Powder for .375 H&H?

[Dan in Alaska]

I loaded up some .375 H&H loads with a friend this past weekend. We used a few different bullets: 250gr Sierra SBT, 270gr Hornady SP, and 300gr Hornady BTSP. And, we used two different powders, IMR 4831 and IMR 4350, at several different charge weights.

We used a Caldwell Lead Sled (which worked great, by the way) and shot two rifles: an Interarms Mark X and a new Savage Alaskan Guide Gun. None of the loads shot better than about 3" at 100 yards, which was a bit disappointing. My friend commented that both guns shoot "minute of dead", and I have a hard time disagreeing with him. I would like better results, though.

Is the .375 H&H a finicky round to develop accurate loads for? I expected to find at least one load that would group well out of at least one of the rifles. I used IMR 4831 and IMR 4350 because we happened to have them on-hand. Are there better powder choices for reloading the .375 H&H? I eventually want to work up loads with Swift A-Frames and Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, but I would like to see better results with the cheaper bullets first. No sense in blasting away buck-a-piece bullets until I have an idea of what might work.

[DAVID WHITE]

Dan,

I rechambered my 375 H&H to the 375 H&H Ackley Improved and either way, it shot the 300 grain bullets best with Winchester 760 powder and the 270 grain and lighter bullets seemed to prefer Viht. N-140. I also use Winchester WLR Magnum primers with both powders and seat the bullets out to where they just barely touch the lands....

DAVID

[doubleA]

Dan, I have done a little tinkering with the 375 H&H.
I have pretty much settled on 2 loads, one with a 260 Nosler AB with Reloader 15 and the other comprising of a 270 gr Barnes TSX and IMR-4350. In my Sako M75 both loads shoot great, though I only shoot 3 shot groups with it, sub MOA groups are common. I use Winchester brass and Wimchester WLR magnum primers. I use a light crimp in the Nosler's cannelure and in the X bullet it's second groove.


These are loads with the 270 gr Barnse TSX and IMR-4350 powder

[Dan in Alaska]

doubleA,

Nicely done! That's what I'm after. How do those TSX bullets perform on game?

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: Dan in Alaska

doubleA,

Nicely done! That's what I'm after. How do those TSX bullets perform on game?

Very nicely indeed!

As to powders, I've had my best .375 H&Hresults with IMR 4064, and foundIMR 4350 to bea bit on the slow side-couldn't get enough of it in the .375 H&H case. I'd think IMR 4831 would be even worse in this regard, and would not use H4831 in the H&H case at all. Maybe in the .375 Weatherby, which has a little better capacity as well as case shape.....

[Dan in Alaska]

IMR 4064 was highly recommended at another site as well. I use IMR 4064 almost exclusively in my .338-06, so I always have some of it on hand. I hope it works well in the .375 H&H, so I can justify buying it in 8-pound cans from now on.

I will try it. Thanks for the suggestion, eldeguello.