Just wondering if anyone here loads Hydros in deer / PG calibers .270 to .338 etc?

I just noticed my local has 170g 8mm's and given I have a pet load for my 8x57IS firing a 170gSST at 2800 I'm wondering if similar velocity would see a Hydro behaving like a Barnes X in terms of wound profile, or just zip through like a solid?

I've tried them in the 338 WM and 375 Win and found problems with both rifles.

The Sako 338 has a long magazine but the throat seems too short to seat the 225-grain bullet out far, limiting powder space.

The Winchester 94 has a long throat but the action demands a short COAL, so powder space is cramped behind the 235-grainer there, too.

Heaps of buffalo and a few pigs with the 180 grain Hydros out of a .300H&H. And a couple of buffalo with the 150 grain Hydros out of Winchester 1894 .30/30, using it as a two-shooter for safety reasons.

My opinion is that they are an inferior bullet for pigs unless major bone is broken - traditional softs are better. But they are the ultimate buffalo bullet.

From what I’ve seen with the .423” and .458” Hydros finding a crimp groove to coincide with max CoaL can be difficult, add the plastic cap and you want a longer than average magazine.

The question that interests me here though is just what velocity is required in a medium bore to produce a substantially larger than caliber permanent cavity in a 150 to 250kg animal?

Don’t know, but they devastated those two huge old buffalo bulls in seconds even at slow speed.

Thanks Ben

I think you posted as I was typing.

What speed were you getting the 180g up to and what sort of exit wounds was it producing?

I loaded some for a Police Officer’s .300WM and he was quite pleased with their performance on buffalo, and I was with the Bulman shopkeeper when he successfully buffalo-tested them out of his .308. These were 180 grains as well.

Did you try them on donkeys by any chance?

I haven’t yet chronographed for the .300H&H, and the exit holes in buffalo are simply calibre sized because of the nature of the thick hide. Inside the wound channel is substantially bigger, maybe up to double. Buffalo sink really fast with a Hydro through their boiler.

When I get a chance I will chronograph them, but it should be a moderate velocity.

I haven’t yet shot any donkeys with Hydros, I think.