.375 H&H Magnum
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The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and arguably the most well known medium-bore cartridge in the world. A truly classic cartridge, the .375 H&H is only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. It was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland in 1912 as the .375 Belted Rimless Nitro-Express. It first used cordite propellant which was made in long strands, hence the tapered shape of this cartridge. The use of a tapered cartridge was also to ensure smooth chambering and extraction from a rifle's breech.
The .375 H&H is often cited as one of the most useful all-round rifle cartridges. With relatively light bullets in the region of 235 to 270 grains (15 to 17 g), it is a flat-shooting, long-range cartridge ideal for use on light to medium game. With heavy bullets of 300 grain (19 g) and greater, it has the punch necessary for large, thick-skinned dangerous game. In many regions with thick-skinned dangerous game animals the .375 H&H is seen as the sensible minimum acceptable calibre, and in many places it is now the legal minimum for hunting such game.
[edit] .375 H&H cartridge specification
- Bullet diameter: .375 in (9.525 mm)
- Maximum case length: 2.850 in (72.39 mm)
- Trim-to length: 2.840 in (72.14 mm)
- Maximum cartridge length: 3.600 in (91.44 mm)
- Shoulder angle: 15 degrees
- Industry maximum pressure: 53,000 CUP (Copper units of pressure)
- SAAMI maximum pressure: 62,000 lbf/in² (430 MPa)
- Case capacity: 96.3 grains (6.24 g) of water
A typical factory load will launch a 270 grain (17 g) spitzer bullet at 2,690 ft/s (820 m/s) with 4,337 ft•lbf. (5880 J) of energy at the muzzle. This load has approximately the same trajectory as the 180-grain (12 g) bullet from a .30-06 Springfield.
There are a great number of rifles (and even some handguns) chambered for the .375 H&H. Many types of actions are used including single-shots, double-rifles, and bolt actions. When hunting dangerous game, a double-rifle or bolt action rifle is recommended, as a quick follow-up shot may be necessary.
