Factory 375 H&H for lion

20 March 2008, 05:56

390ish

I have a friend that is going on a hunt this Summer with lion on the list. He shoots a Blaser in 375 H&H and does not reload. Any recommendations. The A-Square lion loads seems to be on permanent back order at Midway. I thought that maybe the Hornady 270 interlock would give him the expansion needed, but I don't really know. Thanks.

-eric

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20 March 2008, 06:29

Russ Gould

It's not a very good idea to have a quiver of bullets when hunting. Hard to get them to shoot to the same point of aim and easy to get them mixed up in the field. Plus you don't necessarily know what's going to pop up from behind the next bush. So he should stick to the Barnes - they open plenty quick and then they keep going.

Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC
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20 March 2008, 06:30

Bill C

quote:
The A-Square lion loads seems to be on permanent back order at Midway.

Good thing, do an Advanced Search on "Lion Load".

He will need a bullet that can penetrate from the side (assume a baited hunt?) as well as possibly thru the front chest muscles (where the Lion Loads can and do fail - Ganyana saw this once as did my outfitter/PH in the Caprivi and I am sure there have been many more...).

If he is leaning towards a softer bullet, consider the Woodleigh non-protected point. Or, use a Barnes X for the lion as well as the rest of the game, and don't think too hard. Good shot placement on an unsuspecting lion and he will have no problem with just about anything. But one never knows.

20 March 2008, 06:41

Alaska Hunter

I've taken one lion and I'm after another this July. I used a 375 H&H with a 300 gr Nosler Partition. We were tracking 4 lions together and jumped them off a buffalo kill that happened within minutes of us coming along. The shot I had was right at dark and my bullet hit just off center of a 3" diameter tree. The NP opened up completely and deflected to the right. The lion was about 4 feet behind the tree and received the NP too far back for a clean kill. I picked up my 470 double and with flask lights we waded into to the Jesse. After one false charge and lots of lion encounters (his brothers) we found him dead about 3 hours later, shot in the liver. The entrance hole was 2 inches in diameter and no exit.
This experience aside, I really like the expansion you get from NP's on thin skinned animals. I've also used the same set up for leopard.
BTW I do reload but I shoot factory (Federals) for my danger game hunts. My double is regulated for that ammo. I also run each and every round through the actions, closing them completely, before I pack them for the trip.

20 March 2008, 07:23

L. David Keith

I've used 300 grain A-Frames and IMHO they may be too tough on Lion. They give great penetration, but not enough expansion and tissue damage to stop a charge (without a brain shot). I shot this extremely agitated Cat once in the chest (stop his charge and pushed him back on his haunches), once through both lungs (as he turned to flee) and killed him with a departing shot into his neck...and out the right side of his muzzle. Penetration, yes! Putting the Lion down, a gray area. I'd look hard at Nosler Accubonds. Excellent expansion but retained weight for penetration. Federal manufactures a number of good options.
LDK

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20 March 2008, 17:01

Bwana Bunduki

I would recommend Federal Premium ammo. They have a soft point, Trophy bonded bearclaw and Sledgehammer solid in 300 grains that all shoot better than I do. I would strongly recommend soft point for rapdid expansion and maximum damage on thin skinned cats. Assuming you will be hunting over bait you can load accordingly. If I have my .375 out and about I load with Tropy Bonded for come what may.

Jeff

20 March 2008, 17:31

smarterthanu

My lion I shot last year was with a .375 using barnes x. first shot was not the best shot. Entered the center of right shoulder and traveled just under skin to the front of the mouth where the bullet was recovered. Second shot hit left flank and exited between the right shoulder and neck (fatal). Third shot went through a tree (approximately 3 inches) and struck the cat in the left side center and was found just under the skin directly on the other side. I was impressed with the bullet performance personally. That cat ate up a lot of bullet energy and the .375 barnes delivered. I am glad I was not using my .300 win as I had originally planned.

20 March 2008, 21:03

Russ Gould

I wonder whether the Nosler Accubond wouldn't be a good all-round choice. It's supposed to open quickly but only partially and then penetrate. It works well on buffalo I have been told by Nosler. And it's supposed to work quite well at lower velocities due to the soft front portion.

The poster above who was looking for a bullet to "stop" a lion charge has seen too many hollywood movies. The physics involved are such that no bullet is going to knock a lion backward. A very high velocity bullet might induce nervous system failure via shock but it may also fail to penetrate very far. Most African calibers don't have that kind of velocity. Other than that, a brain or spine hit will cause his system to shut down but his momentum will keep him moving forward. Once he is in charge mode, he is going to keep coming unless his CPU is shut down or his shoulder(s) are smashed.

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20 March 2008, 22:10

dakota45056

Another vote for Swift A-frame in 300 gr .375 H&H. Good penetration with reasonable expansion. Never heard of one failing, my bullet was found under the skin on the far shoulder. Also in a charge, I would think you would get the penetration you need to get through the frontal chest muscles. Of course, a .577 double is probably the best medicine,

Dak

20 March 2008, 22:41

MARK H. YOUNG

390ish

Please have your friend only use one expanding bullet and one solid. As Russ said the possibility of a mix up or having the wrong soft point up the spout is real. Have him use a SAF, TSX or other premium bullet. The A-Square lion load is not a good bullet at all. Your friend's PH will be much happier if the bullet exits the lion with a small hole than having it blow up on a shoulder bone.

Mark

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21 March 2008, 06:57

Spring

This is a very interesting thread. I reload most my bullets but have some factory .375 Remingtons loaded with Swift A-Frames that I was planning on taking this year. They shoot as well as any of my other handloads. My .375 solids will be handloaded as my son will be using this gun for buffalo and hippo.
The thoughts expressed here surely make me think that the Swift bullets might not be ideal for the lion I hope to get this year, but I'll likely just stay with them since they will be fine for many of the others things weâ€™ll be after. I don't care to carry around bullets loaded just for a lion.
As a result, I suspect I'll hunt a lion using a bullet that might not be perfect for a thin-skinned animal, but hope that what I'll be using will be more than sufficient.

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21 March 2008, 21:09

Alaska Hunter

As I stated earlier in the thread, I use Nosler Partitions on cats. I've used NP's for 25 years and 95% of the time I'm hunting, that's what's in my rifle. I'm very comfortable with that bullet, however any of the premium bullets that expand quickly yet retain weight will do quite nicely.
NOTICE I said expand yet retain. Even though I've never used the A-square lion loads my reading has lead me to understand these bullets are too fragile. Risking lack of penetration is a good way to turn a dream into a nightmare quickly.