375 CHATFIELD-TAYLOR FOR AFRICAN GAME?

[magnum308]

Hi,

I'm from Brisbane Australia and I am new to this forum. I have a 375 Chatfield-Taylor (375/338 developed by RF Chatfield-Taylor of 416 Taylor fame).

It was built for me by my brother-in-law, a gunsmith, on a Ruger M77 rebarrelled with a .375 barrel and chambered for 375 Chatfield-Taylor. I have had it for years, shot it now and again (mainly at the rifle range) but only last week decided to sit down and work out some loads for it. I found a load with the 270 gr Hornady spire point that shot a 3 shot group of just over 1" at 100 yards. I was happy with that as the load (using Australian ADI powder which is sold and repackaged in the US by the likes of Hogdson) AR2208 (similar to 4064 see http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp). Although I didn't chonograph it, it seems to be getting similar ballistics as the original British 375 H&H load.

I like to hear from any others who have this wildcat cartridge and have used it on African game (preferably dangerous game). I'd like to hear of your experiences with it, perhaps photographs, etc.

Regards,
Magnum

[JJHACK]

The cartridge that contains the powder and bullet is not really that valuable from an information standpoint as is the velocity and bullet used.

There are many 300 magnums and they all shoot about the same velocity, or at least have some overlap with handloads and ofcourse they can all shoot the same bullet. Performance on game is going to be the same for anyof them that have the same ballistics.

So why so many cartridges if they all work the same? Good question! I suppose rifle makers all want their own design or seem to think they can make something better then whats already there.

There are two notable case designs that function much better then all others for DG hunting and one in particular that functions less then all others for DG.

The case design that actually makes the most sense and has the greatest function for a DG rifle is the HH design with it's long slow taper and almost non-existant shoulders. These two cases ( 300HH and 375HH) feed better then any case made and also extract better. WIth the long taper they slide into the chamber better and do not have the binding long frictional straight line of more modern cases.

So why do so many manufacturers make straight wall bottle neck cases if the original magnums were perfect?  I think this is the fault of the American  drive for more and more power and higher velocities. They have given up the ultimate feed and extract functions for higher ballistic performance.  For a recreational sport hunter shooting non-dangerous game that is a wonderful plan and really drives performance especially at long range. However for a true or should I say serious DG rifle the cases like the Weatherby design with the huge case capacity and drastic bottle necks are among the worse designs for for a true DG rifle.

There are probably hundreds of thousands of people who have never had a single problem using a steeply bottle necked case.  On the other hand it only takes a single problem in a bad situation to change your life. Most serious DG hunters and professionals choose cartridges with very little bottle neck and big diameter bullets which naturally reduce the neck diameter and make it a bit closer to the diameter of the case.

Holland and Holland developed thier HH series of cases 100% exclusive for use in Africa. The British had a long tradition of extended safari hunting in Africa long before the average American ever thought about going there. The 375HH was and still is the cartridge of choice among the great majority of Brown Bear guides in Alaska for many of the same reasons it was such a great success in Africa.  If your cartridge has the same ballistics as the 375HH and a minimal shoulder then it should be a fine cartridge for DG hunting. If it has a drastic shoulder with the same ballistics then it will be a fine hunting cartridge but would not likely be a top choice amoung DG hunters.

[lgm270]

What an interesting anaylysis of the value of the tapered H&H design.  I'd always considered it an obsolete design but your analysis of the value of the tapered case from the point of feeding and extracting is one I've never seen expressed.  Very informative.