My PH encouraged me to bring some solids for the smaller antelope (impala, duiker) with my .375H&H in the bushveld. I'm using 300gr softs for the larger antelope and zebra, but probably really don't need heavy solids for the little stuff (dangerous game isn't on the menu this year, unfortunately). Would it make sense to try like 250 gr. solids, or other options??

I don't see why you could stick to 300 grain solids so that both your loads prints approximately on the same spot. Unless you are going to full mount the small game you might as well just use a proper high quality expanding bullet like woodleigh at a bit lower velocities at around 2300 fps then you could use the same load for both animals . It is going to quite akward to swap rounds anyway when you are stalking an animal.

Safari-Hunt

www.Safari-Hunt.com

The reason for using solids is to minimize hide damage.

A 300gr. solid from a .375H&H will likely do less damage at 2550fps than a 250gr. solid traveling at 2800fps.

As Safari-Hunt said, this is a non-issue if you're not going to do full mounts. I've shot impalas, warthogs, bushpig, bushbuck, etc. with a 300gr. Swift A-Frame and never had problems with excessive hide damage (but ohh, did it do a job on jackals!).

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

Simply use 300 gr solids, if you are useing 300 gr softs. The solid will not do much damage no matter the weight, and if you need one of them for a Buffalo the 300 gr is proper. I use 300 gr Nosler partitions, and 300 gr Monolithic solids, and have not had any complaint yet, after many years shooting them. The solids just make a .375 hole in, and out on anything shot with it!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

I agree with all of the above except I would like to add that you should stay away from 300 gr Barnes Super Solis as they have a tendancy to cut the hair as their shoulders are pretty sharp.

Above all do not hit the animal on any boney areas as the bones themselves will do a lot of damage.

Good luck on the small stuff.

Just stick to 300 grain solids, I use 286 grain solids in my 9.3x62 and got no problems with damage, nor do my brother who uses the 375 h&H

I would concur with the suggestion to use 300 grain solids for the pygmy antelopes, etc. I don't believe that a round nose soft point would be any different given the lightness of these animals. But why sweat it if you can use the solids. (Be advised, you cannot use solids in Namibia for this purpose.) Ku-dude

Postdriver,

On many occasions I've used 300 grain Hornady's for big bull dik-dik and duiker stags . They just poke a hole through them and you have your full mount. A couple of years ago I had a client using Barnes X 180's in a .300 Win. Mag. They seemed to be just zipping through the larger game so he decided to use one to collect his Cordeaux Dik-dik. Boy, did that bullet pick the darndest time to expand! So much for the full mount on that one.

Rich Elliott

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Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris