Since I have used this round since 1978, and it is a favourite of mine, I thought this might be a useful thread.
: I am interested in hearing other hunter's perspective on this rather short-ranged round, by today's perspective, that is.
: First, my own experience. I've just finished rereading Sam Fadala's acount in the Big Bore Rifles book put out by Wofe Publishing. Overall, a good article, with some minor errors, but good none-the-less.
: I used the 220gr. Hornady FP .375 bullet which was expressly designed for this ctg., for most of my experimentation, along with some minor testing with .270 and 300gr.Hornady RN's with the noses filed flat. The 235gr. stuck me as too tough for smaller big game, but might have some application on larger Elk and Moose. The 270gr. made 1,750fps in my testing with some preliminary loads while the 300's made beautiful little cloverleaf groups at 50yards at a mere 1640fps. my final load for the 220gr.FN's was 42.0gr. H335, which, while not developing top velocities, was a 110% capacity load showing exceptional accuracy from the BigBore .94 and produced 1,940fps with the chrongraph set at 15'. This is the load I selected for testing under hunting conditions.
: In 1991 & 92, I took 2 B.C. moose with this H335 load. The first was a long yearling (1-1/2yr. old) bull and then a 4 year old cow, both while hunting with my brother. The bull took a total of 3 steps after getting a 220gr. through the lungs, and the cow, 1-1/2 steps. Both bullets expanded perfectly, about 1/3 down the shank, with loss of only 20 to 25gr.weight. The bull, slightly angling away, was taken at the last rib, angled forward through both lungs with the bullet stopping just in front of the off shoulder, again, under the hide, in one piece.
: The cow's off-shoulder was smashed, with the bullet remaining under the hide, in one piece. She took off like a horse from a starting gate to immediatly crash to the ground, dead after the 1-1/2 steps. There was a tree covering her shoulder, or that's where I'd have placed the bullet. I was elated to see her drop so quickly as few do with that same lung hit, no matter what is poked through them.
: Both shots were at roughly 100yards, the longest shots I've had to take on Moose in the area I hunt. Most are shot at from 50 to 90yards.
: Subsequent testing with Reloader#7 and AA1680 powder & the 220gr. HornadyFP have revealed velocties up to 2,350fps the 1680, and an even 2,200fps with #7. Neither were as accurate as the H335's slower moving loads, but Re#7 shows promise. Perhaps a reduction to 36gr.#7 might be more accurate.
: With the 220gr. Hornady's acting as they did, at the initial velocities they provide, no more performance is really needed.
: This ctg., a modernized .38/55, if you will, makes one great bush round for deer and black bear through moose and elk.
: I did modify the sights to a small ivory bead on the front, and filed the rear sight to a gentle "Express" sight wide "V". A faster or more accurate sight might be difficult to find, and I include aperatures in that statement.
: With it's relatively mild recoil, making accurate hits becomes easy. The results speak for themselves.