.375 H&H ammo recommendations for Cape Buffalo hunt

[Ryan]

I would like to ask following.
In case a hunter goes to hunt buffalo with 375 H&H, and later plans to take few of the plains game species, in the range for example from steinbok to kudu, what 375 H&H ammo could be considered for this use?
Or, it will have to be one type of ammo for buffalo, other for PG?

Stick with one type. In January I hunted buffalo with a 375 Ruger using Peregrine VRG3 Bushmaster bullets. It worked great. Then when my 30-06 gave me issues I just kept using that 375 Ruger load for blesbok, black wildeebeest, steenbok and impala. It worked great again. Keep it simple, don't change loads and worry about changing scope settings.

 

[WAB]

I would like to ask following.
In case a hunter goes to hunt buffalo with 375 H&H, and later plans to take few of the plains game species, in the range for example from steinbok to kudu, what 375 H&H ammo could be considered for this use?
Or, it will have to be one type of ammo for buffalo, other for PG?

I made the mistake of taking multiple loads once. Never again. I would load 300 grain A-Frames or TBBC and use them for everything.

 

[Tanks]

I would like to ask following.
In case a hunter goes to hunt buffalo with 375 H&H, and later plans to take few of the plains game species, in the range for example from steinbok to kudu, what 375 H&H ammo could be considered for this use?
Or, it will have to be one type of ammo for buffalo, other for PG?

Any 300 grain bullet other than solids you'd use for buffalo should be good for PG. Don't overthink it.

 

[Flint]

Rhino Bullets in South Africa supplies a 380 grain Solid Shank Bullet.
It is a bonded core 4 petal bullet.
Mine reached 2190fps. A friend's 2200 from a 24" barrel and printed superbly accurate with in excess of 95% weigh retention, into a wet sand backstop. And mushroomed hugely.

404 is living up hugely. 400 grain slower speed with massive penetration is what coined it.
The 375 Rhinos is only 20 grains shy and will have a better BC.

And the reports from professional hunters regarding this bullet says it all.

Keep safe. The dead buffs are not the ones that usually kill hunters. It's the one which has been flushed too many times. And peed off blindly.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

When I shot my first Cape Buffalo with a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum , I loaded the magazine with a 300 Gr RWS TUG soft point ( for the initial shot ) and five Remington 300 Gr steel jacketed FMJ round nose solids ( for the follow up shots ) . Next one , I used Federal 300 Gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw soft points exclusively . Never going back to solid bullets for Cape Buffalo . I have heard very good reports of the 300 Gr Swift A Frame being used against Cape Buffaloes very successfully . But I don’t think that I will ever like any bullet as much as Federal’s TBBC ( for the .375 , anyway ) .

 

[Flint]

Dear Hunter-Habib.



Regarding this very interesting topic are there a thousand worms in my can. Yet totally unanswered,

Mainly because I do not have the experience of the importance of penetration, under any circumstances, with follow-up shots. Obviously blowing up the vitals with the initial placement.

Also no experience with storming- scratching- tramping- and biting nasties. I have hunted much. But in this league am I still in very baby shoes.



Firstly. Do I accept that Bell. Bvekenya-Barnard. Selous. And many other greats of yore had mainly/only/choose no other than FMJ bullets. But times have changed.



And my comment is not limited to, but pertinent to .375 H&H.

Also with my limited knowledge. And will probably, until I’m much wiser, follow one mushrooming up. And the rest solid.



As far as the first one up will mine be a 380 grain Rhino Solid Shank. (And I so dearly wish I only had one truly valid reason not to alter this???)

For some reason does mine print 100mm low at 100m. But superbly accurate at 2190 fps. Which only a slight adjustment remedies in any case.

(Speed does not bother me one iota. At 2200 fps .404. Jeffery made the roads in Africa that the younger ones travel on!)

And the 380 grain Rhino Solid Shank bullet performance-reports by the guides in the thick of matters are very good.

My way of contemplation, and in order to have a heavier than 300 grain solid/mono to reload and meet the same point of impact have I my own design. With not too long barrel-bearing, which, come the time, will I request a bullet manufacturer to make. And pin-pointing at 100 yards will it.



Should I get the opportunity to go on a hunt for a buff would it probably be once only. And only the minutest detail will be covered regarding heavy follow-up bullets for the “Grand Master”!



The devil is in the minutest derail. Get it completely right. Steve Jobbs.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Dear Hunter-Habib.



Regarding this very interesting topic are there a thousand worms in my can. Yet totally unanswered,

Mainly because I do not have the experience of the importance of penetration, under any circumstances, with follow-up shots. Obviously blowing up the vitals with the initial placement.

Also no experience with storming- scratching- tramping- and biting nasties. I have hunted much. But in this league am I still in very baby shoes.



Firstly. Do I accept that Bell. Bvekenya-Barnard. Selous. And many other greats of yore had mainly/only/choose no other than FMJ bullets. But times have changed.



And my comment is not limited to, but pertinent to .375 H&H.

Also with my limited knowledge. And will probably, until I’m much wiser, follow one mushrooming up. And the rest solid.



As far as the first one up will mine be a 380 grain Rhino Solid Shank. (And I so dearly wish I only had one truly valid reason not to alter this???)

For some reason does mine print 100mm low at 100m. But superbly accurate at 2190 fps. Which only a slight adjustment remedies in any case.

(Speed does not bother me one iota. At 2200 fps .404. Jeffery made the roads in Africa that the younger ones travel on!)

And the 380 grain Rhino Solid Shank bullet performance-reports by the guides in the thick of matters are very good.

My way of contemplation, and in order to have a heavier than 300 grain solid/mono to reload and meet the same point of impact have I my own design. With not too long barrel-bearing, which, come the time, will I request a bullet manufacturer to make. And pin-pointing at 100 yards will it.



Should I get the opportunity to go on a hunt for a buff would it probably be once only. And only the minutest detail will be covered regarding heavy follow-up bullets for the “Grand Mast

The devil is in the minutest derail. Get it completely right. Steve Jobbs.

Dear Flint ,

The reason I don't recommend using solids ( in a .375 caliber rifle ) against Cape Buffalo , is because it takes too long for the Cape Buffalo to die . Well , longer than a .375 caliber 300 Gr ( or heavier ) premium soft point in the same caliber .

When you're taking body shots on any animal ( including Cape Buffalo ) , you're causing it's death by making holes in it's vital organs ( heart / lung region ) . The animal keeps losing blood until it hemorrhages and dies .

A .375 caliber non expanding bullet leaves a wound cavity ( in the animal's vitals ) that's too small to quickly cause a Cape Buffalo to hemorrhage . You will eventually get it . But before it does , it either :
* Gives you one hell of a tracking job .
Or
* Gives you one hell of a time dodging charges

The first Cape Buffalo that I ever killed with a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum , was shot with one 300 Gr RWS TUG and five 300 Gr Remington round nosed steel jacketed FMJ solids . I bungled up a perfectly good broadside double lung shot and managed to get only one lung with the 300 Gr RWS TUG . I then put five solids into the departing Buffalo's heart / lung region . He eventually went down after about 15 minutes ( give or take ) . Even though he had three Remington FMJ solids in his heart .

The next time I shot a Cape Buffalo with a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum , I loaded the entire magazine with Federal 300 Gr TBBC soft points . Used a heart shot behind the shoulder . That Cape Buffalo died very quickly .

If you want to use solids on a Cape Buffalo , then up your caliber to a point where the wound cavity can be made big enough by sheer bullet diameter ( like a .450 Dakota or .500 Jeffery or a .505 Gibbs ) . Of course , you still want to be careful . Cape Buffalo in South Africa are usually found in herds . You don't want over penetration , where you can hit an animal behind your intended target .

Today , I still think that ( regardless of caliber ) a premium grade soft point is the ticket for Cape Buffalo . I like the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullets in a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum . The Swift A Frame is pretty good ( but I haven't personally used it on Cape Buffalo ) . The South African Rhino Solid Shank is a VERY good Cape Buffalo bullet . Sadly , it's not available as loaded ammunition .

Sincerely ,
Habib

 

[Flint]

Thanks Hunter-Habib.

Point and note well taken.

Aim true!

 

[slam8031]

I took a Cape buffalo three weeks ago with 300 grain swift a frames. I shot once and he was done after a forty hard dash and flop. I had woodleigh hydros for back up but I was very fortunate with a heart shot through his front shoulder. My son took one as well with a 416 rem mag with a 400 grain swift a frame frontal shot and a woodleigh solid to anchor him. I agree with most…practice your shooting, know the anatomy, and make the first shot count!! Have a great time!!

 

[Red Leg]

Dear Hunter-Habib.



Regarding this very interesting topic are there a thousand worms in my can. Yet totally unanswered,

Mainly because I do not have the experience of the importance of penetration, under any circumstances, with follow-up shots. Obviously blowing up the vitals with the initial placement.

Also no experience with storming- scratching- tramping- and biting nasties. I have hunted much. But in this league am I still in very baby shoes.



Firstly. Do I accept that Bell. Bvekenya-Barnard. Selous. And many other greats of yore had mainly/only/choose no other than FMJ bullets. But times have changed.



And my comment is not limited to, but pertinent to .375 H&H.

Also with my limited knowledge. And will probably, until I’m much wiser, follow one mushrooming up. And the rest solid.



As far as the first one up will mine be a 380 grain Rhino Solid Shank. (And I so dearly wish I only had one truly valid reason not to alter this???)

For some reason does mine print 100mm low at 100m. But superbly accurate at 2190 fps. Which only a slight adjustment remedies in any case.

(Speed does not bother me one iota. At 2200 fps .404. Jeffery made the roads in Africa that the younger ones travel on!)

And the 380 grain Rhino Solid Shank bullet performance-reports by the guides in the thick of matters are very good.

My way of contemplation, and in order to have a heavier than 300 grain solid/mono to reload and meet the same point of impact have I my own design. With not too long barrel-bearing, which, come the time, will I request a bullet manufacturer to make. And pin-pointing at 100 yards will it.



Should I get the opportunity to go on a hunt for a buff would it probably be once only. And only the minutest detail will be covered regarding heavy follow-up bullets for the “Grand Master”!



The devil is in the minutest derail. Get it completely right. Steve Jobbs.

I would never use two different weight bullets on an African hunt involving multiple species and would never recommend such a practice to anyone - particularly on a first dangerous game adventure where there is a lot of "new" going on for the hunter. It is almost guaranteed that at some point the client will have either the wrong bullet or the wrong scope setting.

As clients we have exactly one job on our buffalo hunt that we need to get exactly correct - place our initial bullet, whatever it is, in exactly the right spot. With a .375, that is going to be used for other game, I do not believe it is possible to improve on a quality 300 gr premium soft point. I have killed mine with either the TSX or Swift A-Frame (my current favorite). The only thing for which I bring a solid these days is for something like a duiker or suni. Were I headed out this afternoon, my magazine or both barrels would be loaded with A-Frames. It is a loading that is equally effective on plains game.

 

[IvW]

30-378 Weatherby
It is an awesome round.

You are an uninformed and reckless fool for suggesting this illegal cartridge and totally inadequate cartidge for hunting cape buffalo perhaps you should stick to chicken farming....something you may know something about.....

 

[nomspc]

I agree with the idea of bringing one load for all hunting. You’re never sure what you’ll bump into. I shot everything with the 350 gr Woodleigh Weldcore HD, from impala to buffalo.

 

[Flint]

I agree with the idea of bringing one load for all hunting. You’re never sure what you’ll bump into. I shot everything with the 350 gr Woodleigh Weldcore HD, from impala to buffalo.

Thanks for your participation Red Leg. Nomspc.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

You are an uninformed and reckless fool for suggesting this illegal cartridge and totally inadequate cartidge for hunting cape buffalo perhaps you should stick to chicken farming....something you may know something about.....

I do believe that management identified Chickenfarmer as a troll and sent him packing.

 

[IvW]

Rhino make a matching pair of 340gr controlled expansion and meplat brass solid bullets in 375 caliber an awesome combination and the 340gr solid shoots through an elephant bull scull....very versatile combination unfortuantely not availible in the USA as far as I know

 

[IvW]

I do believe that management identified Chickenfarmer as a troll and sent him packing.

Thats good to know....

 

[PARA45]

Thats good to know....

Not a troll but a scammer.

BTW, great post with lots of valuable information for those of us who have never hunted Cape Buffalo.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Rhino make a matching pair of 340gr controlled expansion and meplat brass solid bullets in 375 caliber an awesome combination and the 340gr solid shoots through an elephant bull scull....very versatile combination unfortuantely not availible in the USA as far as I know

You’re right . I’ve looked for Rhino bullets all over the USA . Not found any . But they have something almost as good - The CEB ( Cutting Edge Bullets ) monolithic brass bullet . Quite good . But nothing can match Kobus’s bullets . I’ve only used the 300 Gr Rhinos . What speeds do you typically load your 340 Gr Rhinos to ?

 

[IvW]

I need to check my records but I think we had it up around 2350 fps no pressure

 

[IvW]

I have also used the 380gr extensively and they are an excellent buffalo bullet but you limt yourself a bit on pg and crrying 340gr solids with 380gr softs is not always the best idea with a scoped rifle