With the total lack of 375 H&H Solids in a city the size of Dallas, is the industry telling us we don't need Solids anymore. Are the soft-nosed sufficiently well made that Solids are now the equivalent of buggy whips. Would you (or have you) hunt(ed) buffalo without Solids in the magazine?

No, I wouldn't but I'm a solids guy to begin with. I've killed every buff with (.458") solids, either at the request of the PH or because that was what I had and the buff was encountered while elephant hunting. The performance I've seen with (.458") solids on buff leaves nothing wanting.

If you are really hurting for solids, we could probably enlist the assistance of another AR member from the Dallas area and I could send them a box or at least a partial box of the Federal Sledgehammer load for you to pick up.

I'm about 95% sure I have at least ten or so in 375H&H on hand, might have 30. My 375H&H rifle doesn't like them and I load the 300gr Woodleighs to shoot to the same POI as the 300gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaws.

I would be more than happy to help out if you're in a jam, so just let me know so I can recruit another AR member.

(Edit: I'm getting off my big butt to go see how many I have. I'll post the number shortly.)

JPK

Kensco,

I have a full box and they're yours if you need them.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by Kensco:
Would you (or have you) hunt(ed) buffalo without Solids in the magazine?

Yes, premium softs barnes TSX, Swift a-frames, TB bearclaws, Northfork cup points, will penetrate through a quartering or broadside buff, plus a brain if the buff charges. That being said, if you have to do a Texas heart shot which is quite often with buff hunting you need a good solid so I would still have a soft in the chamber for #1 shot and solids in the mag for all other shots.

Although I have shot a few Buff with Swift and Woodleigh softs, most have been taken with Woodleigh solids and all these first shots have been backed up with solids.
Solids are great when shooting through the thick stuff.

I have a bunch of FMJ .375 Let me know if you need some.

Solids these days are for elephant and hippo.

With the premium "softs" that are available these days - such as the Swift A-Frames or the Barnes TSXs (or Saeed's Walterhogs) - solids are not needed on buff, and are arguably disadvantageous.

IMHO, of course.

I always want a solid for my second going away shot on buffalo and I much prefer them on Elephant and Hippo, but If I didn't have any I would hunt anything with todays super premium Monolithic bullets and seriously doubt if I would ever have a problem if I was carefull...