Most forum's I have seen so far regarding bullet choice for first shots on buffalo with the 375 H&H have mostly mentioned Swift A-Frame and Barnes TSX bullets. With very little mention of Woodleigh Weldcores performance. Some say that they are a bit too soft. I would be pushing them out at 2400ft/sec. I already have a box of these at home and wonder if they will be adequate or must I order a box of Swifts. I have heard of over expansion and inadequate penetration with frontal chest shots with certain brands of softs. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

My first choice would be North Fork followed by Swift. Reason is consistent performance. Some of the TSX shoot good, some do not.
Try them all. In a soft nose, I will always go
with the North Fork. Woodleigh makes a good bullet
but I found it too soft on big buffalo.

Good Hunting
Tetonka
DRSS

Thanks it will have to be Swifts then. I don't know if North Fork bullets are available in South Africa.

I have had good results on buffalo with the woodligh weldcore in .458 but not in 375 h&h. I have used 300 gr. Barnes TSX on buffalo and on Eland and others many times. I prefer the TSX over all others, they open up but penetrate well there isn't much not to like.

The Woodies may not be the bullet of the week, but they have taken a lot of African DG.

Their Weldcore .411 400 grain chuffing along at a measly 2076 fps put the hurt on my buffalo;
entered behind the left back rib and exited between the front legs after passing through the heart -- and that was their soft point!.

Woodleigh has introduced the 375H&H 300grn round soft nose bullet in a "heavy duty" range now

I have experience with one buffalo and woodleighs out of a 375. I shot the buffalo and about 60 yards and he balled up about 45 yards after he was hit...I guess it was good enough. It was fully mushroomed (around 85% total weight) and found against a rib on the far side.

I have shot more swift bullets than anything, but will agree, the northforks are very good.
Id use a weldcore on another buffalo--just maybe not out of my 375 RUM

Yes North Fork is available in South Africa. I import, distribute and sell them and have been doing so for quite a few years now.

We've had articles in Wild en Jag, African Outfitter, Magnum and SA Hunter over the past few years amongst the local publications and we were at the Huntex show last year.

Please contact me and we can discuss your requirements. I do carry an extensive range of the North Fork bullets from 6.5mm to 0.510" and in most popular weights and configurations.

My email address is:

sales at africanleadwood dot c o dot z a

Thanks for your feedback.

quote:

Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
Yes North Fork is available in South Africa. I import, distribute and sell them and have been doing so for quite a few years now.

We've had articles in Wild en Jag, African Outfitter, Magnum and SA Hunter over the past few years amongst the local publications and we were at the Huntex show last year.

Please contact me and we can discuss your requirements. I do carry an extensive range of the North Fork bullets from 6.5mm to 0.510" and in most popular weights and configurations.

My email address is:

sales at africanleadwood dot c o dot z a

PM me your price list please.

I am looking for 375 and 458 caliber bullets.

For guys who have the 375 as their largest rifle, I tell them to load up a 350gr bullet for a bit extra horsepower on Cape Buff.

I agree. I have used the 350gr from a 375 with good results.

quote:

Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
I agree. I have used the 350gr from a 375 with good results.

Me too.

I have used both the 300gr RNSN and 300gr PP on Australian Water Buff, prior to my trip to take Cape Buff.
Both work, but, the PP penetrates better and further than the round nose. Have not tried the heavy duty yet, so can't comment on those. I have also used the 260gr and 300gr Accubonds, work far better than you would think, complete pass throughs with either on broadside hits, the only 1 I recovered was from a quatering front on shot, and the bullet was found in the pelvis.
All of these were out of my 375 Bee, 200+fps higher than the H&H.

Cheers.

You will be better off with a bullet that won't exit if hunting buffalo in a herd!

465H&H

375 Softs will in my experience seldom exit a bull shot broadside. I've not shot a heap, but I've not seen it with a 375 soft yet, but yes, you obviously don't want them to exit.

I have found the Woodleigh 300 gr. Weldcore perfectly fine on Cape Buffalo, It will either exit or perhaps stop on the off side skin expanded to the size of a quarter or larger. Those flared out arms are like a buzz saw and do terrific damage in every case I know of...The PP has better penetration than the RN, but the RN give better expansion, take you pick.

That said, my favorite 375 Woodleigh is the 350gr. RN or PP and again the PP has better penetration. I also prefer the 450 gr. RN and PP in my 416 and the .404...All come in solids except the .404 unless that's changed..but for a solid the 300 gr. .375 and the 400 gr. 416 is all that's needed...

Woodleighs have been giving superb performance for many years, to call them soft is questionable in that the may well be a bit softer than some others but lets call the others too hard in that case..At any rate I like Woodleighs in my bolt guns and in my doubles..Keep in mind they are subject to a velocity range but then most bullets are its just that woodliegh admits it.

Im old school on Buffalo bullets, keep your velocity down to 2400 to 2500 FPS and most any bullet will work fine on buffalo, or anything else. Use RN for bush/bulls and PP for the dagga boys. Do not take on frontal shots with the .375 unless you use a solid..I always have a solid to back up my first shot with a soft. I have no problem with using only solids with a 416 or larger, but it works both ways.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Woodleigh has introduced the 375H&H 300grn round soft nose bullet in a "heavy duty" range now

Is this new bullet suppose to me more tough than the PP?

I have only used the PP 350 grain on buff. Worked excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Woodleigh has introduced the 375H&H 300grn round soft nose bullet in a "heavy duty" range now

Is this new bullet suppose to me more tough than the PP?

I have only used the PP 350 grain on buff. Worked excellent.

Not sure how they compare to the PP's but got to be a good option for the 375s on Buffalo as the standard RNS is just a tad too soft.

I have noticed on the internet that some folks expect instant kills on buffalo, that just ain't gonna happen often, they tend to run 50 to a 100 yards or more, no matter what you use.