225 gr Hornady in 375HH load data help

[HuntingGold]

I am now seating bullets on test loads with H4895 starting at 64 grains through 68. If the winds stay down, I'll get my loads over a chronograph this afternoon.
I hope to find an adequate load then make a run out to the desert for a jack rabbit hunt later this week.
I have a cape buff hunt in July and am nearly ready to finalize that load too, a 300 grain A-frame over H4350.
I hope to wear this 375HH out before I get to Africa.

 

[HuntingGold]

After watching sideways snow all day, I finally got out to shoot a few test rounds.
Brass: new Remington (old stock)
Primers: Remington 9 1/2M
Bullet: old stock Hornady 225 grain SP
Powder: H4895 (old stock)
In my rifle, Sako AIV
64 grains H4895: 2587 FPS
65 grains H4895: error
66 " " : 2649
67 " " : 2727
68 " " : 2755

I was surprised with a slightly sticky bolt and somewhat flattened primer at 68 grains. I also ran the same charges in some pulled and salvaged Remington brass and had similar velocity results. Since I have no idea how many times the brass had been loaded and an unknown primer, I won't post the results. They were similar.

They 68 grain charge resulted in unexpected recoil. I've been shooting 300 grain loads without much recoil, but that last 235 grain bullet with 68 gr charge got my attention.

For plinking or varmints, I now have enough info to load the remaining bullets.

 

[HuntingGold]

4200 foot elevation
Slight breeze from behind
32 degrees F

 

[Albert GRANT]

That does seem odd given you are 6.8gr below the max listed by Hornady for this bullet and powder combination, yet running close to the speed listed at that maximum.

 

[Spearhead]

@HuntingGold

 

[HuntingGold]

Thanks much @Spearhead

 

[HuntingGold]

That does seem odd given you are 6.8gr below the max listed by Hornady for this bullet and powder combination, yet running close to the speed listed at that maximum.

Indeed it does, but that's how the numbers came up. Maybe I will fool a bit more with it today.

 

[HuntingGold]

And for giggles... this is how it all turned out:

I shot a second batch of loads over the chronograph as the previous numbers seemed high. This time I took along a 22 rimfire and used CCI mini-mags advertised at 1260 FPS to see how they fared. Five shots interspersed through the shooting session revealed the lowest FPS at 1253 and highest at 1303.
My conclusion is that the numbers recorded previously and those recorded today are representative of what is going on with with rifle and these components. I'm curious if the results will change when I switch to the newer bottle of powder.

 

[HuntingGold]

In addition to the 225 grain Hornady bullets, I also loaded up a few 235 grain HotCors to sort out some questions I had in my mind from previous sessions.
The target was set at 55 yards which is the best I could really do with the range I used today. Scope is 1.5 - 5 Leupold set at 5. The "bench" was a sandbag on the hood of my pickup.

The 66 grains of N540 results in about 2560 FPS average.
The 67 grains of N540 results in about 2600 FPS average in my gun.

 

[EVR]

Just saw this. I don't have my data handy but I've shot deer & a couple elk w/ the .375 H&H / 225 Hornady combination. Worked well. Full penetration on one.

 

[375er]

Just saw this. I don't have my data handy but I've shot deer & a couple elk w/ the .375 H&H / 225 Hornady combination. Worked well. Full penetration on one. View attachment 525908View attachment 525909

Cool pictures! Where were you?

 

[EVR]

Home. My ranch. Idaho.

 

[EVR]

Home. My ranch. Idaho.

In addition to the 225 grain Hornady bullets, I also loaded up a few 235 grain HotCors to sort out some questions I had in my mind from previous sessions.
The target was set at 55 yards which is the best I could really do with the range I used today. Scope is 1.5 - 5 Leupold set at 5. The "bench" was a sandbag on the hood of my pickup.
View attachment 521522
The 66 grains of N540 results in about 2560 FPS average.
The 67 grains of N540 results in about 2600 FPS average in my gun.

My load FWIW was 73 gr RL15, CCI 250 primer (just cuz I had them). Safe in my rifle, might not be in yours or somebody else's. I've used a variety of bullets on game in USA and a few in Africa (and a butcher steer once tho most of them go down with a .22 Mag or something else) in my old SAKO AV and TBH tho I suspect many might disagree, I wish Hornady still made those 225's. Seems "out of sorts" for a .375 but with full AND lower power loads it is a good bullet for N Amer game and about 90% of African stuff too I suspect.

 

[HuntingGold]

At his website, Nathan Foster gives those 225 Hornady bullets fairly high marks.

 

[EVR]

At his website, Nathan Foster gives those 225 Hornady bullets fairly high marks.

I don't know who that is, but my experience with it is that it is a good bullet for the .375 on thin-skinned game. I would not take what I call "any shot" (angles, etc) but IMO on setups, that is, broadsides, slight angles, it will give a guy no excuses on deer/elk/black bear.

EDIT: I have seen that site before. Very informative site. Thanks for posting that.

 

[HuntingGold]

I appreciate your insight with those bullets.

 

[EVR]

I appreciate your insight with those bullets.

No problem.

Here is one I recovered from a large cow elk.

(Reflecting back on those years, I can't say now for sure if I've used the 225 Hornady on deer. I've used Hornady 270 SP, 300 RN, Sierra 300 Sp, 235 Speer Sp, 225 Hornady SP and 285 Speer GS on game. Using the latter, now, as I got a deal on "2nds" which shoot very well and I got quite a pile of them for cheap a few years ago. I've had the rifle since 1987 and it's been with me in the field off and on since. RSA and USA.)