your favorite .375 solid?

[matt85]

as the title suggests, what is your favorite .375 solid?

-matt

 

[Royal27]

Perfect timing....

I have a CZ550 .375 H&H that I plan on testing with several different solids this weekend. Although results will certainly vary from rifle to rifle I'll let you know how it turns out. Maybe I will even pull a Brickburn and include pictures (but only if I have a grouping that is impressive LOL).

I will be testing the following three brands of solid. All 300 grain.
- Hornady DGS
- Barnes Banded Solid
- Federal Sledgehammer

I will also be checking POA for the Barnes solid against the Barnes TSX as they are supposed to have the same POA. I'm hoping the Barnes wins as I do like the idea of using the same ammo brand for solid and soft point. I will be hunting hippo as well though, and want to make sure that I have a very accurte solid for a brain shot.

more to follow!

 

[enysse]

North Fork makes some great solids too!

 

[matt85]

does Barnes still make a solid in .375? I haven't seen those available at any retailer.

-matt

 

[PaulT]

as the title suggests, what is your favorite .375 solid?

-matt

In order of preference, my favorite solids, in any cal are;
# C.E.B #13, North Fork and Woodleigh Hydrostatic.

 

[Royal27]

Well, here is my official, and yet completely unscientific evaluation. I didn't realize this was in reloading when I originally replied, but here goes anyway even though all loads are factory....

The first picture is Hornady DGS. Needless to say I won't be hunting with these out of this rifle!!



The second group is from Federal Trophy Bonded Sledgehammers. I'm pretty sure that I pulled the "outlier" and that these grouped pretty well.



And the winner from my CZ550. Barnes Banded Solids! I was happy with this as I already knew that I'd be shooting Barnes TSX for my softpoints.



Finally, I shot a four shot group consisting of two TSX and two banded solids to see if POA was the same as Barnes advertised. As I already suspected from earlier shooting the solids hit about an inch lower than the TSX does, from my rifle. I'm really happy that the Banded Solid seems to be so accurate though as I'll be hunting hippo and want that kind of precision for sure.



Oh, and I've just recently found the Banded Solids again. ATF had a restriction on them, per the Barnes website, as they were viewed as "armor piercing." What bullet from a .375 H&H isn't???? Geez.... Anyway, I don't know if the restriction has been lifted, or if I just got lucky. Either way, I have a few left.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Looks like your decision is made.

You may not be practicing much if you can't find a supply.

When my new .375 arrives I'll have to go through the same process.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Royal27]

Looks like your decision is made.

You may not be practicing much if you can't find a supply.

When my new .375 arrives I'll have to go through the same process.

Thanks for the suggestions.

You're very welcome.

I just literally ordered some more now that I know I will use them and will have way more than enough to hunt with, pulse enough for SAAM training next week.

For cheap practice ammo I use PRVI. It groups a heck of a lot better than that Hornady stuff did!!! I've got to start reloading.....

 

[enysse]

Nice shooting, Royal27!

 

[matt85]

the ATF screwen things up again...

i really wish i could find some barnes .375 300gr banded solids. instead ill try out some CEB and North Fork solids and see how they perform.

note: your review on the hornady "solids" isnt uncommon. these have gotten bad reviews from many sources both as inaccurate and too soft.

-matt

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

By far the Barnes as far as performance goes, they tend to travel quite straight as well without much deviation...

I do like the flat nose on the sledge hammers it provides that little more frontal bullet diameter... Hence sledge hammer ....

Hornady has never given myself impressive performance.

My best always.

 

[Royal27]

the ATF screwen things up again...

i really wish i could find some barnes .375 300gr banded solids. instead ill try out some CEB and North Fork solids and see how they perform.

note: your review on the hornady "solids" isnt uncommon. these have gotten bad reviews from many sources both as inaccurate and too soft.
-matt

If you want to buy the factory loads I got them at Discount Guns for Sale - Buds Gun Shop. And I agree on Hornady. I shot the DGX last week and they weren't any better. Luckily I had some other bullets as well or it might have really rattled my confidence. They may well be the worst grouping ammunition I've ever shot....

Nice shooting, Royal27!

Thank you sir!

By far the Barnes as far as performance goes, they tend to travel quite straight as well without much deviation...

I do like the flat nose on the sledge hammers it provides that little more frontal bullet diameter... Hence sledge hammer ....

Hornady has never given myself impressive performance.

My best always.

I've become a HUGE Barnes fan. Seems like it shoots the best out of every rifle I have. And Hornady, well, maybe there is a reason it is cheap.... I'd much rather shoot PRVI. Would never hunt with PRVI, but is much more accurate for me to practice with.

 

[BigSteve57]

I used Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. It was VERY accurate out of my rifle. On the plains game it predictably acted a bit like a "drill through". I will use it on bear here in the States and if I'm able to get back to Africa on Cape Buffalo.

Some I have talked to here have said it would also work well on the large feral hogs that have been plaguing the South. (But most of the guys hunting hogs seem to be using semi auto 308's).

 

[enysse]

I used Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. It was VERY accurate out of my rifle. On the plains game it predictably acted a bit like a "drill through". I will use it on bear here in the States and if I'm able to get back to Africa on Cape Buffalo.

Some I have talked to here have said it would also work well on the large feral hogs that have been plaguing the South. (But most of the guys hunting hogs seem to be using semi auto 308's).

I agree it's a very good (premium +) bullet.

 

[Royal27]

I used Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. It was VERY accurate out of my rifle. On the plains game it predictably acted a bit like a "drill through". I will use it on bear here in the States and if I'm able to get back to Africa on Cape Buffalo.

Some I have talked to here have said it would also work well on the large feral hogs that have been plaguing the South. (But most of the guys hunting hogs seem to be using semi auto 308's).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the bear claw a soft point? Not saying it isn't a great bullet, just not a solid. To my recollection it is what my cousin shot his buff with, backed up with sledgehammers.

 

[spike.t]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the bear claw a soft point? Not saying it isn't a great bullet, just not a solid. To my recollection it is what my cousin shot his buff with, backed up with sledgehammers.

correct the the bearclaw is the soft and sledgehammer the solid in that family. like them both.

 

[enysse]

correct the the bearclaw is the soft and sledgehammer the solid in that family.

I agree +1,the bear claw is like the Swift-A.

 

[BigSteve57]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the bear claw a soft point? Not saying it isn't a great bullet, just not a solid. To my recollection it is what my cousin shot his buff with, backed up with sledgehammers.

Well perhaps you've corrected me. I was thinking of a solid as opposed to a hollow point or a partition. PerhapsI need to be schooled on the precise definition of a solid.

 

[spike.t]

Well perhaps you've corrected me. I was thinking of a solid as opposed to a hollow point or a partition. PerhapsI need to be schooled on the precise definition of a solid.

have a look on the federal ammunition website. you will find photos of the bearclaw and sledgehammer before and fired.

 

[matt85]

looks like budsgunshop.com is only selling Barnes solids to people who pay for their special membership.

-matt