Reloading for Dangerous Game

[John Wasmuth]

……

 

[Puddle]

Here we are in 2024 and I continue to be amazed (I've long stopped being surprised) at how far off factory ammo printed MVs are compared to actual MVs. When it comes to DG factory ammo the variances can be enough to be no laughing matter. Consider a manufacturer's marketing spiel regarding their "safari grade" ammunition with a skeptical eye.

The last time I was actually surprised was when I tested 10 rounds each from two boxes with different lot numbers of Federal Premium Safari Grade .375 H&H 300 grain A-Frame ammunition. Printed MVs are 2,450 fps. Actual MVs of both 10-round sets run past the chronograph was 2,447 fps. Those people at Federal have got it goin' on! Heck, they may actually be using a factory hunting barrel to figure out the printed MVs. What a novel idea.

My suggestion is if you intend to place yourself in a hunting situation where the pucker factor can potentially be high, then factory or handload, get and use a chronograph and know what you will be filling the magazine with.

 

[Hunter4752001]

G'day Chris. I've reloaded all my life and would certainly use my reloads for any hunting, including a Dangerous Game hunt. There is a big "however".

I shoot in a club that specialises in big game rifles. I get to see lots of rounds down range from all manner of rifles. Its not unusual to see case head separations from rounds that have been reloaded too often (depending on a number of factors this might be only a few reloads). When there is separation, frequently the forward part of the case remains in the chamber preventing the next case of being chambered. Not a big deal on the range, not a big deal pest hunting - Probably fatal hunting dangerous game.

The solution is to reserve a quantity of new brass for use on hunts. Do your practice/competitions etc with used cases.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I've handloaded both rifle and shotgun cartridges but as a general rule... I try opting for factory loaded stuff.

This should tell you more about my own insecurities/incompetence as a hand loader rather than about the safety of hand loading in general.

I am, however decidedly opposed to shooting ANYBODY ELSE'S hand loads. You never know how they're going to be.

 

[Shootist43]

CBH Australia, perhaps I should have been a bit more specific. I was thinking about projectiles for the 375 H&H. Going a little further who is one of the very few providers of large caliber bullets i.e. those calibers that begin with a 4, 5, or 6? Apart from that, the Woodleigh bullets I recommended is what I have loaded for my 375 H&H. Because of the current issues Woodleigh has, (recovering from a bad fire) I also have Swift A Frames loaded up.

 

[Bush Buck]

I do the vast majority of my hunting and shooting with hand loaded ammunition and I've done this many years.

I feel confident in my ability to put together high quality, reliable ammunition, custom made for my rifle. The loading components and die settings are proven over many practice sessions. I load to conservative pressures. I make the final loads with once-fired brass (from that rifle).

I am less comfortable with factory ammo because I have occasionally experienced problems with a particular lot of ammo.

For me to have the same level of confidence with factory ammo (for dangerous game) I would want 100 rounds of top quality ammo - all from the same manufacturing lot - and I would practice with 50 or 60 of them to prove they were trouble free. I'd inspect the others and cycle them through my gun before I traveled.

The bottom line is that I would prefer to hunt dangerous game with my rifle and my hand loads.

Bush Buck

 

[SStomcat]

G'day Chris. I've reloaded all my life and would certainly use my reloads for any hunting, including a Dangerous Game hunt. There is a big "however".

I shoot in a club that specialises in big game rifles. I get to see lots of rounds down range from all manner of rifles. Its not unusual to see case head separations from rounds that have been reloaded too often (depending on a number of factors this might be only a few reloads). When there is separation, frequently the forward part of the case remains in the chamber preventing the next case of being chambered. Not a big deal on the range, not a big deal pest hunting - Probably fatal hunting dangerous game.

The solution is to reserve a quantity of new brass for use on hunts. Do your practice/competitions etc with used cases.

Or use a double where you have an insurance 2nd shot, anyway in a very closed charge their is a very slight margin of error or time for re loads, IMO of course.

 

[Rare Breed]

CBH Australia, I agree with all of the reloaders comments. Re. the best projectile that might be up for grabs. But let me ask you a question, when is the last time you heard or read of a complaint with Woodleigh bullets? Work up a load for their Soft Nose and Hydrostatically Stabilized projectiles and you will have all of the basis covered.

When I had my Westley Richards 500 NE built in 1908, I used Woodleigh bullets and had tremendous accuracy. Great bullets!!!

 

[TOBY458]

I think you’ll find that most people who are against hand loading for DG probably don’t hand load themselves. I have the utmost confidence in my hand loads. I get to visually inspect every step of the loading process and can taylor my loads to my specific needs. For instance, if I want my solids to hit exactly where my softs hit, (which we all do) I can adjust my loads accordingly. With factory loads you are stuck with whatever you can get. Having said that, I have also used factory loads with good success as well, but I definitely feel like my loads are as good or better than the best factory loads made.

 

[revturbo9967]

I reloaded for my hunt and brought all of the rounds with me, but factory Barnes loads shot exactly the same as my hand loads and I brought those too. I ended up shooting just factory rounds at all of the animals I hunted and kept the hand loads to the side. A few days before the end of my hunt , my ph asked if he could buy 20 rounds of my leftover ammo for an incoming hunter who wasn’t bringing his rifle. I expressed everything I had left was hand loads and it may not be a good idea and he took them anyways.

It was somewhat nerve racking but at the same time I knew the ph would keep the hunter out of a bad situation and back him if it needed. The hunter tagged everything on his list

 

[Ryan]

I handed loaded for my 375 Ruger for my buffalo in '21, my PH on that hunt handloaded his 416 Rigby. I took my buffalo and four plains game with those, no issues.

 

[dchamp]

One of the main reasons I handload is for bullet/caliber combinations you won’t find in factory ammunition. On my first Safari I used a 8mmRem Mag. Not much out there for it and what little there is, can be rather puny. My 200gr TSX load worked very well.

For my second Safari I took a .375H&H. I took it for Eland not DG. I had not yet developed a load for it so I used factory Federal Premium Safari 300gr TSX. It too worked flawlessly. A big benefit with the factory ammo, I discovered, was giving the balance of my ammunition to the PH. I would not have done that with handloads, he appreciated it.

For handloading, my only advice would be make sure your components are in very good condition and load for the conditions you’ll be hunting in. Developing a hot load in winter in Victoria may cause problems in Equatorial Africa. Just a thought from someone who has never been to Equatorial Africa.

Good Luck

 

[Rare Breed]

G'day Chris. I've reloaded all my life and would certainly use my reloads for any hunting, including a Dangerous Game hunt. There is a big "however".

I shoot in a club that specialises in big game rifles. I get to see lots of rounds down range from all manner of rifles. Its not unusual to see case head separations from rounds that have been reloaded too often (depending on a number of factors this might be only a few reloads). When there is separation, frequently the forward part of the case remains in the chamber preventing the next case of being chambered. Not a big deal on the range, not a big deal pest hunting - Probably fatal hunting dangerous game.

The solution is to reserve a quantity of new brass for use on hunts. Do your practice/competitions etc with used cases.

Exactly what I do. for my April elephant hunt all hand loads but all new brass as well

 

[Letzhunt]

UpNorthMI.......
If you are still pondering which load to take using either factory or reloads with a TSX, might I just mention that with Mono bullets like Barnes, cutting edge and hammers.....SPEED is your friend. Since your loads shoot well and go 100 fps faster I would use those. The monos need speed to do there job. It gives you a slight increase in distance that the bullet will be effective by properly expanding. 100fps isn't much but does give you a little more reliable expansion.

 

[frog stealer]

I won't use anything but my own loads for DG

Same here…I wouldn’t trust anything mass produced when it comes to dangerous game.

 

[Spooksar]

In northern Alberta factory ammo for dangerous game is hard to find, most of my rifles have never had factory ammo shot through them. I’ve taken Elephant, Cape Buffalo and Hippopotamus all with reloaded ammo never had a problem. Just be diligent in your hand loading practice.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I try not to give people advice on subjects that I am not an expert of.

I would not recommend that anyone buys or doesn’t buy a Rolex or other fine watch. Honestly, I know what they are, and of the different reasons people buy them to include those watches’ appreciation and value on the grey market. If however, a friend or associate asked me if it would be a good idea for them to buy a Rolex, I would respond with a list or qualifying questions to include:

• Can you afford a Rolex? A Yes answer to this question is mandatory!
• Would it be some kind of necessary accoutrement to your daily business attire? I do understand that some executive positions in some companies may have unwritten rules…
• Will it give you pleasure owning and wearing one? Heck, I have guns in my safes that give me pleasure in owning, and occasionally handling and shooting.

There may be other questions but the above three are important.

Concerning should one shoot reloads for dangerous game hunts, a more thoughtful advisory would be:

If you are not an expert handloader who has 100% confidence in their loaded ammunition, it may be better to use factory loaded ammunition for dangerous game.

In more detail, one might state, If you are thinking about using your handloaded ammunition for dangerous game…

• How much metallic cartridge handloading experience do you have? Are you 100% confident with your loaded ammunition. Would you trust your life, or better, your children’s lives on using your loaded ammunition?
• Have you had any problems with sticky, hard to open bolts, failure to extract, hard chambering, and so on?
• Have you had any problems with primers not firing, not being fully seated, or being seated too deep?
• If yes to either of the above problem questions, then are you sure you are 100% confident with your loaded ammunition?

Whatever ammunition one is going to shoot at dangerous game, personally, I recommend practicing with 50 or more rounds. Feed them through the magazine into the chamber with hard bolt thrusts just like if shxt hits the fan with buffalo or elephant!

For the DG hunting trip;

• Never ever handle primers with your fingers!
• Use temperature stable powders for Africa.
• Weigh every round. If by some chance a round doesn't have the 70 or more grains of powder, that will be instantly noticeable!
• Safely feed every round through the magazine and chamber.

 

[albravo]

Haven't been to Africa yet but am planning a trip to justify my new "Africa battery". Nothing too exciting, just an R8 .375H&H and .223 for copious practise which, along with reloading, is part of the fun of anticipating a trip. Every time I press a big (compared to my usual) bullet into a .375 case I get a fleeting sense of the smell and sight of a cape buffalo in my sights. It has really helped pass this winter.

I have never had cloverleaf or better accuracy from any factory ammunition, ever but it is the expectation of my handloads.

When I get on that plane to Africa, my handloads will be coming along. Hopefully;-)

 

[Rare Breed]

I try not to give people advice on subjects that I am not an expert of.

I would not recommend that anyone buys or doesn’t buy a Rolex or other fine watch. Honestly, I know what they are, and of the different reasons people buy them to include those watches’ appreciation and value on the grey market. If however, a friend or associate asked me if it would be a good idea for them to buy a Rolex, I would respond with a list or qualifying questions to include:

• Can you afford a Rolex? A Yes answer to this question is mandatory!
• Would it be some kind of necessary accoutrement to your daily business attire? I do understand that some executive positions in some companies may have unwritten rules…
• Will it give you pleasure owning and wearing one? Heck, I have guns in my safes that give me pleasure in owning, and occasionally handling and shooting.

There may be other questions but the above three are important.

Concerning should one shoot reloads for dangerous game hunts, a more thoughtful advisory would be:

If you are not an expert handloader who has 100% confidence in their loaded ammunition, it may be better to use factory loaded ammunition for dangerous game.

In more detail, one might state, If you are thinking about using your handloaded ammunition for dangerous game…

• How much metallic cartridge handloading experience do you have? Are you 100% confident with your loaded ammunition. Would you trust your life, or better, your children’s lives on using your loaded ammunition?
• Have you had any problems with sticky, hard to open bolts, failure to extract, hard chambering, and so on?
• Have you had any problems with primers not firing, not being fully seated, or being seated too deep?
• If yes to either of the above problem questions, then are you sure you are 100% confident with your loaded ammunition?

Whatever ammunition one is going to shoot at dangerous game, personally, I recommend practicing with 50 or more rounds. Feed them through the magazine into the chamber with hard bolt thrusts just like if shxt hits the fan with buffalo or elephant!

For the DG hunting trip;

• Never ever handle primers with your fingers!
• Use temperature stable powders for Africa.
• Weigh every round. If by some chance a round doesn't have the 70 or more grains of powder, that will be instantly noticeable!
• Safely feed every round through the magazine and chamber.

Great post Mark! Interesting the only stuck round I have ever had was with factory loaded incredibly expensive Federal Premium Ammo which is why I will always use my own reloads. over the years never one problem and I will bet my life on them

 

[Brian.243]

I’ve shot both factory ammo and reloaded for over 35 years, as an active hunter I have only ever had one issue with ammunition and that was a Remington factory.308 round that was in my gun when I was about to shoot a nice red stag in Scotland, the gun went click, no bang! A quick bit of bolt work gave me a fresh round and l shot the stag. The problem round was a bad primer, the only one out of a batch of 300 rounds!

I consider myself an experienced and competent reloader, and take considerable time and care to load hunting ammunition particularly if it is for DG.

One of my recent projects was to replicate 300 grain Barnes factory ammunition in .375 H&H with TSX bullets, so I could have several hundred practice loads. I developed my load to achieve the same velocity as claimed by Barnes. When I finally got hold of some factory loads, I field tested them and found that they did not achieve the declared velocity from my gun. My reloads were 100fps faster, same point of impact and same grouping as factory. Just need to decide do I take the factory loads or my reloads on my upcoming trip.

Whichever ammunition I decide to use, I will carefully visually inspect each round and cycle it through my gun twice before finally packing it for my upcoming DG trip.

Would you mind sharing your load data you came up with for the 300 grain barnes?
Thanks