North Fork PP

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Remember, the heavier the bullet, the greater the momentum, and the greater the wound diameter and damage after expansion. As a guide, I've hunted thousands of animals with the .375 HH caliber, and I'm passionate about 300-grain bullets. I would never sacrifice that weight for a little more velocity. A 300-grain bullet leaving the muzzle at 2,550 FPS works magic! Think about it carefully!

@SaintPanzer was talking about using on lighter game and also not using a .375HH case. For bigger animals and a .375HH case, we're in complete agreement.

 

[SaintPanzer]

Thank you. For those who may have forgotten (from https://www.mannlicher.org/about-mannlichers.html):

The 9.5x56mm (9.5x57mm) provided another peculiar case. It is also known in England as the .375 Rimless Nitro Express 2 1/4, .375 Mannlicher and 9.5mm Mannlicher, but wait, there is another cartridge called the .375 Mannlicher Rimmed which is entirely different and made for the M1895 Sporting Mannlichers, just to muddy the waters a bit. Somehow this M1910 Mannlicher-Schoenauer became a de rigor firearm in a proper African safari suite of weapons. It was not an all around choice like a 9.3x62mm which was indeed its running mate in those early African days, but the rifles were light weight and inexpensive, which endeared them to the hunting fraternity. The 9.5mm could take any of the popular plains game antelope, and possibly a Lion if the shooter was proficient, and lucky. You can pick out the 9.5mm Mannlichers in the old movies by looking for the mannlicher stocked rifle with the BIG hole in the muzzle. They just stand out that way.

 

[Pheroze]

Thank you for this information. I am planning on using the PP for a moose hunt this year and it sounds like they will be perfect

 

[cmk]

Have used the PP 400gn on fox and fallow deer. Also on impala. Worked very well, but (naturally) no bullets recovered.

 

[1dirthawker]

i have used north fork bullets for a while now and have been impressed with their consistent performance.

i use 300 gr ss out of my 375 ruger at 2450 fps (tried to duplicate factory load) 20" barrel. have shot 4 or 5 brown bears (backup shooting) any bullet recovered could be used in an ad for them. the same for the 2 moose shot with it.

i have also used the 400 gr ss (on my one and only buffalo, 450/400 at 2100 fps) 2 moose at 200 and 325 yards, a blue wildebeest (200 yards) the buff was 30 yards away, both recovered, perfect performance. the wildebeest was broadside (shot with 400 gr pp) and that bullet was NOT recovered.

i loaded up some cup point solids and solids, have yet to shoot anything with them. (for the 450/400)

i believe that the NF softs are maybe the best softs made (no experience with the SA rhino bullets but they seem to be great performers as well). AND you can actually find them available and order them!

 

[Wahoo]

I did recover a few of the .375 300 grain Northfork PP. they all looked exactly like this one recovered from under the hide on the offside shoulder of a mature eland bull.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

North Fork bullets are very very good.

 

[sgt_zim]

what's the recommended minimum impact velocity for the PPs? Thinking about bringing my 404 Jeff as a 1-gun on a hunt in 2027.

 

[Nhoro]

Remember, the heavier the bullet, the greater the momentum, and the greater the wound diameter and damage after expansion. As a guide, I've hunted thousands of animals with the .375 HH caliber, and I'm passionate about 300-grain bullets. I would never sacrifice that weight for a little more velocity. A 300-grain bullet leaving the muzzle at 2,550 FPS works magic! Think about it carefully!

I agree with you on that. Velocity disappears quickly but mass is more reliable. If you look into the physics of bullet performance, it back up your opinion. The higher the velocity, the higher the resistance of flesh to the bullet.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

what's the recommended minimum impact velocity for the PPs? Thinking about bringing my 404 Jeff as a 1-gun on a hunt in 2027.

What are you planning to hunt with them?

 

[Brian]

I agree with you on that. Velocity disappears quickly but mass is more reliable. If you look into the physics of bullet performance, it back up your opinion. The higher the velocity, the higher the resistance of flesh to the bullet.

Interesting discussion for us hunters.

I put bullet construction/design and diameter as number one.

There are many buffalo hunters who have killed many more buffalo than I have who emphasize velocity as a top priority.

 

[cmk]

what's the recommended minimum impact velocity for the PPs? Thinking about bringing my 404 Jeff as a 1-gun on a hunt in 2027.

I did the same last year. The main, big purpose was buffalo, but I also had some PG "want-to's" on the list. I was accepting the fact that I would have to give up some of the reach of other calibres. So if that warthog/steenbok turned up 200 metres out, I'd have to tip my hat at it and say "Another time". The 404 isn't really a long-range, across-the-valley cartridge. And mine was scoped with a 1-5x24.

In the end, most of the time was spent on getting the buffalo, and the only other game hunted with the 404 was an impala. (Not counting dispatching of a sick kudu calf at point blank range, i.e. at a range of 1 foot or so).

To get back to your 'real' question, I know that NF have some pictures of their bullets and how much they have expanded at various impact velocities, but not for all calibres/bullet weights. I'm quite certain, though, that 2000 fps at impact from their 400gn should give you enough expansion for any plains game.

You could go lighter - I believe there is a 340gn option as well (availability uncertain though - I would guess that 400gn bullets account for the majority of the production).

Or do as I did - bring a mixture of SS and PP.

In the end it all depends on the biggest thing you're planning on hunting. You could always bring the 9.3x62 if eland (or similar) is the largest animal you're after.

 

[Rifleman97]

Anyone use these on deer yet? Thinking about a 375 h&h for Iowa deer season to have a more 30-06 like trajectory while being within the .350-.500 bullet diameter restrictions. (If anyone is wondering about case length or shouldered cases, iowa dropped that restriction in 2022. The only limitation is a minimum bullet diameter of .350, no more than .500 (unless muzzleloader) and there’s a minimum energy requirement)

I feel like they should do pretty well, but is there such a thing as too much damage on certain shot placements?

 

[Razorback]

NF 375 300 gr PP from recent lion.
375 HH. MV 2590. 70 yards.

 

[Brian]

View attachment 705599

NF 375 300 gr PP from recent lion.
375 HH. MV 2590. 70 yards.

Perfect!

 

[Brian]

Anyone use these on deer yet? Thinking about a 375 h&h for Iowa deer season to have a more 30-06 like trajectory while being within the .350-.500 bullet diameter restrictions. (If anyone is wondering about case length or shouldered cases, iowa dropped that restriction in 2022. The only limitation is a minimum bullet diameter of .350, no more than .500 (unless muzzleloader) and there’s a minimum energy requirement)

I feel like they should do pretty well, but is there such a thing as too much damage on certain shot placements?

It would be a lot of fun and completely practical as far as I a can see. I would not worry about meat damage, i think that you could "eat right up to the hole" as they say.
I know guy in Idaho that loved to hunt deer with that old .375 barnes bullet that was 250 grains, I think.

 

[sgt_zim]

I did the same last year. The main, big purpose was buffalo, but I also had some PG "want-to's" on the list. I was accepting the fact that I would have to give up some of the reach of other calibres. So if that warthog/steenbok turned up 200 metres out, I'd have to tip my hat at it and say "Another time". The 404 isn't really a long-range, across-the-valley cartridge. And mine was scoped with a 1-5x24.

In the end, most of the time was spent on getting the buffalo, and the only other game hunted with the 404 was an impala. (Not counting dispatching of a sick kudu calf at point blank range, i.e. at a range of 1 foot or so).

To get back to your 'real' question, I know that NF have some pictures of their bullets and how much they have expanded at various impact velocities, but not for all calibres/bullet weights. I'm quite certain, though, that 2000 fps at impact from their 400gn should give you enough expansion for any plains game.

You could go lighter - I believe there is a 340gn option as well (availability uncertain though - I would guess that 400gn bullets account for the majority of the production).

Or do as I did - bring a mixture of SS and PP.

In the end it all depends on the biggest thing you're planning on hunting. You could always bring the 9.3x62 if eland (or similar) is the largest animal you're after.

A pair of buffalos. The missus needs to use that Ruger #1H Tropical 375 for something.

I want a big impala this time, but other than that, we're after eland, kudu, nyala, zebra, red hartebeest. Unless you're standing in a road, even 150 yards is about as far as we can shoot. I have some Hornady DGX at about 2250 presently, I don't have any plans to lean into MV no matter what load I end up bringing.

Last time was our first time, we hunted a first timer's package. We're going to hunt whatever the hunting gods give us this time.

I have the same Leupold on my 404 that you have.

 

[Brian]

North Fork doesn't make a 270gr version of its soft point bullet in .375. It does make a 250gr version that in a .375HH can be loaded to 2800fps or so. At that speed and with lighter construction, there really isn't a need for the PP version of the bullet.

EDIT: I must correct myself. NF does now make a 270gr version of the .375, but yes only in the SS version. I think the idea is the same in that a lighter/quicker version of the bullet does not need the PP design.

Reading all the reviews on the NF, PP bullet I come think it would be a great bullet for PG, big and small, especially in the 270 gr.

I have not hunted PG for long time and if I did, I would still probably still use my personal favourite the CEB Raptor. regardless, the NF PP might be like the Swift A-Frame on steroids, I am guessing, and that is a good thing,

 

[steve white]

I know that the SS is more recommended for buffaloes and I don't say I recommend it, but I swear to you that after these practical tests, and speaking only between the two of us... I wouldn't be afraid at all to shoot behind the shoulder (avoiding the shoulder blade) of a big buffalo using a 300 grain PP! It opens quickly and as I said, it travels 97% of its trajectory with its full diameter, the hole is big from beginning to end.

My only concern is that I don't want to shoot something where "avoiding the shoulder blade" is part of the equation....too many thing can go wrong, and I want something that will get the job done even if everything else is not perfectly right! Right tool for right job.

 

[Crishuntbrasil]

Interesting discussion for us hunters.

I put bullet construction/design and diameter as number one.

There are many buffalo hunters who have killed many more buffalo than I have who emphasize velocity as a top priority.

After more than 35 years of hunting, something I've learned practically about ballistics is that when a projectile weighs more than 400 grams, the most lethal velocity in the world is 1,200 fps! This kills anything you can put a good bullet in a vital place! EVERYTHING! Plus, this means more recoil, more hassle, and believe me, the risk of erratic trajectories when using fine-point bullets.