I just got a 375 in trade and am totally new to the cartrige. I got a couple boxes of winchester 270 gr soft points, and all the guys reloading gear. I have loaded up some 220gr 38/55 bullets at 2200 fps to try, but I was wondering if the factory 270s would expand on deer. Anyone else out there use a 375 for deer and if so what do you use? Thanks Jerry
Posts: 44 | Location: Maine | Registered: 07 November 2002
The factory loads will expand just about the same as bullets from other cartridges will.
That 220 grain bullet was made for lower velocities but if it shoots well it will kill a deer of course. You will limit your range however but in Maine that might not matter where you hunt. Since the bear season is open also I would carry a stronger bullet myself.
Get a mold for a bullet with a flat meplat and gas check this winter and cast some up with a hard lead alloy. Such bullets penetrate well and the flat meplat really works at woods ranges. It's fun too and they don't kick or cost all that much.
Savage 99, Included with the rifle was a nice 250gr mold with a wide flat point. I plan trying to cast some soft nose cast bullets this afternoon. Do you have a favorite cast bullet load? Thanks jerry
Posts: 44 | Location: Maine | Registered: 07 November 2002
I have used the Lyman 375449 in my .375's but my mold has a hollow point so it must weigh about 250 like yours. I use linotype metal which is very hard.
I did shoot just one whitetail with it. It was a broadside lung shot at about 100 yds on a small buck that was not aware. Not much of a test but the animal fell straight down and there was a nice exit hole.
My standard load is that bullet with 44 grs of IMR 3031, the Rem 9 1/2 primer and a tuft of kapox for 2007 fps.
Don't go nuts looking for kapox unless you already have it. A load of 45 grs of 3031 without kapox will give 1809 fps and 46 grs will go at 1935 fps again without kapox.
Almost any powder with a burning rate similar to 3031 should also work well.
Use about any bullet, no need for loading it down or using this or that..It works just fine with any 270 or 300 gr. bullet, even a flat nose solid...It won't ruin as much meat as a 243 or 270...Those bullets are tough and tend not to expand much on light bodied animals..I have shot many deer with 300 gr. bullets and ate right up to the bullet hole...It kills them plenty fast, usually within 50 yards or less.
Posts: 42320 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000
Jackets shredded some left spall in the meat. Entrance wound was 1/2". Exit was the size of your fist. Been shooting these loads up on paper.
Going to try 235 Speers at 2600 fps this year it the 375 makes it up in the rotation.
Going to use a .416 with 350 Mag Tips at 2600 fps first, then a 470 NE with 500 gr cast GCFPs at 1500 fps, then the .375. Usually make it through 3 guns. We'll see this year.
Mike, What did you expect?? Use the regular old tough bullets ment for buffalo, you don't need much if any expansion with a 375 H&H....Actually I like the Bridger flat nose solids on deer where they are legal...I use them on Impala and Kongoni in Africa to feed the camp and the Game scout hdq.
Posts: 42320 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000
Mike, I've used the 235 grain Speers on mule deer, and they opened up...FAST. Velocity was only 2600 fps. Was told by a more experienced .375 shooter to keep velocity below 2500 (2400 even better) with that bullet if ranges are closer than 100yds.
Posts: 3490 | Location: Colorado Springs, CO | Registered: 04 April 2003
I've shot a deer with the 300 gr. Hornaday as well. Broadside shot through both lungs; I believe I hit a rib that took out his spine. He simply fell over.
I'm trying the 235 gr. Speer this year myself, loaded to about 2500 fps. I think I got lucky last year (hitting the rib), and I'd like to keep dropping them in their tracks. This bullet expands well in water. It ended up at 170 gr. and about .65" diameter, and penetration was reduced from what the 300 gr. bullets do.
Pertinax
Posts: 444 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 07 November 2001
Pertinax I tried the 235 gr speer on grassy's some large males which I think (correct me if I am wrong would weigh in the same as a small deer, but there hip bones are a lot heavier in construction I would think) Got about 1" exits from chest shots and instant kills. Smaller specimens just rupture open but thats the big bore "exceeding dimensions" thing happening there.
When I hit spine with the 300 gr hornady RN's I get massive damage, I was suprised.
Posts: 7505 | Location: Australia | Registered: 22 May 2002
quote:Originally posted by JerryW: I just got a 375 in trade and am totally new to the cartrige. I got a couple boxes of winchester 270 gr soft points, and all the guys reloading gear. I have loaded up some 220gr 38/55 bullets at 2200 fps to try, but I was wondering if the factory 270s would expand on deer. Anyone else out there use a 375 for deer and if so what do you use? Thanks Jerry
I have found that the 270 Hornady does not even expand on elk!!! I would use the Nosler partition as it will open up. Those 38/55 bullets will come apart like a varmint bullet.
Posts: 18352 | Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA | Registered: 20 April 2002
I tried the NBTs on the recommendation of a board member who had used them in Africa on plains game with good results. I must have been pushing them a little fast and must have hit the deer too close. Won't do that again.
Don't quite know what to do about the speed of the 235 Speers this year. Little time left to fix the problem. Do have some 270 Barnes loaded to 2660. Could use those or just take the 375 out of the rotation this year.
I have shot deer with my 375 with two bullets. The Hornady 220 FP, and the 235 Speer. Both gave good expansion and killed the dear real well with minimal meat loss. Both were loaded with 64gr of IMR 3031. The Sierra 250gr Gameking also shoots good with this powder charge, but I have not shot game with it yet. Velocity is around 2550 to 2600fps. For a further reduced load try the 220 Hornady FP with 40gr of SR 4759. Velocity around 2200 fps.
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002
Atkinson's probably got the answer here though-- use the 300. It may not kill as spectacularly as the lighter one's we're discussing, but it won't ever destroy too much meat, and the penetration will always be morre than sufficient.
I want lightning-fast kills too, but I never want insufficient penetration. I think I'm switching back to the 300 gr. for everything.
Pertinax
Posts: 444 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 07 November 2001
quote:Originally posted by JerryW: I just got a 375 in trade and am totally new to the cartrige. I got a couple boxes of winchester 270 gr soft points, and all the guys reloading gear. I have loaded up some 220gr 38/55 bullets at 2200 fps to try, but I was wondering if the factory 270s would expand on deer. Anyone else out there use a 375 for deer and if so what do you use? Thanks Jerry
Jerry W, I used a .375 H&H for my deer in season 2002. I used a Barnes .235 gr. uncoated X bullet loaded over 83 gr of IMR 4350 but heed this warining. THE TECHNICIAN AT BARNES SAID THE LOAD WAS A BIT HOT FOR A .375. I can hardily recommend the 235 gr X bullet but DO NOT LOAD YOUR GUN THAT HOT. That load did not give me any over pressure signs in this gun but IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS in you gun. I hit a little muley buck at about 100 yards. It is the first time I ever knocked an animal off it's feet. I got good expansion at that range.
I shot two black bears in Alaska a few years back with Hornady 270 spitzers. Recovered one bullet which penetrated about 4 feet and it retained about 68% of its weight. Muzzle velocity was about 2600.
'Shot a whitetail last weekend with a Hornady 270 last weekend. I guess it worked ok, as the deer is in the freezer.
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