375 H&H For Elk

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kraigwy

New member
Got to playing with my Model 70 375 H&H.

That puppy using 250 gr. Sierra bullet developes more energy at 350 yards then my 30'06 load using 175 SMKs at 100 yards.

Juat as flat shooting too.

I'd plan on using my 270 Win but I don't know now, Sure had fun with my 375.
Wonder if its over kill? Sure is accurate..............if I don't shoot it too much at one setting, but I wouldn't do that hunting.

Hmmmmmmmm
 
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I'll be using a fairly rare Ruger Alaskan variant in .375 Ruger for elk this year if it makes you feel better........:D

I think it's just enough, not too much.......

My brothers and I have a saying..... 'there is dead.... and there is "better" dead':eek:
 
The .270 is a bit light for a big elk, you want a quick, humane kill. The .375 is maybe a bit much, but it's erring on the correct side of the equation.
 
I'd use a 375 long before using a 270. A 270 should use a 150 premium BTW.
Elmer Keith always said that the most common shot on elk he had seen was a quartering away shot.Will the bullet be able to penetrate a lot of wet grass and other things in the paunch and into the vital organs ?? Don't play games use a proper cartridge , like the 375.
Many are picking one bullet for eveything usually a good premium like a 225 Nosler Partition .A bit lighter or heavier depending which your rifle prefers.:D
 
I'll work, but is probably more gun than I'd want to carry in elk county. I'm sure you know that bullet energy never killed anything. A 270 or 30-06 have been working just fine and will anchor elk at ranges of 400-500 yards with good bullets. And that is the key. With todays better bullets the big bores are less important than ever.

I've hunted in that country and don't want anything over 8 lbs all up and closer to 7 is even better. Not many 375 will make that weight and be tolerable to shoot.
 
Up to this point every elk i have killed has been with a .270 and 140 grain bullets.:eek:
You'll have a hard time convincing me it's not "big" enough.

I say go for it Kraig


as a side note, my .375 only weighs about a half pound more than my .270
 
Cornbush I agree 100% that the 270 win is plenty enough gun for elk. It never let me down.

The thing is, I do lots of hunting with my 270 (or 257 Roberts). Haven't used my 375 H&H much lately.

Got to playing with it today, had a ball and got the urge to take it to the mountains just because I haven't.

I'll take both rifles (always take two just in case my horse rolls on one).

Though I'd like to use the 375 I'm pretty sure when I get there I'll take the 270 just because I have so much faith in it.

We'll see,
 
Unless you don't think you can shoot the 375 as well as the 270 I can't imagine a scenario where the 270 would out perform on an elk at any reasonable distance.
 
Just returned from a week at my farm trying out my newly acquired CZ .375H&H.
While the .375 will not replace my .308 as a general hunting rifle, there is something very satisfying about firing large diameter projectiles around the countryside.
Ive got a feral goat infestation on my place at the moment so decided to do some culling with the .375. Using fence posts or trees as rests every goat within 200 yards was hit & dropped with one shot - actually dropped 2 goats with one shot. I did however find that while the .375 is accurate out to 200 yards, there is more drop at longer distances, than say my .308, or a .270.
 
IMHO there is nothing, I repeat, nothing, walking around in North America, and possibly the world,that the .375 H&H won't handle with a well placed shot. I would have no hesitation in using it for another Elk. I have used mine for Moose, Bear, Boar, Elk & Caribou. All one shot kills, no tracking required. Ranges were from about 35 to over 250 yards.
As far as overkill is concerned, there is no such thing. Dead is dead, is dead. If I had to limit myself to just one big game hunting rifle, it would be my .375, with my .338 WM a close second.
I have never found extra power to be a negative. It's comforting to know it's there if you should need it.
 
I wouldn't say it's overkill, but that paunch shot that keith recommended is just a bad idea. I won't say he didn't encounter a lot of that, but it's not a great idea. The only time I'd risk ruining the meat like that is to down a wounded elk. If you can't get a good broadside shot, move.
 
I've seen a whitetail taken with a .375 H&H and make no mistake, she dropped dead in her tracks. The exit wound was roughly the size of a $.50 piece. Overkill, maybe a little, but think the .375 is a fine for elk. I'd rather go a bit heavy than a bit light.
 
I'd like to use the 375 I'm pretty sure when I get there I'll take the 270 just because I have so much faith in it.
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Your going to use whatever suits your fancy at the time. But, bear in mind "The Bigger the better." Especially when it comes to hunting Bulls only.
 
Elk are not armor-plated at all but they usually don't react to a good chest hit like other animals. Your 375 MAG is plenty of gun if you do your part and I'm assuming you've practised with it plenty of times.

I feel that practising at 200 yards using makeshift field rest positions is more helpful than 100 yard bench shooting.

Jack
 
I feel that practising at 200 yards using makeshift field rest positions is more helpful than 100 yard bench shooting.
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I don't shoot from the bench even on my back yard range. I practice from positions that I may use either on the field or competitions.

Most of my 375 H&H practice has bee off hand. I've seen videos about a match uses heavy, dangerous game rifles at targets charging you through the brush and close range. The moving targets are pictures of elephants, rhinos, lions, cape buffalo, etc painted on plywood frames.

Always wanted to shoot that match but don't know where they are.

Anyway I was thinking about the 375 not because I don't think my 270 will do the job, I know it will.

I have no real reason to use the 375 except that I just want to. Who knows, thats 3 1/2 months away. I may change my mind.

Who knows, I might diside to go with my 416 Rigby..................probably not, that sucker hurts at either end.
 
I'd use a 375 long before using a 270. A 270 should use a 150 premium BTW.
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I'd use the one you have the most experience with, before judging based on bullet diameter, alone. ;)
And, I wholeheartedly disagree with the "need" for a 150 gr bullet in .270 Win. Going heavier doesn't make the bullet any tougher. Some of the best bullets we have available in .277", can (also or only) be found in 130 or 140 grain weights.

If you compare the ballistics of 130, 140, and 150 grain bullets of similar shape (to prevent a massive change in ballistic coefficient), they all end up producing very similar figures. (Realistic velocities of: 130 gr @ 2,950 fps, 140 gr @ 2,875 fps, 150 gr @ 2,750 fps.) Downrange energy is within 100 ft-lb at 400 yards. Muzzle energy is nearly identical (within 68 ft-lb). And, there's less than 1" difference in point of impact at 400 yards.

Cornbush and I can both attest to incredible performance on Elk, of properly chosen .277" bullets... none of them weighing in at 150 gr.

I see no reason to increase recoil, when the 130s and 140s work just fine. Choosing a bullet of proper construction, in my opinion, is far more important than its actual weight. If weight mattered, Barnes would still be making lead-core X bullets for everything.

If you really want a heavy "premium" for .270 Win, you should step up in weight all the way to the 160 gr Partition, or 180 gr Weldcore. Then you'll see some different ballistics, and have the recoil to remind you of it.


Kraig... It's not over kill. It's just a bigger hole. ;)
 
Not a thing wrong with using the old 375 H&H for elk. Overkill? NO! I have a friend that has used one for decades for deer, elk, moose, and bear. He has one pistol, a .22lr, a 12 ga., and the 375.
 
I watched my son down a nice size Bull with a 308/180 (NP) and we didn't have to track it, so the 375 is certainly more than enough. I say go for it, let that rifle pay for itself.

I have a single 375 H&H brass case that I found, and it sorta makes me want to get one. It looks like it would be real easy to load for. I'm hesitant though because I know the power is not needed for Elk.

What's your max range you'll shoot at? That might be the only thing that could indicate usefulness of a 375. Hope the barrel isn't too long. A long barrel would be a nuisance in heavy timber.

Good luck no matter what you choose to go with!
 
The 375 H&H magnum has always interested me...it seems like the perfect round for those that hunt bigger game than deer or back bear on a regular basis or go in areas that have dangerous game present even if not hunting them ! My friend has one in an old Winchester model 70 that I have got to shoot a few times and the recoil feels about on par with the old Sako 338 magnum I once owned ! The rifle was very accurate and the cartridge just has a certain charm to it that is hard to explain...sorta like my love for the ole 45-70 round for some reason ! You can hunt any where in the world with a 375 mag and not be under gunned that is with some practice and the right loads...just my opinion !
 
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