Deer Hunting: 375 H&H Load Request

[C Broad Arrow]

Hi Folks,

After a near fatal car accident last fall which caused me to miss the season, I am back on my feet finally. As part of my "therapy" my physiotherapist suggest carrying weights while I walked to rebuild by strength.

In the past I have gone "light' while hunting, but this year for deer season I am plan on using a heavier caliber and rifle - my 375 H&H Sako AV. Heavier caliber and heavier to carry. The accident made me see the light that safe queens have no place in my future and the "use it or lose it" slogan has a whole new meaning.

So while I recognize that a 300 gn Federal Nosler Partition likely is not the right combo for deer, I am thinking that something in the 220-260 gn range might be.

So my question is: Who among you have used their 375 H&H for deer?
And: What bullet weight, type and powder charge did you use?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[DrMike]

Wow! Didn't know about the auto crash; they aren't anything to dismiss. Glad to see you back posting. Never used the 375 H&H, only the 9.3X64. It dropped a nice whitetail right smartly.

 

[JD338]

Glad you have recovered from your car accident and back in the game.
I would think the 260 gr AB would do a fine job on WT deer.
FWIW, I use a 250 gr AB in my 338 RUM for deer hunting and it works quite well.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Oops! Forgot to say that I used the 250 grain AB in my 9.3X64. I believe JD338 is correct in suggesting the 260 grain AB for the 375 H&H.

 

[Anonymous]

I've seen several caribou shot with "normal" .375 loads... mostly 270 and 300gr factory loads. Nothing wrong with that! Meat damage isn't what you'd think it would be and I've seen a lot more meat destroyed with a .270WIN.

For stepping down the recoil- there are a number of bullets made for the .375WIN from 200-220gr, most with flat noses. One of those over a stiff charge of Trail Boss should easily flatten deer and shoot pretty flat to deer hunting distances.

If I had to have a single .375 load....the 260gr AB would be it. A friend flattened a Sitka deer at 350yds on Kodiak with it a couple years ago.

 

[sask boy]

I am sure glad you are back on the road to recovery. I shot a 375 H&H for at least 10 years shooting everything here in Saskatchewan from Prairie goats to Moose & Elk.
The combination was 235gr speers overtop of IMR4895 & 215M primers.
The 375 H&H always served me well .

Blessings,
Dan

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Thanks all. I hauled myself into the car after learning that my gun store had 5 boxes of 260 gn 375 AB's in stock. I had called them this morning and had them lay away 2 boxes. After an almost 2 hour drive I got to the store and they were NOT 260's but 300's. The apologies from the staff did nothing to ease the pain that had crept into my back from the long drive. To err is human, but to inflict misery takes a computer.

Living in a jurisdiction where it is very hard to get anything these days, I bought their entire supply of 300gn ABs. 250 of them.

So please reassure me that they will still work on whitetails and provide me with a recipe or two.

 

[Guy Miner]

LOL! Love it. Sorry you had to drive so far for the wrong bullets though.

Haven't shot a deer with my .375 yet. From performance on black bear, I'd think it will work just fine though.

Glad that you're healing up well!

Regards, Guy

 

[DrMike]

That is definitely dedicated to the cause! The 300 will work just fine to take game in your AO. Here are a few load ideas from QL.

Cartridge          : .375 H.& H. Mag.
Bullet             : .375, 300, Nosler AccuBond 53662
Useable Case Capaci: 74.134 grain H2O = 4.813 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.600 inch = 91.44 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 61500 psi, or 424 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

2 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-17                 102.9     73.8     4.78    2665   100.0    61500    8588   1.182  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                     107.8     76.1     4.93    2629    99.2    61500    8771   1.193  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-26                 110.0     80.8     5.24    2624    99.3    53210    9605   1.248  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                     101.8     73.6     4.77    2619    98.6    61500    8723   1.198  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                       101.8     73.6     4.77    2619    98.6    61500    8723   1.198  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                    104.2     72.8     4.72    2613    99.8    61500    8551   1.207  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP                          107.4     72.6     4.70    2613    99.9    61500    8430   1.201  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                      106.8     73.0     4.73    2612    99.9    61500    8400   1.214  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                          106.2     75.0     4.86    2589    96.7    61500    8618   1.196  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                110.0     72.7     4.71    2574   100.0    60943    7720   1.205  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old                       99.4     68.6     4.45    2565   100.0    61500    7792   1.227  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                        98.6     68.8     4.46    2562    99.7    61500    8076   1.220  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780             110.0     79.3     5.14    2562    96.6    61309    8383   1.199  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                 110.0     75.2     4.87    2561    96.3    57239    8745   1.229  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                       110.0     77.2     5.00    2538    93.5    54489    8966   1.248  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           110.0     72.0     4.66    2537    99.7    56479    8150   1.255  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520                       92.1     66.3     4.30    2532   100.0    61500    7274   1.234  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                       99.2     66.3     4.30    2531   100.0    61500    7272   1.251  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC                       100.1     69.4     4.49    2531    97.9    61500    8030   1.222  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495                       93.3     62.4     4.04    2505   100.0    61500    6968   1.260  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   110.0     76.0     4.92    2499    93.1    55955    8377   1.246  ! Near Maximum !

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Wow! Simply wow! Are these are the maximum and/or most accurate loads for each powder? A couple of perks and I can't seem to concentrate hard enough to fully appreciate what I am looking at... but I do know that it is good and amazing!

 

[DrMike]

These are near maximum loads. Maximum pressure is calculated at ~62000 psi. I ran these at 61500 psi to suggest the broadest possible selection of powders.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Does the software generate a load for N160 or R15?

BTW... the new pic is of "The Beast", my Sako AV in its new McMillan stock, Limbsaver pad, MagnaPorted, Leupold 1.5-5, Warne rings and quick detachable Warne bases.

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : .375 H.& H. Mag.
Bullet             : .375, 300, Nosler AccuBond 53662
Useable Case Capaci: 74.134 grain H2O = 4.813 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.600 inch = 91.44 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Vihtavuori N150

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   85    55.04   2061    2830   32171   6268     97.8    1.623
-18.0   88    56.42   2108    2960   34316   6410     98.4    1.582
-16.0   90    57.79   2154    3091   36602   6543     98.9    1.541
-14.0   92    59.17   2200    3225   39039   6666     99.3    1.496
-12.0   94    60.54   2246    3361   41636   6778     99.6    1.453
-10.0   96    61.92   2292    3498   44407   6879     99.9    1.411
-08.0   98    63.30   2337    3637   47364   6968    100.0    1.371
-06.0  100    64.67   2381    3778   50521   7045    100.0    1.333
-04.0  102    66.05   2426    3920   53894   7118    100.0    1.296  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0  105    67.42   2470    4063   57501   7189    100.0    1.260  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  107    68.80   2513    4208   61362   7257    100.0    1.226  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  109    70.18   2557    4354   65498   7323    100.0    1.192  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  111    71.55   2600    4502   69936   7387    100.0    1.161  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  113    72.93   2643    4652   74704   7448    100.0    1.130  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  115    74.30   2685    4803   79833   7506    100.0    1.100  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  117    75.68   2728    4957   85360   7561    100.0    1.071  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    107    68.80   2586    4456   72931   6998    100.0    1.150  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    107    68.80   2401    3840   49979   7547     99.2    1.329

Cartridge          : .375 H.& H. Mag.
Bullet             : .375, 300, Nosler AccuBond 53662
Useable Case Capaci: 74.134 grain H2O = 4.813 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.600 inch = 91.44 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-15

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   77    52.88   2096    2928   32976   6639     95.5    1.607
-18.0   79    54.20   2144    3061   35065   6810     96.3    1.567
-16.0   81    55.52   2191    3197   37277   6973     97.0    1.528
-14.0   83    56.85   2238    3336   39620   7128     97.7    1.484
-12.0   85    58.17   2284    3476   42101   7275     98.2    1.443
-10.0   87    59.49   2331    3618   44730   7412     98.7    1.403
-08.0   89    60.81   2377    3762   47514   7539     99.1    1.365
-06.0   91    62.13   2422    3908   50464   7656     99.5    1.328
-04.0   93    63.46   2467    4056   53592   7763     99.7    1.293  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   95    64.78   2512    4205   56909   7858     99.9    1.259  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   97    66.10   2557    4355   60428   7942    100.0    1.227  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   99    67.42   2601    4507   64165   8015    100.0    1.195  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  101    68.74   2645    4659   68135   8083    100.0    1.165  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  103    70.07   2688    4813   72357   8149    100.0    1.135  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  104    71.39   2731    4969   76850   8213    100.0    1.107  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  106    72.71   2774    5125   81636   8274    100.0    1.080  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     97    66.10   2641    4647   71371   7614    100.0    1.148  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     97    66.10   2431    3937   49674   8073     97.3    1.331

And, yes, the AV looks very nice. That should do it for deer!

 

[gerry]

A proper lefty to boot........ very nice indeed.

 

[Vince]

C Broad Arrow,

Welcome back and glad to see you on the road to recovery.

Vince

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[C Broad Arrow]

A proper lefty to boot........ very nice indeed.

It makes closing the bolt so much easier!

 

[gerry]

I agree

 

[Anonymous]

After seeing a caribou walloped with a 300gr RN, I've got two observations:

1) you'll be able to eat right up to the (considerable) bullet hole

2) Do not expect to recover a bullet, from any angle.

 

[Guy Miner]

Barsness suggests a load of 75 grains of H4350 with a 300 grain bullet.

It works well for me, and has actually shot well with several different 300's. The rifle & cartridge are not picky. Expect about 2550 fps, which is a fair bit more than I've seen from factory 300 gr loads. Also, accurate enough at 300 yds...

Not quite as accurate as that 260 gr/RL-15 load though. That's really sweet...

Guy

 

[LD375]

First off, welcome back buddy ..I myself am still recovering from an accident 3 years ago and know what your going through. Take that 375 and hammer something with it! ..Heck I did ..It's going to be my back up this year for bear and moose, going with my 300 win mag this year for both.

Pick any bullet for Deer, and you'll be fine bro

Lou :wink: