I have a very strange request from a Spanish hunter. He will come for a brown bear and chamois hunting in Romania in this autumn and insist on using this caliber for both species.
He says he prefers the rifle wich is used to and does not want to use a different caliber for chamois. So, I can not change caliber, but I can choose the bullet.
What bullet do you think would be more appropriate in this case?
Thanks!

What bullet is he planning on using for the bear?

why not??? I would not take my .375H&H for this task, but... I also killed fox and roe with mine...

What bullet: What shoots best with his rifle. That´s more important for such a task then the choice of bullet itself... If his gun likes lighter bullets: take those to travel faster, but mine does not like other´s the 300grains - so I use them: 20mm groups with 5 bullets - so no doubt to be usefull for any game...

If I was going to use this cartridge for those two game spieces; I'd reach for a box of 260 gr. Nosler Accubonds - would be just about perfect for the job.

Flat shooting (check the tables for this bullet) which can easily with 22-24" barrel launch at 2700fps and bonded core bullet construction.

I have no ideea what bullet he intend to use for bear, but my main concern is the bullet for shooting chamois because distances can be quite long. I do not know his rifle preferences, but you gave me a great idea. Always before I start hunting I make sure that the client rifle's is adjusted correctly for the task. This time I will try with several types of bullets to see which is more suitables under these conditions: over 200 meters, low angle shooting.
Now I must select a few bullets for this. Any ideas?

The reason I asked was because you don't know if he'll turn up with a flat shoot bullet already do you?

He could be planning on turning up with something like an accubond and you will have wasted the time and money.

Perhaps it's a plan to find out what he'll be planning on using before suggesting something different.

Boggy and I took the 375 out on the fallow last year. When you hit them, they work just fine.

At 2700 fps they are as flat as my .06 with 180 grain bullets. The furthest I've taken that load out to is 380 metres.

The bullet seems to be irrelevant to the issue, which seems to be can your client shoot his rifle at long range.

I would be tempted to stick with the same load throughout simply because I'd know the trajectory better and be more likely to hit.

Hi,

I have used my .375 for everything since 1992. And I agree with Gerry; the Nosler Accubond 260 grs should be perfect for both! As good should be a 235 or 250 grs Barnes TSX.

Regards

PH

Just let him shoot the bullet he is used to. If he misses the chamois, he will blame it on your choice of bullets. Ask him to do a little training on 200 m, with his favourite bullet.

quote:

Just let him shoot the bullet he is used to. If he misses the chamois, he will blame it on your choice of bullets. Ask him to do a little training on 200 m, with his favourite bullet.

That is the best advice so far in my opinion.

Evidently his 375 is a gun he is used to using and is comfortable with.

My 375 seems to like the Barnes "X" bullets in weights from 210 to 250 grains, especially the 235 grainers.

Have not tried the TSX in it.

The only concern I would have, is expansion of any of the premium bullets out of the 375 on the chamois.

If say the shoulder bone is it, expansion will be or should be more than adequate.

A behind the shoulder heart/lung shot where maybe only a rib is involved or maybe nothing more than hair/hide/organs are involved there might not be a lot of expansion and the animal might travel a piece before figuring out it was dead.

Hy boy
in my 375 I use only 300 sierra spbt are good for all "light2 game .
For more information you can read a book of Paul Pallfy Von Erdod. a famus european "hunter in love" of 375.
ciao ciao
bb

300gr Sierra Game Kings...

Rich

I use 300g woodleigh protected points. Have shot water buff and scrub bulls with them so they should work on bears. Also used them on a cull hunt in Namibia last year. One shot kills on kudu, gemsbok, hartebeest & springbok. Most shots at the springbok were over 200m with the longest at 320m. Hartebeest was 370m according to the laser rangefinder. Springbok and chamois would be of comparible size I would think

Barnes has just released their TTSX in 250 gr with a BC of >.4 which should do nicely if the rifle will shoot them.

Does your hunter reload, or will he have to rely on factory ammo - as do most other European hunters??

If the hunter relies on factory ammo, what brands and options are available to him?? It will be far from all (US manufactured, say) factory ammo, which will be available to him.

Should your hunter reload, there is probably little point in suggesting the latest and greatest bullet just introduced in the US. In contrast to the US, most European countries will only see introduction of the latest bullets years after the US introduction - if at all.

A pretty safe bet for both heavy and light game is a Nosler Partition. This bullet has also been around long enough and is sufficiently common that there is a chance he might have access to it - be it in factory ammo or as component.

- mike

I have shot both dall sheep and mountain goat in Alaska with the 300 gr. Sierra's so +3 on that one but more than that I like what bobby van der putten says about letting him choose his own bullet.If the hunter is setting himself up for problems don't let him set you up as well.
Actully the only real problem I see with this is the weight of the rifle will be feeling darn heavy climbing after chamois. I have taken game out as far as 300 yards with a .375 which is farther than ether of the chamois I shot.

Thank you all for your advice. Unfortunately my client has been quite reluctant to my proposal. The bullet that he will use will only be his decision. I'll post the result here, good or bad.