375 HH mag
- Thread starter runguan
- Start date
I've shot a couple moose and a large montain caribou with a 375magnun and have come to the conclusion that it might flatten them with a hit to large supporting bone, spinal or neck shot, but not with a lung shot.
I know what you mean, I've used the H&H on everything from coyotes to lots of deer to moose and cape buffalo, and I agree: a heart/lung-shot critter doesn't seem to fall over or die much, if any, faster than with a .30-cal cartridge. The thing I do like about it is that the "perfect" shot that I look for is somewhat different than the "perfect" shot that the let's-use-the-most-barely-adequate-cartridge crowd looks for. They all seem to wait until the animal is completely broadside, with the on-side leg extended forward, and then shoot when the critter has just exhaled, carefully slipping their ultra-premium handloaded superbullet (Berger, perhaps?) behind the shoulder and between a pair of ribs. The slug is such a technological whizbang that it enters the chest cavity in unaltered condition, and then immediately expands to 4x it's original diameter upon striking the heart; the animal quickly falls over, their supreme hunting skill and patience having smitten another great beast...or at least that's the way it often seems to read. They always "do their part" and would never tolerate "overkill", because too-dead is just too-gauche.
I'm a hillbilly; I like to deliver a simple cup-and-core .375 to the point of the shoulder of a quartering-towards beast. I know that bullet will go where it needs to, and taking out a couple of major bones on the way means the critter is already severely inconvenienced when that primitive chunk of lead and copper gets to the heart...and it will get there. Those animals fall down real fast. I run up and gut them quickly, because I like to hide the evidence of overkill; once you take the insides outside, nobody can see how drastically overdead the poor thing had been.
The only animal that I forced myself to wait for the classic behind-the-shoulder shot was the cape buff; on game like that, the .375 is certainly adequate, but it's definitely not overkill...and I found myself missing the overkill.
What no story or load info?
.375 H&H Magnum, Remington Corelokt 275 Grain. One shot and it dropped like a sack of potatoes, never stirred. Caught him on the run at 150 yds.
BigUglyMan
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- New Scotland
That's the skinn-iest moose I've ever seen!
I know what you mean, I've used the H&H on everything from coyotes to lots of deer to moose and cape buffalo, and I agree: a heart/lung-shot critter doesn't seem to fall over or die much, if any, faster than with a .30-cal cartridge. The thing I do like about it is that the "perfect" shot that I look for is somewhat different than the "perfect" shot that the let's-use-the-most-barely-adequate-cartridge crowd looks for. They all seem to wait until the animal is completely broadside, with the on-side leg extended forward, and then shoot when the critter has just exhaled, carefully slipping their ultra-premium handloaded superbullet (Berger, perhaps?) behind the shoulder and between a pair of ribs. The slug is such a technological whizbang that it enters the chest cavity in unaltered condition, and then immediately expands to 4x it's original diameter upon striking the heart; the animal quickly falls over, their supreme hunting skill and patience having smitten another great beast...or at least that's the way it often seems to read. They always "do their part" and would never tolerate "overkill", because too-dead is just too-gauche.
I'm a hillbilly; I like to deliver a simple cup-and-core .375 to the point of the shoulder of a quartering-towards beast. I know that bullet will go where it needs to, and taking out a couple of major bones on the way means the critter is already severely inconvenienced when that primitive chunk of lead and copper gets to the heart...and it will get there. Those animals fall down real fast. I run up and gut them quickly, because I like to hide the evidence of overkill; once you take the insides outside, nobody can see how drastically overdead the poor thing had been.
The only animal that I forced myself to wait for the classic behind-the-shoulder shot was the cape buff; on game like that, the .375 is certainly adequate, but it's definitely not overkill...and I found myself missing the overkill.
That's funny stuff right there!
I too like cup & core bullets at reasonable velocity. No magnum rifle lives here any more. Fastest BG rifle here is a std 270 that gets 130gr Sierras in the load. I do load TSX in my 223 for a deer load though. I don't like to shoulder shoot animals. In my former life, I was a commercial meat cutter and have had to deal with the mess of shoulder shot game a lot and prefer to avoid that if possible.
So skinny, the quarters were FLAT!
I know what you mean, I've used the H&H on everything from coyotes to lots of deer to moose and cape buffalo, and I agree: a heart/lung-shot critter doesn't seem to fall over or die much, if any, faster than with a .30-cal cartridge. The thing I do like about it is that the "perfect" shot that I look for is somewhat different than the "perfect" shot that the let's-use-the-most-barely-adequate-cartridge crowd looks for. They all seem to wait until the animal is completely broadside, with the on-side leg extended forward, and then shoot when the critter has just exhaled, carefully slipping their ultra-premium handloaded superbullet (Berger, perhaps?) behind the shoulder and between a pair of ribs. The slug is such a technological whizbang that it enters the chest cavity in unaltered condition, and then immediately expands to 4x it's original diameter upon striking the heart; the animal quickly falls over, their supreme hunting skill and patience having smitten another great beast...or at least that's the way it often seems to read. They always "do their part" and would never tolerate "overkill", because too-dead is just too-gauche.
I'm a hillbilly; I like to deliver a simple cup-and-core .375 to the point of the shoulder of a quartering-towards beast. I know that bullet will go where it needs to, and taking out a couple of major bones on the way means the critter is already severely inconvenienced when that primitive chunk of lead and copper gets to the heart...and it will get there. Those animals fall down real fast. I run up and gut them quickly, because I like to hide the evidence of overkill; once you take the insides outside, nobody can see how drastically overdead the poor thing had been.
The only animal that I forced myself to wait for the classic behind-the-shoulder shot was the cape buff; on game like that, the .375 is certainly adequate, but it's definitely not overkill...and I found myself missing the overkill.
Great way of putting it.
I have not hunted moose with less than .30. The .375 is probably overkill, but it certainy command attention when striking the intended target. Wanted one for years, but ammo availability was always on my mind as I do not reload - yet. Found two local dealers with in stock ammo and went searching for one. Price of ammo has had a drastic increase this year and I have seen .375 Federal Blue Box go for as much as $90 a box.
Reloading may very well be in my immediate future just for the price of ready rolled and I will probably opt for premium bullets although core lokt has served me well over the years. Reloading will also guarantee availability as thre may only be me and another hunter locally that use .375.
Waiting for the perfect shot is not something I do, if I get an opportunity at game - I take it. Meat first, story and rack size second. Most oten I go for a small bull if there are several, the times I get a bigger bull is just coincidence. Antlers are not edible....
My .30-06 (es) are still keepers and so is the .375 as long as ammo is available or I start reloading. I will be shooting more than I have as I have more time now than before and reloading is a good hobby and seems to be another hobby I will enjoy, as long as I do not go to hell with it and have to get another mortgage to pay for it all. I am just not planning on getting too scientific with it.
Cheers and happy hunting.
This is why I do not own a .243 or 6.5X55 as both of these meet minimum requirements for moose. Too many variables exist in meeting the "ain't dead enough" criteria...
You're missing out in not owning a 6.5x55. Fabulous cartridge. And given how many hunters I see struggling with their big belted magnums at the range when trying to sight in their rifles, I often think they (and our game) would be better off if they learned how to shoot a less powerful cartridge more accurately. Not all like that, of course, but far too many.
Agreed, I draw the line at 7mm.
But for Moose anything from 35 Whelen on up usually get the call
They are both great cartridges indeed, just not for moose. If either was legal for coyote in NL, I would probably own one of each.
