Cape Buffalo hunting in 2022 - What would be the better choice in 375 H&H?

[KSZWHX]

Question:

Cape Buffalo hunting in 2022. What would be the better choice in 375 H&H ?

Hornady Dangerous Game Series in 300 grain

Fed Premium Bear Claw in 250 grain.

I have plenty of both.

Thanks
Mike

 

[BnC 04]

Of the 2 options, I would go with the 250's.

 

[Red Leg]

The Bear Claw is a great bullet, but not for buffalo in a 250 gr loading. If I am trying to break bone and take out both lungs, I want a premium SP with a SD above .3, Your 250 gr loading would be like trying to kill him with a fast ashtray.

I am also not a fan of the DGS series. There have been far too many accounts of these bullets coming apart without adequately penetrating. I would urge you to find 300 gr Swift A Frames. If not that, then a 300 gr TSX load of some persuasion.

 

[Red Leg]

Of the 2 options, I would go with the 250's.

I think that is very bad advice and very few experienced users of the .375 on buffalo would agree with it.

 

[R.M.C.]

250 grains seems light to me

 

[375Fox]

I don’t think you will find anyone who has used 250s on a buffalo. I’d get 300 gr trophy bonded bear claws or 300 gr Swifts. They are well proven and you can’t find a failure. The new DGX bonded still have failures. If you are trying to save money on ammo by not buying more just get one box of quality ammo and use the DGX to supplement it. They won’t shoot too much differently at 100 yards. No reason to risk a buffalo hunt over a $120 box of ammo.

 

[Randy F]

Very curious and very honest question…if going after a Buffalo with a 375, why would you not want to use a 300 gr bullet?

 

[375Fox]

I think that is very bad advice and very few experienced users of the .375 on buffalo would agree with it.

I doubt there are any that have experience with 250 grain bear claws on buffalo, until recently 300 grain bullets were always easily available. They still are available if you order them or watch so I see no reason not to use a premium 300 grain bullet, but what would be the difference of using a 250 grain bear claw that retains nearly all its mass vs a 300 grain Nosler Partition or DGX that will loose a substantial amount of mass early on?

 

[luger6]

None of them. Norma PH FMJ 350gr Woodleigh or Norma PH A-Frame 300gr.

 

[TOBY458]

When spending quite a bit of money on a buffalo hunt, why skimp on the ammo? Get some good 300gr Swifts, TBBC or TSX. They will also work fine on any PG you might run into.

 

[WAB]

I doubt there are any that have experience with 250 grain bear claws on buffalo, until recently 300 grain bullets were always easily available. They still are available if you order them or watch so I see no reason not to use a premium 300 grain bullet, but what would be the difference of using a 250 grain bear claw that retains nearly all its mass vs a 300 grain Nosler Partition or DGX that will loose a substantial amount of mass early on?

Probably not a lot of difference which is why I would not use a partition or DGX either. (I did use the DGX once, it will never happen again). Find 300 gr A-Frames or TBBC’s.

 

[IdaRam]

Another hearty endorsement for either A-Frames or TBBC in 300 gr. Do your part and they will definitely do theirs.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

The Bear Claw is a great bullet, but not for buffalo in a 250 gr loading. If I am trying to break bone and take out both lungs, I want a premium SP with a SD above .3, Your 250 gr loading would be like trying to kill him with a fast ashtray.

I am also not a fan of the DGS series. There have been far too many accounts of these bullets coming apart without adequately penetrating. I would urge you to find 300 gr Swift A Frames. If not that, then a 300 gr TSX load of some persuasion.

I’m with Red Leg on this one, spot on.
Best
J
PS i would recommend that you take into consideration the type of vegetation you will be hunting in. If you’re safari is to take place in an area where you will have to spend a lot of time inside the Jessica (Jesse) I would disregard all other bullet construction and pick a monolithic solid right off the bat.

 

[mark-hunter]

250 grains - For Plains game, 300 grains for buffalo
Or...
300 grains for buffalo and plains game.

I would zero the rifle with 300 grains and go to Africa, take buffalo plus PG as per opportunity

 

[Vanguard2279]

I want to start by saying that I wholeheartedly agree with the advice to use a bullet of 300 grains. Having said that, I get the impression that KSZWHX is not a handloader and is dependent on factory ammo. Before I posted, I checked my five favorite sites to see what was available. Hornady. That was it. I too would prefer 300-grains Swift A-frames, but they are not available. I placed an order through the Swift website months ago for bullets that they listed as being in stock. They took my money and sent me a confirmation email. I'm still waiting. They haven't even responded to my emails asking the status.
My point is that Hornady may be the only thing he has. Of course, he could plan to use it while searching for something better, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
I admit. I'm a bit of a hoarder. I bought primers when I didn't think I would need them. I have a wide selection of powder,.... just not really slow burners that I needed for a 6.5 PRC. I found Magpro and 7828SSC after considerable searching and a bit of luck. I'm actually planning to thin the herd on some of the bullets that I have decided that I don't need or intend to use. Yes, AH brethren, you will be the first people I share them with. Reasonable prices.
@KSZWHX I wish you luck. Of the two you have, I would use the Hornady. I don't know when your hunt is, but I would keep an eye out for 300-grain Swifts, Barnes TSX or Bear Claws.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’m with Red Leg on this one, spot on.
Best
J
PS i would recommend that you take into consideration the type of vegetation you will be hunting in. If you’re safari is to take place in an area where you will have to spend a lot of time inside the Jessica (Jesse) I would disregard all other bullet construction and pick a monolithic solid right off the bat.

“you will have to spend a lot of time inside Jessica (Jesse)? Sounds erotic? Who’s Jessica? LOL

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

300grain TBBC. My buddy just took his buff bull with one, single shot, boiner room both lungs, but not the heart, walked 20 yards and collapsed.

 

[Arthur Morta]

Throwing the cat amongst the pigeons...try, test and prove for yourself the Peregrine 300gr VRG3's

 

[CBH Australia]

“you will have to spend a lot of time inside Jessica (Jesse)? Sounds erotic? Who’s Jessica? LOL

Is the 'Jesse" part of the bush or a given area of a vegetation type?

 

[Jonathan Kashouty]

300 grain TSX and have 300 grain solids for back up - bone crushing shots.