375 H&H Mag + Barnes X
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:52 pm
2000 Barnes X performance in .375 H & H Magnum
In April 2000 I attended the Free State Provincial Government?s annual auction of hunting packages at the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve close to Winburg. I bought 2 packages, 1 at Caledon Nature Reserve and the other at Gariep Dam Nature Reserve. The Gariep Dam Nature Reserve package consisted of a Blue Wildebeest, Blesbok and 4 Springbok.
In the mid 90?s I used a 235 gr. monometal bullet of local manufacture, the Goodnel, to good effect in my 375 H & H Magnum in the Free State. I hunted Zebra and Black Wildebeest using the Goodnel, but I never recovered a bullet. I decided on the 235 gr. Barnes X from the USA for my 2000 Blue Wildebeest hunt.
My handloading file contained a target dated 15 April 1995 that showed a 3 shot group a tad over 1 inch with the 235 gr. Goodnel. Components were Winchester cases, CCI 250 primers and 70 gr. S 335 Somchem propellant. The Goodnel bullet has a crimping groove, and at a Catrtridge Overall Length (COL) of 90,8 mm the case can be crimped into the groove. This was done with the Lee Factory Crimp Die:
[img width=368 height=480]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... l235gr.jpg[/img]
For the 235 gr. Barnes X, I worked the load up from 68 gr. S 335 with 1 gr. increments to 70 gr., using the same components and also crimping the cases. COL measured 90,3 mm. Muzzle velocity was measured with a Chrony. The 70 gr. load was good for 2800 fps without signs of excessive chamber pressure. While the 70 gr. load yielded a group slightly over 1 inch, I decided that it was good enough for a heart / lung shot since I wanted the higher velocity for a flatter trajectory. According to the Barnes Bullets Reloading Manual No.1, bullet drop is 3.8 inches at 200 yards with a 100 yards zero. Thus compensation for bullet drop out to 200 meters did not present too much of a problem. The 70 gr. group is shown below:
[img width=485 height=480]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... rgroup.jpg[/img]
The hunt took place in June 2000. The shot was taken at an estimated 150 meters. The bull was facing me, slightly quartering. After the shot the bull ran a short distance, but did not get far. The bull?s horns measured 26 inches, below the Rowland Ward minimum of 28 ? inches but a nice representative bull. I had it shoulder mounted by Highveld Taxidermists. The photo shows me in a happy mood after a satisfying one shot hunt:
[img width=560 height=400]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... ebeest.jpg[/img]
The bullet was recovered, after passing through the heart in the stomach contents. Here the skinner holds the heart in his hands, showing the heart shot. By the time the photo was taken, the skinner had started cutting away the ?trauma tissue? around the entrance and exit holes. This was done to prepare the heart for cooking and consumption.
[img width=560 height=397]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... rtshot.jpg[/img]
The next photo shows the recovered bullet, two fragments or ?petals? from the mushroom that broke off, an unfired bullet and a loaded cartridge:
[img width=560 height=400]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... d235gr.jpg[/img]
The recovered bullet weighed 211 gr. That is 89,7 % of the original weight. The 2 petals weighed 23,4 gr. This is good bullet performance in my book. Even though the two petals from the 4 petal mushroom broke off, these petals are secondary projectiles which also cause trauma. I found that the 235 gr. Barnes X bullet lives up to Barnes? slogan of ?Unleaded, Unfailing, Unbeatable?.
I was happy to discover that while the original 235 gr. Barnes X bullet has been discontinued, it lives on with the introduction of the Triple Shock X bullet. Barnes? 2006 catalogue lists the 235 gr. TSX FB bullet as ?New?. TSX means Triple Shock X bullet and FB Flat Base. Barnes? 2008 catalogue also lists the 235 gr. TSX FB bullet.
With the unfavorable $/Rand exchange rate, Barnes X bullets are unfortunately expensive in South Africa. However, I will rather try to cut expenses in other areas than to compromise on bullet quality. A poor quality bullet can result in a wounded and possible lost animal, even if placed right.
In April 2000 I attended the Free State Provincial Government?s annual auction of hunting packages at the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve close to Winburg. I bought 2 packages, 1 at Caledon Nature Reserve and the other at Gariep Dam Nature Reserve. The Gariep Dam Nature Reserve package consisted of a Blue Wildebeest, Blesbok and 4 Springbok.
In the mid 90?s I used a 235 gr. monometal bullet of local manufacture, the Goodnel, to good effect in my 375 H & H Magnum in the Free State. I hunted Zebra and Black Wildebeest using the Goodnel, but I never recovered a bullet. I decided on the 235 gr. Barnes X from the USA for my 2000 Blue Wildebeest hunt.
My handloading file contained a target dated 15 April 1995 that showed a 3 shot group a tad over 1 inch with the 235 gr. Goodnel. Components were Winchester cases, CCI 250 primers and 70 gr. S 335 Somchem propellant. The Goodnel bullet has a crimping groove, and at a Catrtridge Overall Length (COL) of 90,8 mm the case can be crimped into the groove. This was done with the Lee Factory Crimp Die:
[img width=368 height=480]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... l235gr.jpg[/img]
For the 235 gr. Barnes X, I worked the load up from 68 gr. S 335 with 1 gr. increments to 70 gr., using the same components and also crimping the cases. COL measured 90,3 mm. Muzzle velocity was measured with a Chrony. The 70 gr. load was good for 2800 fps without signs of excessive chamber pressure. While the 70 gr. load yielded a group slightly over 1 inch, I decided that it was good enough for a heart / lung shot since I wanted the higher velocity for a flatter trajectory. According to the Barnes Bullets Reloading Manual No.1, bullet drop is 3.8 inches at 200 yards with a 100 yards zero. Thus compensation for bullet drop out to 200 meters did not present too much of a problem. The 70 gr. group is shown below:
[img width=485 height=480]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... rgroup.jpg[/img]
The hunt took place in June 2000. The shot was taken at an estimated 150 meters. The bull was facing me, slightly quartering. After the shot the bull ran a short distance, but did not get far. The bull?s horns measured 26 inches, below the Rowland Ward minimum of 28 ? inches but a nice representative bull. I had it shoulder mounted by Highveld Taxidermists. The photo shows me in a happy mood after a satisfying one shot hunt:
[img width=560 height=400]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... ebeest.jpg[/img]
The bullet was recovered, after passing through the heart in the stomach contents. Here the skinner holds the heart in his hands, showing the heart shot. By the time the photo was taken, the skinner had started cutting away the ?trauma tissue? around the entrance and exit holes. This was done to prepare the heart for cooking and consumption.
[img width=560 height=397]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... rtshot.jpg[/img]
The next photo shows the recovered bullet, two fragments or ?petals? from the mushroom that broke off, an unfired bullet and a loaded cartridge:
[img width=560 height=400]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... d235gr.jpg[/img]
The recovered bullet weighed 211 gr. That is 89,7 % of the original weight. The 2 petals weighed 23,4 gr. This is good bullet performance in my book. Even though the two petals from the 4 petal mushroom broke off, these petals are secondary projectiles which also cause trauma. I found that the 235 gr. Barnes X bullet lives up to Barnes? slogan of ?Unleaded, Unfailing, Unbeatable?.
I was happy to discover that while the original 235 gr. Barnes X bullet has been discontinued, it lives on with the introduction of the Triple Shock X bullet. Barnes? 2006 catalogue lists the 235 gr. TSX FB bullet as ?New?. TSX means Triple Shock X bullet and FB Flat Base. Barnes? 2008 catalogue also lists the 235 gr. TSX FB bullet.
With the unfavorable $/Rand exchange rate, Barnes X bullets are unfortunately expensive in South Africa. However, I will rather try to cut expenses in other areas than to compromise on bullet quality. A poor quality bullet can result in a wounded and possible lost animal, even if placed right.
) om die toetse met ander manne te deel sodat n persoon dam n wegtrekpunt het as jy n nuwe kaliber of nuwe ammo oorweeg.
