Hawk Bullets .375 H&H

[Underdog75]

Anyone reloading the Hawk 300 grain bullet in their .375 H&H. I just ordered a box of 300 grain x .035 jacket RT

Since Hawk Bullets doesn't have a manual of its own, at least that I can locate, I had to infer starting and max loads from my Lee and Hornady manuals.

Here is where I am thinking that would be a good starting point to work up a load for this bullet.

Case: Hornady
Primer: Federal 215M
Bullet: Hawk 300gr RT
Powder: IMR 4350
Start: 72 (working up in 0.5gr increment watching for pressure signs and chronographing)
Max: 75
COAL: 3.550

I would expect velocities out of my 25" CZ 550 to be in the neighborhood of 2450-2500 fps.

If anyone sees an issue with what I am purposing please interject.

 

[rookhawk]

Andy is a nice guy. Hawk bullets are very soft. Even those purported to be hard have the basic lead hardness...I know, I had them tested by a lab because I thought they were soft. (I was right)

Now you may not care because I see you have the .035" jacket which is for plains game or perhaps leopard, but if you were to be after DG you'd go with a .050" to .065" thick jacket and perhaps a harder lead alloy also. I strongly recommend Woodleigh for these reasons as they have exactly that IF you're looking for something appropriate for lion, giraffe, eland, buffalo, etc.

In short. Work up slow as usual IF you have the desired bullet for the job you intend to do. IF you want a DG bullet you don't have one and you need to go to Woodleigh or Swift A-frames. If you go with Woodleigh or Swift A-Frames you'll be able to use their published load data.

 

[Ray B]

Hawk bullets are very similar in construction to the old "pre-Brooks" Barnes copper jacket/lead core bullets. If you find data for those, it should perform similarly to the Hawk.

 

[Underdog75]

Thanks for the input. These are not intended for DG but for Rocky Mt. Elk. Just wanted to lean on some of the expertise here and see if I was in the correct vasinity to start working up a load, slowly of course.

Does anyone have load information on the original Barnes bullet?

 

[Underdog75]

I believe that I am going to hold off on loading these bullets for my .375 H&H. First off on the outside of the box it states that all bullets are within a tollorance of 7.5 gr. Not nearly uniform enough for me. Also the base of the bullet having exposed lead core does not make me comfortable. The later may not be an issue but isn't something that I have any experience with. I have some Hornady 270gr SP and Barnes 270gr TSX that I will start with.

 

[Longwalker]

the Hawk bullets I have in 9.3mm say the weight tolerance is +/- 0.5 gr. But the printing is sort of faded. Is it possible you misread the printing?

 

[Pheroze]

Modern Reloading by Richard Lee has an entire chapter about measuring the hardness of a bullet and tailoring the load for it. It has to do with keeping the pressure less than 10% of the compressive strength of the bullet. I have never experimented with it but was just reading the chapter today (chapter 10). Lee describes a method for testing the hardness.

 

[ChrisG]

With the 25" barrel of the CZ I wouldn't worry too much about velocity. You'll have plenty, even at your starting load. I would find the load your gun likes best which, in my experience, is somewhere in the middle. I currently use Reloder 17 from Alliant and a charge of about 75 grains for the 300 grain bullet. My Win. Model 70 shoots them well (I don't strain trying to get tiny groups as I find it pointless) but the lowest load that will keep the bullets in a 1.5" group at 100 yards is my keeper. I don't like pushing them to max because you are just beating the gun and yourself up for what amounts to an additional 100fps. That said, my current load chronos right at the original factory listing of 2,550 fps and is quite low pressure in my gun. If you can get it up over that sweet spot of 2,300-2,400 fps without burning a ton of powder and having high pressure, that is all you need. No animal in the will be able to sustain a good shot loaded like this.

 

[Pheroze]

Anyone reloading the Hawk 300 grain bullet in their .375 H&H. I just ordered a box of 300 grain x .035 jacket RT

Since Hawk Bullets doesn't have a manual of its own, at least that I can locate, I had to infer starting and max loads from my Lee and Hornady manuals.

Here is where I am thinking that would be a good starting point to work up a load for this bullet.

Case: Hornady
Primer: Federal 215M
Bullet: Hawk 300gr RT
Powder: IMR 4350
Start: 72 (working up in 0.5gr increment watching for pressure signs and chronographing)
Max: 75
COAL: 3.550

I would expect velocities out of my 25" CZ 550 to be in the neighborhood of 2450-2500 fps.

If anyone sees an issue with what I am purposing please interject.

Did you end up using these bullets on game? I am very interested in the brand and was wondering how well they work.

 

[ikeda]

My son used 400gr Hawk bullets I loaded for his 577/450 MH on several head of African game, to include Kudu, Warthog, and Springbok. All bullets killed quick with good expansion and penetration. The bullets were loaded to 1460 fps and had a .025" thick jacket.

 

[Pheroze]

My son used 400gr Hawk bullets I loaded for his 577/450 MH on several head of African game, to include Kudu, Warthog, and Springbok. All bullets killed quick with good expansion and penetration. The bullets were loaded to 1460 fps and had a .025" thick jacket.

What a very cool rifle/cartridge to take!

 

[tarbe]

Thanks for the input. These are not intended for DG but for Rocky Mt. Elk. Just wanted to lean on some of the expertise here and see if I was in the correct vasinity to start working up a load, slowly of course.

Does anyone have load information on the original Barnes bullet?

I realize this is an old thread...but data is data!

When I read this thread just now I thought to myself "I just know I have loaded 300gr Barnes Originals in the .375".

I dug back through my logs and there it was...from September 7th, 1991.

Everyone take this with the huge grain of salt needed...given the differing throat lengths, likely changes in brass internal capacity and maybe even powder chemistry...these loads are from 28 years ago!

R-P case (re-formed 8mm Mag)
3.80" COL (Ruger No 1)
300gr Barnes Original Spitzer
75.5gr IMR 4350
Fed 215
No crimp
Test temp 75F
Ave vel 2,518 fps instrumental at 10 feet
Sd 17
3 shot group recorded 1.25" at 100 yards

 

[Mike Van Horn]

This maybe to late but l found some information
Barnes reloading manual number 1
Pre Barnes reloading manuals from Barnes but it only shows heavy for caliber load data

Yes l have been using Barnes bullets for awhile now