375 H&H and 300 H&H

[Parsons]

These are the two calibers I finally decided on. The first mauser is almost done with the action alterations so that the 375 H&H fits in the mag box and feeds and extracts. This was a lot more intensive than I originally thought. At first I was using 300 H&H snap caps to gauge length since I had no 375. I got the 300 H&H cycling and decided to make sure the 375 would work as well since the C.O.L is supposedly the same. Well it was not. I had to extend the action another .050 for the 375 H&H to work properly. The 300 grain bullets are a little large for the width of the feed ramps and how it sits in the magazine so I will probably end up using 270 grain bullets. I have another mauser on the way to build the 300 H&H on which should go a little quicker since I know what is involved now.

 

[spike.t]

nice choice of calibres for a pair of rifles, but you need to get the .375 working with 300grn bullets.

 

[Parsons]

The gun feeds 300 grain but the ejection isn't as good with them as the 270 grain. Monday I am going to see if shortening the ejector just a little will let it eject without taking a notch out of the front of the action. They just hit on the front of the ejection port. I am not completely done tuning the little bits but the main problems are handled. I haven't checked the 300 grain bullets since opening up the bottom of action a little more but will do so. Why is everyone set on 300 grain bullets?

 

[spike.t]

depends on what you are going to use it on. anything under buff or ele the 270 grn will be fine. put it in the right place on a buff and the correct bullet type in 270grn will work fine as well, but if it goes to shit then you will want 300grn solids or a bigger calibre

 

[Parsons]

I am not going after buffalo or elephant but i do want to gun to 100% reliably run 300 grain. Just gonna take a little more tweaking. I hope to go back for a buffalo one day but this trip will be for small/medium game. Good to know 270 grain should be fine for this hunt. When I build the 300 H&H it won't be a problem getting the heavies to feed and eject properly.

 

[bassasdaindia]

if you are not going after thick skinned DG then the 270g is perfect for most PG.

I do most of my PG hunting with 270g in 375 H&H

 

[Velo Dog]

Parsons,

It is necessary that your .375 be reliable with 300 grain bullets for several reasons, not the least of which is that:
You could end up having to sort through some partial boxes of factory ammo that your PH has in camp, because 1 piece, of your luggage was delayed by the Airline Thugs, for 3 or 4 days, with your you-know-what in it.
Not very likely but it can happen.
(Those questionable people lost my wife's luggage for several days on a dive trip to another country but luckily we were able to borrow another regulator and a mask that actually fit her angelic face until hers finally arrived).

However, regarding 270 grain bullets in your .375, that is THEE Classic PG Load, which H&H developed for "The World's Greatest Hunting Cartridge" in 1912 and dern few hunters will have realistic complaints about it.

Even the plain old vanilla Hornady 270 gr RNSP (or spire point if hunting in open terrain) at about 2600 fps, will be effective from bull eland to bull duiker.
(That bullet might not be the best for body shots on giraffe but it will likely be better than a lightening strike for the high neck shot on them).

I am fond of (almost married to) the Hndy 300 gr RNSP at 2400 fps but, I totally get it that most hunters want a bit flatter shooting load....as they say - "just in case".
Most African bushveld conditions never present long shots but, I totally understand what they are concerned with.

The old fashioned bullets I suggest have velocity limitations though.
If you try to push them beyond approximately H&H speeds (Weatherby / Ackley Improved, Spazzeroni, etc.) they can shatter on heavy bone and fail to penetrate.
Keep them below the red line loads in your reloading manuals and they will be a combination sledge hammer and concrete drill for sure.
"Cup & Core" seems to be a negative term with some folks these days but, the .375, .416 and others have built their awesome reputations on them.
Reputations that all these newer, here today/gone tomorrow calibers can only dream of.

I have thought for a long time that if a man could afford but one centerfire rifle, with which to tramp the earth that, the following would be about as close to perfecto as it gets (unless of course grumpy elephant wandered in to wake me from my pipe dream).

The 98 Mauser, in .375 H&H loaded with 270 gr Swift A-Frames and a 4x Zeiss (or similar sturdy brand), not loaded too hot, so as to avoid sticking an empty in the chamber and/or ruin a lot of edible meat.
It'd seem like from bayonet range, out to around 350 yds, or perhaps a tic further, it would be about as perfect for African PG, large and small, as one could pray for.
As well as for N. America elk, moose, grizzly, bison, and lest we forget - Aussie 2000 lb buffalo, also "boar and bull hunting" (wild piggywiggy and scrub/wild ox) as one could ask for.

It (270 gr A-Frame) at least in theory, would do well on cape buffalo (however I personally would prefer more gun) but it seems like it would probably prove my concerns unfounded.

Help, I'm typing and I can't stop.

Out,
Velo Dog.

 

[bassasdaindia]

as already posted,my favorite for the 375 is Swift A frame 270g loaded to shoot at around 2550 fps

I find this load to be versatile for most of my African bush hunting for most PG.

 

[Parsons]

Thanks for the replies guys. I hadn't even thought about losing the ammo on the flight and not having a choice in what to buy when I got there if needed. I do not plan to load the bullets at max loadings. I will probably start near the bottom and work my way up until I hit a load the gun likes.

 

[enysse]

I agree get it feeding with 300 grain bullets, they are mostly available anywhere. Now no one mentioned the 350 grain bullets, but I would not worry about them. If you need to go bigger than 300 grains. Get a bigger caliber gun, just my two cents.

Since you are going to be a gunsmith, I'd build a dreamy .404 Jeffrey.

 

[Velo Dog]

I agree get it feeding with 300 grain bullets, they are mostly available anywhere. Now no one mentioned the 350 grain bullets, but I would not worry about them. If you need to go bigger than 300 grains. Get a bigger caliber gun, just my two cents.

Since you are going to be a gunsmith, I'd build a dreamy .404 Jeffrey.

+1.

 

[Parsons]

Alright so goal this week is to make sure the 300 grain bullets feed and extract properly. Shouldn't take to much more work. Building a .404 Jeffrey may be next. I like building the magnum calibers for some reason.

 

[PeteG]

nice pair of calibers there Parsons,
keep this rate up and you will have a very full, very admirable collection
enjoy the builds

 

[Parsons]

I got the 300 grain bullets feeding and cycling reliably today. I had to shorten the ejector .045" and had to take a little material off of the inner part of the rabbit ears (?) that let stripper clips to feed rounds.

 

[spike.t]

now to the .300, and then the .404!

 

[Parsons]

Yes now for the .300 when it gets here. I told my instructor last night what I was planning for the mauser I have on the way and he just started shaking his head and ask if i remember how much work this one took.

 

[spike.t]

you told him about the .404 yet?

 

[Parsons]

No not quite yet. We will go one step at a time. I don't want murdered yet haha. I won't have time to build the .404 this summer more than likely. I have four weeks left in class and still have to finish the 375 with drilling and tapping for scope, banded front sight and rear express sight. I am building the guns the exact same. I will have to straighten the handle on the mauser thats on the way so i can shape the bolt knob and then rebend it to the same shape as the .375.

 

[spike.t]

you got any photos of the different stages of the build?

 

[Parsons]

I have a few. I will see if I can figure out how to upload them soon. I will take more pictures of the .300 being built