I have an Elk hunt coming in the fall and would like to develop a relatively flat shooting load for shots around 300 yards. Planning on using 250gr TTSX.

Looking at the Hornady load data I see that the "best" loads are with RL 15, IMR 4895A, and IMR 4064, all also around 2860-2887fps.

Looking at Hogdon I see that Varget is 200fps less than any of the other powders.

I have all 4 of those powders. Which ones do you guys prefer based on your experiences? I'd like to narrow the choices to two or so before I get going.

Thanks in advance.

I use the 250 gr Sierra Game King for the .375. It is accurate, deadly and does a good job. I use the IMR 4064. Killed several elk with it. It does a good job

I had very good velocity, pushing 2900fps using H4895. I don't remember the amount however. I do remember that doing a bit of math to estimate a starting load using the 270gr and 235gr versions, I still came out too high. My starting loads were hot from the get go with a sticky bolt. But after backing off thoroughly I got great velocity and accuracy.

quote:

Originally posted by tanks:
I have an Elk hunt coming in the fall and would like to develop a relatively flat shooting load for shots around 300 yards. Planning on using 250gr TTSX.

Great choice of bullet. I have loaded it in the .375/404JS, but my .375 H&H shooting with 250-grainers was done with the old Barnes XFB, Sierra GameKing, and Swift A-frame. The Barnes TTSX will be better than all these for your planned hunt.

Looking at the Hornady load data I see that the "best" loads are with RL 15, IMR 4895A, and IMR 4064, all also around 2860-2887fps.

Take the manual velocities with a large dose of salt.

Looking at Hogdon I see that Varget is 200fps less than any of the other powders.

I looked at the Hodgdon data too, just now:
Varget 66.5 grains >>> 2642 fps >>> 49,700 CUP
IMR-4064 67.0 grains >>> 2586 fps >>> 49,200 CUP
IMR-4895 63.0 grain >>> 2515 fps >>> 49,300 CUP
H4895 69.0 grains >>> 2696 fps >>> 49,700 CUP
These results for the 250 gr. "SFT SP," Swift SP?

Different manuals, different velocities and different max loads, wildy so!!!

I have all 4 of those powders. Which ones do you guys prefer based on your experiences? I'd like to narrow the choices to two or so before I get going.

Thanks in advance.

I usually found that Varget was only slightly slower than RL-15.
I required about one more grain of Varget than RL-15 to give equal velocities in the .375 H&H and 404 Jeffery.
Of course powder lots, and your mileage, may vary.

My best .375 H&H 300-grain loads were with RL-15 or Varget.

My best .375 H&H 250-grainer load was with IMR-4064 and the Barnes XFB:
250-grain XFB
RP-brass case
F-215 primer
3.600" COaL
IMR-4064 powder, 74.0 grains
24"-barrel MV: 2755 fps
That load put 3 shots into 0.5 MOA so I looked no further ...

I bet the Barnes .375/250-grain TTSX will do just as well or better than the old Barnes XFB.
But of course, start about 7 grains below 74.0 grains and work up.
You might even have to go higher than 74.0 grains in your rifle with that slicker and pointier TTSX.

Temperature sensitivity of IMR-4064 should be no problem if you get the rifle zeroed at about the same temperature as your hunt will be.
Check zero at elk safari destination, or as close to it as you can.
Gotta have a fouling shot.

I've gotten great accuracy in several 375 H&H Magnums with RL-15 with both 270 and 300 grain bullets.

Got better accuracy + speed with RL-15 than 4064.
At 2860 fps, point-blank (+3" @ 100 and -3" @ 300 yards) was achieved, however this is with .375 Wby, not H&H. Gonna be "warm" in yours...

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
I've gotten great accuracy in several 375 H&H Magnums with RL-15 with both 270 and 300 grain bullets.

Ditto. With the 270-grain and 300-grain bullets I used RL-15 in my rifle also.

But in my rifle, IMR-4064 was better with the 250-grainers.
My bullet was the old Barnes XFB 250-grainer.
The TTSX 250-graner is going to be of longer length (increases presure and velocity for same COaL)
but has the multiple cannelures for pressure relief.
Might get higher velocities for same safe pressure.

First two powders I would try with the 250-grain TTSX would be RL-15 and IMR-4064.

There seems to be significant lot-to-lot variation with RL-15, gleaned from the collective here:
Norma 203B is the less variant form of RL-15.

I have used RL15 for everything from 235 to 350gr. Have some 250TTSX but haven't loaded them up yet. You have plenty of time before elk season to experiment. Let us know how it goes.

Tanks, with a 24" barrel ~2900 fps with a 250 gr TTSX or GMX should be obtainable within safe limits. Hornady offers factory ammo with this performance. See

http://www.hornady.com/store/3...5-GMX-Superformance/

I'm looking for estimates of 2600fps 250 TTSX for my wife. If anyone has suggestions for that rung of the ladder, please post.

BTW, GSC now has a 250 grain .375", too.

My 375 loved RL15 with the lighter bullets.

Actually if I were working up loads for the .375 H&H again, or the .375 Ruger,
I would first try VARGET EXTREME, for all bullet weights.
It is tops in my 404 Jeffery with 320 to 400-grainers, accurate and fast.
Varget loads all:
GSC 320-grainers at +2800 fps
North Fork 340-grainers at +2700 fps
North Fork 380-grainers at +2500 fps
Woodleigh 400-grainers at +2400 fps

Just add a grain or two more Varget than the RL-15 charge in the .375 H&H loads.
Temperature stability is not everything, but it is a nice thing.

GSC .375/250-grainers now, eh?

There are a lot of locals and guides around here that love the .375 H&H for elk. The show me every year these perfectly mushroomed 250 gr. Sierras rolling them around on the coffee table..apparantly they work damn well as I see them every year, and listen to their rave..

I have not used them except on Mule deer and they sure work there.

I pretty much use Nosler Partitions, North Forks, Woodleighs and GS Customs, in both light and heavy weights and they all work perfect over many years..

Bottom line is bullet failure in a 375 is really rare indeed, and most bullet failure in calibers of that class is because the last nut behind the recoil pad is loose!

I load my 375s with RL-15 and IMR-4064 as a rule, but the 375 is very accomdating with both powder and bullets, its just easy to laod for.