somewhere around 40 clients used those rifles with those loads on our Asiatics with absolute success.

I personally used the same loads on half a dozen or more buffs and feral cattle bulls myself with complete satisfaction.

I would not hesitate hunting buffalo with either the 270gn or 300gn. Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Don't tell Michael of your success with the rat gun! HaHa !

I am sure there is an armchair writer somewhere who will tell you one is better than the other.

But, in reality, I can assure you that no animal has developed enough intelligence to be able to tell you the difference.

Use whichever one you like, and you won't notice any difference if you do your part.

I load my .375 with Reloder 17 behind both 270 and 300gn pills. I get 2740 with 270’s and 2600 with the 300gn TSX. Absolutely no pressure issues and both loads shoot well under MOA.

I may be historic, but I must say that IMR 4064 was the first USA factory load powder for the 375 H&H.
After IMR 4064, the company introduced a slower powder which became the standard factory load. It was IMR 4350.
Today, the H series powders closest to these two are Varget and H-4350.
These two H powders are more temperature stable than the two IMR series
My suggestion is to try the Varget with the lighter bullets and the H-4350 with the 300 grain.
Load data is on the Hodgdon web page.
Shoot the bullet most accurate in your rifle.
Sincerely,

I used the 270 and 300 grain TSX a fair bit and favoured the 270. Eventually moved to the 270 A-Frame for the H&H and never looked back.Still load the 270 TSX for my .375 Weatherby though; it doesn't seem to want to shoot much of anything else.

Someone on here mentioned always shooting solids, which reminded me of a conversation I had a couple days ago with Mike Fell. We were going over some details for an upcoming buffalo hunt and I told him that my son would be shooting a 375 and he is planning to shoot TSX’s. Mike responded that the TSX is his absolute favorite buffalo bullet. He didn’t care which weight, just “whichever shoots best”. That’s good enough for me.

His only other bullet advice was to bring some solids in case we have to shoot a wounded bull in heavy brush. So, we’ll take along a half box of Cutting Edge solids to go with a box and half of 300 grain TSX’s.

I think I found a load that works! Cleaned the gun like never before. First shot was low left, second shot was in the bull. The next three were all touching and measured inside 0.5 moa! I'll take it!

Not sure how to add a photo from my phone but I have proof! I used 68 grains of RL15 and a 300 grain Barnes TSX bullet.

Thanks for all the replies.

Marc

Glad you found a load that worked.

I tested both the TSX 270's and 300's in my 375 with Ramshot powder. Found a load at 2800 and 2740 for the 270gr. Also found a load at 2600 and 2525 for the 300gr.

Norma brass with Fed 215.

PH said 300gr, so I loaded up a bunch of 300gr at 2525 and had a great time. I did take the buffalo with a 404 Jeffery though. I am sure the 300gr 375 would have worked too.

Shoot the one in which you personally will have the most confidence. Those ones always kill the best, because you shoot them best!

quote:

Originally posted by Colin Masters:
I shot a Racoon the other day that had been hit by a car with a 300 grain Barnes tsx.

Trying to make sense of this just makes my head hurt.