Has anyone out there taken their cape with 375, what loads did you use. I am planning to use 300 grn Barnes tsx

I have taken three buffalo with a 375 and one with a 416. Didnt notice any difference in the two regarding reaction from the bufalo. I used 300 grain trophy bonded bearclaws and 300 grain woodleigh solids in federal factory loads. The softs give a visible thump as the solids seem to pass right through with no visible reaction. I will always try to use a soft for the first shot but thats not always possible considering the thickness of the jess you are hunting in. Look at the solid as a surgical strike where knowledge of the anatomy is of upmost importance.

I have taken two buffalo with my CZ 375, both using 300 gr Swift A-Frames. The first was in Zimbabwe. I broke both shoulders with the first round, he ran about 150 yards. I broke his neck with the second round, and put one into the back of his head as we approached for "insurance". My second buffalo was in Tanzania in 2005, shot through the lungs at 80 yards, he ran about 60 yards and was dead when we found him. I love my 375. I have killed a total of ten African animals with it.

i have shot 13 -14 buffalo with my 375 shooting 300 X bullets and they worked well, i did have a problem once with 275 X with a light load.

Gi,

Boy did you come to the right place!

Our patron, the founder of Accurate Reloading, Saeed al Mahktoum, has probably killed 100 buffalo with a 300 grain Barnes X in his 375 x 404.

I believe Saeed normally shoots this bullet at about 2,650 fps, a bit more than you will get from your 375 H and H, but doubt it will make any difference.

Watch for a post from him if he has time to reply during a traditional 40 day time of mourning.

Sincerely, Andy

gi:

Used a 300 gr. solid (Federal, not a reload) Buff's shoulder was shattered at about 35 yards (as he was turning towards me). He staggered and sank to his haunches. Recovered and went about 50 feet or so before collapsing. Great cartridge - If I did it over again I would want a 416 Rigby. That's just me. The bullet happened to hit just right but I'm inclined to go along with the real "vets" on this site who seem to prefer a bigger gun. But if you can shoot a 375 H&H and drill nails with it at 50 yards offhand (and I could) then by all means go with the 375. It's a proven cartridge. ( MY PH said he used it for "cull" hunting of elephant because of its great penetration (and accuracy)

1x --- 300 grain Nosler Partition at 2540 =/- fps at about 45 yards.....bang/flop.

gi

The 375 is the do-it -all cartridge for most any safari hunting application. I've shot buffalo, hippo and quite an array of lesser animals with it and the 300gr. Swift or Trophy Bonded bullets with great success. I have not tried it myself but the TSX might just be the perfect all around bullet for that cartridge.

Mark

I have taken an even dozen with the 375 H&H using 300gr. Hornady solids loaded to around 2,540 fps. All were killed, none moved out of sight.

465H&H

Have shot 3 buff all with 375 and Trophy Bonded Bear Claw followed up by sledgehammer solids. They all died differently, with number 2 being spined and hitting the ground right away. I really like the TBBC but am now shooting the Barnes TSX and like it even more for accuracy, etc. 375 will penetrate and kill them all. Your bullet choice is fine. Just put it in the right place.

Good luck

300 gr. Partition followed by 300 gr. Hornady FMJ's. Wouldn't use that combo again but it worked on this one.



Kyler

Usually I would recommend something bigger than a .375 on a hunt that was specifically for buff. However, the last buff my partner shot was with a .375. Two shots and it was dead in its tracks. I think the real factor to be aware of is not so much the caliber (though from now on I will go back to my .450 Rigby!) as both shot placement and whether or not the buff is excited. If he is, then you better break his back or neck because otherwise he will try to take you out. On a calm buff, though, the .375 with a premium soft up the spout and a magazine full of solids is absolutely deadly.

gi,2 of us killed 5 w 300grTBBCsmallest 40" largest 50".call me ill show you the pics.888-1008.BEST,kim

Shot my Cape Buff with a .375 H & H sako and 300gn Barnes X bullets, recovered bullets and they performed like the Barnes X brochure. I also shot a Australian Water buff with a double in .375 H & H and 300gn Federal Tungston solids. Worked very well. If you can shoot the .375 well, there is no need for a bigger calibre that you can"t shoot well. Also the .375 H & H is accutrate enough for plains game of all sizes!!

My buff last year was shot through the heart with the .375 H&H, using a 300 grain TBBC.

Kyler, why do you say you would not use that combo again? Was it the bullet performance, or the caliber, or both?

Yes, 300 grain Swifts and 300 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws. WW brass Fed 215 primers, and 69 grains of IMR 4064. First Edition Sako Safari with rib & rosewood tip, 25" tube I believe. One of the great Factory rifles.
Go Sako

One buffalo - Federal factory 300 gr. Trophy bonded bear claws.

gi;

Add me to the list of (4)buff with .375 (Thelma) and (2) with .416 (Louise). I use 300gr. TBBC in the .375H&H and found it to be very sufficient. However, I concur with those above, shot placement and the situation make a difference in the comfort level of a .375.

Best regards, D. Nelson

gi,
I shot my first buff last year with a 270gr Barnes TS. First shot was on the shoulder but a little high. He ran 60 yds or so and stoped in some brush facing me. I shot him again at about 40 yd on the inside of the shoulder and he turned to run but only took a few steps and went down. I would use the 270gr TS again on buff.

I shot my buffalo with a 300 gr Federal factory loaded TBBC. My son shot his with a 300 grain Woodleigh. Both bullets were chronographed at roughly 2500fps, and both performed quite well. Kudude

We shot 3 with 300 grain bear claws. Dead, dead, dead was the result.

One cape buffalo with a .375 H&H, using a 300 gr Woodleigh Weldcore followed a little later by a 300 gr Woodleigh FMJ. Velocity was quite slow at about 2350 fps.

Worked fine.

One buff in Mozambique with a 375 H&H loaded with 300 Winchester factory Failsafe loads. Broadside shot through the heart and lungs. Buff ran about 40 yards and was so obviously dead he did not require an insurance shot. However, my sadistic friend John Harris had me shoot it with his 7.5 pound 500 NE Ruger No. 1 just for fun

Perry

NitroX.. How did those Woodleighs do on buffs?
Was the weldcore ok?

There is no one that can convince me that any well built projectile travelling over 2000 fps in the 270 grain to 300 grain weight class won't kill a buffalo dead. The heavy magnums are nice in a close up, need to kill 'em in tw seconds, situation, but the .375 H&H is a good buffalo gun.

Tom,

I do not think anyone would argue that a well placed shot will do the job with an adequate bullet (premium)...It's the unexpected shot or whatever that many want something bigger to shoot..


Mike

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
Kyler, why do you say you would not use that combo again? Was it the bullet performance, or the caliber, or both?

Im curious about this also?

quote:

Originally posted by 9,3x74R:
NitroX.. How did those Woodleighs do on buffs?
Was the weldcore ok?

The Woodleigh Weldcores were the RN version - 300 grains. Appeared to work fine, though I did not recover the projectile. The skinners never found it. Should have offered a reward.

The second shot using a 300 gr FMJ aimed through both shoulders on a broadside target zipped straight through and ricocheted into the distance. I fired the second shot as even though the buffalo appeared quite sick from the first, having run maybe 40 metres before stopping and stumbling around (aimed behind the shoulders through both lungs, maybe angling forward a little), he seemed to be improving somewhat, so the second bullet was used as insurance. He ran across our front through a dry watercourse and on ascending did a little dance and eventually fell over.

Next time I use the .375 on cape buff or water buff (never used it on water buff to date) I will try the 300 gr Protected Point Weldcores. If I get another chance to shoot good numbers of cull buffalo or cheaper buffalo I may use the .375 though my preference will always be the doubles.

I am confident they will work OK.