375 H&H Mag for the Big Five?

Chuckscap:
Thank you for being such a wonderful source of information on this project. I don't know why, but, my friend thinks the 450 Nitro Express and 458 Lott are the best choice for penetration, and power. I can get 458 Lott penetration, plus shooting 600 grain bullets, usually at lower pressures, with, if you'll excuse me, I'll give homage to the original, the .475 Ackley. I'm much more likely to plink with 325 grain bullets at 2750 fps, since I have so many, or, even slow them down to 2400 fps.

Lt Dan: the .510's are, I think, the limit of what most humans can shoot, and, still maintain penetration. 600 grains at 2150 fps is about the limit for me, or beyond. Haven't tried that gun with a pad on. That might make a huge difference.

Still, the Lott can't really move 600 grain bullets 2150 fps, the .475 Ackley can. To be real, if you shoot 20 rounds every week of any of these big guns, you are doing well...
Wildebees:
I had this discussion with my gunsmith. A guy I know built a 4 bore, 100 grand into the gun. He didn't like it, and, ended up selling it. Still, he either broke even or made money, knowing this guy.

I look at it this way: I can always luck into a 458 Lott.
I can't luck into a .475 Ackley, or, it's not bloody likely.
 
Chuck:
I asked Jack about the .475 Linebaugh pistol as a SD gun, since I sleep on it, all the time. His answer was this:

When you move over 45 caliber, and, 350 grain bullets, weird stuff starts happening on game. They shot a deer in the ham. NO vital organs hit, Texas heart shot, missed. The 400 grain XTP went end to end, and exited. Deer dropped dead, on the spot.:eek: NO vital organs hit...:eek:

The guy I sold my 454 Seville Linebaugh to has a ranch, in Texas. It's his ranch, no one else. Hogs are a problem. He's told me he's had 100% one shot stops on hogs. His hog gun? .505 gibbs. Something about a 600 grain, or more, HP, at 2400 fps that goes end to end, with a 2" , or more hole, that makes up for a bad shot.
 
The guys on the Accurate reloading board are WAAAAY too biased against the .45-70 to take anything they say with more than a grain of salt. I mean, you are challenging their $15,000 double rifles with a $400 levergun. When you talk to the guys that have actually used them in Africa, it's a different story.
 
There is no "magical caliber" 45/70 or otherwise. If you compare a 45/70 with a 458 Win Mag (even at low speeds) 500g at 1900 fps hits a lot harder than 400g at the same caliber. 400g from a 416 Rem Mag, 404 Jeffery or 416 Rigby at 2400 fps hits harder than a 400g bullet at 1900 fps from a 45/70 (both momentum and energy). A lot of dangerous game can and has been killed with lower powered rifles, there are legal limits in place now. If you hit them in the brain or spine they go down, if you don't and they come for you either your PH has to save your butt or you get chewed on. If you haven't had to finish a wounded grizzly or something more dangerous, I'd take advice from folks who have. Anyone can shoot a grizzly or a cape buffalo at 100 yards. Finishing an angry one at 5 yards is a different story.

Plain and simple,

Chuck
 
Seems to me that there's killing, and there's stopping.

If everything is peaceful and quiet and you can make that perfect shot, many a pipsqueak cartridge is adequate for the purpose.

If a half-a-ton or more of Big/Mean/Nasty is at full speed toward you from some ten yards out, that "minimum of .375 H&H" starts looking ever so minimal.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m23rM2WYl8

GIANT elephants.

That said, the 375 will penetrate, and do the job. So will the 9.3 x 62, and, 9.3 x 74R, with much less recoil.

None the less, I would tend to agree with Art. Also, since you have someone backing you up, it's better to hit with a 375 H&H, then miss with a 475 Ackley.
 
While I don't remember where I read it, I do remember an articlepointing out that modern bullet technology has made a world of difference with the .375H&H. That what would've been considered silly 50yrs ago is now common practice. I'd still prefer something a bit bigger for dangerous game. Even when I booked my botched trip to SA (plains game) I picked up a new production Winchester `95 in .405WCF. Another cartridge that got a bad rap in the early days because of the poorly constructed jacketed bullets available. It essentially duplicates the old .450/.400 in a fast action repeater. I planned on using 300gr Woodleigh's at 2300fps or 400gr at 2100fps. Wanted a little more, just in case. The trip fell through but I've got a rifle and a plan for when I 'do' get to go.

The 300gr Hornady was a big disappointment on whitetail.
 
Barnes X seems to be THE bullet for the 375. You can also ream it out, get another 100-200 fps by making it into a 375 Weatherby.

Perhaps the multiple fragments give more energy transfer, and, the core of the Barnes X still gives you a solid that goes straight and deep.
 
I guess the golden rule is shoot the biggest rifle you can shoot accurately, quickly and comfortably. If it kicks too much to practice with once a month, it kicks to much to use in my opinion.

Regards,
Chuck
 
.375 H&h

Of course it'll do. Perfectly. It does so everyday here and has been doing it for quite long now.

And nicest of all - the recoil is mild, so you can practise and practise and p.... which you must do in any case.
 
i will repeat myself. the questoin is: is the 375 enough? the answer is yes.(if needs be) the 375 is the legal minimum for dangerous game. so here i repeat myself- when you hunt an animal that tends to fight back or charge if it is the last thing it does -do you really want to shoot at this animal with the smallest calibre allowed ? hell no!!! you can kill a white tail with a 223 but wont a 30-06 be better? the thing is the white tail wont come for you like a mad dog when you wound it with a 223. but the buff will and then the 375 WONT stop it. this comming from a 375H&H fan.now go around and ask how many ph's hunt with a 375. that alone will give you the answer. go big or go home.my minimum is the 416 rig and even that is frowned upon by ph's
 
Well I have a CZ 550 in 375 H&H that I'm getting rebored to 470 Capstick this November...

http://www.shooter.co.za/470capstickdmc.html

I'm doing this partly because I want a unique caliber in an "anchoring rifle" that will hold 5 cartridges in the magazine and not tear my shoulder off, and partly beause the recoil of my 375 H&H was so mild as to be depressing ...



:)

Chuck
 
Here is the senerio: You get a trip to Africa, but you have to hunt it by yourself with no help at all. What would you take for the big five.

I do have several big bores including 600NE. For me, I would tote my McMillian.

If you wish to use a .375, that is up to you, I am a bit less of a risk taker.
 
Actually I went 500 Jeffrey ...

500Jefferyturretcartridgesmaxipadsm.jpg


Regards,

Chuck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top