I'm looking for a single 375 H&H load that will be used for leopard, plains game and buffalo. As such I've pretty well settled on a Nosler Partition. The Nosler manual shows their most accurate load being 79.0 grains of RL19. This is a Max load with a velocity of 2470 and a load density of 109%.

I'm shooting a Whinchester Mdl 70 Safari Express. I want the most accurate load I can find. But have three questions.

1) Is it a problem to start off with a max load?

2) Is this an appropriate velocity?

3) Is it a problem to use an over volume density?

Thanks for the guidance.

I wish I could help you SBT but I have not ever tried the Nosler Partitions in my .375. I have used the 235 Barnes TSX and the Sierra 250 Gameking. Both with excellent results. I have used both bullets on African game up to and including Eland and have been impressed with the results. The 235 Barnes gets my nod. Holds together better than one could hope for and has worked on everything from warthog, impala up to wildebeest and Eland. I have never shot a leopard so I couldn't tell you how it would fare.

OOOOPS!
In answer to your question #1. I would back the load off of max by 10% or no more than the minimum load listed in the loading manual. Then increasing by half a grain, work up 2 or 3 test loads in each increment, shooting them while checking for signs of excessive pressure. If you get all the way to max load without signs of ep then I would assume the max load is safe. I had some trouble with max loads and even loads 2.5 grains under the max listed in the new Hornady manual for a .300 RUM. Pressure signs caused me to back the load way off and start again.
#2 I will check the Nosler manual for velocity but I need the bullet weight for that.
#3. Compressed loads work just fine, normally.

Thanks Pagosawingnut. I too have had tremendous success with the TSX, but they are too hard for the leopard.

quote:

but they are too hard for the leopard.

I've not shot any leopards, but I've found TSXs to open very quickly even on thin-skinned critters. Did they not work well on a leopard?

LWD

1. Yes, it is a problem to start off with a maximum load. Aside from being dangerous, you may miss the load that is most accurate. Though I've found the Nosler manual to be very good, just because a certain load is most accurate in their gun doesn't mean it will be the most accurate in yours.

2. You're going to be making a 375 in. diameter hole in a Leopard at a minimum and the velocity you get from a published load in Nosler's manual will be adequate.

3. Compressed loads are fine as long as they're not so compressed that the bullet starts backing out of the case but a good crimp should prevent that. For 270 and 300 gr. bullets RL-15 is what I and a lot of others use for loading the 375 H&H Magnum.

I have no experance with leopard, Though my buddy a fellow AR member swares by the speer tropy bonded bearclaws in his 375, Gives you another option, hope this helps

Matt

scott i've used almost nothing but 300 gr partitions in 375 for a long time now. they always do just what you expect them to. I settled on 4350 for a powder long ago and have always had good success with it. compressing the load is not a problem, but starting at max is. every chamber is going to be a lit different. tighter the chamber the more peak pressure. stare about 7-8 grains low and wat pressures 1st. when the primers get really flat, back off, part. work well on spots because the front is soft. spots is not a very big animal and is soft skinned so to tough a bullet is not a good thing

Questions answered. Thanks all.

I shoot a Ruger #1 in 375 H&H with 300gr. Nosler Partitions. Shot a cape buffalo in Zambia last October. One shot, quartering toward me, on the point of the shoulder. He was down in 25 yds, paid the insurance shot, it was over. Recovered the bullets, they looked just like they are supposed to.

From buffalo on down the partition works.