Ammo question for .375 H&H shooters

Sharptail

Sharptail

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Hornady is selling a .375 H&H load called the Heavy Magnum (part # 8508) with a 270 grain spire point bullet (I think part # 3710) which claims to have a muzzle velocity of 2870 fps. This is a good 200 fps faster than most commercial 270 grain loads, and 100 fps faster than any recipe I can find for a hand load. It is even 170 fps faster than Hornady's own published loads for that bullet.

Has anyone tried this load? Does it live up to its velocity claims? Hornady does not publish a barrel length to go along with the velocity number (I use a 25" barrel). Has anyone chrono'ed the cartridge? What about the bullet, is it any good? Will it hold together? Is it accurate? Any info you may have on the cartridge or the bullet will be much appreciated.

It is not that I think the .375 needs more energy, but anything that adds yards to the point blank range is of interest to me.

Sharptail
 
I have seen a few reports on the internet (so they must be true) of guys chronographing Hornady Heavy Magnum loads in other calibers and they were performing as advertised in off-the-shelf rifles.
 
Ive used the Hornady 300gr Spire point boattail in the 375 H&H and found them to be very accurate, although I've never shot anything with them.

If you are a handloader, most of the "Extra Enegy etc" loads don't mean much. 100fps extra is not something that would matter enough to buy factory ammo.

:)
 
Frank, check out the Barnes loads for 270gr, the #1 manual has an IMR4320 load at 2802fpsand the newer manual lists a load over 2900fps, IIRC.
 
Thanks for the info. I bought a box - it has the velocity and drop out to 500 yds. printed on the container. I need some brass anyway, so these might be fun. 1899, thanks for the lead on the hot handloads, I never checked Barnes. I don't want to turn this thing into a Weatherby, but an extra 15 yds. or so of point blank range never hurt anyone. But I suspect Gatehouse is right, and it is not really worth worrying about. Now, if only I had some ballistic gelatin ...

Sharptail
 
The other option is to try the Lost River Ballistics J36 bullets. The only problem is that they are expensive. The 275gr has a .590 ballistic coefficient. At 2750 fps that puts your PBR at 279 yards with a 236 yard zero --> +2.7" at 100 yards. Drop at 400 would be 18.3" with 2890ft-lbs, drop at 500 is 38.9" and 2550ft-lbs
 
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