375h&h, one do it all African load..?
- Thread starter liberty
- Start date
I thought I'd told you about that?
They worked quite well, cranked up to around 2600 fps. I had a bit of a bullet test going on the cull with my standard 2350 fps 450 grain A-Frame load as a base-line for comparison and the light TSXs as a low recoil option, and 420 grain CEB Safari Raptors and some 500 grain Partition, and both Barnes and Woodleigh Hydrostatic solids.
In a general sort of way, the A-Frames were the best at all distances, the CEBs quite good at the shorter distances but lame at longer ranges as they slow down something fierce. The light little TSXs didn't quite have the smack of the heavier bullets at the typical short range, but out-did the CEBs at longer ranges because they had some speed left. The Raptors teetered on pathetic around 200 yards. Penetration was nearly identical with all of them, mostly because the hide on the far side of thick skinned buff is a great equalizer. Good softs almost always make it that far, and almost never go right through. The CEBs always shed their 6 petals as designed, the A-Frames always looked like an advertisement picture no matter the range or shot placement, and the TSXs opened progressively less as the distance increased until they looked like jagged solids, which when you think about it is what they are. The solids aren't worth a pinch of coon-####, just like always. I'd brain cripples with those to save the good stuff. Somehow, the Noslers never got much play. In the weird way things have of happening the bush would go sleep when I had them in the mag and woke up when I changed them. I'm not normally a superstitious person, but sometimes you can't fight it.
If a guy only shot one or two buffalo, and at only close range he could be forgiven if he thought there wasn't much difference between any of them. That stands to reason, since they are all some of the best buffalo softs ever made. As the numbers piled up, the patterns became quite established and predictable though. I had higher hopes for the CEBs, but although they worked they didn't excel the way the hype had been built up. Tipping them will raise downrange velocities considerably if you have the mag room. I came home quite happy with my old favorites and pleasantly surprised by how well the little 350s actually did work with recoil that approximated a .375 with 300s. I wouldn't hestitate using the .458 with 350s to fill the slot usually filled by the .375 just by an ammo swap. That leaves some options for bringing a .300 or similar for a little gun on a two gun safari. In an unrelated matter I'm working with light .375s to crowd into .300 trajectory now. Never happy to leave well enough alone I guess.
My favorite 375 load that has worked exceptionally well right out to 300 mtrs is a 270 gn TSX loaded very fast with RL 15. I have taken 2 hippos, 2 giraffe, big lion and a croc right down to puku and duiker with one rifle and this one load sighted 2" high at 100 mtrs. I haven't shot a buff with this load but would have zero qualms doing it. In my rifle I am able to get 2925 fps out of the 270 TSX with RL 15 and have used it in 55 degree heat without issue, no ejector marks or loose primers at all.......guess I just have a fast barrel, but all my different 375s all get 2800 plus with 270s.
I have used this rifle exclusively on 3 separate hunts for everything literally from duiker to hippos and from several feet to 300 mtrs and have never once been disappointed with the outcome and never tracked anything as I recall.
I have used this rifle exclusively on 3 separate hunts for everything literally from duiker to hippos and from several feet to 300 mtrs and have never once been disappointed with the outcome and never tracked anything as I recall.
Given the TSX praise by Ardent and c-fbmi, I feel compelled to point out that my experience with underwhelming TSX performance was on stunted, over populated WT does with light cartridges, not on tough and/or large African game... I would weight their experience and advice heavily, regarding the TSX bullet.
- Location
- Center of Oil Country
Agreed Dogleg - "Think we need a bigger boat" (Roy Scheider - Jaws 1975) was thinking the same thing - bigger gun. My PH put an insurance shot from his Merkel 470 Nitro as my buffalo was going down - hammered him real good. Would like to take another buffalo or an elephant one day with a double gun like a 470. The 375 does work though the debate shall continue as it always has.
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Your PH shot your animal "as it was going down"???
I understand the necessity of safety with DG... but not many clients want a bullet from their PH in their animal unless it was necessary... and if it is necessary, it can't be soon enough. I did it once on a bear, but only at the request of the client.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
For better or worse, indeed I'd agree it's the job of the PH / guide to hold his fire and to a certain extent, tongue, unless disaster is absolutely imminent. It is in the end a customer service position. Every instance is different mind you!
Have had this discussion with many PHs and I always say if you feel the need, give 'em one.......has never happened yet on big stuff, but I was grateful once on a bushbuck that I hit and we tracked a long, long ways. When we finally got up for a shot I could not see him, told the PH to go ahead as I absolutely could not see him despite being only 35 or so mtrs. I would do this with any hunting partner whether PH or buddy, finish the animal as quickly as humanly possible, my ego will recover !!! Priority goes to the animal at all times.
you did tell me and in more than one occasion. cant stop to listen again again.
That was the situation with the bear, a nice 400 pound boar. The client had gotten rattled when the bear appeared out of a thicket 20 yards away when sitting over a berrie cut... he made a poor shot. We tracked the bear for over a mile, when I spotted him walking slowly through the trees a hundred yards ahead, the client had no shot, I had my sights on it and asked if I could finish him, the client said "please," and I put it down... but even in that situation, I felt it necessary to ask. After that incident, whenever tracking a bear, I asked for consent in advance from the client... should a similar situation arise... thankfully, it never did again.
Some PHs think its their god given right to slip a shot into your buff or elephant. Oddly few feel like that about a springbok. Some do it so fast that you have to know that they had their mind made up before they left town.
One of my good friends who was a conservation officer in South Africa for 14 years told me for hunting rounds a 30-06 will kill anything thin skinned (or in North America) and a .375h&h will kill anything currently on this planet. So I guess if I had to have one rifle for Africa to go with, a 375h&h would be my pick and then tailor your rounds from there.
Well said!
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
it might be and i am sure PH's does do it, but my feeling is the following:
1. firstly if the client instructed to do so or has his consent
2. if the client is in danger
3. depending WHERE you hunt...meaning if you hunt 2 miles from the Nature Reserve / Park boundary, then perhaps i will suggest to give back-up shots - you just might loose your buffalo or Elephant when it runs back into the park...
4. what TIME of day did you shoot your buff or elephant...meaning if you shoot at 17h00 it might be a good suggestion to give a back-up shot, beter to try anker your buff/elephant then going in after him at night...
5. said above - finish the animal off quickly humanly as possible
No PH's should do a back-up shots unless the 4 points (in my eyes) has been dicussed with you client, either by means of contract or at least before his safaris commences - just my 2cents...
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that is for sure, sir!
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Sounds like Charlie's gemsbok.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
here's a pic of the eland,
and the elk
A little off the topic, but,
sorry about the AYA deal. Attempted to send you a PM with info on some of what we were chatting about but I believe your mail is full so it wouldn't go through.
